01:30:17 Stephanie Patil: First time � 01:30:19 Patricia Guerrero: not familiar 01:30:20 Tink: It is new to me. 01:30:22 Susanne Wester: i am new to this 01:30:23 Joyce Chen: Not me 01:30:25 Alison: first time for me 01:30:26 Alice Coelho: I am new to the concept 01:30:27 Glen NYC: unaware of it 01:30:28 Cassie Manley: Me too 01:30:29 iPad : I’m not familiar 01:30:30 Laure -Bordeaux FRANCE: not too familiar 01:30:30 Kevin OToole: First-time practice—Kevin 01:30:33 Vikki: fairly new to me - not my standard practice 01:30:34 Jennifer LaPorte: Not familiar 01:30:34 Ellen De Guerre: Same 01:30:37 Susan A: completely new 01:30:45 Moira: I"m Moira from Argentina 01:30:57 Lavinia Costantino: Currently studying with Susan so mildly familiar with Shamatha Visasyana 01:31:07 Mia: New for me 01:31:27 Susan Tocher: new 01:31:40 marympecaut: Mary from Panama City, Panama Familiar 01:49:33 Joyce Chen: usually I feel sleepy 01:49:42 Joseph Hagler: Do you have an advice if you’re falling asleep? 01:49:43 marympecaut: Im curious why we keep our eyes open as opposed to closing them completely. 01:49:52 Stephanie Patil: glasses? 01:49:54 LoAn NYC (she/her/hers): Can you share more of the open eyes please? Other traditions talked about closed eyes. 01:49:54 Susi M: thank you, this was wonderful! 01:50:01 Eileen Vota: can u tell again how to handle the thoughts 01:50:06 Nanette Bulebosh: Apologize for my dog. She’s a 1-yr old pitbull boxer mix I’m fostering for the local shelter. Mya just doesn’t get the concept of meditation yet. 01:50:08 LoAn NYC (she/her/hers): i do feel awake with eyes open 01:50:15 iPad : Thank you, your voice is soothing 01:50:25 Kathy McMillan: feel like I am not sitting right. No matter what I do, my back always feels "wrong". How straight am I supposed to be? 01:50:31 Sally Wills: I have to Work to keep my eyes open, they so dearly want to close about 1/2 way through...any advice 01:50:44 Sylvia -Houston: I’m not used to meditating with my eyes open. I found I was looking at things 01:50:53 Alice Coelho: When is the best time to use this particular practice 01:51:39 LoAn NYC (she/her/hers): Im on a chair, and have a yoga block to wedge my spine to sit strait 01:51:52 Beth Bloomfield: how best to move past pain sensations 01:51:52 marympecaut: I find if sitting on a chair it helps to move �

to the front of the chair 01:53:14 Joyce Chen: Can I mix different type of meditation? 01:53:47 Marcie Minnesota: We live our lives with our eyes open - LOVE THIS 01:53:49 Crystal GANDRUD: Yuhong Xu has raised hand 01:58:04 Sylvia -Houston: Can you explain the benefit of open eyes 01:58:15 Cathy Lee: If the attention is supposed to be on the out breath, where do I place my attention during the in breath? 01:58:45 Laure -Bordeaux FRANCE: i feel my breath goes through my entire body and it is a liberating freeing sensation. ;) 01:59:34 Paul DeLong: I find the "soft gaze" instruction helpful. 02:00:25 Sally Wills: thanks Erica. your comment on intention was helpful to keep my eyes open too. I’m not new to this practice.... 02:01:38 Laure -Bordeaux FRANCE: yes! 02:01:40 Joyce Chen: yes! 02:01:45 Alice Coelho: yes 02:01:45 LoAn NYC (she/her/hers): yes 02:01:52 Kathleen Aguilar: Yes that is a very helpful answer to stick with it 02:01:52 Mia: Totaly 02:03:11 Sally Wills: sorry but I must leave for a while. thanks Erica. your guidance is awesome. 02:18:50 Sara Parrell: Also need to leave; will return at 10. Thank you. 02:20:09 kate: Sometimes my willingness to stay practicing is low. I think i’m really in my ego-mind and can’t get myself to focus on breath, sense that I don’t rreally want to even though i’d committed to practice 02:21:41 betsyloeb: thank you 02:22:01 Alice Coelho: thank you. that was awesome 02:22:34 Suzanne: Lovely instruction, thank you. Question: I’m irritated by the sounds of my husband moving about the house. Can you speak to irritation? 02:22:59 Ellen De Guerre: Always the challenge...to stick to practice! 02:23:01 Maggie: in labelling my thoughts, I was very startled to notice how many were food related 02:23:06 Marcie Minnesota: Intention to sit with the unpleasantness of this time in life and to not label as good or bad. So difficult, feel I'm failing. 02:23:09 R. David Drucker: kate, it shows that you are aware 02:23:14 betsyloeb: Yes…I think the notion of “intention” is important with motivation. 02:23:24 Sharron: I find it difficult to hold the posture for more than ten minutes. By then my shoulders are feeling stiff/tingly and my mind is more distracted. Does "endurance" come with practice? 02:23:37 Laure -Bordeaux FRANCE: same here. hard to discipline over the years. I think that i was making harder than what it is because of fear of what it means to connect deeper with myself 02:24:14 sandy: I too am sharing space with another non-meditator while attempting to participate. I've determined that sharing space patiently is also a worthy practice and intention. It's a sub- meditation in itself. 02:24:18 Joseph Hagler: It was hard to keep focus, my mind was wandering a lot.. do you recommend counting the breaths for some time just to stabilize the attention? 02:24:27 Kevin OToole: Progress not perfection. We cannot “shame” ourselves, even in our own practice. It’s the practice I am trying to use to get away from judgment 02:24:33 Patricia Guerrero: I find it useful to feel kind to myself even in those occasions when my mind is busy. I congratulate myself with the attempt and try again at a later time 02:24:39 marympecaut: Kate - I’ve found it helpful to ‘free write’ for 10 minutes before I meditate. I basically vomit all of the thoughts in my head on the container of the page… its very liberating… and feels safe to do so… 02:24:42 Theo: @Suzanne - it’s great that you are aware of “irritation”. Perhaps you could bring curiosity to it. 02:26:16 Suzanne: Thank you all for your kind thoughts and suggestions. Erica, excellent reponse! 02:29:40 Jennifer LaPorte: I need to step away. Will return at 11 am EST. Thank you. 02:30:39 Sue in Carpinteria: I’d appreciate a break before the room starts 02:30:49 lisa martin: Yes a quick break would be wonderful 02:31:14 Kathy McMillan: break? 02:32:12 Kevin: Feel free to opt for a quick break amongst your chat room 02:32:13 Crystal GANDRUD: discuss if you need to take a break and allocate the time if necessary 02:34:40 Crystal GANDRUD: We’re in chatrooms now for discussion so if you’ve stepped away and are just now returning, please accept the invitation your chatroom and go with the flow! 03:01:33 Susan Tocher: Thank you for helping me move from head to heart. 03:02:39 Theo: Leah Stretcher can you mute yourself 03:02:53 Sally Johnson: I see Leah is not muted 03:03:29 Cassie Manley: She’s muted now. 03:05:57 Ericka Phillips: You can ‘raise your hands’ digitally by clicking on the ‘participants’ icon at the bottom of your screen. 03:07:07 Cathy Lee: I did not know that, Ericka. Thanks! 03:09:40 Toyo Tsuchiya: I agree with Sue it would be nice to chat afterwards. 03:09:43 Cathy Lee: We did have time to chat after the shares in our group of four. It felt like a good balance. 03:10:01 Kyle Wasserman: we broke the rules too (hehe) 03:10:02 Stephanie Patil: During our zoom coffee hour after Sunday service, small break out groups of 2-3 allowed great exchange. 03:10:05 Rose Ann: It was lovely to be heard without suggestions being offered to help or to ease my discomfort. 03:10:18 betsyloeb: very insightful; i didn’t realize it but i think id like that opportunity as well 03:10:35 Ellen De Guerre: In a contemplative end of life course I'm taking, we did these break out rooms and they allowed 5 minutes after to talk. You could try something like that. 03:10:48 Linnaea - Spokane WA: I have something to share 03:10:55 Susanna: I totally relate to what Sue is saying...I felt like I had lost my voice almost...its been awhile since Ive spoken outloud... 03:10:57 Kathleen Aguilar: I love hearing sharings without cross talk; it's one of the few places in life where people don't jump in to "fix" or "lead" 03:11:04 Nanette Bulebosh: I agree with Rose Ann. Just to be listened to without judgment is powerful. 03:11:04 Marti - Atlanta, Georgia: It would have been great to chat with the folks in my group. Hope you can build that in for next time 03:11:17 Lavinia Costantino: I also felt the need to provide feedback to my group mates. It was difficult to not respond from the heart after they have been so generous in sharing. I would also love to chat more. 03:11:32 Nanette Bulebosh: And I loved the question about how my heart is right now. I hope to remember to ask myself at least once every day. 03:11:51 Teresa's iPad: Yes, I agree. 03:11:51 Mia: Good to put words on what I've experienced concerning both sadness and joy and a deep opening to what is.. 03:13:21 Susanne Wester: For me the question was very helpful 03:13:32 Teresa's iPad: Feeling heard is huge. 03:14:09 Mark Primavesi: I never use the single word "Mindfulness" any more because it is too Western a translation if Chitta. Always I say "heartfulness" or "mindheartfulness" because what I need myself is to focus more on the heart than the mind. Why do most teachers still focus on mind rather than heart? 03:14:37 LoAn NYC (she/her/hers): that’s beautiful Mark P 03:14:48 Mia: Where do we digitally rais my hand? 03:15:02 LoAn NYC (she/her/hers): Mia go to participants 03:15:02 Lavinia Costantino: Meaningful one Mark, thanks 03:15:14 LoAn NYC (she/her/hers): At the bottom, click raise hand 03:15:55 Mia: Aha thank you LoAn! 03:16:07 Cathy Lee: In some cases you have to click on Participants. Then you see a list of participants along with an icon to raise hand 03:29:48 Cathy Lee: Thank you for sharing this, Theo. Very helpful. 03:30:15 Jessica Keefe: Agree. Very helpful; thank you! 03:31:50 LoAn NYC (she/her/hers): thank you Crystal for your summarizing and enhancing the understanding of this Wisdom of Polarity!! 03:31:53 Nanette Bulebosh: Thank you Linnea. 03:31:57 Cathy Lee: We have Next Door in our area too. It really is a mixed blessing! ): 03:32:31 Kevin OToole: @Lineaa—Keep the faith 03:33:09 Theo: @Cathy Lee - Thanks for your kind words and allowing me to share. Much appreciated. 03:33:27 Mike Bramer: Good morning from Nixa, Mo. 03:34:30 Mike Bramer: This has to be considered an opportunity for growth. We have the time to evaluate who we really are, 03:34:53 LoAn NYC (she/her/hers): @Theo, you are embodying your practice by embracing your awareness in daily actions…keep in up friend:) 03:39:05 Theo: @LoAn - Thanks for your kind words. It no longer feels like a choice about whether to be aware or not. It feels like water to the fish. 03:44:55 betsyloeb: please type that word in chat, kevin. thank you 03:47:24 marympecaut: Happy Birthday to us! 03:48:01 Kevin Townley: The protector Crystal mentioned: Mahakala. 03:51:13 Mia: This is sooo interesting 03:51:57 LoAn NYC (she/her/hers): Thank you for recording this and having this teaching again to listen & process! 03:54:11 lisa martin: Thank you for sharing the ritual around being informed. I have been attempting different strategies to keep information manageable and I am going to now enter it as ritual as I sense it will support me 03:54:18 Mike Bramer: Terrific message. we must step outside our isolation. 03:56:21 betsyloeb: This is fabulous…I too have developed what for me was a “schedule” but it felt more as “isolating” vs a ritual that connects for humanity’s well-being 03:56:36 Lavinia Costantino: Crystal have you written anything about this symbolic intepretation of pandemic rituals? I'd like to dig deeper, it's so interesting, thank you 03:57:24 Alice Coelho: So profound Crystal. Thank you 03:57:36 Nanette Bulebosh: I love the idea of washing my hands with dignity and as a protective ritual for myself and everyone else. 03:58:13 Jean-Elv: @same question as Lavina above, Please 04:00:21 Mary Melendez: beautifully said 04:01:19 Leah Strecher: Thank you for putting into words what was so in my heart and wasn’t able to articulate so beautifully! 04:01:46 Theo: This whole experience feels very surreal. 04:01:47 Mia: synchronicity? 04:02:46 Leah Strecher: What was the phrase she said washing hands? 04:04:45 Rose Ann: Leah, I believe it was Compassion/Kindness practice. 04:05:18 Leah Strecher: @Rose Ann, thanks so much! 04:05:38 Rose Ann: You are welcome 04:08:54 Theo: I have had the same experience while walking in Central Park in NYC. My mind has a hard time understanding why people don’t take the social distancing seriously (according to my judging mind). Hmm… 04:09:49 marympecaut: Thay Thich Nhat Hanh has a lovely expression, we inter-are. This virus makes that clear. 04:10:22 kate: love that mary :) 04:11:16 Theo: What man? 04:16:41 Laure -Bordeaux FRANCE: I dont wear mask. I have my reasons, my feelings about it… Take care. I am going to stop for today. 04:30:34 Marti - Atlanta, Georgia: 20 min is a new personal record for me! 04:31:19 kate: I have to eat - see you after. 04:31:24 kate: Thank you all 04:32:24 Kevin OToole: Can someone reflect on the caption: “May they not be separated from the great happiness devoid of suffering” 04:34:05 Cathy Lee: Can you say more about the why and how of focusing on the out breath? 04:34:34 Maggie: sorry but I need to eat. thank you all for your practice and wisdom. 04:36:02 Cathy Lee: Actually I’ll ask my question later. Feeling little saturated, need a break and some food… 04:37:10 Kevin OToole: @Teresa: thich nhat hanh describes like “seeds of consciousness that rise and fall within about 20 minutes and we have to recognize moments and exist with them. They come and go 04:42:46 Theo: I find it helpful to say/think a part of me is experiencing anger. This way another part of me can be compassionate to that other part. In doing this, the anger may not have the opportunity to consume me. 04:44:46 Lavinia Costantino: Theo, I agree. Not identifying with anger is so soothing. I also find Tara Brach's R.A.I.N. approach very useful with difficult emotions 04:47:51 Theo: @Lavinia - Not familiar with RAIN. I will take a look at it. If someone is interested in looking into: https:// www.tarabrach.com/rain/ 04:48:35 Theo: RAIN: Recognize, Allow, Investigate, Nurture 04:49:09 Lavinia Costantino: Theo maybe reading Tara's book Radical Acceptance can be useful too, or Kirstin Neff's work on self- compassion. May we be gentle with our anger <3 04:49:33 Vikki: BEAUTIFULLY SAID 04:50:11 Theo: Mike, BEAUTIFULLY SAID. 04:50:17 Rose Ann: Thank you Mike! 04:50:18 Lavinia Costantino: @Mike that was touching. Feeling the same here in Europe 04:52:17 Theo: Tara's book Radical Acceptance: Embracing Your Life With the Heart of a Buddha https://www.tarabrach.com/store/ 04:52:20 Laure Delmas: About wearing masks, Charles Eistenstein writes beautifully in his text called Coronation (quite long, 15 pages), I can copy the specific quote that I relate to "To reduce the risk of another pandemic, shall we choose to live in a society without hugs, handshakes, and high-fives, forever more? Shall we choose to live in a society where we no longer gather en masse? Shall the concert, the sports competition, and the festival be a thing of the past? Shall children no longer play with other children? Shall

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all human contact be mediated by computers and masks? No more dance classes, no more karate classes, no more conferences, no more churches? Is death reduction to be the standard by which to measure progress? Does human advancement mean separation? Is this the future?"

04:53:35 Theo: Kristin Neff's work on self-compassion https:// self-compassion.org/ 04:57:00 Theo: Wrathful deities have territories? :) 04:58:35 Theo: Thank you Kevin! 04:58:52 Kyle Wasserman: Thank you Kevin! 04:58:53 Yuhong Xu: Thank you Kevin! 04:59:54 Susan Liebman Ladd: Yes, Vipassana meditator here in Los Angles. I tuned in my time zone 9am mistakenly not realizing it was EST 04:59:55 denisebudgen: I need to leave and want to express my gratitude to Ericka Kevin and Crystal and for everyone sharing and being here with this wonderful time ….I have to leave now 05:01:10 denisebudgen: That last message was from Denise in Aus….and I look forward to the next gathering … 05:18:53 Mike-Nixa, MO: It is time for me to go. Thank you. everyone. I find inspiration and peace I the Practice and in your sharing. Namaste 05:24:35 luisa: Thank you every one. Namaste 05:24:56 Rose Ann: Namaste 05:25:19 Theo: I need to go. THANK YOU so much Ericka and Crystal for leading us in practice and everyone else for your presence. I feel really blessed to have experienced this with you all. Namaste. Be safe. Be well. 05:25:20 Kate Lock: Thank you everyone 05:26:31 Kevin OToole: So grateful to be connected to everyone and know that there are people out there resonating with my hopes and practices 05:27:05 Mike: I am sorry, I need to finish at this point, I cannot return this evening. Many thanks for your company and teaching 05:29:18 jozefiendesaever: I just came back in the “meditation room”, what is happening? 05:30:13 jozefiendesaever: Are we taking a break? 05:32:09 Kathleen Aguilar: We are in a phase of the retreat to do something we love to do, perhaps something with sense of ritual, taking care of oneself, and with the sense of protection 05:32:18 Cathy Lee: Yes, we have until the top of the hour for a break, to do whatever we’d like to do—walk, move, eat, read poetry, whatever will be good for us at this point. Do it with a sense of ritual 05:32:20 Kathleen Aguilar: We will all return at the top of the hour 05:32:36 jozefiendesaever: OK, thank you for the update, Kathleen! 05:32:56 jozefiendesaever: And Cathy 06:21:00 Sharron: Just before the end flurry I'll take this time to say thank you so much Crystal, Ericka, Kevin and everyone from around the world!! who was here today. Be well. Be safe. Be at peace. 06:21:37 Sylvia: I ate some lunch and then went for a walk, 06:21:39 Kevin OToole: Did some reading on resources mentioned in the chat column. It was fun! 06:21:44 Laure Delmas: I went for a walk 06:21:44 joi cardwell: took a walk, a shower, and stretched. 06:21:49 Patricia Guerrero: I performed Pilates and PT exercises 06:21:50 Ellen de Guerre: Went for a walk in the sunshine and had a piece of chocolate. It was a walk or nap and I didn't feel tired. 06:21:55 Paul DeLong: fed the birds; enjoyed the space and sunshine of our yard. 06:21:57 Cathy Lee: Stretches and a short nap 06:22:02 Nancy de Guerre: Slow, meditative walk in the sun and chocolate! 06:22:06 lisa martin: Ate lunch and took a hike in the woods behind my house 06:22:11 Kathleen Aguilar: ate chocolate, took a shower and stretched 06:22:13 Kathy McMillan: Walked dog on this sunny day. Found out that my son stopped doing his assignments a couple weeks ago but now he wants the Xbox. So now I'm bad mommy. 06:22:14 leonard.cruz: I was jumping on a trampoline and became aware of my breath and how grateful I am to be able to breathe and practice meditation with the breath! 06:22:16 A: I took a walk in Central Park. 06:22:16 betsyloeb: ate, did laundry & walked the dog…beautiful sunny spring day 06:22:17 Jennifer LaPorte: Started re-reading Mans' Search for Meaning from my bookshelf 06:22:26 Beth Bloomfield: Ate lunch and sat in the sun. It was exactly what my body needed. 06:22:26 Marti - Atlanta, Georgia: I spent time outside and enjoyed the Spring leave 06:22:36 Joyce Chen: check in with my garden 06:22:38 Susan Tocher: Ate lunch and played with my cat. 06:22:41 Richard Edwards / NC: I am fortunate to be in an area where you still can take a walk. A slow even walk through the woods beyond my house. 06:22:47 LoAn NYC (she/her/hers): i used the time to eat and nourish my body; last week I was helping with a half day of mindfulness and this week I get to be in retreat with meal prepared for me by my partner, so I feel nourished in many ways….I also recite silently the meal time contemplations to appreciate the source of the food on my plate. 06:22:48 Alice Coelho: Prepared a healthy stirfry mindfully with the idea that its a ritual for the care and protection of myself and others 06:22:49 Amy: Stretched, a little writing, a little reading 06:22:50 Susanne Wester: i rolled once on the floor and had fun, thank you und I went for a short walk 06:22:52 Deena: Dog walks. It is always a mark in my day, but to think of it as a ritual, between me and my dog was wonderful. I would like to hang onto that. 06:22:56 Stephanie Patil: A snack and short nap with my dog. 06:23:02 Sue in Carpinteria: Ate breakfast, sat in sun. 06:23:04 Claire: Read with tea and started a notebook page about ritual 06:23:05 Rose Ann: I freshened up the flowers on my shrine, made coffee, ate an apple and looked outside at the sun shining. 06:23:24 Vikki: Spent time with my husband who has been graciously keeping cats/dogs entertained quiet so I can enjoy this 06:23:33 Jessica Keefe: Fetched the mail, pet the cat, filled the birdfeeder, wrote in my journal, took a nap. 06:23:44 leighbrennan: Played with my puppy, filled the birdbaths, ate lunch 06:23:50 Melinda & Randy, NS: lol Bad Mommy I feel you! Kids will be kids. 06:23:54 Kathy McMillan: Seems like we all love our puppers! 06:23:55 Alec: Pet my cat while he took a bath, then took a short nap 06:24:09 Jozefien - Belgium: Practised a kind of loving kindness and reading about compassion 06:24:22 Sharron: Ate some good food my body requested, short walk with my dog, smiled at the blue sky and phenomenal fluffy clouds, trees.

06:24:43 susankim: Washed my hair and filled up diffusers with fresh essential oils. 06:26:51 Linnaea - Spokane WA: watched my 9 giant dogs play fight, this time like watching my mind. Allowing. no thinking, no interpretation or projecting stories. I became aware that my body had not tension. neutral. 06:31:54 Ellen de Guerre: We need to protect Mother Earth too...climate change is so connected to this pandemic and to each of us and how we go forward from here. 06:32:06 Kathy McMillan: Ericka and Crystal, I'm wondering if you could run by Susan the idea of setting up small groups that people could join so we get to know each other better and also, there is always someone to reach out to when they're lonely or frightened. 06:32:33 Melinda & Randy, NS: Thatès a wonderful idea 06:46:18 Kevin OToole: @ Ericka: can you mention the name of the practice again? 06:46:42 marympecaut: Prayers of the grandmothers… Perhaps you may appreciate the gathering of 13 indigenous grandmothers from around the globe who describe a spiritual shift… Book its called Grandmothers Counsel the World: Women Elders Offer Their Vision for Our Planet by Carol Schaefer Alice Walker attended the proceedings… 06:47:26 Susan Liebman Ladd: takes the pressure off to realize we are cared for and cheered on 06:48:54 Jessica Keefe: Very powerful Ericka; thank you for sharing this! 06:49:06 Kathleen Aguilar: Thank you Erika 06:49:14 Kate Underwood, Phoenix: Thank you for that beautiful talk. 06:49:20 Paul DeLong: Awesome Erika 06:49:22 Amy: Amazing and powerful, thank you Ericka. So much to thinking about. 06:49:31 Rose Ann: Thank you so much for your teaching today. 06:49:32 Sally Johnson: Thank you Crystal and Ericka for this great day! 06:49:33 Paul DeLong: Hope we get more exposure to your teaching,. 06:49:42 Stephanie Patil: Other lineages that support the current power structure, patriarchy are also venerable in terms of long standing. 06:49:51 luisa: thank you for sharing 06:50:15 Jozefien - Belgium: That was very inspiring, Ericka; you offered food for thought! 06:51:37 Alice Coelho: thank you for the thought provoking very personal stories, Ericka. 06:52:07 Nancy de Guerre: That concept of lineage gives great comfort, safety, community…so beautiful, Ericka. Thank you. 06:52:30 Cathy Lee: I love thinking of my parents, grandparents, aunts and uncles as survivors and protectors. 06:52:34 Lavinia Costantino: @KathyMcMillan totally with you 06:52:58 R. David Drucker: The ancestor protectors are here for us. . . and we are here for the generations to come 06:55:42 Leanna Gilliam: Ericka, can you please write the prayer you shared? Thank you for being here for us today. :) 06:57:54 marympecaut: yes, David… we are here for the generations to come… may that give us hope.. 06:58:58 Cathy Lee: For those interested in following up in a group, there is a What’s App Group. I don’t know if you have to be a member of the Open Heart Project or not. It is on the website under the Community tab, then resources. It is a very supportive group. 06:59:01 LoAn NYC (she/her/hers): Letting go of attachment to end results is a deep practice 06:59:37 Mark Primavesi: Oh Sue! I see your cats! I just have to look at my Mister Cat to answer your questions when they arise in me! 07:01:13 Lavinia Costantino: I can relate Sue, it seems to me so human to be looking for a meaning in all we're going through. 07:01:43 Alice Coelho: That is definitely part of the grief process. 07:02:20 Patricia Guerrero: sue: you just stated something learned. You are human and relate to this human experience despite your preference for cats. You do not to work at this, just being aware is enough 07:02:27 Alice Coelho: What would it mean if you couldn't find meaning and value through this process? 07:02:59 marympecaut: Often ‘meaning’ comes with time… regarding trauma (which for many of us is what we are living) 07:03:05 Sylvia: I have an expectation that i’ll have an awakening or more wisdom 07:04:00 marympecaut: perhaps be ok with not knowing…. for much later you may know….. or not.... 07:04:10 Stephanie Patil: I can’t wait to read the book. 07:04:29 Vikki: A neighbor was commenting he "hadn't figured this out y") 07:04:42 Teresa's iPad: I get u Sue. The teaching “there are no guarantees” used to frustrate me. 07:04:42 Alice Coelho: Its hard to with the pain of hopelessness and no meaning 07:04:45 kate: can you elaborate on how that is part of the grief process? 07:07:57 marympecaut: ‘cannot be expressed but can be experienced’ - thank you Crystal for that... 07:08:59 Stephanie Patil: My sequestered existence feels pointless, yet the point is protect each other by sequestering. 07:09:05 Ericka Phillips: Ana Maria’s prayer: Thankful for everything that came before, that carried me to this now. Necessary. Possible. 07:12:08 Patricia Guerrero: Thank you. I must sign off now 07:15:18 Lavinia Costantino: Ericka, Leonardo: a humble thank you for sharing your perspective. I feel gifted by your heritage and widsom. 07:15:19 Mjq: wow 07:15:29 Mark Primavesi: Ericka, thank you so much for charing that. You are in my heart hoping you will thrive... 07:15:32 Alice Coelho: Ericka, That is so profound and courageous. Thank you 07:16:47 Laura Castor: Thank you so much, both for your words and presence, Ericka and Leonard. 07:16:53 Sara Parrell: Ericka and Leonard, thank you. 07:18:14 Cathy Lee: Yes, thank you for sharing your pain and your sorrow. 07:19:09 Alice Coelho: thank you both for this amazing gift today. 07:19:16 Alice Coelho: It was me, Alice 07:19:50 Alice Coelho: I am going to try and get back to my train of thought 07:20:15 joi cardwell: Finding meaning in the process, so it was worth it 07:20:26 joi cardwell: was what I think the train of thought was 07:20:44 Sue in Carpinteria: Looking for meaning is said to be a stage in the grief process. 07:22:03 LoAn NYC (she/her/hers): thank you so much for the teaching, the participation, and the collective energy of everyone being here for each other. I hope to meet you again in the next retreat(s). Deep appreciation to Ericka and Crystal. LoAn bowing out. 07:22:03 Cathy Lee: Yes, it’s been added as a sixth stage of grief. Just learned that the other day! 07:24:17 Kevin OToole: Thank you for mentioning the 6th stage. Very important 07:24:45 Teresa's iPad: Would it be like trying to get ground like Ani Pema teaches? 07:24:59 R. David Drucker: If I hadn't had the losses I've had and have been grieving them, I would be less able to face this now. Once your heart is broken open, it's easier to be compassionate for what others are suffering and be able to grieve our common losses now 07:25:23 Susan Liebman Ladd: also perpetuates not being enough 07:26:35 Susan Liebman Ladd: beings rather than our conditioned doingness 07:27:15 Sally Johnson: Thank you everyone. A special day and opportunity to do this together. I have to go now. 07:27:17 Susan Liebman Ladd: Being-ness not beings 07:28:39 lisa martin: Thank you Crystal and Erika for this amazing retreat - and thank you all for being present and sharing. I have to leave now - am very grateful for this day 07:29:55 Rhonda Barnett: Thanking everyone warmly for this opportunity. I need to leave now. 07:30:45 Laure Delmas: what is Alice talking about? I don't understand the words she uses 07:31:05 cecileb: silkworms 07:31:20 cecileb: really nice story: thank you! 07:31:27 Susan Liebman Ladd: Wow Alice brilliant thank you!!! 07:31:28 Jessica Keefe: Thank you Ericka, Crystal and the whole sangha for today's retreat! 07:31:30 Laure Delmas: thank you cecile 07:31:32 Paul DeLong: thank you alice, great point well said 07:31:33 Sharron: Alice, what a terrific story. 07:31:33 kate: Great Story! 07:31:43 Cathy Lee: Thanks for that beautiful metaphor, Alice. 07:31:43 marympecaut: Yes great reminder Alice that in observing nature - there are many life lessons… 07:31:52 joi cardwell: Thank you everyone….beautiful day 07:32:11 Glen NYC: thank you for the offering 07:32:17 Rose Ann: Post meditation. Thank you all for being here. 07:32:23 Laure Delmas: Thank you so much, to you Erika, Crystal and Alice for your last input. I feel blessed to have participated in this retreat. 07:32:44 Janet's iPad: I joined late after work, however I’ve loved every minute. 07:32:45 betsyloeb: crystal please repeat 07:32:48 Ellen de Guerre: Thank you Crystal, Ericka and everyone for a thought-provoking and day full of presence and compassion! Loved it!! 07:33:11 Mary Crowley: Thank you everyone. this was great 07:33:27 Cathy Lee: Thank you so much for this practice, wisdom, and time… 07:33:37 cecileb: Thank you everyone: what a beautiful experience! so happy to have shared this moment... and be able to watch passages again :-) lots of loving-kind thoughts to you all! 07:33:44 marympecaut: Where am I benefitting from the prayers of my ancestors? Great question. THANK YOU 07:33:48 Sara Parrell: can you type the questions here?

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07:33:49 Alice Coelho: Thank you all for the connection. thank you Ericka and Crystal for the amazing wisdom 07:33:52 Janet's iPad: Thanks so much, you are all wonderful! xox 07:33:54 Linnaea - Spokane WA: thank you Ericka and Crystal. and everyone else for connecting together today. 07:34:08 Tink: Very worthy time, thank you. 07:34:08 Beth Bloomfield: This has been so incredibly helpful. I hope that this will be a step toward spiritual coherence. Thank you so much to Ericka and Crystal and for your time, energy, and opening up your heart spaces to us. 07:34:24 Lavinia Costantino: This retreat has been amazing. I hope to have more with you Ericka and Crystal, Thank you everyone. 07:34:37 marympecaut: Thank you Ericka, Crystal, and all you wonderful participants. Thank you Open Heart for this opportunity. Blessings to you all! 07:34:43 Susan Tocher: Thank you for all you have created in this retreat. 07:34:52 Jozefien - Belgium: Feeling deeply grateful and blessed by our interconnectedness. Thank you all. 07:34:55 Jean-Elv: What a gift today! Thank you Crystal, Ericka and Alice 07:35:27 betsyloeb: thank you 07:36:13 Laura Castor: Thank you, Crystal and Erika and the Open Heart Project. 07:36:19 Amy: Thank you Crystal and Ericka! 07:36:22 Toyo Tsuchiya: Thank you so much Crystal and Erika for a profound practice 07:36:22 kate: Thank you 07:36:23 Sharron: Blessings and gratitude to all. 07:36:24 Nancy de Guerre: Thank you for sharing your heartfulness. 07:36:25 marympecaut: Namaste 07:36:31 LB: 07:36:34 Sara Parrell: Deep thanks. 07:36:48 Lavinia Costantino: May we all be safe, loved, at peace. 07:36:52 Ericka Phillips: thank you all 07:36:56 Ericka Phillips: big love! 07:36:59 Jozefien - Belgium: so nice to see all your faces! 07:37:11 Susanne Wester: Thank you, myheart is spacious and it does not hurt at this Moment, i am grateful, Susanne from Wiesbaden, Germany