Journeys In Words

Getting unstuck by shaking off frustration.

If a situation or a thought = mood

then not giving up = not giving in to the mood

A meditation to encourage you to cast off those doubts and moods that pop up.

Interview with Adam Mitcheson and Damien Shiells of my2be.com

my2be.com automate and scale mentoring with their intelligent platform.
Their clients include: Box, Nextdoor, Next-Up, and FreelanceHer 100.
 
In this conversation we talk about:
- Adam's experience of finding a mentor.
- how mentoring can supercharge a company's talent development, diversity and retention.
- how mentoring helps the mentor as well as the mentee.
- how and why they started this company.

Positive Mentoring Stats

+70% Increase in talent retention as a result of mentoring 

+15% Increase in under-represented groups in management and leadership positions through Mentorship.

+38% Increase in retention and promotion of minorities and women through Mentorship.

+19% Average increase in Innovation based Revenue from companies with Diverse Leadership Teams.

+67% Percentage of businesses reported an increase in Productivity.

DISCLAIMER: This is not to be taken as investment advice. At time of release I am an investor in my2be.com.

I chat with Joshua Mitcham of Audemic.io In this chat we discuss; - how Audemic is making research papers more accessible. - how making information easier to digest is good for the world. - how spoken word can be made more easy to remember. - the future of virtual assistants Maybe in future Joshua and myself will be able to get together and go through the top AI computers in movies and TV, like HAL9000 from Space 2001, Javis from Iron Man, Joi from Blade Runner, etc.

Some thoughts on Willy Wonka and how anxiety drives thoughts. ‘Come with me and you’ll be In a world of pure imagination Take a look and you’ll see Into your imagination’ Recorded while I was on holiday a few weeks ago. I couldn’t resist the sounds of waves in the background 🎙️🌊 [Link in bio] #anxiety #willywonka #pureimagination Image copyright shutterstock.com/Erin Cadigan

In mindfulness we can use the practice of labelling the different thoughts that pop up, for example; that’s a memory, that’s a plan, that’s a fantasy but really, isn’t everything that is not present fantasy? You can probably agree thoughts about the future are fantasy but what about memory..
[Artwork Copyright Shutterstock/Tithi Luadthong]

After being hit by an unexpected aneurism at only 37 years old, Tom spent 2 months in intensive care and a week in a coma. In this episode he tells us about that week and how he held on to life itself.

In this episode I'm very pleased to meet with my friend Gary who I met on an Ayahuasca retreat in March 2020 just before the world shutdown due to covid. 

We talk about his ceremony experiences, how the learnings helped give him a 'just do it' energy into his life, how he put his big ideas into practice, how he left his job, ended up merging 2 rival companies and then selling the new company.

We also talk about integrating back into life after Ayahuasca, connecting with healthy masculinity, living in the present and changes in beliefs.

Interview with Jay Simpson, house manager and trustee of Jamjang Buddhist Centre Leeds. 

In this episode we discuss Jay's path to Buddhism, from when he found some books as an 8 year old via dreams that foretold the future, to building helping build the future of the centre. We talk about the importance of compassion and mindfulness in meditation and in living a positive life!

TRANSCRIPT

Intro: [00:00:00] This podcast is for thinkers and problem solvers.

Chris: I'm here with Jay Simpson, who is a trustee and the house manager of Jamjang Leeds, Buddhist center and you've been practicing Buddhism for over 20 years, I think. 

Jay: Yeah. That's right. I'm a first came into Buddhism in 2001 formally as part of Jamyang Buddhist Centre Leeds just attending as a student when it was in the premises at Harehills.

Jay: [00:01:00] Before then I kind of knew I was a Buddhist or that I should be on the Buddhist path, but never knew how to actually find a legitimate place to practice, how to study, what even that meant as a learning exercise. Is it just something that I would just learn and understand, or was it more of a life experience.

Jay: But fortunately, when I moved to Leeds, I struck gold and started getting involved at Jamjang Leeds. 

Chris: You've got quite an interesting story of how you were drawn to Buddhism. If you'd be kind enough to share that, it'd be an interesting place I used to start. 

Jay: Yes, certainly. So I've mentioned that I'm from Grimsby originally from a council estate that has been wiped off the face of the earth now. Cause it was quite rough and, quite poor. And while we played in the backfields I [00:02:00] found two books that had kind of squiggly writing in and I didn't know what they were. I must've been about eight or nine at the time. And I thought, keep these for when I was older then, I could then find out what the writing said. And they turned out to be Tibetan manuscripts on the medicine border and also the diamond cutter Sutra, both of which are key elements in my daily practice now but it wasn't until 20 years later that I actually rediscovered the books as I travel quite a lot. Kind of everything clicked into place for me, but I'd also been taking a partner at the time, when I was in my twenties to a meditation session and I had heard that it was a Buddhist meditation and I had no interest at all in joining the class, I thought, but the sign caves,[00:03:00] switching themselves off from reality and navel gazing. How wrong I was .

Chris: You got dragged along? 

Jay: Oh yes. So I sat at the back of the class and that evening, I dreamt about a monk teaching me how to read this very long thin book. And I asked the monk in the dream, what he was doing. And there was a picture of a space man, a picture of a heart, a Lotus flower, and a Buddha. And I asked him what these symbols meant. And he says, oh, well, it's quite simple, an extraordinary being using love and compassion will attain wisdom and therefore enlightenment. And I just felt, how unusual! This isn't something that's normally my daily experience. And I asked the monk, so can I ask what your name is and where you are?

Jay: I recognised that there was stone walls[00:04:00] and railings, and it kind of made me think of Yorkshire and the countryside because obviously because Grimsby is in Lincolnshire and the monk said, oh, my name is Chenresig. And that this book is the Lotus Sutra, and I said, oh, okay, thanks very much. End of my dream.

Jay: And then I went to the meditation session again the week later, and I was sat at the back of the class when I heard the monks say the Lotus Sutra, I thought oh we must have studied it last week and made me think of a dream. So I asked the monk if he knew what the Lotus Sutra was. And what, what it was about, he said it's about about how to gain enlightenment through love and compassion and wisdom.

Jay: Ah, okay. And who wrote this then? And he says, oh, it's written by a Buddha. The patron Buddha of Tibet. And that made me think, [00:05:00] okay, I said, did you discuss this last week at the class? He says, no, no. It's a new topic. So I thought, okay, that's a bit freaky. I leave that part there.

Jay: And then the following week, I took my partner again to the meditation class, and then that night I had another dream. And this time I was on a wet rainy island in Scotland, which had never, ever been to before. I've never left Grimsby. And a, possession of monks came around the corner, carrying this high Lama, and then the Lama was lowered down to the stand and he walked across the sand without getting his feet mucky he was just kind of levitating above and the thought of this man's a bit special.

Jay: I'll have to ask him who he is, but before I could, he said to me, do you know who you are? And I says, well, [00:06:00] yes, I'm Jay. And he says, no, do you know who you actually are? So I just thought, no I don't understand He said come and find me. I said, okay, who are you? And he says, well, my name is Lama Yeshe.

Jay: And you'll find me Holy island in Scotland. And I thought, okay, but from the dream. I remember the two monks faces at the front of the procession. So then I woke up thought it was just another dream. I went back to the meditation class. Have you heard of this gentleman? No. Never heard of him I said okay.

Jay: It must be just a made up dream, but because I was working from home as a shiatzu practitioner at the time, most people would give me a call ask if they could book a treatment for a back pain or limb injury. But this particular day, I got a knock on my front door and as I opened the door, I [00:07:00] recognize the face from the dream of the first monk on the left.

Jay: And I was so shocked. I didn't know what to say. So I asked him who he was and what he wanted. And he said, he'd like to have a shiatsu treatment he'd heard about me. But his problem was that he was, he had anger issues and wanted shiatsu to help with them. So I said, it's not normally the kind of thing I would do, but certainly come in.

Jay: We'll see if we can get you to be relaxed. And then the following day, there was another knock on my front door. And as I opened, I recognize a face immediately as being the second monk that was in the front of the procession in the dream. And he'd heard about me, what is coming up for treatment, but his problem was that he was afraid of dying.

Jay: And I just said, well, this is definitely not something that I treat with, [00:08:00] but again, if you want to come in and talk and have a conversation, you know, so then that evening, my partner got back from work and I explained that these two people had been, and they were from this dream that I had experienced.

Jay: He said oh it's just make believe, it's fantasy. I said, okay, I'm just going to make you your tea. And I came back into the room and the TV was behind me and suddenly I heard this voice on the TV and instantly I knew it was Lama Yeshe. So I turned around and lo and behold on the screen, there's Lama Yeshe being filmed in the exact spot my dream was. And the across, the bottom came up, the words Lama Yeshe Holy island in Scotland. So I was completely blown away. So I knew there was meant to be some kind of connection with Buddhism. Although I don't know what or why. [00:09:00] So I said to my partner at the time, if this is meant to be anything, and it's not just fanciful thinking, I'll be able to speak to this gentleman in the next five minutes, knowing full well, I wouldn't be able to and I could put it to bed.

Jay: Yeah. So I decided to ring 192 for directory inquiries, which existed back in the day and ask them if they knew of a Tibetan that lived in Scotland or Tibetan society. And they said, oh, yes, we'll put you through now. I said, okay, and they me through to the Tibet society in the UK. And I said, that I had a very strange dream about this Lama Yeshe in Scotland. Sorry to bother you. I'm just trying to find out if I can get ahold of him and then next thing. Oh, yes, he's got a monastery, called Samye Ling. I'll just put you through. I says, oh, okay. So they put me through to Samye Ling Monastry up in Scotland near Eskdalemuir, and then a nun picked the phone up [00:10:00] and I said, oh, hello, sorry to bother you.

Jay: My name is Jay. I've had this very odd dream. I'm not a weirdo, but I've had a dream about Lama Yeshe. Yes, she, and he wanted me to get hold of him. And she said, oh, one moment. And then a voice came on the phone and said, hello, Lama Yeshe speaking and it was within the five minutes. So I explained the situation and the dream, and he said to me, if I ever came up to Scotland, he'd love to meet me that this was normal for him.

Jay: And that he would show me around and talk to me a little more about Buddhism. And it took me three years to get to meet him and, that was it I was firmly on the path to being Buddhist and just looking for somewhere to find, to practice, after a visit [00:11:00] of, a few days, I explained I lived just outside Yorkshire at the time and they said, well, if you go to Leeds, there's a Jamyang Buddhist center who will be able to put you on the path.

Jay: And the moment I walked in the door instantly, I was on the path. I met my teacher the first day and yeah, now I'm helping build its future for generations to

[Full journal post can be found here: www.chris-walton.com/journal/snowglobemettameditation]

This loving kindness or Metta meditation is for when you find yourself stuck in frustrated problem solving and can’t move through.

You were taught to solve. Maybe you were taught you could solve it.
But the energy underneath the problem should not be solved it should be accepted.

This meditation may involve strong emotions and asks us to find compassion for ourselves and those we may have difficulties with. Only listen when safe to do so.

[Image - K via Shutterstock.com, Backing Track - Score Squad/Shutterstock.com]

WHEN TO USE: overthinking, after work, before sleep.
An antidote to modern life's busyness and the minds overthinking.

Close your eyes and reconnect with the infinite depth you have within..
For all is busyness the outside world cannot the unlimited depth or stillness you hold.
Any yawning during this meditation is a welcome sign. A yawn is the final rattle of thoughts released!

View on YouTube: https://youtu.be/qPOOz6o2yaE