A Philosophy
01.01.2010
On 1st January 2010, I bumped into His Holiness, The Dalai Lama, at a hotel in Mumbai. He was arriving just as I was waiting to leave. I was still there, the sole guest on the hotel red carpet, only because a cab driver had refused to take me down town. I grumbled then laughed somewhat incredulous when the concierge mentioned who was arriving at 4pm. I asked him ‘what time is it now?’ and then looked up. His Holiness, The Dalai Lama was walking towards me.
I received a blessing for which I felt blessed. A wonderful unexpected gift – on that first day of a new decade. From someone I admire. From someone I had always hoped to meet.
A beautiful reminder in real time, that sometimes, when we don’t immediately get what we want, it is because a more helpful, even spectacular scenario is waiting to emerge.
Noise within the silence
I’ve sat in silence on several meditation retreats. The first at a gorgeous centre in India, 2010.
Have you any idea how noisy a silent retreat can be?! Literally.
Equally….how cross, how loving and every emotion in between you can feel towards someone you have never met, never spoken to and only know what they look like from behind?
It is crazy.
It’s also an insight into how we see the world and project onto others, based on how we are thinking and feeling, consciously or unconsciously, on the inside. And how the tone & volume of noise inside, is reflected back at us by this mirror called life.
The Way
I walked some of The Camino Santiago, September 2012, setting off from a friend’s chateaux in France. I didn’t have a grand why, yet it was two years after the death of my darling dad, a year after my lifelong friend passed away and timed with my brother’s anniversary!
One of the beautiful things about The Camino is connection. An historical pilgrimage of old. A journey largely within.
Today, there is incredible camaraderie amongst individuals from all walks of life.
On day one, someone ‘rescued’ me in a field. A moment when I was thinking, where the ‘F’ am I – and – is that loud dog going to bite me.
Next came three wise men who showed me how to strap my feet to avoid blisters, (I didn’t get any), optimise my rucksack and generally looked after me through France.
Half way up The Pyrenees I met a new friend with whom I have continued beautiful, soulful conversations ever since.
All along the path people call out ‘Bon Camino’ / ‘Bueno Camino’ and talk about ‘The magic of The Camino.’ The magic being this wondrous sense that whatever is needed or wanted, simply shows up. Fellow pilgrims share excitedly about incredible coincidences. It is like that.
Kind of magical.
Something I’ve noticed...this is how life is.
The journey continuous. Moment by moment. Outer experiences largely determined by what we are thinking, feeling, expecting, believing. Consciously and unconsciously. Privately, on the inside.