I was on a first date on the weekend, a drink in a pub as it happens, and of course he asked the question ‘What do you do?’. 'I run programmes that explore reality and that there is no objective self and other’, I said. 'Isn’t that a bit woo-woo?’ he asked. (Which...
My Blog
REST (adapted from WELL, getting real with physical and mental health)
In their book, Stealing Fire, Steven Kotler and Jamie Wheal calculated that the industry of ‘shutting off the self’ is worth $4 trillion a year. It’s not surprising because the mind, lost in its own creations can be torture, it creates conflict, stress, disease and...
How does it happen?
For Byron Katie it was waking up on the floor of her residential care home watching a cockroach crawl over her foot. For Jeff Foster it was the point of absolute despair ‘transform or commit suicide. There was no other option.’ For Roger Linden it was on a walk...
What is [extract from SANE, getting real with reality)
What comes to mind when reading a book about no objective reality, no self, no identity, no ego, no separate other? An author telling us that everything is illusory? Maybe you think: ‘Well, who the hell are you talking to then?’ ‘Why write a book if there is no one to...
We Are Love
From everything I have read about self and reality over the years, all the teachings I have attended or watched I’m going to take a punt and say that the only thing that seems to be acknowledged across the board is our true nature of unconditional love. Everything...
The hopelessness of hope
Hope… like Dolly Parton, Ryan Reynolds, Mastercard… pretty much welcome everywhere. And especially in times of unrest, fear and suffering, it seems to be all we can cling to. However bad things are, as long as we have a glimmer of hope we will be OK. Hope springs...
GOLD : the treasure that money reveals
How much would you need in the bank to erase all financial worries? What income would you need to never again have a thought about homelessness or poverty? What investments would protect you from the outside world? What lottery win or bonus pay-out would secure the...
Separation anxiety and the right decision
A question that often comes up is ‘How do I have better access to my wisdom?’ or ‘How do I make the right decision?’ We could begin by looking at the factors involved… There is the body - ‘a universe of 37.2 trillion cells operating in more or less perfect concert’ as...
The desire for change
‘I’m not OK.’ ‘This isn’t OK.’ ‘I have to change.’ ‘This has to change.’ ‘I can’t bear how I feel.’ ‘This experience is awful.’ Ever had any of those thoughts? If so, you and me both, and perhaps seven billion others… In the moment of that thought there is a deluge of...
What shame ……?
In his fascinating book, ‘When the Body Says No’, Dr Gabor Maté says, “A therapist once said to me, “If you face the choice between feeling guilt and resentment, choose the guilt every time.” It is wisdom I have passed on to many others since. If a refusal saddles you...