Beatenberg and Beyond…

In May, I had the good fortune of attending a 9-day retreat in Beatenberg, Switzerland. Greg taught the retreat, assisted by Irene Baumbacher. There were about 40 yogis on the retreat, mostly new to Insight Dialogue. While the process of immersion in relational practice unfolded internally, externally we were nestled into the side of the Niederhorn mountain. The landscapes, both internal and external, were sublime.

Snow-capped peaks, turned gold and pink, illuminated by the morning sun; an aquamarine alpine lake below. Contemplating the Brahma Viharas offered glimpses of what lies beyond the rigid boundaries of self, illuminating boundless inner landscapes. Externally, at times, clouds and mist descended, and the mountains would become completely obscured. Internally, doubt, restlessness, and lethargy would arise, temporarily obscuring the inner luminosity. ‘Inner’ and ‘outer’, words that help us navigate the world, and yet the reality is seamless, inseparable.

Post-retreat, Greg, Ayya Anopama, and I were hosted by the extremely generous and big-hearted Irene and Stefan, her partner, in Bern. A day-and-a-half meeting with the German-speaking facilitator group had been arranged. We were hosted by Irene in the small meditation centre she shares with other teachers, a multi-teacher, multi-tradition space.

For where two or more are gathered in my name Matthew 18:20)

There were approximately 12 of us in total, including a very welcome guest from the retreat, Lama Irene. She was a gift to us all, kind, light, funny, and very skilled in clarifying group dynamics. Those of you reading this who are long-term members of a group may recognise Greg’s pithy, though somewhat sober, rephrasing of the biblical line: ‘When two or more of you are gathered in my name… (Greg: There is trouble!)’

Challenge is as much part of our relational practice, lives, as connection and joy.  Somewhere deep down many of us hope that ID will resolve our relational difficulties. There can be the belief, that this community ‘should’ be free of conflict and difficulty, ‘after all we are a relational meditation community!’ 

How could this be when the Buddha in the Mitta Sutta describing friendship says ‘He gives what is beautiful, hard to give, does what is hard to do, endures painful, ill-spoken words.’ (AN 7.35) In my experience, once the honeymoon period of relationships is over, that is where the alchemy of transformation begins. Turning the lead of conditioning, saṅkhāra and and the hungers, taṇhā, into the gold of greater freedom. 

The German-speaking group (GSG) has been navigating significant changes over the last few months. There was much to be processed regarding the GSG’s perspective on the TC’s decision-making processes. As such, it was quite a rite of passage to find myself as ‘the’ representative of the TC, responding to dissatisfaction and discontent both as Rosie and as a TC member. It was both challenging and transformative to sit in the fire in this way.

This was an important gift from the GSG. The experience reinforced the importance of a two-way flow of communication between the TC and regional groups. The Teacher’s Council and Guiding Sangha are small groups of people working with a great deal of goodwill and limited time and energy. It is difficult for us to keep abreast of everything happening in the IDC, or of people’s needs and challenges. There are multiple groups in many places around the world. These groups often know better than we do what their culturally specific needs are, and what issues they are facing. There is a recognition of the need for regional group leadership in collaboration with the TC and GS as stewards of the community. A subgroup is dedicated to exploring the possibilities of how we, and that includes you, might unfold organisationally to develop something like an IDC United Regional Assembly. 

The GSG members gave so much, in terms of wisdom, kindness, patience, vulnerability, and deep commitment to the practice and to each other. We met in our willingness and capacity to work with both what was beautiful and what was difficult. Our meeting closed with Tibetan veggie momos and a great deal of goodwill and love. It was a deeply meaningful experience. I am grateful.

Much love and gratitude

Rosie