hello everyone from Windsor!

Be yourself ,everyone else is taken-Oscar Wilde!

How do you relate to the metaphor of the raincloud?

How comfortable are you with the idea of us being different to each other? What sort of plant are you?

In our group we had sweet peas, orchids and money plants

Q / how do plants know how much water they need to bloom and flourish?

moon flower and tumbleweed….

I am a cactus!

I think I

we had withered lily, a daisy, an olive tree, a big weathered oak, ivy

I think I'm a tree

, Agave ocahui = the century plant because people used to think it flowered only once every 100 years. A more accurate estimate is that it blooms once after 25 to 30 years of growth.

Q its not really about the parable but, if you have time, it would be great to hear you talk a bit more about how you're not always so aware of how you're feeling. I am similar, which means I find the metta bhavana really hard and was wondering how you approach that?

Q How can we work out what kind of plant we are?

Q: If you already have a path you are on which has meaning and purpose, can the Buddhist path act as a framework to support this or is that the wrong way around?

I feel like an algae

White Lotus

In our group we had geraniums, shrubs, dandelions, spindly unstable tall silver birches - a mushroom, because he was a fungi to be around apparently.

deep roots and occasional blossom

probably ivy (not the poison kind I hope)

Q can you talk a bit about honoring individuality in others while using the experience you have gathered by getting to know Yourself?

Q

Q. Would you be able to say a bit more about why some of us are really uncomfortable with difference and some of us insist how different we are?

I was thinking about how people see me, rather than how i saw myself.

what kind of plant people think you are?

Q: How can one tell the difference between a “dhamma overload” and a kind of an indiscipline in practice?

that's super helpful, thanks

The second half of your answer is what I’m after doing, following the path of the Buddha

Thanks :)

Paul, I´ve always wondered the same.. I mean, the Buddha wasn´t FOLLOWING Buddhism/a teaching, was he :)

I think there is more to it, there may be specific reasons that you don’t enjoy or agree with ‘the group’, and I can think of many instances of this, some incredibly dangerous.

I mean the group itself can be dangerous

This is exactly what I’m finding! People feel threatened when I’m being truthful as they think I’m challenging them but actually I’m just being helpful! 😊

I love how you answer, thank you!

I suppose one the risks of the spiritual hierarchy concept is that it can start to seem like a competition, where you're trying to 'grow' more quickly in order to overtake those in front of you...

How can one 'measure' the level of spiritual development?

solitary retreat sounds like an excellent idea

Alex M - yes that’s true re spiritual hierarchy. I also find that because I see everyone more equally I don’t restrict myself based on mental notions of peoples positions.

Naps are apparently a good idea

Solitary retreat is not a good idea if you have lots of unprocessed trauma. It’s good for some people but not everyone.

Do you ever do silent retreats at the LBC?

How long would you suggest as a starter solitary retreat?

Say it again please

uncovering = growth <3

they go hand in hand

makes me feel a little bit silly

hahahahhaha

it’s assuring to know that we all have innate beauty

feels more easeful than growth

optimistic!

like I should have known

Growth comes with uncovering I find.

uncovering is reassuring

I feel the same in a way Peter C

Much prefer the idea of uncovering rather than growth- The idea of finding our potential within ourselves appeals to me much more than the idea of the a higher being pouring down their wisdom on me

you find it rather than being shown it

I like the idea of it having been there all the time , it’s comforting

Curiosity in undercovering

There is less forceful intent and curiosity in discovery

All the potential is there, love the idea of uncovering it

a bit of grief then

Discovering happens naturally as we open as does growth.

uncovering doesn't indicate state of being or extent of growth. Being unaware doesn't mean you're not spiritually wise. Perhaps we've just not pieced stuff together.

uncovery is choosing to be on earth not in your own world

Growth comes from giving ourselves space, from being with ourselves and acceptance.

Unpeeling our layers to see what jewel lies within

relief!

i think uncovering sounds harder because it sounds more like something you have to do internally yourself; whereas i associate growth with something external that others can guide you with

Growth can be mentally driven whereas uncovering can happen when our thoughts fall away.

Thank you again :-)

The rain of the Dharma is calming the fire of the burning house

Thank you so much!

thanks so very much

thank youuu

thanks you!

thank you very much! :-)

Thank you x

Thank You

Thank you!

Thank you!

thank you very much!

Thank you Paramabandhu!

Thanks Paramabandhu for an interesting afternoon. To all the lovely people in my group and everyone on the retreat. Much love. See you tonight!

Thank you all. Really great session.

Thank you

Thank you v much x

thank you - I love these sessions!

thank you very interesting

Thank you so much x

A HUGE THANK YOU!

Thanks so much xxxx

thank you. x

That was really good, thank you :)

Thank you!

Thank you very much.

Great afternoon together and great teaching. See you tomorrow!

That was great!

thank you for the rich teachings!

Thank you 😊