Hi folks! I'm reposting this because it didn't seem to make the listserv... Raffi ----- Original Message ----- From: Raffi Aftandelian To: OSLIST Sent: Sunday, October 03, 2004 1:01 PM Subject: reflections on Goa
Hi all! I wanted to put in my few words about Goa. It was all I could have wished for and more. It was funny how after the first day I was sad that the OSonOS would be over in two days. By the end of the second day, I was very full, so full that I felt too tired to carry on with the 4th (!) topic I'd posted-- "Personal preparation for OST". One of the Indian participants (Khosro, I believe-- I mix up his name because there's a Persian analog of his name) who'd never been to an OST meeting before, however was curious about this topic. And it was curious to be the one imparting information about OST. Prior to that I'd be the one doing the "downloading", listening to more experienced OST practitioners, challenging them (gently), asking questions. Now, of course, any human exchange is a lot more complex and curious than either "downloading" or "uploading". I took lots of notes and hope to type them up, much to digest for a while. It's hard even to imagine going to Halifax for now. There was so much from this event, and so much ahead in my personal life as many at the event learned. One of the interesting learnings was hearing how Seattle folks, or more precisely the Spiritedwork community there, include the Fourfold Way in opening space. I realized that there were certain OST meetings in the past where I definitely could have used those four practices. As I keep on hearing about the Fourfold Way I realize that it can no longer be a book gathering dust in a box. I need to bring those practices into my life. One thing I somehow never got to say to you Harrison, but I did when we hugged upon meeting on Day One, was how grateful I am to you (and Spirit) for bringing OST to our Now and for bringing OS principles into our consciousness. It is such a gift. And I am so grateful for Janet Pinto's work in making this OSonOS possible. There were so many touches that just left me very grateful. So much care, thoroughness, and thoughtfulness went into the meeting. While I know that some participants felt awkward about the inclusion of the Ganesha celebration in the OSonOS - which I understand-- I really appreciated the invitation to participate in the celebration. And I really valued hearing the story of Ganesha. I left feeling much more confident in my abilities as an OST facilitator. Side remark to all: Shabbir looks like my father; and Zachary looks like my brother!! Also I want to express my thanks to OSI-USA for making it possible to come to Goa. A real gift. I'll be typing up my notes into Russian and sharing them with the OST world here. Warmly from a Moscow bursting with autumn colors (after a beautiful run in Sokolniki Park-- where the tsar and his buddies went falcon hunting in the good old days), Raffi * * ========================================================== osl...@listserv.boisestate.edu ------------------------------ To subscribe, unsubscribe, change your options, view the archives of osl...@listserv.boisestate.edu: http://listserv.boisestate.edu/archives/oslist.html To learn about OpenSpaceEmailLists and OSLIST FAQs: http://www.openspaceworld.org/oslist
