A lively discussion among the seven who attended.
After some of the key elements of the book (see link above) were aired, the discussion brought up the issue of past trauma and how it was often "locked" in the body, physiologically, below conscious awareness, and that the past trauma could be subconsciously driving present behaviour. It was said that the subconscious nature (of past trauma, etc), needed therapy sessions in order to uncover, or bring to light, those subconscious patters.
A question was asked, "can we each not do what Buddha did, sit under a tree and achieve the needed awareness?"
"No (we can't)" was one answer. Which begs the question, was Buddha wrong to affirm "Look within, thou art the Buddha"? That we each have the enormous potential to achieve the necessary insights, as did Buddha, and Jesus (after his sojourn in the desert for 40 days and 40 nights). It was suggested that therapy can often be a means to "give permission" to learn about ourselves. One example was given:
While sitting enjoying a lovely lunch in Balmain, adjacent to Sydney Harbour, I said to my friend, you know Steve, if I were to get up now and walk across the harbour, you'd have people looking out their office windows, and homes, going "holy heck, geez, what the ... well then, let's go do that was well".
People feel they need permission to achieve, but Buddha, Jesus, Gandhi and many throughout history didn't sit around waiting for others to give permission for them to achieve enlightenment, or whatever was significant to them and (subsequently) the world.
We discussed how the past –an example of cancer was raised, and the subject of cancer-support groups– is not helpful when one is determined to heal and be healthy. That the two cannot co-exist in our awareness for optimal effect. As one explained, after the diagnosis, and doing whatever needed to be immediately done, it was a matter of "right, what do I need to do, now, to regain health?" Going to support groups –recounting past trauma, difficulties, pain and related matters– was simply not part of (what was intuitively felt to be) the way forward.
In regards to past trauma, as one emphatically put it, (paraphrasing, in regards to a scenario of nearby bomb explosions) "the bomb blast is now, and it's what we decide NOW about it, that matters, not what it, the blast, triggers about past trauma".
That led to another question being asked, "if it wasn't for the cancer, or the health issues, what would one do with one's day?". It was suggested that diseases and various problems in our lives can give purpose to our lives. That we "fill up" the day with our issues, and dramas, thereby avoiding engaging and creating a more fulfilling future. To illustrate the idea, a quote from the book was mentioned:
‘(Some) people try to make themselves ‘special’ by way of their experience of misfortune, and with the single fact of their misfortune try to place themselves above others.’
That prompted a discussion about swearing, and the purpose thereof. It was suggested that like illness, it's a way of being special, different (not necessarily 'above' as in the quote), and getting attention.
The "if it wasn't for your present ailments and difficulties, what would you do with your day?" was regarded as "a very good question".
The discussion concluded with agreement to explore, next week, more of the idea, "if it wasn't for our present difficulties, what would we do with our lives?"
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