Our retreat began with silent meditation and a Japanese koan discussion with Tias Little about a few ideas the koans brought up. The value of direct experience and learning cellularly, not just cognitively, to embody deep wisdom. The understanding that this special event will only happen once so give it your full attention, your care, your gratitude. Nothing ever repeats itself– each moment, each breath, each event will never happen again. And the value of not overdoing, over-planning, to allow for the spontaneous to happen.
We then hit the mat for an active asana practice emphasizing inversions after our travel, twists and broadening the mid-back. After an outdoor lunch on the temple grounds, Nicolai Bachman taught us mantra recitations focusing on the bija mantras. We learned what mantra to use and when. If you want to attract something into your life, use klim.
We headed back to the hotel to relax and Amy and Jen invited everyone to their room to sample Amy’s husband’s wonderful wines. Then a group headed to Cafe Pasqual’s for a fabulous meal capped off with shared desserts: piñon ice cream with caramel sauce, chocolate cake and lychee nuts. I liked the ice cream best.
I took just a few photos today… flowers in Tias’s garden, the end of our asana practice and our group at Cafe Pasqual’s.
