Dear all
We shall shortly be beginning a study and practice group based on the book How to Be Sick by Toni Bernhard. Toni is a long-time Buddhist practitioner (of vipassana/insight meditation I believe) and a former law professor who has lived with the chronic illness Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (ME) since 2001 You will need a copy of the book to follow along and we will be using the 2018 revised edition published by Wisdom.
Note: both Jesse and Kyotai have generously agreed to donate a couple of copies of the book if anyone needs them. Money can be a struggle for many people at this time.
Her book (and several others since) arose out of notes she made for herself in navigating the world of chronic illness and the struggles that come with that. It was an immediate hit both in Buddhist and chronic illness communities and remains incredibly popular to this day.
Although originally written as a guide for those with physical illness, Toni notes in the preface to the revised edition:
“I wrote How to Be Sick with only physical pain and illness in mind. Yet many people have written to me about how the book has helped them or a loved one cope with chronic mental illness, such as anxiety depression, bipolar disorder, or PTSD.”
With that in mind, this course is offered for all sangha members with either physical or mental illnesses or similar challenges such as arise through disability and neurodiversity. It is also offered to the carers of those people. However, there is no criteria for inclusion here and I believe the book to be a great guide for anyone with a human body as we all get sick and experience challenges.
Bearing in mind that sharing information about mental and physical struggles may be difficult for some members, the How to be Sick forum will be placed behind the Treeleaf firewall meaning that it can only be accessed by registered members. Anyone signing up will also be agreeing to abide by the following three rules which are in place for everyone’s wellbeing:
1. Confidentiality
What is shared in the group should not be shared elsewhere.
2. Withholding judgement
What is shared here is an individual’s personal experience and theirs alone. The validity of personal experiences or ways individuals chose to deal with their own circumstance and condition(s) is not up for challenge. Instead, we focus on our relationship with our own condition(s) and how we relate to them.
3. Sharing/not sharing
Members are free to share or not share as they feel comfortable and should not be pressured into sharing on any given topic.
This group will be led by Kokuu and Onka and is expected to follow a similar format to the usual book club study, although we may also suggest practical exercises to work with and feed back on as they come up in the text.
Kokuu has been a priest-in-training at Treeleaf since 2017. He has lived with Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (ME), the same as Toni, for twenty-five years, first becoming ill in December 1995. His physical health has varied since then but for the last five years he ha largely been confined to bed for 95% of the time, able only to walk very short distances and requiring the support of professional carers. He has ongoing muscle pain and his muscles ashake when very low on energy.
Onka has been a member of Treeleaf since 2019 and took Jukai last year. She says: I was born 49 years ago neuro-diverse and with a number of physical disabilities. I literally cannot remember not living with significant pain. I'm also the legal fulltime carer of my partner who lives with Multiple Sclerosis.
Although it would be lovely if you were able to join in the full length of the group, we know how life is and members are free to come and go as they please, bearing in mind the three rules still apply.
We hope to begin this on Monday 18 January, straight after Jukai, and look forward to working with you!
Please indicate below if you would like to be a part of this group and accept the group rules.
Gassho
Kokuu and Onka
We shall shortly be beginning a study and practice group based on the book How to Be Sick by Toni Bernhard. Toni is a long-time Buddhist practitioner (of vipassana/insight meditation I believe) and a former law professor who has lived with the chronic illness Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (ME) since 2001 You will need a copy of the book to follow along and we will be using the 2018 revised edition published by Wisdom.
Note: both Jesse and Kyotai have generously agreed to donate a couple of copies of the book if anyone needs them. Money can be a struggle for many people at this time.
Her book (and several others since) arose out of notes she made for herself in navigating the world of chronic illness and the struggles that come with that. It was an immediate hit both in Buddhist and chronic illness communities and remains incredibly popular to this day.
Although originally written as a guide for those with physical illness, Toni notes in the preface to the revised edition:
“I wrote How to Be Sick with only physical pain and illness in mind. Yet many people have written to me about how the book has helped them or a loved one cope with chronic mental illness, such as anxiety depression, bipolar disorder, or PTSD.”
With that in mind, this course is offered for all sangha members with either physical or mental illnesses or similar challenges such as arise through disability and neurodiversity. It is also offered to the carers of those people. However, there is no criteria for inclusion here and I believe the book to be a great guide for anyone with a human body as we all get sick and experience challenges.
Bearing in mind that sharing information about mental and physical struggles may be difficult for some members, the How to be Sick forum will be placed behind the Treeleaf firewall meaning that it can only be accessed by registered members. Anyone signing up will also be agreeing to abide by the following three rules which are in place for everyone’s wellbeing:
1. Confidentiality
What is shared in the group should not be shared elsewhere.
2. Withholding judgement
What is shared here is an individual’s personal experience and theirs alone. The validity of personal experiences or ways individuals chose to deal with their own circumstance and condition(s) is not up for challenge. Instead, we focus on our relationship with our own condition(s) and how we relate to them.
3. Sharing/not sharing
Members are free to share or not share as they feel comfortable and should not be pressured into sharing on any given topic.
This group will be led by Kokuu and Onka and is expected to follow a similar format to the usual book club study, although we may also suggest practical exercises to work with and feed back on as they come up in the text.
Kokuu has been a priest-in-training at Treeleaf since 2017. He has lived with Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (ME), the same as Toni, for twenty-five years, first becoming ill in December 1995. His physical health has varied since then but for the last five years he ha largely been confined to bed for 95% of the time, able only to walk very short distances and requiring the support of professional carers. He has ongoing muscle pain and his muscles ashake when very low on energy.
Onka has been a member of Treeleaf since 2019 and took Jukai last year. She says: I was born 49 years ago neuro-diverse and with a number of physical disabilities. I literally cannot remember not living with significant pain. I'm also the legal fulltime carer of my partner who lives with Multiple Sclerosis.
Although it would be lovely if you were able to join in the full length of the group, we know how life is and members are free to come and go as they please, bearing in mind the three rules still apply.
We hope to begin this on Monday 18 January, straight after Jukai, and look forward to working with you!
Please indicate below if you would like to be a part of this group and accept the group rules.
Gassho
Kokuu and Onka
sat and lah
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