Hello friend,

August 2011

With the Australian Meditation Conference only weeks away, I have reflected on the presentation I gave in 2010 on 'Women and Meditation'. I began my presentation by asking the 200 plus audience,"Who here is happy with their meditation practice?" About 15 people raised their hands...hmm, were the rest really at odds with their meditation? Many meditators today still grapple with having to suspend and put on hold all that they love, to embrace a particular body of metaphysical beliefs, in order to arrive at some place called peace, virtue, purity. Whom does it serve when we pursue all out objectivity? Enlightenment for some, is a destination and often it's at the expense of relatedness and connectedness. For the most part, tradition with its unchanging and eternal views, has a lot to answer for. So I am hardly surprised, but since that day, no one seems to be talking about the elephant in the room.

When I coach people to meditate, I can only coach in ways that reflect a person's individuation; it's non negotiable. It feels ethical, sustainable and integral to my client's trust in me, and  there's no having to come to terms with ideas of doctrine or a traditional 'right world view'. This is enormously freeing and empowering for people who are especially, terrified of meditation.

Needless to say, some saw my presentation as a radical departure from tradition. Others viewed it as refreshing, necessary, overdue. Some were gob smacked that an Asian woman and former Buddhist nun, could speak so candidly. I swear some people were telling themselves, "Where did all her training go in the practice of 'right speech, attachment, mental afflictions, cyclic existence, even worse, mindfulness'?" 

My close association with USA Authors, Meditation Pioneers, Researchers and first time international key note speakers at this year's Australian Meditation Conference, Lorin Roche & Camille Maurine  has brought to my attention how and why meditation is constantly changing, adapting and evolving in the West. And assuring me why I needed to seriously review belief systems, how I teach meditation and why, without imposing untold damage as a teacher. If truth be known, had it not been for their mentoring and friendship, I would have given up teaching meditation altogether. Their approach to meditation is surprisingly refreshing, liberating, human. Lorin Roche will speak on the following

'The Evolving Field Of Meditation - Ancient Yet Ever New'
...tens of millions are meditating, using thousands of techniques and often failing - doing the wrong dharma for their body type and lifestyle, and quitting in frustration. 

Camille Maurine will present

'Female Energy Ecology - Meditation Secrets For Women'
...most meditation teachings were created long ago, by and for men in monastries, and have not addressed what is healthy for women.

Join us for a richly vigorous, eclectic and explorative day at this year's Australian Meditation Conference.

RADIANCE SUTRAS  EARLY BIRD ENDS AUGUST 31
Act now and save $50 on all Radiance Sutras Workshops  Melbourne, Sydney & Brisbane.  The Vijnana Bhairava, an ancient text that describes 112 awareness practices for touching the sacred in the midst of daily life for men & women today! 

With the buzz of the Radiance Sutras growing by the minute, Yoga Teacher, Vicky, from Sydney's BodyMindLife Yoga has one of the verses from the Radiance Sutras, as it appears in the book, tattooed on her back... mind blowing. See Vicky's tatoo's for yourself.
Early Bird Ends August 31  Save $50

POST CONFERENCE WORKSHOP
The Intrinsic Group in conjunction with Meditation Events joyously present Lorin Roche & Camille Maurine's Wild Serenity Workshop. Learn to embrace the opposites in life, vastness & vulnerability, sensuality & surging power – gateways into love, energy, life.

PRIVATE COACHING WITH LORIN & CAMILLE
Places are filling for a limited number of one-on-one coaching sessions with either Lorin or Camille for Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane. Book now.

DOWNLOAD OUR FREE MEDITATION
Have a look at our online store of meditation downloads, and while you're there download our free meditation Deep Body Relaxation.

MINDFULNESS AND WORK ENGAGEMENT RESEARCH
For those of you who meditate regularly, why not participate in some vital research? An engaging client of ours, Dianne McGregor is currently doing her Honours in Psychology researching "Mindfulness, Work Engagement & Occupational Stress" with Dr Marion Kostanki. Take the Survey

FINDING BLISS 
Last year I did a weekend training with Dearbhla Kelly, a yoga teacher and philosopher. One of her gifts is clarifying the biochemical basis of bliss and the ability of scientific language to explain seemingly mystical and transcendent experiences. She is also married to Kirtan great Dave Stringer. Read her article Karma Is Chemistry.

DIVINE FEMININE 
Divine Feminine is a celebration of the divine nature of women. Experience the fundamental teachings on spirituality and sexuality. Explore pleasure, passion and intimacy. Celebrate your sexuality and revel in your luscious, feminine essence.

GLOBAL FLASH MEDMOBS
The global MedMob Movement is storming across the world in a city near you, for peaceful, resilient communities. Coordinated with 108+ cities around the globe!
Melbourne, Flash-Mob Meditation @ The Amphitheatre, Federation Square. Sunday August 28, 2 - 3.30pm.
All welcomed. No experience required.

Everything Is Waiting For You

Your great mistake is to act the drama as if you were alone. 
As if life were a progressive and cunning crime with no witness to the tiny hidden transgressions. 
To feel abandoned is to deny the intimacy of your surroundings. Surely, even you, at times, have felt the grand array; the swelling presence, and the chorus, crowding out your solo voice.

You must note the way the soap dish enables you,
or the window latch grants you freedom.
Alertness is the hidden discipline of familiarity.
The stairs are your mentor of things to come,
the doors have always been there to frighten you and invite you, and the tiny speaker in the phone is your dream-ladder to divinity.

Put down the weight of your aloneness and ease into the conversation.
The kettle is singing even as it pours you a drink,
the cooking pots have left their arrogant aloofness and
seen the good in you at last. 
All the birds and creatures of the world are unutterably
themselves.
Everything is waiting for you.

                          David Whyte. Everything is Waiting for You

May You Always Abide In The Vast View Of Love,

arian@arianyoung.com.au
www.arianyoung.com.au

The Intrinsic Group

Phone 1300 020 030

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