Having just
returned from our Sangha’s third annual retreat at the scenically stunning East
Down Centre in the heart of Devon I feel the urge to write down a report before
my rapidly ageing brain cells allow the memory to drift into haziness. I did
the same last year so perhaps this will become an annual occurrence.
The Touching
The Earth Sangha is based in Glastonbury & Mid Somerset, but also includes
people from further afield. Over the past four years we have evolved into a
strongly-committed group of practitioners who feel very connected with each
other, and confident enough to share the responsibility of leading the various
Plum Village practices.
This
confidence was very much in evidence this week as the workload was shared
around with ease, and everything, more or less, ran smoothly. The pattern of
the days, common to most retreats in our tradition, was centred around the
usual practices of incense offerings; morning & evening chants; sitting and
walking meditations; chi gung & tai chi; working meditation; noble silence
and Dharma discussions. The latter including such subjects as ‘transformation’,
‘death and dying’ and ‘spiritual bypass/ deep listening’, and were shared deeply.
To add to the
mix we also watched a recording of one of Thay’s question & answer sessions
at a recent Nottingham retreat; took part in a bodywork session; and, perhaps
most moving of all participated in a ‘Truth Mandala’, based upon Joanna Macy’s
work, derived from her world-renowned ‘Council of All Beings’ workshops. In the
centre of the shrine room was constructed a beautiful fabric mandala within
which were placed four objects representing fear, grief, anger and
helplessness. We were invited to enter this space with intent to share our
emotional distress at the plight of the Earth and her environment. We could
also express our hope and belief that things would change for the better. At
times it was very moving and emotional hearing people’s anguish and pleas for
loving-kindness and compassion for the planet’s species and ecology, and those
who took part felt privileged to having done so.
It was a
privilege to be there, and everyone expressed the wish to return to East Down
again next year in order to strengthen our Sangha and deepen our connection
with each other. So my heartfelt thanks go to Collette, Sam, Kev, John S, John
H, Anthony, Diana, our super Tenzo Rose, Victoria, Jeannette, Husamadin,
Habiba, Felipe, Julia and dear four year old Tashi, without whom the retreat
would not have been as rich.
by Ark Redwood
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