A Buddhist Retreat

Tonight I am going back to Bangkok to spend the weekend and possibly some or all of next week at the Sathira-Dhammasathan Center where they accept foreigners and Thais alike to study Buddhism and meditation (I haven't got called about starting work yet and the school is closed next week so it's a great opportunity).

It is something I have always wanted to do (at least for the past 15 years) and I would consider it regretful if I didn't take advantage of such a wonderful opportunity while here in Thailand, a mostly Buddhist country.

I can't tell you too much about it right now but I will certainly do a blog when I return. Basically what I know is that tomorrow (Friday), Saturday and Sunday they have "activities" which I'm told are meditations, then next week there aren't any "activities" but I am welcome to stay as long as I like. I'm told they serve vegetarian food and that we don't leave the sanctuary grounds. I'm really excited and at the same time nervous. Discoveries about oneself can be exciting unless it is discovering something you don't really want to be aware of - that is my fear. But I will welcome the experience the best I can.

The woman I am really looking forward to meeting is Mae Chee Sansanee. She is the founder and Director of Sathira-Dhammasathan Center in Bangkok (where I'm going to stay). Their website is a little outdated and the English version a little limited, but there is a nice article here : http://www.integrativespirituality.org/postnuke/html/index.php?name=Sections&req=viewarticle&artid=322&page=1 (not to mention many others on the www if you're intersted)

I'm going without my laptop so I will be out of touch with some of you.

Hugs and kisses to everyone!

Broken Wings

I went for a walk around the lake in Khon Kaen yesterday. It took me about 3 hours because I took my time and stopped at a few temples along the way.

At one point during my walk I saw a butterfly and stopped to take some photos. At first I didn't notice how "broken" the butterfly's wings were because it flew with such grace and elegance. So then why can't I continue to live with grace and elegance even though sometimes I feel like I am flying with "broken wings"? It was a nice little personal lesson I thought I would share with you ...

There was also these amazing trees with long hanging vines that people must stop to braid!

One of the temples I stopped at was Wat Nongwang. It has nine levels each one smaller than the one below it, kind of like a teired cake I suppose. I walked to the top and as I reached the top the sound of the bells got louder and louder. I found the sound very calming, like being on my grandfather's porch in the summertime listening to his ceramic chimes blowing in the warm breeze. I thought I would share this with you also ...