Pema Chödrön is an American Buddhist nun in the Tibetan tradition.  She writes marvelous books, in which her unending spirit spills from the pages.

Years ago, Pema spent a long time in silent retreat in her friend Helen Tworkov’s home.  In Helen’s words:

Pema lived upstairs in an attic space, an open room with eaves that sloped down to the floor and two small windows at each of the peaked ends. 

…

For seven weeks, we did not exchange a single word or once make eye contact.

In the Evolutionary Collective, one term we use often is “mutual influence”.

I move you.  You move me

As I read Helen’s article, I was curious about how a silent spiritual master in the attic would affect Helen.  It didn’t take long to find out …

My small universe became bigger and bigger until on clear days, with each branch encased in ice and prism light dancing on the horizon, it seemed that luminosity itself might loosen the house from its earthbound moorings and lift it into the sky.

…

The sacred sounds reverberated throughout the house like prayer flags strung from trees.

***

Pema to Helen … Helen to Pema

You to me … Me to you

Touched