Newsletter Autumn 2005 from Sonia
“When one is totally relaxed, the mind rests in its natural condition, empty, luminous and aware”
“ Wanting to grasp the ungraspable, we exhaust ourself in vain. As soon as we open and relax this tight fist of grasping, infinite space is there, open, inviting and comfortable”
These are only two of the statements that guided my two month retreat in Guatemala.
Overlooking Lago de Atitlan with its blue, purple colours, in the distance
the volcanoes and the little villages, we lived in small kutis (huts)
without electricity or running water. Most of the time the practice took
place outdoors and in the night the star gazing was spectacular.
With one group meditation a day, we “pactised, or non-practised” on
our own the last teaching Ven. Namgyal Rinpoche gave to all his students,
Dzogchen. A very direct, simple but not easy teaching where there is “nothing
to do or un-do, nothing to force, nothing to want and nothing missing!”.
We all benefitted greatly, as for myself my personal practice has deepened and transformed from new insights and realisations which were expressed immediately in the teachings I gave in January and February in Germany, Australia and New-Zealand.
They were rich times, very stimulating and affirming, where the fruit of the Dzogchen retreat really came out.
So, the flavour of all my teaching for this year is encapsulated in the two quotes above, simplifying without abandoning the skilful means necessary to truly come to realise the art of non-doing to reveal the clear, unfabricated mind. It is a delicate balance of “practice of non-practice”, powerful and unique for each being.
The importance of the Bodhicitta, the elightenment mind which is expressed in compassionate involvement and loving kindness for all sentient beings and in the aspiration to awaken speedily for the sake of all beings will continue to be explored and strengthened, together with the sharing of our wholesome states and activities for the wellbeing and awakening of all beings; the cultivation of the altruistic mind is at the root of our happiness and that of others.
The Orchard is replacing the small caravan with a deluxe, double-glazed new kuti (hut) as the demand from students to come on retreat is constant. The new kuti will provide a beautiful retreat environment for long term retreatants.
The annex to The Orchard, Gill’s hermitage at Cwm Cottage, is now ready, also offering deluxe conditions for students only a few minutes drive from The Orchard.
At the end of the year Ad and I are planning to do our annual personal retreat at The Orchard in our own kutis! So much travelling, visiting and being in very beautiful places all over the world, yet everytime we return home, we are struck by how beautiful, supportive and anchored The Orchard and the land around us are.
We want to continue to nurture that special environment which is benefitting so many and which holds such wholesome energy from all the years of teachings and practising. It will also mark our 20 years here. We moved in on the 1st December 1985 with only a small van of possessions and a cat.
It seems a lifetime away.
Looking forward
to receiving you at The Orchard.
In metta, Sonia
“although
peace and happiness do not
exist as actual thing or place,
it is always available and accompanies
us every instant”
