Introductory Weekend for Two Year Course

 

Report by Marijke van Basten Batenburg-Kretzers (facilitator)

Cinere, Jakarta, Indonesia  16-17 April 2016

The weekend started on Saturday morning 8:30 am and finished on Sunday 6 pm. Some participants arrived the evening before and stayed the Friday and Saturday night. This gave us opportunity to have more time to talk and exchange information & ideas during supper and evening.

Number of participants: 15, some (4-5) of the people were new to the Chisholme House/Beshara courses. Others came from a mindfulness meet-up group in Jakarta.

The programme consisted of three meditations a day: the morning and evening meditations were guided mindfulness meditations and the meditation before lunch was a silent meditation. Study* and other mindfulness practices (mindful eating experience and slow walking meditation for instance) were alternately given during the day.

The integration of the readings, study parts and the mindfulness went very well. For me it was the first time to experience such a lively participation of all students; sharing their personal experience and discussing the study material. The impact and difference of the mindfulness meditation and the (traditional) silent meditation were investigated. The study material gave depth to the conversation about the personal perception of one’s self (integration of the mindfulness practices and study). This showed very clearly the complementary function of mindfulness to the ‘traditional Beshara courses’.

There are several participants that are definitely interested in joining the two-year online course that starts in September 2016 at Chisholme House. Others are seriously contemplating to participate and have to look at finance and work related matters.

All participants expressed their gratitude for this Discovering Unity weekend.

Participants of the weekend (not everyone is included in these photos)

Study*: Readings from: Rumi, Bulent Rauf, Ibn’Arabi, Lao Tse, Adyashanti.