mindful monday : baba nam kevalam

November 9, 2009 in Uncategorized

It would be hard to fully explain this past weekend's Life is a Verb retreat. An extraordinary gathering of people, a gorgeous space and weather, a shared intention to be more mindful and present, small rocks with messages from the heart left for us to find, birthday cakes, food by Dava the Kitchen Goddess, anonymous angels silently providing gifts we made with our hands and hearts, deep hot sunshine, S'mores made over a tea candle, daily yoga and meditation practice led by a master, explorations of our stories and patterns and the "structures of our land," morning music by a woman with an angelic voice, and love wholeheartedly given and received in doses we all yearn for and deserve.

By Sunday morning, we collectively spoke of the month-and-a-half we had been together since Thursday.

I think it is safe to say that we all filled up our buckets.

We came looking for different things. I believe we left with one understanding beyond all others: Baba nam kevalam. Love is the essence of all things. Love is everything. We are beloved. And we are each others' beloved.

More love.

As Mother Teresa said, "If we are without peace in the world, it is because we have forgotten that we belong to each other."

And so, on this mindful Monday, I offer a small piece of love and meditation.

About Patti Digh

Patti Digh is an author, speaker, and educator who builds learning communities and gets to the heart of difficult topics. Her work over the last three decades has focused on diversity, inclusion, social justice, and living and working mindfully. She has developed diversity strategies and educational programming for major nonprofit and corporate organizations and has been a featured speaker at many national and international conferences.

3 comments to " mindful monday : baba nam kevalam "


Kim Mailhot

November 9, 2009 AT 9:42AM

Wow…can feel the loving glow from here ! What power comes from us joining together in intention and love. Good work, gang !

Cindy Bock

November 10, 2009 AT 6:23AM

Oh Patti,
This realization that ALL is love is a most powerful one. When we all realize that our SELF so craves that love and that love is already there inside us – we will all meet it with an openness to allow that to flow. I for so many years refused to see or aknowledge this place inside of me. Through meditation and redirecting thoughts to my heart, staying out of my mind and continually bringing it to my center, all of it comes round – to love. Awareness of this is most profound and has changed my life. Keeping this huge love of self and life in the closet is over! Thank you for bringing this love to light for others!!

jylene

November 10, 2009 AT 7:38AM

awesome! the retreat sounds just amazing. and i love the quote from Mother Teresa- in fact i borrowed it on facebook.