Hello dear friends ...

I am looking forward to facilitating Satori in Byron Bay Australia onceagain - December 8-14th at Sangsurya - in case you feel inspired to joinor wish to encourage a friend to participate the details can be found on my webpage: https://www.kirakay.com/satori-groups or by emailing at bookings@kirakay.com

The word Satori originated in Japan and describes that moment of illumination that can only be described as direct experience of profound truth that accompanied certain Zen practices. Once a person experiences Satori it can often mean that their life fundamentally changes. The experience of Satori can vary from person to person but the essence of the state is similar – a profound feeling of peace, a knowing, without doubt – truth. For some people the experience may only be a momentary glimpse, for others it may be an extended period – a common aspect, however, is that the knowledge of the experience is lasting and life changing. Often there is the experience of empowerment, a foundation within themselves creating a more relaxed outlook on life, choices and future potential.

For me personally it was life changing. This is the reason I love creating the space for others to have a their own direct experience of truth.

I have noticed for many people this year has been a powerful time upheavals, surprises and changes - Satori retreat can be a nourishing place to explore and integrate truth and understanding into your everyday life. Personally I find us coming together in "Satori space" a time of diving deeply into clarity and opening into the wisdom of who we really are as we share this communal participation. I find it accelerates our process when we come together to consciously experience truth and can enhance integration. Plus it can be deeply nourishing too.

After Satori I will be again facilitating a five day Intuition intensive, which I consider a nice compliment to the Satori retreat. This can be a supportive integration post Satori, to continue to be together and exploring what arises:m https://www.kirakay.com/intuition-development

I am almost on my way to beloved Nepal to once again immerse in my projects with education, women, children and earthquake safe building. I am deeply touched by this experience and it most certainly gives me a lot to continue exploring of myself and others - if you would like to know a bit more please have a read here: http://www.handswithhands.com/news.html

I hope to see some of you soon in Australia (either at Satori or after gatherings), if our paths do not physically cross, I wish you opening and grace as your path in life unfolds 💕 Warm hugs & heartfelt love, Kira

I leave you with two of my favourite Zen stories:

The Gates of Paradise

A powerful warrior came to visit a renown Zen Master, and asked:"Is there really a paradise and a hell?" "Who are you?" inquired Master. "I am a samurai," the warrior replied. "You, a soldier!" exclaimed the Master. "What kind of ruler would have you as his guard? Your face looks like that of a beggar." The Warrior became so angry that he began to draw his sword, but the master continued: "So you have a sword ! Your weapon is probably much too dull to cut off my head." As the warrior fully drew his sword the Master remarked: "Here open the gates of hell!" At these words the samurai, perceiving the master's discipline, sheathed his sword and bowed. "Here open the gates of paradise," said the Master.

Concentration

After winning several archery contests, the young and rather boastful champion challenged a Zen master who was renowned for his skill as an archer. The young man demonstrated remarkable technical proficiency when he hit a distant bull's eye on his first try, and then split that arrow with his second shot. "There," he said to the old man, "see if you can match that!" Undisturbed, the master did not draw his bow, but rather motioned for the young archer to follow him up the mountain. Curious about the old fellow's intentions, the champion followed him high into the mountain until they reached a deep chasm spanned by a rather flimsy and shaky log. Calmly stepping out onto the middle of the unsteady and certainly perilous bridge, the old master picked a far away tree as a target, drew his bow, and fired a clean, direct hit. "Now it is your turn," he said as he gracefully stepped back onto the safe ground. Staring with terror into the seemingly bottomless and beckoning abyss, the young man could not force himself to step out onto the log, no less shoot at a target. "You have much skill with your bow," the master said, sensing his challenger's predicament, "but you have little skill with the mind that lets loose the shot."