12/03/2024
As a Tibetan-English translator, I was often frustrated trying to get the richness of the Tibetan terms in English.
Retreat is one such term.
In English it conjures up images of a fearful running away from real issues and difficulties, or these days it can mean massages and green smoothies.
Neither of these are helpful when talking about a meditation retreat.
In Tibetan, the word we translate as "retreat" also means border or boundary. And while strict retreats do often impose a physical boundary, the real boundaries are mental.
That is, for some days, weeks, months or years we can make a commitment to leave behind habits and behaviours that are harmful to our mental health and relationships. That is, we'll endeavour to stay within the boundaries of caring, deliberate kind and compassionate attention.
Retreats aren't escapism, and take a lot more courage than remaining outside of this boundary, where self-interest and distraction are often considered as virtues.
That's why the very few in-person events I'm running this year are in the form of a retreat - to draw a (temporary) line in the sand. To stay within the boundaries of attitudes and attention that work toward our wellbeing and increase our ability to help others.
And give you tools to take them back out into daily life.
You're invited to all of them, of course....
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