Review - Sascha - Zen - Dharma

Here's a brief summary of what the trip meant to me:

I feel much better after experiencing it, despite currently facing a busy life filled with work and some sad news regarding the health of a family member. I associate my experience from two weeks ago with the Buddhist concept of "dharma". In my Zen studies and Zen group, this concept refers to the "embodied teachings of the Buddha concerning the impermanence of beings, relationships, emotions, and essentially everything, and how to overcome the suffering caused by our perception of impermanence." During the trip, the dharma became tangible, visible, and audible to me, profoundly deepening my sense of awe for “birth” even as impermanence was always present. This insight, which truly transcends words, helps me every single day.

I now have greater trust in my emotions; for the unpleasant ones, I find it easier to let them go once I acknowledge their presence. In turn, I can experience more joyful emotions, which seems to be connected to aforementioned acknowledging of the tougher ones. When I compare these results to my initial trip-intention of "reflecting on my anxiety patterns," I’d say: hey, success! Some examples of what has changed: I have more ideas on how to support vulnerable and ill family members, more strategies for managing communication around long-standing conflicts at work, and more ideas on how to offer people the "gift of my presence“. Although I don’t want to cling to any particular religious concepts, the freedom to link to Buddhist meditation practice and Zen experiences over the past decade was incredibly helpful. As was the setting Sascha provided and the collaboration on my set we worked on together.

A big "Thank You!“ to @Sascha for all her presence and guidance, especially through the undeniably tougher, rougher and stormier parts of the trip and all aspects of the experience that are difficult to express in words.