After several years away, I returned to IMS not long ago for a midsummer retreat. As I strolled through ferns and fragrant pine trees, I felt happy to be back and wondered how my retreat would unfold. The quiet and peace of the place seemed to promise serenity, and as the retreat progressed there were definitely serene moments. But there were also plenty of moments when my mind was like a noisy theme park. At those times, I felt as if I was lost in a funhouse, wandering through a gallery of … [Read more...]