9-21-08 Spirit Rock
4:15 PM
Christine picked me up. We stopped & had hot tea on the way to the airport. I look forward to seeing her next week when she picks me up.
The flight was fine. Had an entire HS [high school] football team aboard. As a fellow passenger said, “Way too much testosterone on this flight.”
Met Babs & caught the shuttle. She’s a “back to the land” rancher who raises Percherons. I enjoyed her company. We got to SR early so we went hiking. Beautiful vistas in the rolling hills! Saw a fawn & several hawks.
My roommate, Kate, seems nice. Very mindful.
My work meditation is to wash vegetables. How appropriate! I did this at Deer Park [Monastery] & hated it. I volunteered for it here from the available jobs so I can practice detachment – or non-attachment. Now, I’m off to get trained. I wonder how much training I’ll need in washing vegetables…
7:30 PM
Dinner was good, though light. Lunch is the big meal here.
I managed to avoid washing any of the 40 lbs. of bok choy! I did help wash 13 lbs. of roma tomatoes, 8 lbs. of bell peppers, & 1/2 flat of cherry tomatoes. The other members of my veggie washing team are Regina, Barbara, & Micha (who just got married to her girlfriend of 21 years!)
Kate & I have set up our home & basic ground rules. We have established that she is the window expert & I do the blinds. We managed to “fix” both.
I hope Michael did well in his [motorcycle] race. I think of him often. The only reason I regret not brining a camera is that I would have liked to share images of this place with him.
9:30 PM
The opening session was great. Chanting the prajna paramita [mantra] – 80 to 90 women – chanting at a pitch I can reach rather than too low. Lots (too much?) estrogen in the room. 🙂
It’s so quiet here, I can hear my tinnitus constantly. I could even hear my heart beat during meditation, though, curiously, only on the inhalations.
The talk opened with a quote from Ammachi about how feminine energy is needed to save the world. Something certainly is needed. I hope I can help.
Now it’s off to sleep. I look at my wedding ring tattoo, remembering the night Michael & I got them – & then went dancing at Miss Kitty’s! I think I just found the one sacred thing that only I share with him…
1st interview
Anna 4:00 Rm 1 9/22/08
Schedule
6:00 Wake Up
6:30 Morning Sitting Meditation/Sky gazing
7:15 Breakfast Meditation
8:00 Walking Meditation
9:00 Sitting Meditation
9:30 Teachings
10:30 Walking Meditation
11:00 Sitting Meditation
11:30 Teachings
12:30 Lunch Meditation
2:30 Sitting Meditation
3:00 Movement or Walking Meditation
4:00 Sitting Meditation or Small Group Interviews
4:45 Walking Meditation
5:15 Dinner Meditation
6:45 Sitting Meditation/Sky gazing
7:20 Stretch Break
7:30 Teachings
8:30 Working Meditation (Washing Vegetables)
9:00 Sitting Meditation
9:30 Sleep
Living in the Dash 