My name is Richard Paterson. I am originally from Edinburgh, Scotland.
I remember an experience I often had as a child. From one moment to
the next, time would stand still. I would experience a feeling of huge expansion which grew
and grew until I was indescribably huge! The objects around me looked like the size of a pinhead. Colours and sounds became super intense. The experience was accompanied
by waves of indescribable bliss and a feeling of being totally present. I guess I just assumed everyone experienced this.
As I got older and entered the world of exams, choosing a career, relationships etc., the experience of something far greater than myself became less and less frequent until it faded altogether, giving way to feelings of anxiety and inner restlessness.
My search for greater meaning and a cure for my restlessness led to many years of traveling, including prolonged periods in India and the Far East. I read every
spiritual book available, studied Zen buddhism in Japan, lived in Indian
ashrams and spent several years practicing Vipassana -a form of mindful meditation. Whilst visiting an Indian holy man, I had my first awakening experience, which opened the door to my work as a healer.
It was also there that I met international healer and clairvoyant Shoshana Rogers and became her student. Her Presence and teachings opened me up to a whole new world of experience. Over 5 years, she taught me a wide variety of techniques and tools for healing and emotional clearing.
Over the next decade or so, I traveled extensively, both in the UK and abroad, offering individual and group healing sessions, channelling, psychic development classes and workshops on healing and self-development.
Having studied in Japan, I was the first Reiki Master in Scotland and established the Edinburgh Reiki Centre in 1993. Many Reiki teachers today are graduates of my graduate students back in the early 90's.
Still feeling restless and incomplete, I returned once again to India and this time got a clear message to "drop the psychic work and go inside.” I took a sabbatical from healing and teaching and got a job as a taxi driver. I began to meditate daily. As my inner experience deepened, my desire for 'more' reached fever pitch!
When I look back now, I see that hanging out in the world of spirit guides and angelic beings, although wonderful, was just another way of escaping every day reality. Although successful in my work, I still wasn't content. The restlessness in my heart was bigger than ever and I was filled with a growing desire to 'come home'.
I signed up for a 6-month meditation retreat in the Rocky Mountains of Canada and it was there that I met my Teacher. I was given the Sanskrit name Nandisvara, which means "Lord of Bliss!" When I told him of my anxiety, he just laughed and said it was bliss.
Three months into the retreat I had a life-changing experience ...the restlessness I had experienced for years simply vanished, to be replaced with a wonderful feeling of peace, connection and joy. It was the same experience I had had as a child! The difference this time was that I was conscious of what I was experiencing, and moreover, I had gained a clear understanding of the root of our restlessness and discontentment. My passion and desire now is to share what I have learned with others.
I qualified as a meditation teacher in the Ishaya tradition and spent the next three years teaching meditation and consciousness classes in Mexico. I am now back living in Edinburgh where I am offering happiness workshops and one-on-one coaching sessions.
I feel extremely blessed and fortunate to have met the wonderful teachers and for the teachings I have encountered.
I hope you enjoy the website. Please feel free to contact me with any queries, comments or just to say hi!
You may also find some of the articles on my other website www.find-happiness.com of interest.
© 2010 Richard Paterson