I was planning to let Dave do all the blog writing about our Buddhist course. However, having just read his posts, I feel compelled to write. You now know in great detail about the food we ate, his views on religion and how difficult he found the retreat. What you don’t know is that I, and many others, whilst finding it sometimes boring or challenging, did get some positive things from our time there.

I too am non-religious, but feel Buddhism, taken as a philosophy or way of life rather than as a religion, has many useful techniques to offer us busy capitalist people in the West. My first brush with Buddhism was on a weekend retreat in Surrey, where I learnt little about the teachings but instead learnt to meditate. The main mindfulness meditations, on that course and this one, were in no way religious and instead simply focused on our breathing, to help us be present in the moment, rather than worrying about the future or clinging to the past. This is especially useful for me, a person who likes to plan and wonders what we’ll be doing tomorrow – sometimes I miss out on the good stuff today. Western doctors and psychologists have also shown that mindfulness and being in the calm state of meditation can have significant positive effects on health, whether one believes in Buddhism/spirituality or not. It’s not all about sitting cross legged and chanting as you might suspect ;o)

Yes, Buddhism does encouarage you to be a ‘good person’, for reasons of compassion, enlightenment and re-birth in a good realm. But we don’t have to believe in any of these concepts, sometimes we just need a reminder to be a bit less angry with the Indian touts, and to have more compassion for the ubiquitous beggars. It’s also good to be reminded that getting frustrated in the train ticket queue and losing our temper with the fifth person trying to sell you something, is bad for your own mood and health more than anything. And I’m grateful for the opportunity to be reminded of these things that I already know but have little space to think about in everyday life, whether travelling or at home. For me, this was a unique opportunity to reflect on my life, even if I didn’t get answers to any of the big questions, to be grateful for the good things I have and have the space to work out what I need to live a more positive and healthy life. I intend to make meditation part of my daily routine, not for any religious reasons, but because it helps me to recognise my stresses, quieten my mind, and live more for each day. I don’t find it easy and my agitated mind often makes me frustrated, but as with everything, it takes practice.

So, although there were times I was so bored and frustrated, or when the teachings seemed far fetched, or when I desperately wanted a chat with someone, overall I appreciated my time at the Root Institute as time for me and my well-being. It’s interesting to take techniques and ideas from other cultures and integrate them into your own life in a useful way. Thanks guys.