Retreat Script, January (part One)

"I do what I love, and the world loves what I do."
 -Alan Cohen, "a deep breath of life"



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intro..

Good morning everyone; my name is Robert Sayre, and welcome
to the retreat!


I chose the name "Healthy Revolution" because being mindful and
having a specific goal requires clarity and specific wording. Because
of what we fight against with bad habits and the enticements of the
world, a true revolution is required in both thought and action.


Maybe we made some new year's resolutions aimed at health and
fitness? Maybe we even kept some. But did we make a focused
determination to change how we think?
How we feel?
How we act spiritually?


So, today we'll be looking at 4 things;


-How we view ourselves


-Why are we so needy?


-Why do we have so much conflict?


-How to discover and promote our true selves


So...who's responsible for us? All of us are over 18 and able-bodied.
Is a parent responsible? A child? A spouse? A boss?
No, of course we are responsible for ourselves. Maybe we find
ourselves guilty of blaming others for treating us poorly....or for
partners not doing what we want. But we still are responsible.
We bring into our periphery exactly what we need.


If people are taking advantage of us, it is not their job to look out
for our best interests; it is our job to learn how to defend ourselves
against people who would do us wrong. to learn how better to
spot these people.


To learn the lesson of not being so vulnerable and open to harm.

Spirituality is not passive or weak.

WHO ARE YOU?


What makes up your identity? Is it a job, a hobby, spouse,
friends, causes, money, kids, looks?
(Have the class consider or write down)
Or is it something more?


If externals were removed or changed, what of 'you' would
remain? (offer the scenario from 'Trading Spaces' )


Is your esteem based on these external things?
What of your identity is internally based?
On spiritual skills, ideals, abilities, lovingness?
Would other people evaluate you the same as you do yourself?
Does how others think about you affect what you do?
How do we discover who we 'really' are?


Buddhism focuses on the idea of 'impermenance,' the under-
standing that all things pass away; from money to looks to
health, relationships and love to life itself.


What is it that we can truly depend upon? I assert that
we can and must depend upon self. For many that's a given,
but for others of us it's a fundamental of life that has been
overlooked.


(continued)....