
These gatherings were not supposed to be a project nor a work. But I wish to add it to (Un)Foreseen, because of the impermanent nature of our body and our health. And because I believe and experienced there is a kind and healing force when people come together to support a beloved ill being. Both for the ill being as for the beings around who all experience fear and powerlesness each in their own way.
January 2024 to April 2024 a group of people came together to sit in silence for an ill friend who was at the intensive care of the Erasmuc MC hospital. Each took with them an object, a text, a flower that reminded them of her, to connect to her. These connections were placed in the center of the meditation space. Each person came with their own meditation practice: vipassana, zen, Chinese buddhism, body-related practices, or with no experience at all. There were silent sittings, metta meditations, a reading of a sutra for 2.5 hours, a body scan on grief. There were meals together: soup, bread, candies. The silent heartspace that was created each time was to support and to connect to our ill friend, at the same time it served as a much needed support to ourselves.