1

MindfulnessandBodyfulnesswithInterPlay:Aneleven-yearInterPlayjourney

KairaJewelLingo

IbringInterPlayintomyteachingandpracticeofmindfulnesseverychanceIget.OnretreatsordaysofmindfulnessorwhenIsharemindfulnesswithkidsinschools,italwaysrefreshesandinspiresandIseealightinpeople'seyesandabounceintheirstepthatwasn'ttherebefore.Theyaremoreconnectedtoeachotherandtothemselvesandtheycanseelifeinanewandmorehopefulway.Thereisalwayslaughterandasenseofdiscoveryandcuriosity.Itishealinginthebestofways,becauseitissubtle,unassumingandhasnoagendaexcepttocreatefunandjoy.IamsogratefulforthemanypreciousmomentsofmeaningandtransformationithasbroughttomylifeandthatofsomanyotherswithwhomIhavesharedit!

IamdeeplygratefulfortheroleofInterPlayinmylifeandmindfulnessteaching.IthasbroughtpowerfulgiftsandtransformationtomeandtothethousandsofpeopleIhaveshareditwithoverthelastelevenyears.IncelebrationofInterPlay’s25thanniversaryIwanttosharemyjourney.

2

BeginningsIn2005,mygoodfriend,GretchenWegner,visitedmewhenIwaslivingasaBuddhistnunatDeerParkMonasteryinsouthernCalifornia.ShehadjustattendedaSecretsofInterPlayweekendwithPhilandCynthia.Sheshowedmethespiral-boundbookexplaininghowInterPlayworkedandIwasimmediatelyintriguedasIhadabackgroundindanceandtheaterandhadbeenlookingforwaystobringmoreofafocusonthebodyintomyspiritualpractice.IreadthroughitandsoonbeganofferingweeklyInterPlayclassesforsmallgroupsoffriendswhoweregametotrysomethingnewafterourSundaysofMindfulnessforthepublic.Iwasamazedathowdeepwecouldgo.Irememberdoingaone-handdanceonbehalfoftheconcernsofaperfectlybaldwomandyingofcancer.HerfacewaswetwithtearsasIdancedandhereyesradiantasshesharedwithmeafterwardshowmuchsolaceandacceptanceshefeltwitnessingthemovement.Oneafternoon,inanimprovisedcirclestorysittingaroundanelegant,fakemarbleplantstand,itcamealiveasourelephantleg,eachofusaddingdelightfulandpoignantdetailsofhowitfunctionedandmanagedtocometous.Therewasalwayslaughterandthefreshbreezeflowingthroughallofusofimprovisinginspeech,movement,storytelling,song,andrealizingwewerefullofinnovationandcreativity,individuallyandasagroup.Nomomentcouldeverberepeated!OurlayfriendsandvisitorswereespeciallydelightedthataBuddhistnun,withheadshaved,inlong,serious-lookingbrownrobeswasinvitingthemtobeirreverentandgoofy,encouragingthemtoexpresstheir‘eviltwin,’totricktheirpartnerinhand-to-handcontactorruninthemeditationhall!Dancingfreelytomusicwithabeat!Whenbumpingintoeachother,exclaiming‘thankyou’ratherthan‘sorry.’Thoughthemonasterywasalreadyfulloflaughterandease,itwasalsoaplaceofmuchritual,strictschedules,andclearroles.Itwasincrediblyfreeingforpeopletojustspeakoffthetopoftheirheadsaboutasuggestedtopicinbabbling,withouteditingthemselves,simplybeingthemselveswithoutworryingaboutwhatothersthought.Fromtimetotimeafewofthemoreadventurousmonksandnunswouldjoininthesegatherings,butIwasusuallytheonlymonastic.Onpaperrippedoutofanotebook,Imademyselfacheat-sheetwithsummariesofhowtoleadthewarmup,walk-stop-run,hand-to-handcontact,one-handdance,followingandleading,babbling,stillnessexercises,andcirclestories.Istillhaveandusethese2sheetsofwornandcarefullyfoldedpaper,carryingthemwithmeonallmymanytrips,abitbatteredafter11years,butstillveryclear.IledtheseregularclassesfortwoyearsinDeerParkuntilImovedtoPlumVillagemonasteryinFrancein2007.WhenImovedtotheEuropeanInstituteofAppliedBuddhism(EIAB)inGermanyin2008,Ihadrecentlybeenordainedadharma

3

teacherbymyteacher,ZenMasterThichNhatHanh,andwasbeginningtodesignandleadmyownretreatsattheEIABandinotherplaces.IbegantomakeInterPlayaregularfeatureofthesemindfulnessretreats.Participantsalwaysenjoyedthemandseemedtoopenuptoeachothermuchmoreeasilyaftertheseonetotwo-hoursessions.Artists’RetreatsandCreativityRetreatsWhileinGermany,Ibegantoleadanannualweek-longmindfulnessretreatforartistswhereIsharedInterPlayformsthroughout.Attheendofeachretreat,weheldanimprovisedperformancewithparticipantsandaudiencememberscominguptoexploreimprovising:toshareabigbodystory,DT3,orfollowingandleadingasagroup.IsawclearlyhowtheInterPlayformshelpedeveryonefeellighterandtakethemselveslessseriously,andhowparticularlyforartists,itallowedthemtogetintouchwiththeircreativeimpulsewithoutself-consciousness,withoutgettingcaughtbytheinner-critic.Oneoftheparticipants,anactor,toldmeitwascomingtothefirstartists’retreatthatgaveherthecourageandinspirationtoreturntothestageafterafallowperiodofsomefiveorsixyears.TheninOctober2011,IspentoneweekinOaklandwithGretchen,studyingatInterPlayce,andhadtheopportunitytomeetPhilandCynthiaforthefirsttime.IcamebecauseIneededtohonemyskillsandlearnmoreformsinordertogetreadytoteachaweek-longcourseattheEIAB,SpiritualPlayandMindfulImprovisation,withadozenorsoparticipants.ThiswasthefirsttimeInterPlaywastheprimaryfocusofoneofmyretreats,andIneededmanymoretoolstobeabletoteachitseveralhoursadayfor6daysstraight.Theschedulestillincorporatedthecoreofamindfulnessretreat:morningsitting,mealsinsilence,outdoorwalkingmeditationforanhoureachmorning,aswellasmydailydharmatalksonimprovisationandtheintersectionsbetweenplayandspirituality.Whatwasradicallydifferentwasthatforseveralhoursaday,ourmindfulnesspracticewasgettingintouchwiththewisdomofthebodythroughplay,movement,storytellingandsong.Irememberonedayonthiscoursewewenttothelocalcemetery.Everyonehadsomesolotimetofindagraveandconnectwithwhattheyfeltthere.Theyweretolistentowhateverthegraveorpersonburiedtherewantedtoofferusasamessagetotheliving.Thentheyweretocreateashortperformancebasedonthisinspiration—abigbodystory,DT3,song,orpoem.Asagroupwewentaroundtoeachperson’sgravetowitnessthem.Itwasapoignantandmemorablereflectionandmeditationonhonoringthedeadandcelebratinglife!Aspartofthe2012artists’retreat,IinvitedtheparticipantstojoinmeatmyweeklymindfulnessclassatthelocalhighschooltoshareInterPlay.Itwasablast!Wehadlivemusicfromourartistmusiciansandweplayedtogetherwithjoyfulabandon.Theschoolteachersaidthatbabblinganddancingwithherstudentswasthefirsttimesheinteractedwiththemoutsidetheteacher-studentroleanditwassohealing

4

andrefreshingtoher!Inthatparticularclass,thestudentscamealivelikeIhadneverseenbefore.In2013,UlrichReisbergandItaughtacourseattheEIABontheBuddha’sDiscourseonLoveusingInterPlayandDharma-DramatoexplorethiscentralBuddhisttext.(Dharma-DramaisbasedonBiblio-Drama,whichusescontemplativebody-basedformstoexploretheBible).Itwasabeautifulblendingoftwoimprovisational,creativeanddeeplyspiritualformsthathelpedustoreallyembodythetextandunderstanditviscerally,intheflesh.Oneparticipant,MichaelSchweitzer,aGermanpastorinhis70s,hadthistosayaboutthecourse,“SisterJewelinfecteduswithherwayofdancing.Withhersensitiveunderstandingsheofferedusplayfulmeanstoexpressourinnermostfeelings.Sheencouragedustotryoutnewwaysofmoving,allowingeachofustoimproviseinourownuniquestyles.TheDiscourseonLovestartedtomoveusfromwithin.Webecameeachothers’Discourse.“Formeitwasexactlythisplayfulapproachthathelpedmefindagreatinnerlightness.TheEsseneshaveasaying:HewhodoesnotlettheAngelofJoypassby,cannotreachtheKingdomofHeaven(whichisinus).Maybeonecouldalsosay:onlywithalightheartcanwefindandopenthedoortotheDiscourse.“Itwasthatwayforme.Muchofthecoursetouchedmeverydeeplyallatonce.SeeingaparticipantexpressherinnermostselfwordlesslythroughdancemovedmesomuchthatIcouldn’tstopcrying.Thereisapurityandperfectioninuswhichsometimesshowsitselfunexpectedly.Oftenitislikethis:onlybyexpressingsomethingdowebecomeconsciousofit.“Theweekendskillfullyenabledthistohappen...Iwillneverforgethowmuchmorealivesomeofourfaceslookedattheendofthecourse.”ThatsameyearIofferedaweekendcourseonReleasingStressthroughPlay,whichwasmostlyInterPlayformswithintheusualstructureofmindfulnesspracticesatthemonastery.Some20peopleattendedandwhensomeofthemarrived,theysharedtheywereliterallydesperatetoplay!Therearesofewplacesinourworldthatinvitethisqualityinadults!Itwasajoyful,transformativeweekend,andyoucouldseeonpeople’sfaceshowmuchlighterandmoreconnectedtheyfeltattheend.InterPlayinItalyIn2014,onateachingtourinItaly,Iledaretreatfor100peopleinSicily.Manyofthemwereelderlyanddidn’tseemtobeveryfreeintheirbodies.IwasalittleapprehensiveabouthowtheywouldrespondtotheInterPlaysession,asitwas

5

completelyunfamiliarterritoryforthem.ItwouldalsobemyfirsttimeleadingInterPlaydirectlyinItalian!Ihadmynotestranslatedandprintedout.Iwassurprisedathowopenthegroupwastoeveryform—theyfollowedallmysuggestionsimmediatelywithgreatenthusiasm,withoutbeingintimidated.Talkaboutecstaticfollowing!Itwasactuallylikebeingwithlotsofundercover,boisterouschildren!Iwasalsoveryinspiredbywhatparticipantssharedduringthenoticing;theeffectsofthemovementwereremarkable.Ihaveneverseenagroupbreakintospontaneousapplauseinresponsetosomeone’snoticing!Thishappenedafterawoman,whowasquiteoverweight,saidthatnormallyshedoesn’thavetheopportunitytoexperienceherselfaslight,becauseofhowheavysheis.Butduringtheone-handdance,sheexperiencedsuchlightnessandease!Themovementallowedhertotranscendthephysicallimitationsthatusuallybindher.Eventhepeoplewhopreferredtoremainseatedinchairscoulddotheone-handdanceandthegroupdancewhilesitting.Theywereincludedalthoughtheycouldn’tmovefreelyaroundtheroom.Everyone,eventheelderlyparticipants,wereopentotryingsomethingnew!OnaretreatinVenice,Elvira,amiddle-agedparticipantwhoisnearlyblind,shared,“BeforebeginningtheInterPlaysession,twopeopleaskedmewhyweweredoingthis.SoIexplainedtothemthatthroughthegamesitiseasiertoestablishtrustandconfidenceineachother,becausewiththegamesitseasiertoexpressjoy.Andassomeonesaidattheendofthesession,ithelpedustobelikechildrenagain.Orexpressthepartofusthatisstillachild.“IfeltmuchlighterandIhadfunwithothers,andIfeltthateveryonefeltgreatjoyinparticipatinginthegames,whichwerenotreallygames.Sowecouldreallyletthatpartofourselvesgo,thatpartofusthatwemostlykeepcovered,hidden,butthatalsohasthepowertohealus.Ifeelthatitsveryimportanttogiveimportancetothespontaneoussmile,tovitalplayingthatisinsideofusinaspiritualretreat,oraspartofourspiritualpractice.Duringtheone-handdance,itwasasifthehandmovedbyitselfandIwaswatchingitfromanotherplace.Itwasverycreativeasagame.“FormeitiseasiertodothiskindofthingbecauseIhaddonesimilarthingsinothersituations.Ifeelitssomethingthatshouldbearegularpartofmindfulnesspractice.Itisveryimportant.Atothertimesduringtheretreat,Isawthatsomepeopledidn’tliketojoininthesinging,itwashardforthemtodoit.ButduringInterPlaytherewasnoonesittingonthechairswatching,everyonewasabletojoinin,totryitout.Everyoneinthegroupparticipatedveryopenly,withgreatheart,andveryjoyfully.Doingonlymeditationwithouttryingotherthingsisabitdangerous,itsheavier,andwithInterPlay,itbecameplayful,andthiscamefromtheheart,notbecausepeopleweretoldtodoit.”InterPlayandDiscernment

6

In2013IfeltcalledtotakeayearsabbaticaltogivemorespacetothequestionofwhetherIwantedtohaveafamilyandperhapsleavemonasticlifeafternearly15years.Holdingthisquestionwasa4-yearjourneyalltogetherandtheconnectiontoInterPlaywaskeyinhelpingmenavigatethisprocesswithclarityandconfidence.Asmyidentityof‘Sr.Jewel,theBuddhistnun’begantoslowlybreakapart,andtherewasnotyetaclearreplacementofwhoIwastobecome,InterPlaywasalifelineforme.Itwasapartofmethatwasnotindigenoustothemonastery.InterPlaywasamore‘worldly’communitythatIalsobelongedto.Havingthislinktosomethingoutsidethemonasterysupportedmetoridethewavesandbravethestormsoflettinggoofmymonasticidentity.LeaderTrainingandlearningwithCynthiaAbigpartofthisexperiencewastheopportunitytoworkwithCynthiaasamentorandbeginInterPlayleadertraininginearly2014.TheregularSkypecallswithCynthiaempoweredmetoreallytakemyselfseriouslyasanInterPlayleader,toclarifyquestionsandappreciatesubtlernuancestotheartofbodywisdom.IamverygratefultoBodyWisdomforfacilitatingmeto‘walkinanunusualpath’onmyjourneyofleadertraining,givenmyuncommoncircumstances.CynthiagenerouslyhonoredmypreviousexperienceleadinggroupsasaBuddhistDharmaTeacherandalsomadeexceptionsgivenmyinternationalteachingschedule.Thus,fromearly2014toAugust2015,Iwasabletocompletetheleadertraininginamoreeclecticwaythanisusuallydone.ItwasonlyinleavingthemonasterythatIwasabletomakespaceforthistrainingthatwassoimportanttome.Andinturn,doingthetraininginInterPlayprovidedarealspacetocultivateconfidenceinthisnewmeIwasbecomingthatwasfreetoleadandgrowoutsideofthegroupnormofthemonasticcommunity.CynthiaandIreflectedonthechallengessomeparticipantsIwasencounteringhadwithphysicalcontactinInterPlay.ShedrewonherownexperiencewithSoyinkaRahimsharingInterPlaywithmeninanOaklandhomelessshelterandhowtheystruggledwithallowingthemselvestobevulnerableincontact.Icouldalsounpackwithherthenegativeexperiencesafewfolksinmyworkshopshadwithcontact,becausetheirwoundedplacesweretriggered.Ibroughtupaquestionaboutcreatingsafespace.Cynthiasaidshespeaksofbeingsecurevs.beingsafe.Shesaid,“Idon’tbelievewecancreate‘safetyfromsomething.’It’sapolarity.Howdoesbodyknowitssafe?It’sdifferentforeachbody.Wecan’tofferorguaranteesafety.Butwecanoffereachbodythechancetofindasecurespaceinsideitself.Thebasicformswe’reteachingareimplicitpractices.Wedon’tsayinInterPlaythatweneedtofindasecureplaceandrespecteachother,wejusttakeitforgrantedthattheseareimplicitwhenbodiesaredoingcertainthings.”PlayasSoul-retrieval

7

IwasintriguedwhenshebegantospeakofhowpowerfulInterPlayisatasoullevel.Shespokeofsoul-lossandsoul-retrieval.Herearesomeofmynotesfromwhatshesaidinthisconversation:“Thereare5keywaysourbodiesknowthings:Movement,Voice,Stories,StillnessandConnection.Wecan’tgetalltheinformationweneedjustoutofseeingandsmelling.Wehavetogettheinformationthroughmovingandvocalizingaswell.“Onretreats,wehavepeopleinasoulplace,whichistheirmostvulnerableplace.Thesefivewaysarehowpeopleindigenouslyknewtheirsoulwasintact,healthy,andwhentheyhadsoul-loss,whentheydisassociated.Ashamancouldgotoafamilyandask,“Whendidso-and-sostopdancing?”Itwasobvious,becausesomethingmusthavehappenedatthattime,amotherdiedorsomeothermajorlosslikethat.Thentheshamanwouldknowthat’swheretheshockcamefromandthey’dusebodywisdompracticestoshakeandre-setthisintrancetogoandretrievethatscared,beautifulpartandbringitback.“OurWesternculturehasgenerationsofsoul-lossandbecausewedon’tliveinasinginganddancingculture,wedon’tknowwhenithappens.ThisishappeningallovertheWestandevennowinAsiaandIndia.AtleastpeopleinEasternculturesarestilldancing.Theirsocietysupportsthem.ButinUSwedon’thavethat.Wheneversomeonefreezesorcan’tgoforward,it’slikelynotjustaheadthing,butpartoftheirlineageorsomechallengethey’vehad.They’vehadtotakethattendersoulandmoveitofftheproperty.Sotheysometimeshavedepression,orasenseofover-intellectualizing,anoverdoingofvariousthingsbecausetheyhadtosendthebeautifulpartofthemselvestoanotherplace.“Justbyofferingplay,weareofferingsoul-retrieval.WithInterPlay,weletgoofsignsforthemindtograbholdof,thisispartofawholesystemofusrememberinghowtobreathe,howtositwithease.Wehavetohavethesupportofeachofthefivewaysofthebody.“Voiceisimportantbecauseitisconnectedtobreath.Ifourvoiceisstuck,thenthebreathistoo.Voiceandbreatharethesamething.”HearingthesereflectionsgaveconcreteexpressiontowhatIknewinmygut,andofferedmoreofapsychologicalunderpinningtotheexperienceparticipantskeptreportingoverandover.InterPlaywaslikecomingtoacool,refreshingfountainwhenpeopleweresothirsty!LearningfromotherInterPlayleadersIn2014IalsowasabletodosomeoftheLifePracticeProgramwithSheilaCollins,andparticipateinInterPlayleadertrainingweekendswithPhil,TomandGinnyinAtlanta.Ibenefittedgreatlyfromthein-depthanddecades-longInterPlayexperienceoftheseseniorteachers.Theirhumor,lightness,andfirm,clearbutnon-authoritarianstylewasveryinstructivetome.AftersomanyyearsinwhichIonly

8

ledInterPlay,beingwithseniorteacherswithdifferentstyleshelpedexpandmyfamiliarroutinesandgetoutofsomerutsinmyteachingstyle.Andjustplayingwithotherleaders-in-trainingtaughtmealotaboutmyselfandIbenefittedfromtheinvitationtoputmyselfoutthereinever-newandunfamiliarways.In2014,Ialsoattendedmyfirstleaders’gatheringinRacine,WI.Thatwasamazing!ToplaytogetherwithsomanyotherInterPlayleadersforthefirsttime,tobeledbyPhilandCynthiaforfourdaysstraightwasahugetreat!UsuallyIwasalwaysinthepositionofteachingInterPlayandnearlyalwayswithpeoplenewtoInterPlaysoitwashardtobuildonsomethingwe’ddonebefore.WithPhilandCynthiawedidsomanynewformsI’dneverheardofbefore,andthemovingandsingingwithotherexperiencedInterPlayersnourishedandsatisfiedmeinwaysIdidn’tevenknowIneeded!ItwasinspiringtolearnhowInterPlayhaddevelopeditsownspecialflavorsalloverthecountryandtheworld,andespeciallyhowotherswereusingInterPlayinhealingtrauma,forsocialjustice,andasburn-outpreventionforhealthcareprofessionalsinthe‘InterPlayWay’withCathyAnnBeaty.Thentherewasthepowerfulcommunitybuildingthatwentonamongusall:thelovinghugs,heart-to-heartconversations,the‘GwaceOpewatives’—ourGraceOperativesecretgiftexchange—thesewereallopeningmetothevastdiversity,beautyandpowerofthebig,wideInterPlayworld.AndIknewIhadafamily,acommunity,Ibelongedtointhiscreativeandlovinggroup.AtlantaInterPlayFamilyBecauseIwasspendingregulartimeinAtlantawithmydadandforInterPlayLeaderTraining,arealfamilyfeelingalsobegantodevelopamongtheInterPlayAtlantacommunity,withJenniferDenning,Christine,Ruth,andothers.Wevisitedeachother’shomes,whereweplayedtogether,andJenniferandIleadanInterPlayandmindfulnesseveningonstillnessasweenteredtheholidayseason,atthelocalShambhalacenter.MydadbegantoattendtheInterPlayclassesandevenjoinedtheperformancegroup!Itwasgreattobeabletosharethispracticewithhimbecausehewasstrugglingwithmyleavingthemonastery.Thelight-heartedInterPlayformsweweresharinghelpeduswiththegriefwewerebothexperiencingovermyimminentdisrobing.AndwebothgainedanewInterPlaycommunitythathelpedtoeasethelossthatwefeltofourmonasticcommunity.IrememberoneclassJenniferled,inwhichIreallyexperiencedthetherapeuticpowerofInterPlay.Jenniferhadusdo‘Icouldtalkabouts’(ICTA)withapartneraboutthechallengesandthejoysofthecomingholidays.Itwasn’ttillIstartedtalkingandlisteningtomypartner,thatIgotintouchwithhowafraidIwasoffacingtheholidayswithoutthemonasticsanghaaroundmeforthefirsttimein15years.Ihadbeenunawareofalow-levelsadness,fearandconfusionaboutitthatwasjustbelowtheradar.TheInterPlayclasshelpedmeseeitandjustbewiththediscomfortofit.Icouldexform,Icouldmoveitthroughmybodyandbegintoholditmorelightly.IcouldaffirmallthegoodinmylifeandthatIwasgoingtobeabletospendChristmaswithmybloodfamilyforthefirsttimein15years!Attendingtheclasswassuchareliefandwasaskillfulinterventionduringadifficultmoment.

9

NowmydadisdoingtheLifePracticeProgramwithJenniferDenningandjoiningintheAtlantaInterPlayworkinawomen’sprison.IfeelsogratefulforthewaythisconnectiontoAtlantaInterPlayershasreinvigoratedmydad’slifeandofferednewandmeaningfulwaysforhimtoengagewithothers.Irememberonceafterwatchingabeautifuldanceperformance,mydadsaid,thathefelthehadmissedhisvocationinlife.Hefeltheshouldhavebeenadancer.Well,throughInterPlayheisgettingasecondchance!Nearlyeveryweekhehastheopportunitytofeedhisinnerdancer.Soatage80heisprovingthatitisnevertoolate!InterPlayatSchumacherCollege,2015Inearly2015,IspentfourmonthsasSpiritualPractitionerinResidenceatSchumacherCollege,anecologicalpostgraduateschoolintheUK.IhadmanyoccasionstoshareInterPlaythereinshort-termcoursesItaughtandaspartoftheyear-longMaster’sDegreecourses.WiththeMasters’studentsintheEcologicalDesignThinkingMajor,IfacilitatedaconversationonRightLivelihood,theBuddha’steachingonethicalworkandemploymentthatavoidsharmothersandtheenvironment.IsharedtheexperientialInterPlaypracticeofInternalandExternalAuthority.Wegotintogroups,eachwithnewsprintandmarkers.Firstwebrainstormedtheexternalmessageswe’dreceivedaroundworkandlivelihood.Wesharedthemwitheachother.Thenwebrainstormedtheinternalexperienceandinsightswehadarrivedatonourownaroundworkandlivelihood.Wehadalivelyanddeeplypersonaldiscussionaboutthisandtheylovedit!Asthereweremanytalentedmusiciansandmusic-loversattheCollege,oneweekendnightIofferedaneveningofjustvocalpracticesfromInterPlay.Atonepoint,everyonewaslyingonthefloorimprovising‘singinglike’countrymusic,thenrockandroll,thenheavymetal.Thenthenextmomenttheyslidovertocurlupwithapartnerandsingthemalullaby.Therewasafreshnessandalivenesstosuchacontrast,andthetendernessofthelullabysurprisedusallbyhowintimateandheart-openingitwas.Thestudentsweresomoved!DuringtheMindfulBaking,MindfulFoodcourse,wherebydaywelearnedtomaketwoorthreedifferentkindsofbreads,bynightIofferedareflectiononBodydata,Bodyknowledge,Bodywisdomonthetopicofhowweeat.Participantsfounditveryinstructivetoreflectonandsharewithpartnersabouttheiroftenunexaminedhabitsandbeliefsaroundeatingandhowtoalignmorecloselytheactualwaytheyatewithwhattheyknewwasbeneficialforthem.InterPlayinPeopleofColorretreats,activistretreatsandmoreAsIlearnmoreInterPlayformsandbecomemoreconfidentinleading,IamintegratingInterPlayinmorewaysthroughouttheretreats,notjustinan1.5hoursessiononceduringtheretreat.Forinstance,atPeopleofColorretreatsintheUKandUS,webegantheretreatbyplacingobjectsonthealtarthatconnectedustoour

10

ancestors.Theninacircleweshared“Icouldtalkabout’—thingswecouldspeakaboutregardingthestrengthsofourancestors.Theninpairswecontinuedforafewmorerounds,justlistingtopicswecouldtalkabout,untilwefinallychoseonetopictoshareaboutindetail.Itwasfascinatingtoseehowtheenergychangedcompletelyafterthisexercise.Thesimpleactofspeakinginpairs,brainstorminginasenseaboutthemanyareasaliveforusinconnectionwithourancestors,seemedtoreallybringourancestorsalive.Invitingthemtobewithus,helpedusalltoarrivemorefully,tobethereforourselvesandeachother.Ifoundusinggibberish,oramadeuplanguage,tospeakaboutthesufferingordifficultyofbeingapersonofcolororanactivistwasverypowerful.Gibberishhelpedtogetatthechallengeswithoutbecomingstuckinthem.Itwaslikelookingatsomethingsideways,ratherthanhead-on. OnaweekendretreatinHomer,Alaska,IsharedInterPlayina1-hourworkshopthedayaftereveryonearrived.AfterthiswehadadiscussionandanumberofpeoplementionedhowpowerfultheInterPlayhadbeenforthem.Oneyoungmansharedhe'dbeeninhisheadthewhole24hoursafterarriving,andheonlydroppedintohisbodyduringtheInterPlay.AnotheryoungwomanfromVenezuelasharedthatduringtheInterPlayshewasinherbodytheENTIREtimeandnevercaughtinherthoughts,becauseeveryoneandeverythingwassospontaneousandinthepresentmoment.Anothermiddle-agedmanwho'dneverattendedaretreatbefore,andlookedlikeamilitaryman,gotchokedupsayinghowtheretreatwashelpinghimquiethismindlikehe'dneverbeenabletobeforeandtheInterPlayallowedhimtoplaylikeachildandgoofaroundwithcompletestrangers.Hefoundittobeveryhealingtohavepermissiontodroptherolesweusuallyfeelstuckinasadultswitheachother.AnotheryoungwomansharedthatshefeltsorefreshedandenergizedaftertheInterPlay.Peoplealwayscommenthowniceitisinameditationretreatcontexttobeinvitedtobesillyandplayfulasittakesthemoutsidetheboxoftheirideaofmindfulnesspracticebeingseriousandconfined.Justlastmonth,ataSocialJusticeactivistretreatinNewYork,IledanoptionalInterPlayworkshopforaboutthirtyoftheseventyactivistsattending.AnumberofthemsaidInterPlaywasmostimportantthingtheygotfromretreat!Intheevaluationstheywereaskedwhatcouldbeimprovedandseveralsaid“InterPlayshouldberequiredforeveryoneattheretreat,andnotcompetewithothersessionsasitstooimportantforallofus.”Anothersaid“itwasthemostjoyfulfunI’vehadinalongtime.”Manypeopleexpressedamazementathoweasyandquicklywecouldconnectintimatelywitheachotherandhavesuchmemorablefun.Itwaslikebeingletinonaveryimportantsecret.Attheendoftheworkshop,oneyoungactivistasked,nearlystupefied,“Whydon’twedothiseveryday?”ManysaidtheywouldbelookingintohowtobringmoreInterPlayintotheirlivesaftertheretreat.TrulythemoreIlearnaboutandshareInterPlay,themoreIseeitsvalueandwanttomakeitmoreandmoreaccessible.GoingForward

11

Twomonthsago,IsettledinWashington,DC,afterlivingnomadicallyforthelasttwoyears.InterPlaywasthefirstthingIdidthedayafterarrivinginthecity!IjoinedBillyandKateAmoss’monthlyclass.ItstillsurprisesmehowoftenIcansettleforsuperficialandlimitedconnectionswithothersandgothroughlifewithonlyasmallportionofmyhuge,beautifulselfactivated.ThenIgettoanInterPlayeventandthegreydullnessofonlyinteractingthroughthoughtsandspeechgiveswaytoalifelivedinfullcolorasIinteractwithothers,usingmywholebody,movement,voice,stories,andstillness.AndIinevitablyaskmyself,“Whydon’twealwayslivelikethis?”AnditcanbenocoincidencethatSeeker’sChurch,whereweeklyInterPlayclasseshappen,isonlya10-minutewalkfrommynewapartment!Ihavealsobeenluckyenoughtofallintoathree-someofwomeninmyneighborhood.Wemeetthreemorningsaweektodomeditation,yogaandInterplay!ItsamazinghowdeeplyandquicklyInterPlayhasconnectedusinjustafewsessions!WithdeepgratitudeandlovetoCynthia,PhilandthewholeInterPlaycommunityforallthebeauty,richnessandjoyInterPlayhasbroughttomylifeandthelivesofmanyothersoverthelastdecade.KairaJewelLingoteachesBuddhistmeditation,mindfulness,andcompassioninternationally,withafocusonactivists,peopleofcolor,artists,educators,families,andyouth.Shebeganpracticingmindfulnessin1997.Anordainednunof15yearsinThichNhatHanh’sOrderofInterbeing,sheisnowalayDharmateacher,leadingretreatsintheU.S.,Europe,Asia,Brazil,IndiaandSouthernAfrica,andofferingmindfulnessprogramsforeducatorsandyouthinschools.SheeditedThichNhatHanh’s,PlantingSeeds:PracticingMindfulnesswithChildrenandhelpedtostartanddevelopWakeUpSchools,whichbringsmindfulnesstoeducation.Sheexplorestheinterweavingofart,play,ecologyandspiritualpracticeandisacertifiedyogateacherandInterPlayleader.Inspring2015,shewasspiritualpractitionerinresidenceatSchumacherCollege,anecologicalcollege,intheUnitedKingdom.InadditiontoherrootsintheZentradition,sheregularlyattendssilentretreatsintheVipassanatradition.