Appreciation
I began to meditate semi-regularly in January this year (2018), fitting in 15 minutes or so sometime through the day, wherever I could squeeze it in and the 3 day retreat at Kallara in September was my first meditation retreat. The most profound realisation for me during the retreat (which was actually pretty thick with profound realisations) was the sense of being exactly where I belonged and exactly where I needed to be, doing exactly what I needed to be doing. Anton's dharma talks, the music selections late in the evenings, and the beautiful clarity of mind I experienced in the morning sessions will literally stay with me for ever. Since I got home, I have woken up early every weekday (6:10AM!) to sit for 30+ minutes before school drop off/work, and even on the weekends it is the very first thing I do. It couldn't be further from an obligation though - the regularity and discipline of the practice, and the practice itself has a steadying, calming effect on everything in my life - I think equanimity is the best word for it.
I feel INTENSELY grateful for the fact that the Dharma Path website came up near the top of my August search for '3 day silent retreat meditation Melbourne'.
Annie B
'Anton, Thank you for a very interesting afternoon (1-day meditation) ... Interesting because it was not in the format I anticipated (dharma talk and meditation) but was more experiential. It was like a group therapy with meditation. I thought it was very valuable. In the Tibetan tradition, as you know, they say wisdom and compassion are the two wings of a bird and you cannot fly if one is absent or weak. I think that you can also use that metaphor for spirituality and psychological health. Both are needed to soar and your session was catalysing both. I sat next to two fabulous people and it was a very connecting experience. :)'
Ani Pat Cahir
Anton, your 1-1 sessions have been a massive support, encouragement and a rich and generous spirit really willing to allow me to take the journey of healing into spaces that had been tied to trauma and/or unchallenged notions of the self. You have a continuous thread of attention, unwavering kindness, and a profound ability to connect with the threads of a story that often felt disconnected.
Andrew B.
Dear Anton;
For me, the retreat was a transformational experience. It's hard to put into words everything that I received personally and spiritually, but I can say that I am now on a life path that is lined with meditation practice, dharma teachings and mind/body/soul nourishment. I have you to thank for this and I'll always have a heart full of gratitude to you for your dedication, care and the wisdom you imparted- especially for helping me to understand and accept myself in a more loving way....
Louise
"I am full of admiration and gratitude for the unique and wonderful opportunity of this combined Insight meditation and Feldenkrais retreat..... Anton, thank you with the deepest sincerity for a profoundly moving introduction to Insight meditation"
Carol
Thank you Anton for your generosity in sharing the teachings with us and for holding a safe and loving community.
Michelle
Dear Anton,
What a wonderful blessing to journey so deeply with you. Your kind and generous reflections provide wonderful stepping stones that will help pave a more loving path into my future. thank you,
Nicole
Dear Anton,
Thank-you for making this retreat happen. It is a huge gift. Immeasurable and life changing.
with metta....
Dear Anton,
I would like to do all I can to support your work in the future. What I have received is truly immeasurable and I don't say that lightly. My whole world has turned completely upside down since the transformative May retreat..... it was a little destabilising at times but its actually quite nice here on this new side of the world 😊
Terri
Dear Anton,
I want to thank you for the inspirational retreat today. It is wonderful to have these urban retreats for people who are unable to attend longer retreats. May you receive great merit for your kindness and compassion and for how you benefit others.
Pina
Hi Anton;
This work has been ground breaking....Going through all these excruciating feelings is worth it after all! Thanks for believing in me Anton.
Katrina
Dear Anton,
I had inherited an old barn. Remember I told you about it? I knew it was disused, it had mess inside, I didn’t know what. I did not feel comfortable going to see it. I stayed away. I had it out of my mind. I was troubled by feelings of lack, of worthlessness; also agitation after my consultations.
Thank you for coming with me to have a look at it. We showed up, we looked around, we walked, we went around the back, we entered a space way beneath, we got lost at the darkest point, you encouraged me, I found a way inside, you were right by me. We shared stories, we laughed. I felt you were really with me, even as I felt worthless. We kept going.
In gratitude and Love
Chris
A poem from Chris
The barn of my heart
has creaky doors that bang shut and open with the wind the space is quite wide
up the back is density,
mass with roots like strings pulled toward
a knotted underground presence.
High up on the loft
dusty joy now rises
like mist to the sunlight streaming through cracks
Chris
Anton has supported me to gently and slowly explore a deeper sense of connection to myself and all of the habitual patterns that exist inside me. Through this inquiry process, a subtle guiding and prompting, and a directing of my attention to hidden areas of relevance, our sessions have allowed me to engage in life with a renewed sense of awareness that feels like living in the world with a fresh set eyes and renewed energy. Thank you, I'm full of
Danny
From the Mindfulness Training Course (MTC)
Re the MTC experience with you... It was a very positive experience and I'm glad I was able to do it with you because you are sensitve, you knew me already, you are willing to talk about any issues that arise and to go deeply into them and you are very generous with your time. I think your experience in a range of therapies and modalities means that you are able to talk to me on a variety of different channels. You are also very good at picking up on the small things and following them through, meaning that you are a good listener and you have the courage to go to places that need to be gone to!
Simon
Testimonials from the India Tour
I travelled on Anton’s tour of North India in 2012 and found it a wonderful experience . One focus of the tour was spirituality and we had some great experiences with yoga, our own private puja on the banks of the Ganges, visits temples and shrines of various religions and the humbling experience of spending time with a Jain man. Our destinations were interesting, transport and accommodation well organised and appropriate and Anton handled everything with good grace and efficiency. Overall I found the trip very interesting and enjoyable as well as a deepening experience.
Rod Myer
Just wanted to say thank you again for the last few weeks - it has been an amazing trip. It's a struggle to find words but here's the unedited version: I didn't have much in the way of expectations but I came to india prepared to love it and I did. I feel very different for everything I have seen and experienced and think everything I learned will stay with me for a very long time. Your warm and supportive energy was beautiful to be around and great to travel with, it was really good getting to know you better
Ellen