Hi Everyone 👋 In the West, we struggle to even imagine an enlightened being. We have so much to learn about how to approach them, how to receive them, how to let them guide us home to our own hearts. Cultures like India’s have customs that may not transplant directly, but they can teach us something precious about reverence. Remember getting ready for your first date as a teenager? The endless fussing – combing your hair, choosing the right shirt, hiding scuffed shoes under the table all evening. Only when everything felt just so could you finally relax enough to actually be with the other person. Opening to a holy being – a lover for your soul – asks for that same kind of inner preparation. When I first travelled India, I treated these meetings casually. I just enjoyed the company, whatever level it happened at. But over time, I began to feel the depth of what was on offer. I realised that receiving living presence requires slowing down – settling into “Indian time”, the kind that lets you sit long enough to feel the love that’s always there. Imagine it.... 2,500 years ago, you hear the Buddha is walking the earth. You set out to find him – on foot, by cart, through dust and heat. You meet people who have just been with him, and their eyes are alight, their hearts soft with peace. Your anticipation builds. Finally, you’re a day away. You stop by a stream, bathe, wash your clothes, pick wildflowers. You sit on a rock and breathe, collecting yourself. Then you climb to the cave. Inside, a small fire flickers. There he sits, still as stone. He motions you in. You bow, offer your fruit and flowers, and raise your eyes. Time stops. Only his eyes exist, a river of love, wisdom and pure consciousness flows between you. He may speak a few words you’ll turn over for years. Or he may say nothing. It’s his stillness, his compassion, his absolute presence that matters. You feel naked before his glance, not ashamed, but seen. All of you, past and future, held without judgment.

Hi Everyone 👋 I took advantage of the beautiful weather to get out on my motorcycle today with my friend. A nice 180km ride up the north west coast of France with a stop off for a tasty fish and chip lunch by the sea😋

Hi Everyone 👋 Here's what I've been turning over in my head...... No god ever wrote a book. Not one........ The Torah, the Bible, the Quran, the Vedas, the Tripitaka, the Tao Te Ching, all written down by humans. Mostly men. Mostly years or centuries after the fact.... That doesn't make them less sacred to me. If anything, it makes me wonder: what were those humans feeling when they finally put the words down? Were they scared? Hopeful? Did they argue with each other over the right phrase? I don't know. Nobody does. But here's my ask. And it's tiny..... I just want to hear your voice, not a perfect answer. If you could ask one question....just one.....to the person who first wrote down your favourite teaching, what would you ask them? It doesn't have to be religious. Could be a line from a poem, something your grandmother said, a lyric that kept you alive. Mine would be: "Were you afraid people wouldn't believe you?" That's it. One sentence. Reply with your question. Doesn't need to be long. Doesn't need to be wise. Just real..... I'll read every single one. With a hopeful heart that you will take 2 minutes out of your day to add your question ❤️ With Love ❤️ Always Mark

Hi everyone 👋 Please help me welcome @Ivy Rose to our wonderful community 🙏🏻