Cohousing-L Mailing List: Re: Coda to ... lofty values

[Unnat (zen]

Most people responded to me privately - in gratitude to you all, I'd like
to share my response:

Thank you for your response - it was timely and very helpful.
It does help to know that it's
not just me.  I find myself out of step fairly often - sometimes I'm sure
about what I believe and I just get a little impatient.  Other times, I
doubt my perspective and lack the certainty to handle the bullshit with
compassion.  This reality check was useful and reminds me to be more patient
and caring.  And less reactive because I don't get it right either.

I also have good news.  My Sunday posting expressed my anxiety about
attending a Pinakarri about our Pinakarri - our heart circles are called
Pinakarri which
means 'deep listening'.  After a blow-out involving me at one of these
gatherings late last year, I haven't been prepared to attend what had for me
become an aberration, a forum which often
gave licence to the shallow realities to which I referred in my previous
post.  Last Sunday we began to discuss the nature of Pinakarri.

Let me go back a bit further.  Several weeks ago we finally articulated our
purpose.  ( I've been chasing this one out of  the chook - chicken - shed
for a few years now.)  "Through Pinakarri - deep listening - we learn to
love more completely."  Aaaaah, we said it.  Collectively.  It was as
clear as a bell.  I could feel the light of realisation string us all
together like beads.  Not that I've ever doubted the best intentions of each
person but to out the L word, wow!  The magic started immediately.  Two
weeks later, when we had many visitors for our Building Urban Community
weekend of work and play (which was great) - Pinakarri people started
talking about a new sense of unity and warmth in the community.  We had a
house/community blessing - I had written our purpose into the litany - a
lovely procession from house to house, witnessed and reiterated by friends
and communards.  I shared that this new awareness was the power of having an
articulated purpose.  Not everyone gets it; however, in this case, they
don't have to - it's been said and so it is.

Last Sunday and the nature of Pinakarri:  Only six people came but we were a
good representation of the whole.  We had a list of questions to stimulate
and guide the discussion.  I facilitated and we did the hard ones first
including 'what hasn't worked?'.   It was real, honest, caring and rode,
I believe, on the back of our purpose.  I'm filled with hope and admiration.

Thanks again
Robyn Williams
Pinakarri Community
Fremantle, Western Australia