For those of you who don't know, Siggy, was a cat that Jean-Luc gave me for my birthday one year in Revelstoke. She was an amazing cat and Jean-Luc and I adored her. Unfortunately, she had a short life due to coyotes. Friends in Squamish have a cat who is identical to Sig - and when I say identical, I mean identical - personality and looks.
So today, I rode the bike out to Plum Village for the Day of Mindfulness. It's about a 13 km ride and I'm pretty slow these days so I left early. It was still dark but clear and cold. As I rode, the sky lightened and it promised to be a wonderful day. The Mindfulness Day for visitors begins at 9:00 am. You meet in the meditation hall, Thicht Nhat Hanh arrives (when he is not on tour) and you begin with a silent meditation. Thay (pronounced either Tay or Tie) then gives a dharma talk. Dharma commonly refers to the teachings of the Buddha. Afterwards Thay leads a walking meditation. Today the Mindfulness day was at the Upper Hamlet, it rotates between the three hamlets. The walk usually stops for a sitting meditation and today we sat amongst these beautiful statues on a gentle slope in the gorgeous December sunshine. Lunch follows and once you have your plate you return to the meditation hall and eat lunch in silence as a group.
On my way to lunch, I saw Sister Chan Khong, who I had the privilege to learn from at the retreat in Vancouver in August 2011. I wanted to say hello and thank her, but as I made my way towards her a cat runs by who is the French identical twin of Siggy. I stopped in my tracks - should I go speak with Sister or should I go after Siggy!!! Okay Sister was more important but I kept an eye open for the cat all afternoon.
After lunch there is a break time before you gather with other lay people for a sharing session. This is a time to talk or ask questions about the dharma teaching or just share whatever is on your mind. Our group chose to move outside and sit in the sun.
The day for the visitors winds up at 4:30. I jumped on my bike and had a wonderful ride home, with the sun setting over the vineyards. Riding home to Eymet is easier, more downhill. There is one really great winding downhill and I hooted and hollered like a kid all the way down. Yippee!!!! I love these days, they get me back on track. Sometimes I'm a little jealous about the sense of community for those who are doing the retreat. But it's just a fleeting feeling. I believe I am where I am supposed to be and that is here in Eymet, not at the retreat. It is enough for me to recharge my batteries there and then learn to embrace the solitude the I am fortunate to have right now.
For more information on Plum Village or Thich Nhat Hanh you can check out the website at www.plumvillage.org
Namaste
So today, I rode the bike out to Plum Village for the Day of Mindfulness. It's about a 13 km ride and I'm pretty slow these days so I left early. It was still dark but clear and cold. As I rode, the sky lightened and it promised to be a wonderful day. The Mindfulness Day for visitors begins at 9:00 am. You meet in the meditation hall, Thicht Nhat Hanh arrives (when he is not on tour) and you begin with a silent meditation. Thay (pronounced either Tay or Tie) then gives a dharma talk. Dharma commonly refers to the teachings of the Buddha. Afterwards Thay leads a walking meditation. Today the Mindfulness day was at the Upper Hamlet, it rotates between the three hamlets. The walk usually stops for a sitting meditation and today we sat amongst these beautiful statues on a gentle slope in the gorgeous December sunshine. Lunch follows and once you have your plate you return to the meditation hall and eat lunch in silence as a group.
On my way to lunch, I saw Sister Chan Khong, who I had the privilege to learn from at the retreat in Vancouver in August 2011. I wanted to say hello and thank her, but as I made my way towards her a cat runs by who is the French identical twin of Siggy. I stopped in my tracks - should I go speak with Sister or should I go after Siggy!!! Okay Sister was more important but I kept an eye open for the cat all afternoon.
After lunch there is a break time before you gather with other lay people for a sharing session. This is a time to talk or ask questions about the dharma teaching or just share whatever is on your mind. Our group chose to move outside and sit in the sun.
The day for the visitors winds up at 4:30. I jumped on my bike and had a wonderful ride home, with the sun setting over the vineyards. Riding home to Eymet is easier, more downhill. There is one really great winding downhill and I hooted and hollered like a kid all the way down. Yippee!!!! I love these days, they get me back on track. Sometimes I'm a little jealous about the sense of community for those who are doing the retreat. But it's just a fleeting feeling. I believe I am where I am supposed to be and that is here in Eymet, not at the retreat. It is enough for me to recharge my batteries there and then learn to embrace the solitude the I am fortunate to have right now.
For more information on Plum Village or Thich Nhat Hanh you can check out the website at www.plumvillage.org
Namaste