The Path to Freedom is a practice which has emerged from a desire for a deeper understanding of myself, others, and the world. To cultivate freedom, peace, joy, and compassion. From a lifelong quest to be there and take care of myself, so that I could truly be there for others.
Stanje uma treperi,
Kao lišće na mladoj trski vijori,
Jedan dan je zeleno i čisto,
već drugi visi slabašno, nisko.
Sjeti se pogledati kao deblo,
Mnoštvo lišća s tebe maše,
Ne vidiš im boje, svi su oni - oni,
Stari nove hrane, ti samo ih gledaj.
Za stablo na poljani,
Vjetrovi su neminovni,
Za svaki list na mladom trsu,
Zamaha će brojnih biti.
Jedan list se čvrsto drži,
Prkosi, protivi se sili nijemoj,
Licem prem Suncu širom,
Propeo se iz dna peteljke.
Drugi zaklon traži na svojoj grani,
Oni oko njega, ništa čvršći ni sami,
List je ondje jedan, vidim,
Ne prkosi nit vijuga, ne drži se, ne pada.
Maestral kao buru prima,
Orkanskim se jugom nesputano giba,
Gdjegod pogledam ga, nježno on me uči,
Strpljenje, dragi, budi, i svjedoči.
"Stanje uma", vlastita zbirka
Beginnings of the Path
The core purpose, vision and mission all in one can be found in my quest on the top of the page.
This quest has had many shapes and forms, buds, through the early part of my life.
I found it in the back of my mind with just a few years of age, always with a different color and sound, it has emerged near the surface of my consciousness. It took on a fuller form when I enrolled in psychology studies as the only thing that led me in this direction.
During and much more after my studies, my core guiding thread had remained the same, but grown much thicker and stronger. Trying to understand my own experience – to truly turn inward, instead of dwelling in the fog and blindly reaching outward. To enter into as direct and deep contact as possible with myself, subsequently with others.
Still, this thread has grown gradually, in its own pace, considering the causes and conditions. After college it tried to sprout, but the weather was not yet favorable.
Professionally, I ended up in a different direction. Worked on several shorter jobs, with lots of challenges, mistakes, learning, getting a lot out of each one. My work experience is mainly in the field of recruitment, i.e. finding, evaluating and acquiring talent / candidates.
Therefore, I tried to fulfill my aspiration in many other ways - investigating, examining my own experience, attending education and courses, projects, volunteering.
Continuous reading, educating, studying and investigating started ever increasingly translating in direct reflecting upon my personal experience, circumstances and events - my own "human situation".
Encountering various seeds along the way, many did not take root, some left only but a sprout. However, at certain moments, one would fall which would immediately take to the soil, absorb from it and take root in it. It sprouts in the blink of an eye, developing ever steadier and steadier.
More precisely, all of the seeds have already been there - they were just waiting to be warmed by the Sun, receive the right weather, their proper nutrition.
The ground of my approach
Above all, continued personal practice during the last several years with a striving for continuous exploration, deepening and understanding.
Simply put, this is my approach. The Practice, my Path, I seek to cultivate and live it more and more every day.
This is the ground which I constantly nourish so the roots in it would be healthy and strong. Only on such roots can a plant of the same kind rise up, steadfast, and be available to others with its flower, fruit and scent.
Read more about my practice further below. I also briefly mention the most notable formal education I have finished or am currently attending.
Main roots and their interconnection
Mindfulness
Here stand out personal practice and way of life. This is the first root, the most practical one.
I have finished an 8-week MBCT--L course (Mindfulness Based Cognitive Therapy-Life) which is a Mindfulness-based approach in the domain of contemporary Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy.
I am currently finishing a higher, 1-year teaching course of MBCT-L, upon which I will be a certified teacher of this course per MBCT-L program.
I am close to some other elements of cognitive behavioral therapy, mostly those from the third wave of CBT such as Acceptance and Commitment Therapy - ACT and other Mindfulness-based approaches.
Gestalt therapy
Trenutno sam polaznik druge godine edukacije iz Gestalt terapije.
According to the four-year program, after second year of education, individual counseling practice under supervision becomes a mandatory part of my education.
Considering that, at this point I am not doing gestalt therapy. My practice is inherently very close to many elements of gestalt, as well as due to very close connection between gestalt, Buddhism and Mindfulness. I use the same principles and approaches, which are still developing. This is unquestionably one of the three roots of my approach, but I am not yet a full gestalt therapist.
Buddhism
Buddhist teachings and practice are the third major root of my approach.
Has nothing to do with certificates or diplomas. Personal experience and precious knowledge and experience transmitted by those much wiser and more skillful than me represent the most important part of my approach. Of that which is "me".
Let us keep in mind that Buddhism is a vast field. Already on the lower level of distinction between the three main schools: Theravada, Mahayana and Vajrayana, we come across certain differences in interpretation and especially transmission and way of application the original teachings.
Najviše primjene u svojem dosadašnjem iskustvu pronašao sam u temeljnim učenjima budizma. U njima sam našao najviše jasnoće, nedvosmislenosti, i najdublje mogućnosti za razvoj uvida kroz izravno iskustvo. Razlika “karte” i “puta” ovdje dobiva puno značenje.
Pristupi bazirani na tradicijama Theravada i Zen budizma su mi najbliskiji, dok primjerice Vajrayana mi je gotovo u potpunosti strana i nije predmet prakse.
In a way, everything that needed to be said has been said in The Four Noble Truths, The Noble Eightfold Path, Interdependent Co-arising (paṭiccasamuppāda), and related teachings.
Constantly putting these teachings into practice, towards direct realization in the here and now, is what remains.
The relationship between Buddhism, Gestalt therapy and Mindfulness
Buddhism, Gestalt and Mindfulness are deeply interconnected.
- Buddhism is the oldest and most preceding out of these three elements
- Gestalt is like an extension of Buddhist practice, from what faces inwards to being turned outwards in relation with another human being and their "inward"
- Mindfulness is one of the core elements on the Buddhist path of awakening, a key skill that is developed
- Gestalt is an approach to psychotherapy which has developed during the 20th century in Europe
- It is influenced notably by Zen Buddhism (as well as various other spiritual and philosophical traditions). We are focused on the here-and-now, on the direct experience, beginner's mind, non-discrimination
- The main and shared goal of Gestalt and Mindfulness approaches is increasing awareness
- Mindfulness approaches to psychotherapy and overall life well-being have been developing rapidly in the last 50 or so years in science-based circles in the West
- They are a direct fruition of Buddhism teaching and practice, applied in a different context, a different manner, and integrating new elements
- They are exceptionally close to Gestalt in application, although sometimes through a different framework
Buddhism, Gestalt and Mindfulness are three parallel ways which lead in the same direction. To a great extent they are one and the same way – the way of increasing awareness, contact with ourselves, others and the world, and realization of insight so we can be in the world in a more wholesome, wise and content manner. So that we can, through a nourished mind, broadened and deepened awareness, leave behind us virtues and well-being.
In a nutshell
- Buddhism, Gestalt and Mindfulness:
- Foundations of my approach to practice
- Are more like three very close paths to a common goal, rather than three separate dimensions
- My practice is:
- Mindful and attentive presence in relationship with you
- Focused on your lived experience and situation in your conditions and circumstances
- Counseling in regard to your experiences, challenges, difficulties, subjects of interest...
- Teaching, practice and co-journeying in developing the skills of awareness, techniques and methods of meditation
- Providing time and space for opening up, trying out, exploring, facing, being with what is...
- In a secure environment
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