What is is.
It's your resistance to what is
that causes your suffering.
There are no exceptions.
It is that simple.
The Dhammapada
Dear Friends,
This has been a remarkable year for myself and Heartwork – a year of becoming more focused and committed to this amazing journey we are on.
Personally, for those of you who don’t know, I have been exploring the issues that have arisen as a result of having prostate cancer. After having faced the possibilities of impotence and incontinence, I arrived at the following realization, “Impotent Buddha, Incontinent Buddha!” Or, in other words, as I recently said to someone, “Until they cut out my heart, I remain whole!” And regarding the possibility that I would die, my Tibetan teacher, Garchen Rimpoche, helped me tremendously by assuring me that death is inevitable. I have been joyous ever since!
For Heartwork, it has become increasingly clear that the direction to go at this time is in – exploring more and more deeply the inner landscape of Being. This year’s “What Is This?” Retreat felt just about perfect. I finally found the formula that worked for just about everyone – a mixture of meditation, inquiry, unwinding, circular breathing, dance, and open discussions about the work. The retreat was so successful, in terms of the depth and breadth of work that was done, that I have decided to have the 2014 Heartwork Transformational Program focus on the combination of the two primary processes of Heartwork – meditation and inquiry. It promises to be a most incredible year!
The other thing that is exciting is to witness the ongoing creation of community within the organization – days of Heartwork, movie nights, dances, a lending library, “A Place to Share” (http://awakentheheart.org/a-place-to-share/) – are all being created by individuals within the community to find a way to keep the spirit alive and bring it into the world. What will come next? I am so very glad that this is happening here in Rochester, and I hope others in various locations will follow suit, each in their own unique way.
I hope 2014 is the best year ever for you and your loved ones.
Blessings,
Dale