The Method in Madness Institute

Always have tremendous kindness for yourself.

You'll get a lot more writing done.

NATALIE GOLDBERG

The beginner's mind is the mind of compassion.

SUZUKI ROSHI

The second event in the MiMi Fall 2024 ZEN & REREADING writing season will build on the first one - even though you can also attend it as a stand-alone Retreat.

In October, we saw how Writing Down the Bones defines writing practice "as a Zen practice," a Zen "study of the mind." It invites us to reread notebooks as if we're studying THE mind rather than our own, personal mind, Natalie Goldberg explained.

How to study the mind?

First, Suzuki Roshi's classic Zen Mind, Beginner's Mind shows, we need to study the teachings, the Zen "view," because that provides us with a perspective on how the mind works. Meditation means experimenting with that view to examine whether or not it applies to us, too, in the same way a scientist tests a hypothesis in a laboratory.

The SUNDAY NOVEMBER 17 Retreat will zoom in on one of the most important concepts of any Zen practice: compassion.

A beginner's mind is the mind of compassion, Suzuki Roshi writes. So what does "beginner's mind" mean more precisely? How to practice it? And how to apply it concretely during rereading?

That's what we'll see during the Compassionate Rereading Sit Walk Write Retreat this Sunday.

The Retreat will alternate meditating, Natalie Goldberg-style writing practice, breakout rooms, the study of passages from Writing Down the Bones and Zen Mind, Beginner's Mind, and a closing discussion.

PRACTICAL INFO

The event begins at

9 am PT, 10 am MT, 11 am CT, 12 pm ET, 5 pm UK, 6 pm Paris-Amsterdam

and ends 3.5 hours later.

FEE: 49 USD

A recording of the retreat will be available within about two weeks after the event.

The MiMi Scholarship Fund has a limited number of places for those who need financial assistance to be able to benefit from our community's activities too (see below).

This is only possible thanks to the generosity of our donors, so if you can afford it, please add a donation to your order during checkout. Every little bit helps!

FOR WHOM?

MiMi retreats are open to anyone interested in writing, literature, and mindfulness. No meditation or Natalie Goldberg writing practice background is necessary. Whether you're a seasoned writer or simply curious about the intersection of mindfulness and writing, this event is open to any level of experience. All that's required is an open heart and a willingness to explore.

FACILITATOR

Anja Van Rompaey is a published author, philosopher, and certified Trauma-Sensitive meditation teacher (trained in teaching Jon Kabat-Zinn's MBSR, Mark Williams' Mindfulness, and Jack Kornfield and Tara Brach's Awareness meditation programs). She led the writing practice community EU Writing Down the Bones for more than four years and founded The Method in Madness Institute (MiMi), a MindX SRL division dedicated to helping participants learn how to meditate, read the classics in world literature, philosophize, and use writing practice as an authentic Zen "study of the mind" - or to take their practice to the next level.

At present, Anja teaches The Compassionate Writing Year program and a weekly seminar on Suzuki Roshi's Zen Mind, Beginner's Mind. Passionate about writing, reading, mindfulness, and sharing her knowledge and expertise wherever possible, she has organized over fifty half-day and full-day online Sit Walk Write Retreats. She's currently a student of Mingyur Rinpoche.

 To apply for a scholarship click HERE. 

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We guarantee a full refund until 24 hours before the day of the event.