Rohatsu at Ingen-ji
On holiday in the sun on Wednesday, flying home at night
On Thursday back to Gatwick- a new suitcase neatly packed
And so to Ingen-ji in Ireland -the first time I was there
To sit and walk – and sit and walk
And sit and walk some more
A week of quiet sitting just looking at the wall
I arrived in the fog with others - the feeling was distracted
We gathered in the kitchen - and did a lot of chatting…..
We saw the Rohatsu schedule – heard about the form
Were allocated jobs to do to practice Rohatsu
And so to bed -the night was cold – a restless sleep was had
Waking early - it was dark – and so the Rohatsu did start
A little bumpy and fragmented
But gradually as time slowed down we all began to settle
Our movements slowed- we moved in time
Our energy felt quite sublime
The Rohatsu Sangha’s practice –supporting us to practice
Tuning into Sangha – Sangha tuning into me
To the movement and the rhythms of the moments of each day
I noticed the responses-of the body and the mind
Committing to each moment as the world was slowing down
Opening and softening --- closing and withdrawing
Attentive and awake to each joy and every struggle
So wonderful to have the space and time to learn this way
So thankful for those people who supported me on my stay.
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