KADAMPA RETREAT

KADAMPA RETREAT

Last Friday as others were finishing up their workweek and preparing for family Easter celebrations, I was transported to another realm. This realm was only an hour drive from my home but it seemed as if I stepped into another world. A world of beauty everywhere, with peacefulness penetrating my soul. I was about to attend a three day Kadampa Buddha Retreat at Luther Springs. From 3pm on Friday until 3pm on Sunday my Free Spirit was able to fly with rejuvenation.

After a small campfire that evening, we all turned in by 10pm in anticipation of our spiritual journey. My accommodations for the weekend was a cabin with 10 bunks and one roommate who demonstrated incredible patience in answering my Dharma questions. I would frequently find her armed with a plastic cup releasing an insect that had wandered indoors. Once I returned to the cabin to find her on the deck praying over a bug that had an injured wing. Her prayers must have worked because the insect was gone the next time I visited the cabin. You can find the prayer here: https://youtu.be/yUJucA-mrgE

After breakfast on Saturday morning, more meditation. Pickles the dog was adept at meditating by now with his nose between his paws, he took it very seriously. Chokyan told us the story of how Buddha realized the four noble truths and after a long meditation under the Bodhi tree, attained enlightenment on April 15th, this very day.

We had several breaks during the day in which I I would do some running, but I was so hungry to learn more, I purchased Geshe Kelsang Gyatso’s book - How to Solve Our Human Problems and read as mthoughtuch as I could while waiting for the next activity. Chokyan was a student of Venerable Gyatso for over 13 years.

By the time we all sat down to dinner on Saturday (a wonderful vegetarian with vegan options meal) we were all good friends. Everyone was genuinely interested in each other. Table conversation was not forced, there were no judgements, no mention of politics, we discussed our towns, pets, drugs from the 70’s, crystals, and how Chokyan was our rock star. I had found my tribe.

That evening we watched a video of a play done in England on Buddha’s life. Pickles wandered to whoever would share their popcorn, eventually settling in Chokyan’s lap for the remainder of the video.

Sunday morning I did a quick jog through the woods and heard the sandhill cranes morning calls along with at least a dozen other birds. The pleasant sounds of a bamboo flute drifted from the campgrounds. I said a quick thanks to my spirit guide for leading me here this weekend.

We finished Sunday with some more Dharma talk and some prayer requests for family members with cancer and friends who were sick. We even prayed for a dog named Bodhi to find a home. After lunch, one by one we exchanged contact information, hugged and promised to see each other in the future.

I will continue to “check in” with my mind and remember The Four Noble Truths, and perfect my meditation to have a virtuous mind. Just like a good massage, my newfound bliss will lose its sparkle and I will know that it is time to meet again with my tribe. Chokyan was right….I had the time of my life.

Until next week dreamers.

Keep Dreaming…

Coleen