Dear practitioner

We are in the midst of a global humanitarian crisis and witness insecurity, vulnerability and widespread suffering.

Due to Corona, all Danes and large parts of the world have involuntarily gone on retreat. A remarkable, albeit coincidental, coincidence with our long-planned voluntary 3-month retreat at the Limfjord.

Many of the themes that are natural on a practice retreat have suddenly become commonplace in Denmark: The fear of infection and the anxiety of death, both for oneself, but also for one's loved ones and friends, have become real and ongoing.
The transience and fragility of life.

One could use it to look into fear, anxiety and the inevitable death. And integrate these provocative feelings with practice (yoga, relaxation, mindfulness, neutral observation, prayer, intercession, transmission, dual-mindedness, dzogchen, etc.).

So why not try turning the involuntary retreat into a voluntary period of isolation and immersion, intensive practice days, or a shorter retreat, filled with transmission?

The authorities' persistent and responsible appeal to show community spirit; the necessity of standing together to care for the sick, the vulnerable, the elderly, the homeless.

This appeal fits perfectly with the basic motivation for being on a voluntary practice retreat: To deepen one's inner work in order to be more kind, helpful, warm-hearted, and balanced in relation to other people.

Perhaps this situation for everyone, but not least for practitioners, is a dress rehearsal for keeping in touch with the heart and the higher perspective, maintaining a calm centering, especially when there are global crises and expected collapses?

If you want to use the following as an internal exercise, it may be beneficial to sit comfortably, relax, and pay attention to your breathing.

So you feel the anxiety about infection and possible death.

You also feel the compassion and care for your loved ones and for your friends.

We are aware of the need for everyone to take responsibility.

One feels the solidarity with humanity, the compassion for people's concrete suffering and pain.

You are aware of your own body, its vulnerability; you try to let your breathing calm down anyway.

If attention is a bird, you let it soar freely and not land on individual feelings or thoughts or worrying images.

The bird of attention hovers over everything, keeping a careful eye, but does not focus and does not land.

Attention and the blue globe are floating right now and right here in space.

And this free floating is carried by compassion and by a sense of community with humanity, with the crisis, the neighbor, the loved one and the biosphere.

Notice the source of the floating attention.

Try to rest relaxed and naturally in the source of your attention.

And let kindness and helpfulness spread from here to your fellow human beings. Like when you shop for your sick neighbor and leave the food in front of her door.

With warm regards,

Jes Bertelsen

PS. If you know someone who you feel or think could benefit from this, please share it and use it freely.

The letter is reproduced on Kontemplation with permission from Vækstcenteret and Jes Bertelsen.

Jes Bertelsen
Dr. phil. from Aarhus University 1974.
Founder and director of the Growth Center since 1982.
Author of a large number of books on depth psychology, consciousness training and spiritual practice.
Teacher at Vækstcenteret and at the retreat site by the Limfjord.