Last month has brought a variety of changes and developments, parts of which have long been overdue.

September started with an unpleasant bacterial pharyngitis – and pleasant progress in my understanding of Theravada. Halfway through the month I had my first oral exam for almost three years (Analytical Mechanics), and to my great surprise I not only got an A, but also lots of encouraging and inspiring feedback from Prof. Schnizer! I was so motivated that I immediately started cleaning my room (a difficult task!) upon returning home. :-)

From September 16th-24th I played the Graz Open (a chess tournament), group B. Due to the lack of training/preparation I not start very well, but thanks to a strong finish (3/3) I ended up getting 6/9 points. I learned and practiced a lot about concentration and focus.

In the end of September I went to the “Haus der Stille” for five days to practice meditation and to put my recent progress on a more solid foundation. Two days of Zazen, three days of Vipassana – filled with sitting and walking meditation, house and garden work, and mostly silence. I will write an extensive report of these incredible days here in the upcoming posts.

Immediately upon arrival my new semester at university started, and it truly has never been so much fun before! Not only are the lectures quite exciting (even those that I have already visited in the past years), but I am also looking forward to further exams and the deepening of my knowledge. Eventually an auspicious spirit returns, just as in my childhood days: the delight of knowledge and understanding of things, their nature, structure and relations.

My beloved girlfriend Natalie also returned in the beginning of October. Hooray! Even more challenges lie ahead, along with an unprecedented amount of confidence that the course of things will yield a surprisingly pleasant outcome. :-)