I just got back from teaching a retreat.

It's so nice to not have to give a talk first thing in the morning.

I was like, I can't fucking think at this time.

The funny thing about being on retreat

as a teacher, I've been doing this for years,

but people kind of look at me

like when you're the practitioners look at the teacher like there's some kind of priest or something.

Oh shit, oh shit I'm doing something wrong.

And you know half the time, you know know what they're worried about is that

they're not being very mindful whatever and I feel like telling them I'm thinking

too you know I mean relax I'm thinking like when's it going to end too, just like you are?

No, it was great. No, it was good.

I actually, they're good things.

So I'll give a talk and we'll have time for meditation and questions. So the divided brain solves a very

interesting problem that all animals have which is is, on the one hand, how do we have a very

focused attention that allows us to manipulate objects in the world that can help us survive.

And yet at the same time how can we be vigilant of all the threats and predators and possibilities around us?

So for example a bird as a famous neuropsychologist

McGilchrist uses as example of a bird at the one hand has to look for a seed against a ground filled with all these

unedible objects. The bird has to be able to spot the seed and grab it or the berry.

And it also has to be able to find a specific twig

to be able to build a nest.

...