Category Archives: Buddhism

Vipassana Magic

I recently completed my second 10-day silent vipassana meditation retreat, whereby you sit on the floor and meditate for around 10 hours a day, starting at 4:30am and finishing at 9:30pm. During this time you’re not permitted to speak or have eye-contact or any other kind of interaction with any of the other students, althoughContinueContinue reading “Vipassana Magic”

Healing from the heart

I am currently delving into my work as a Thai massage therapist in a much deeper way than ever before, having found an inspirational teacher, and I am really enjoying this journey. It has caused me to reflect on why I am finding giving the massages so much more enjoyable than in the past -ContinueContinue reading “Healing from the heart”

Vipassana – the magic of silence

I’ve recently re-entered the speaking world after having spent ten days sitting in silent meditation with around one hundred other people at the Dhamma Mahi vipassana meditation centre near Paris. Literally, all I did each day was sit on the floor and meditate from 4:30am until 9pm, with only a few short breaks for eating,ContinueContinue reading “Vipassana – the magic of silence”

Mistaking the stick for a snake

I am fascinated by the Vedas – these are a collection of four ancient Indian tomes covering a huge range of esoteric subjects, including some of the earliest known references to yoga. It is said that the wisdom that they contain was received directly from the divine by enlightened beings, or ‘seers’, and, for thousandsContinueContinue reading “Mistaking the stick for a snake”

Lessons learned – an essay on anger and guilt

I’ve just returned to Mysore from Rajasthan, ‘up north’ – like back home, it’s significantly more chilly up there! So, I’ve said on here before that I feel like India is teaching me all kinds of lessons, and not necessarily the ones I expected – well, last week was no different. You may have noticed I’ve beenContinueContinue reading “Lessons learned – an essay on anger and guilt”