Retreat Environments

It happens. Occasionally. Very occasionally. The cold wind of death brushes across the back of the neck. Not only of the individual but of the collective. In this case, the collective refers to the participants in our annual 10 day French Dharma Yatra (teachings and pilgrimage) held in late July. …

The Cold Wind of Death Brushes across the Back of the Neck of our YatraRead More »

Every year, the noise pollution in Bodh Gaya, the village of the Buddha’s enlightenment, increases due to use of rock festival style loudspeakers for weddings and Mahayana pujas. Our 70 retreatants between the two retreats endured very loud music from the other side of the monastery wall for 19 nights out of 20 nights. …

Why End the Retreats in Bodh Gaya after 38 years?Read More »

It is probably not an exaggeration to say that millions have attended the various kinds of Buddhist retreats worldwide, ranging in length from weekends to years, in the past 35 years that the various traditions have made available.  Every retreat offers teachers and participants a challenge. Perhaps our retreats in Bodh Gaya have been unique in the sheer variety of challenges to teachers and participants compared to the West. …

Namaste to Bodh Gaya and all its amazing eccentric pilgrims and seekersRead More »

Kye, my nine-year-old grandson, accompanied me on a month long trip in November, 2010, to Australia where I offered Dharma teachings and visited family. Kye met his 90-year-old great grandmother. With the approval of his school in south Devon,   Kye could leave behind the laminated wooden desk of his classroom for the rain forest of Yarrahapinni running down to the edge of the Pacific Ocean in New South Wales. …

When a nine year old enters the rainforest ….Read More »

Kye, my nine-year-old grandson and I, arrived home on Monday night after the 10^th annual French Dharma Yatra conducted in the foothills of the Pyrenees, not far from Limoux. We dumped our tents, backpacks and daypacks on the floor at home, cooked up a bit of food. Kye took a long soak in the bath and slept for around 12 hours. …

“How far do you walk each day?”Read More »