2009
fading autumn
Saturday 28 November, 03:00 pm
Summer and autumn have come and, with the sun's dramatic lowering in the sky, are now rapidly going. The big yurt is up, we have a cooker and water supply, and the sink is plumbed in. I've put my meditation dome up on the next terrace as a retreat from retreat (so both Yashobodhi and I can have a bit of extra space. Here are some photos below.
So that's all done. Finally I have a place to live. Now its time I got a life - time to put down roots and make something of my life here.
'
So that's all done. Finally I have a place to live. Now its time I got a life - time to put down roots and make something of my life here.
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news
Saturday 22 August, 04:05 pm
Whoops, it's nearly autumn! And I discovered I hadn't even looked at my own site since April. Sorry. I was seized by a very very long senior moment.
Time for some updates, then - but that's barely possible. Too much has happened. I've been to Guhyaloka ordaining Satyanatha, led part two of the Total Immersion retreat for Buddhafield, been to Birmingham to discuss and absorb Sangharakshita's letter to the Order, attended the Buddhafield Festival and gave a talk there, returning here to Spain 22 July to find the yurt finally installed. What a saga it's been! Since then I've been working on flooring, water, electrics, sorting out possessions, and engaging with the community who are all incredibly busy building and gardening.
The rest of the community are just about to begin a six month working retreat during which Cal Toha, one of the houses here, will be converted into our main retreats venue.
What good timing! Because while all that is going on, my hermitage (for two) is now set up.... and all I have to do is start getting into a retreat way of life. It seems a very long time since I was able to do that and I am looking forward to it a lot. One result should be that I'll be able to give more attention to the content of this site.
Sixty Impermanent Years
Thursday 02 April, 04:07 pm
ON 14 APRIL I'M CELEBRATING MY 60th BIRTHDAY!
You're welcome to join me wherever you are. In a 24 hour event to include meditation, walking meditation, a talk, dharma exploration, overnight practice, tea, cakes, south indian food, music ritual and dancing
8:00 - 10:00 Meditation, walking, meditation
10:00 Celebratory BREAKFAST
11: STUDY (Satipatthana Sutta) also online on Facebook
2:00 Talk: Sixty years of Impermanence
Hanging out and conversation, more tea
3:15 Meditation, Walking, Meditation
5:00 Tea, cakes, other talks, discussion and more hanging out
6:30 Meditation
7:30 Celebratory Dinner FANCY OR BEST DRESS!
9:00 Ritual Celebration Dedication and Dancing
10:30 Meditation into the night
still building
Saturday 28 March, 05:35 pm
WE'RE STILL AT IT - still building the platform for the 23' yurt in which I and my partner Yashobodhi will be living a retreat life here at ecoDharma.. from sometime soon! It has taken much longer than I expected, but then I did not forsee the high standard of building that we'd need to work to. When I lived in Tipi Valley I did something similar - cutting a level platform into a hill (for a 16' dome) - and it took three guys a couple of days. But then the platform was smaller, we didn't make a stone retaining wall, and all I had on the floor was rushes. This time we are building a proper wooden floor, and it's got to be level! Nor was it snowing, and the ground was not full of enormous stones. All in all, we've done very well with the help of lots of friends. Hopefully we'll be finished in time for the celebration I've got in mind for my 60th birthday - see next blog entry..
Exploring EcoDharma
Saturday 10 January, 02:36 pm
It is great that EcoDharma is attracting younger people. For several retreatants it was the first Dharma event they'd attended where they had not been the only person under 40. For me it was my first retreat with such a large age gap between myself (59) and the rest. The nearest other person was 44 and most of the rest were in their 20s and 30s. Interesting, and very pleasant!
We divided the time into three week long sessions focusing first on ‘Eco’ (Guhyapati), ‘Dharma’ (Kamalashila) and ‘EcoDharma’ (Maitrisara). It was a powerful mix of politics, ethics, science, philosophy, engaged Buddhism, insight, community, solitude, and silent meditation. G. set us up in the first week with excellent talks discussing, for example the interface between emerging ecological worldviews and those which currently dominate western society. My week was largely in silence with teachings on meditation, in particular the development of compassion. Maitrisara's week focused on the integration of Dharma and Ecology and it included some wonderful group work. Both G. and Maitrisara are highly experienced facilitators very used to working with both activists and Buddhists. We were a very good combination as a team.
Each week there was a 'solo day' which began, for each of the retreatants, with an exit through a magically manifested portal where they emerged invisible to others.
