June 2008
The Byron Katie NewsletterEurope, here I come!
I am thrilled to be traveling to Europe this summer. This may be my last visit for a while. The body says "slow down" and mind says "keep going until everyone in the world has The Work." Since I don't know when I will return to Europe, this trip is especially dear to me, and I would love to see as many of you as possible in two of my favorite cities, at two day-long public events:
Amsterdam on Friday, July 18, and
Stuttgart on Sunday, July 20.
Did you know that the nine-day School for The Work in Bad Neuenahr, Germany, July 25-August 3, will have German translation? We have a new translating system, which allows the translation to happen simultaneously as I speak, with no delay (German speakers wear headsets). So they can do The Work with me in real time! We tested it in Spanish at the Miami School, and it was seamless. Registration is open, and I would love to see many many of you come to School for the shift of a lifetime!
I am so grateful to all of you who sent suggestions for things that Stephen and I can do with our grandsons as we see Europe through the eyes of two teenagers.
What fun!
See you in July!
In love, ktP.S. - We are thrilled to announce that a new book will be appearing on October 15.
It's called Who Would You Be Without Your Story?: Dialogues with Byron Katie, and you can pre-order it now.
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Is it True? Our Mind Creates Our Reality
A while back a friend sent me the following quote, from the Indian Buddhist teacher Aryadeva. He wrote this almost 1900 years ago:
"To question that things might not be as they seem can shake the very foundation of habitual clinging. This questioning spirit is the starting point for self-reflection. Could it be that this tightly-knit sense of self is not what it seems? Do we really need to hold everything together, and can we? Is there life beyond self-importance? These kinds of questions open the door to investigating the cause of our suffering.
"The actual practice of self-reflection requires us to step back, examine our experience, and not succumb to the momentum of habitual mind. This allows us to look without judgment at whatever arises, and this goes directly against the grain of our self-importance.
"Self-reflection is the common thread that runs through all traditions and lineages of Buddhist practice. It also takes us beyond the boundaries of formal practice. We can bring the questioning spirit of self-reflection to any situation, at any time. Self-reflection is an attitude, an approach, and a practice. In nutshell, it is a way to make practice come alive for us personally."
Interesting? The old is new, and the new old.
Back to the present. The phone rings.
I say yes or no.
There are not many ways to directly answer people's questions.
And as these answers flow out of what's true for me in this moment, out of this pure power within me, the world is shaped on the other side of the phone, mind is influenced, interpretations form, life moves this way or that as effect, it seems. How else could the world be created?
They say, "It's your fault," and I think, "Isn't it odd that after the fact they would hear a yes or a no in such a way?"
Or they say, "Thank you, thank you thank you," and I think, "Isn't it odd that such power is given to such simple answers, yes or no?"
The world is created as I sit here, it springs into being and is mirrored back to me as life. It's wonderful not to be the doer.
Everything is a story. The mind spins stories out and you believe what the mind tells you. Every time you are stressed out or fearful, you are believing what the mind is telling you. The Work is about discovering what is true and what is not true for you, the difference between reality and imagination.
Loving what is, waking up to you,
ktP.S. - "Hi!" from the School for The Work in Miami (see below)
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The Work in Malawi Continues
Kondwani keeps The Work moving in Malawi.More about The Work in Malawi here and here >>
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A Letter from K
Approximately 5 weeks ago, I was kidnapped, strangled nearly to death, and raped by a man I was very close with for a year. I had finally made a permanent break with him, as he could not seem to stay away from drugs and alcohol. A month passed, and then he acted out on his pain. I can say that now. At the time I was filled with feelings of rage, betrayal, grief, etc., etc.
I immediately sought out counseling, only to be ignored by the local counseling program that was supposed to call me. I kept calling them, as did the victim assistance lady at the D.A.'s office. Still nothing after 3 weeks of me living in hell.
So I contacted an agency in another county, got in to see a therapist immediately. She felt that because I've been in the psychiatric field for years as a registered nurse, and because I actively utilize the spiritual tools offered through the 12 steps of A.A., she was not qualified to help me. She sent me to her mentor and therapist. And he introduced me to The Work. So all that delay was just perfect. I left his office, bought Loving What Is, read it in one day, and immediately applied The Work to the rape. And bingo—immediate and (so far) permanent relief!!! I slept that night for the first time in three weeks, as I was not replaying the mental tape. And when I did, I just laughed!! How powerful is that!! I remain free today from any so-called negative feelings about the whole drama.
Anyway, during this time and my challenge with cancer, one of my constant questions to God has been: what am I supposed to take back into the world with all that I've learned about myself. And the answer is The Work!!!!! I finally have the answer! I can't tell you what area of nursing I will return to when my body heals from the months of chemo. I suspect it may be hospice, but I haven't been given that answer yet.
In love and truth,
K
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The Work in Kansas City
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A Letter from Denmark
Dear Katie,
This is what happened to me after the certification workshop.
In the process of taking care of myself, I went to have a mammography just for prevention's sake. I was called in and had a biopsy taken. I got the results a week later and it was cancer and they wanted to operate on me as soon as possible.
13 days later I went to the hospital. The operation the next day was absolutely amazing - so full of love that I was overwhelmed. They had to put some needles in before the operation to be sure to pick out the right spot (to remove) and I almost fainted from the pain and it was pure love. So many people offered their help and care and support- so I had this picture of an anthill. When you put a stick in there all the ants work together to repair the damage. How deeply we are connected! (This is from someone who did not as far as she knows have that experience as a child.)
Everything looked normal at the operation also the lymph nodes. And I am waiting for the final results from microscopy next week.
Amazing how this cancer - or whatever it is, I don't know - has already given me the experience of love - that there is nothing else than that and how deeply we are connected in this -whatever it is.
In deep gratitude, Katie, for what I have received from you.
Yours always,
P
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The Work in Grass Valley, CA
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Turnaround House: Mallorca, Spain
You can still make an enormous change at the last minute >>
June 20th - July 17th, 2008
Turnaround House
Mallorca, SpainMore events with Byron Katie >>
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Now Available in Paperback
Have you read A Thousand Names for Joy yet? Don't miss it!
A Thousand Names for Joy: Living in Harmony with the Way Things Are is now available in paperback.
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If it feels right to you, please share this email with your friends - kt
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