Sunday, June 3, 2018

Practice like your head is on fire (Insight LA)

Celeste Young (InsightLA.org); Dhr. Seven, Ananda M. (eds.), Wisdom Quarterly
InsightLA logo. Calming Minds, Opening Hearts, Changing the World

Teaching

This is special time of year for me, Celeste Young. When I was 17 I found the Dharma, and I often joke that because of my inner and outer turmoil and suffering I was highly motivated to practice.

The truth is that's not a joke at all. There's a Buddhist phrase "practice like your hair's on fire."This expresses a sense of spiritual urgency. I related to this very much, and for me it was like my heart was on fire.

The Dharma was truly my life, my path. I didn't feel I had a choice. Ten years ago I moved to LA on a whim and met Trudy Goodman and found InsightLA.org before we had a center. It was a very different time for meditation in Los Angeles, and I marvel at how things have grown.

I have been teaching mindfulness and the Dharma since 2011 when Trudy heard me give a 10 minute dana talk (a talk requesting support for the center and teachings) at the end of one of her evening teachings.

She pulled me aside afterwards and asked me to join her first teaching cohort at InsightLA. Later on, I was honored to begin subbing for her Sunday mornings when she was away.

That year a few of my senior colleagues were given teacher authorization in the Theravada tradition in a beautiful ceremony with Trudy, Sharon Salzberg, and Jack Kornfield. Then one year ago, several of my colleagues and I at InsightLA were given our own powerful teacher authorization ceremony with Trudy and Jack.

We also celebrated friends and colleagues who had graduated from the Spirit Rock Retreat Teacher Training and three others dear to me who are in the current training cohort with Dharma friends and colleagues I've practiced with for many years.

This past Tuesday was the Buddhist holiday called Vesak, honoring the Buddha's birth, enlightenment, and passing into final nirvana. It was also the one-year anniversary of my teaching authorization.

I want to share my gratitude for the Buddha, the Dharma, and the Sangha, and for all my teachers. The transformation of my heart and mind is beyond words I am able to express here.

I feel fortunate to live aligned with what matters so deeply to me and to share it with people. My only wish is to be able to pass on a fraction of what I've received. -- Love, Celeste

P.S. In August, I'm leading a 6-night silent meditation retreat in the Andalusian region of Spain, located in the beautiful foothills of their Sierra Nevada mountains. This region is gorgeous and known for its tranquil and peaceful energy. If this is something you might be interested in learning more about click HERE.

Residential Retreat in Granada Spain with Celeste Young August 19th
5 Spiritual Faculties with Celeste Young beginning June 11th
Young Adult Retreat June 23rd & 24th
Essentials of Mindfulness with JD Lloyd beginning June 17th
The Relaxed Mind with Beth Sternlieb 2 new classes beginning soon
Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction with Robert Lurye beginning June 24th
Changes & Transitions with Ron Ames beginning July 8th
Mindful Self Compassion beginning July 9th
Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction beginning July 12th
Sacred Movement Wednesday Mornings 8:45am - 10am
Mindful Writers Daylong with Amy Spies June 9th
Mindful Writing & Yoga Daylong on July 14th
Restoring the Heart with Amana Brembry Johnson August 4th
Bliss Hippy June 8th

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