…paradox
Slowly and suddenly, the seasons pass. A paradox. It seems we are still waiting
for summer and yet . . . yellow leaves float on the surface of the pond and few
flowers remain in fall’s garden. We’re looking ahead to the 10th anniversary of this
centre, and planning to spend over a third of that time somewhere else. We’re
caring for an animal who is full of doggie sparkle most days, but underneath his
colourfully bandaged leg is decaying skin, an incision that isn’t healing, and more
tumours erupting. Our bodies are aging too, slowing down, complaining more, but
we are “getting younger toward death every day,” as poet David Whyte observed
so clearly, eager for the next adventure. Welcome to our world. Joy and beauty,
pain and loss. Grateful for the magnificence of totality view. Big picture.
. . . treasures
John Wellwood, Kathleen Thacker, Brandon Schwinn, Josephine Grant, Alison
Lindsay, Luinda Bleakley, Carrie Sasaratt, Keith Shaw, Sarju Sooch, Brian Menzies,
Janet Cotgrave, Lyne Lantaigne, Sandy Quinn, Carlie Sanford, Grace Bazinet, Iain
Verigin, David Rose. These friends help with the garden, cook for meditators,
raise funds, organize and support public teaching events, take care of the dog, the
recycling, the shrine, the library and the housework. They study and practice the
Teaching. Grateful for the magnificence of individuals discovering community.
Opening hearts.
. . . yesterday
Since our last report in June it’s been busy, busy busy.
Classes and practice sessions. New meditators
starting their journey. Forum explorations with the
Core Group. Community potluck. Australian visitors.
New connections. Long lost friends re-appearing.
Summer Retreat. Vajrakilaya with His Holiness Sakya
Trizin. Teaching in Boise. Mila’s surgery. Matthew’s
big project. New energy for the library. Grateful for
the magnificence of living Dharma. Ordinary mind.
. . . tomorrow
Thanks to the flexibility of our New Zealand friends, headed by Katherine Mitchell,
Bridget Musters, Jane Hobday and Ramona Clark, Bonni will head off to Nelson on
December 31. Matthew will remain with Mila for as long as needed, and join the
New Zealand exploration when he can. After a lot of pondering, this seemed the
solution that offers the best to the most. Jenny Hellyer has stepped up to manage
the Wangakea Retreat and we hope some North Americans will find their way to
NZ’s South Island to join us. Here’s the formal announcement:
ENERGY RIDES THE WINDS
an exploration of Anapanasati, meditation on breathing
with Bonni Ross
at the Wangapeka Study and Retreat Centre
April 6 to May 6, 2012
This subtle and profound practice is potent for everyone. It is said to be the
contemplation Gautama was engaged in as the experience of full enlightenment
dawned, totally transforming him into Buddha. Since breathing defines our
corporeal aliveness, as long as we are breathing, we can practice. This is good
news; no special equipment or circumstances required!
We begin by developing one-pointedness of mind, the foundation of skillful
meditation. This leads us quickly into a process of purification — releasing the
blocks and distortions of our energy body and defensive patterns and tension from
the physical form. We begin to develop the ability to rest more durably in
wholesome states of mind and to directly experience the interplay of mind and
breath. As the focussed field of our awareness naturally expands, we discover, as
all those who have explored the mystical path before us have done, the great
Truths that transcend culture, belief and understanding rooted in intellect alone.
We will augment formal meditation with gentle methods to support our bodies’
transformation and to facilitate the healing of negative emotional reactivity.
Participants should be in relatively good physical and emotional health.
As usual, you are welcome to start at the beginning and stay as long as you can.
However, preference will be given to those able to commit to the whole retreat.
To register email: retreatcentre@wangapeka.org
Grateful for the magnificence of opportunity to practice. Bliss of universe
unfolding.
. . . from the fundraising group
your generosity makes the difference
Last year we launched our first fundraising campaign to support Sunshine
Coast Retreat House. From around the world students and friends of Bonni and
Matthew responded with tremendous generosity. The support you offered has
helped us to start building a foundation of financial stability that will nurture the
growth of teaching programs and retreat opportunities.
To everyone who made this commitment, we offer our deepest gratitude.
Encouraged and energized by your positive response in 2011, we invite you to
become part of an annual program of financial support for Sunshine Coast Retreat
House. We are finalizing plans for a 2012 appeal and will be in touch very soon.
. . . from the core group (via Keith Shaw and Carrie Sasaratt)
busy lives, what’s important?
There is a group of 10 or so students that has coalesced over the past few years into what is loosely called the core group. (Like the centre of an apple!) What we
re and what we are becoming is a dynamic distillation of practice and community
building in relation to each other, the lama and the broader community. Since the
spring, we’ve had some focused gatherings or “forums” with Bonni to begin to
explore ways to accept responsibility and express service, to welcome newcomers
to teachings and practice, and to begin to recognize an ethical framework rooted in
the ground of dharma.
An emergent theme for us is to remain in a state of question: if the universe is
continually coming together and falling apart, how can we, as a dharma
community, do this too without having to re-invent the wheel (or at least
continually pump it back up?) How do we remain a group of principally committed
students yet keep the circle open, alive and connected to the flow of new energy?
Since our September forum meeting with Bonni, the group is working towards
building a schedule to encourage ongoing, as well as new participation. In the past
there has been a tendency as a group to fizzle out while the Lama ventured off to
teach abroad. Discussions about this have brought up the simple plan to have a
schedule continue while she is away, so that we can at least in part rely on the
calendar, as well as on ourselves, to come together to practice and serve. It’s also
become clear that we want to socialize together more often. Hopefully this will
translate into cups of coffee and regular potlucks! Finally, we are excited about
Sarju’s return from the Himalayas and look forward to some lively show and tell.
So much more could be said about the rich and complex flavour of this core
group’s work with Bonni; however, we’ll leave it open for further interpretation . . .
the world is my cloister!