The Buddhist side of my life
I started practising Buddhism and meditation in Japan in the late 60s. I lived near a small temple that was dedicated to meditation practice , where I meditated daily and attended many intensive meditation retreats . On my return to Britain in the early 70s I practised meditation and studied early Buddhist psychology in the Thai Buddhist tradition. Then I became a personal disciple of the venerable Sangharakshita and was ordained into the Western Buddhist order in 1972. My training included many retreats and seminars in a non-sectarian approach to Buddhism. Since the beginning of 1973 I’ve been a full-time Dharma practitioner and meditation teacher. I lived for 21 years in the meditation retreat centre called Vajraloka in the hills of Wales. As well as being on many retreats during that time I also led meditation retreats and specialised in teaching meditation teachers, which included visitors from many countries. My teaching activities have been international, with retreats and teaching tours around the world. I recently finished a one year ‘sabbatical’ to write. During that time I decided to leave Vajraloka and now live in a Buddhist community in London.
Other strands to my life.
Bodywork-massage and intuitive energy work
In the early seventies I was fortunate enough to be taken into apprenticeship in a wide range of bodywork and healing traditions with the American teacher Anne Parkes . It is hard to categorise her work into one thing She had trained in many of the pioneering body-based therapies at Esalen in California , very often with the founders of various traditions. Influenced by her wide range of skills and talent I trained in a range of massage and energy-based methods. In the eighties I developed my own massage techniques based on what I consider to be the essential skills and and most useful attitudes to engaging in bodywork and intuitive energy work. I have taught and given treatment in various countries including the States and UK. Teaching this kind of work is still one of my great loves.
Theatre and art
In the past I wrote and performed a number of plays and mime performances and am still very interested in the relationship between theatre, the arts and meditation.
Other strings to my bow
Over the years I have done various trainings that have helped me me personally and in my work with others.
Focusing
About fifteen years ago I started ‘Focusing’ and did a number of residential workshops with a pioneering teacher of ‘Focusing’ call Anne Weiser-Cornell. I consider Focusing to be a very important way of being aware, resolving issues and discovering sense of direction. Focusing has become second-nature to me now and it is implicit in my life and teaching.
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