Crossing the Bridge: Reflections from a Brahmavihārās Retreat

Sep 9
2 min read

Updated: Oct 27

True teachers are those who use themselves as bridges over which they invite their students to cross; then, having facilitated their crossing, joyfully collapse, encouraging them to create their own.

~ Nikos Kazantzakis

This past weekend, 22 of us gathered at the Mount Madonna Retreat Center. Nestled high among the redwoods, it overlooks the vast embrace of the valley. We came together for our Myndtree retreat, Tending the Garden of Your Heart, to explore the Brahmavihārās, the four boundless abodes of the heart.

After years of teaching on Zoom, it was a joy to meet in person again. We shared silence, breathed the same air, and felt the subtle transmission that only happens face-to-face. What moved me most were the quiet “aha” moments. I could see the spark in someone’s eyes when a complex idea took root. What felt abstract became steady and real. These moments remind us that teaching is less about giving answers and more about creating space for realization. They signify that the bridge has been crossed, and the path is now one’s own.

Ultimately, the bridge is an act of love. It is temporary, generous, and unpossessive. To be such a bridge is to trust the unfolding of others. It means releasing control and delighting in their freedom. Then, we step aside, ready to walk again, until it is our turn to be carried by the bridge of another. It is my aspiration to be such a teacher.

We return now with hearts a little more open. We carry these seeds of love, care, joy, and balance into the rhythms of everyday life. May what was touched here continue to ripple outward, offering healing, presence, and peace for all beings.

Sharing a few pictures from our time together fills me with gratitude. I am thankful for the beauty of Mount Madonna, the circle of community, the grace of my teachers, and the timeless teachings that guide us home to the heart.