What is the Koan of Illness?

If you or a loved one suffer from a chronic illness, you've come to the right place. Here, we look at illness as a growth path instead of a prison sentence, a healing journey instead of series of losses, and an opportunity for awakening beyond the confines of body and mind. I hope you join us on this journey.

In Zen Buddhism, a koan is a question designed to put you in touch with the limitations of your thinking mind and provoke a deeper awareness. You cannot solve a koan using your usual methods. Instead, you must allow it to solve you.

Living with chronic illness, no matter if it is yours or a loved one’s, is a unique koan, one that is not understood by the rest of the world – a world that often feels uncaring and unsupportive and moving far too quickly to notice what you’re living, day-to-day. 

On the illness journey, you are forced to deal with different perceptions of the illness experience and the meaning of suffering and to navigate many difficult feelings such as sadness, anger, and guilt. You have little to no assistance to guide you through the unique stresses and trauma that chronic illness brings into your relationship with yourself, the people in your life, and the rest of the world. 

However, managing a life within the constraints that illness brings can be: 

• A growth path instead of something to endure 
• A healing journey instead of a series of losses
• An opportunity for awakening beyond the confines of body and mind 

None of this happens magically or spontaneously. You need frameworks, practice, and support.

In the Koan of Illness, you will find support, guidance, and community. Using the Integral Model – a comprehensive, holistic, practical, philosophical, and spiritual map – we will help you to: 

Increase your capacity to manage illness:

• Heal from the trauma it causes
• Improve the quality of your relationships
• Use illness as a springboard to personal growth
• Deepen your spirituality 
• Find a community of depth and support 

Illness may be a tragedy, but it also holds gifts for those who are willing to look for them.

Join us on the journey to learn more about the Koan Of Illness. Here’s a reminder of when the next installment will take place. Hope to see you there!

Click here to learn about the Koan of Illness Series

Click Here for more information about our upcoming February Session, Healing the Trauma

As a token of our appreciation, we are offering a copy of my recently published book, The Koan of Chronic Illness: An Integral Approach