As you may have noticed I haven,t posted anything since I left India. I spent four months at a retreat centre in France but can,t claim to have been in holy silence for all that time. In fact after the first month when I did an intensive retreat (this always sounds so serious, but mostly was very precious immersion in the teachings) I was working a mere 33 hours a week and having too much fun to even learn French, let alone return to the bureau to post things online! Here is something I did manage to write in May to give an impression of where I was staying:
I have been here at Dechen Choling, the European Shambhala Buddhist
Centre for a couple of months now. There are lush landscapes and old
rustic barns surrounding a 18th century rundown chateau. I have been
enjoying every growth of my first familiar Spring in ten years. The
energy is incredibly fresh and powerful (so CLEAN after India). See www.dechencholing.org
for photos and more info: the place name means Land of Great Bliss and
it feels pretty good to me. I spent the first month on retreat with
thirty other Europeans, mostly in silence and even eating every meal in
the shrine hall following a Japanese form of eating meditation. Since
then we have been preparing for a festival with three Tibetan Rinpoches
who are teaching on the Bodhisattva-warrior Gesar. of Ling
(see http://gesarfestival.dechencholing.org/2008/05/17/lhasang-with-the-rinpoches/ for the opening ceremony)
A group of up to twenty volunteers have been busy putting up tents,
painting, landscaping and generally laying the ground - my job was to
co-ordinate the proceedings which was mind boggling at times. Now I am
happy to have a few days to enjoy the Festival before starting work as
Finance assistant for the rest of the summer. 33 hours a week in the
office. The rest of the time will be spent brushing up my French,
cycling the country lanes, enjoying friendships, eating well and
attending talks/practices. There has been brilliant sunshine this week
and I have been enjoying sleeping in a tent and living in community.
Now there is a staff of about 50 - from Czech republic, Canada,
Germany, Switzerland, Chile, US, UK, Holland and of course France.
Luckily English is the main language as my French is horrible. Hard
work and great social life. The pond full of frogs croaking all night.
Woken by the birdsong at 5.30am, then morning practice at 7. Fresh
crusty bread for breakfast on good days, and bowls for cafe au lait.
