Category: Retreat Centers

August 2015 in northern Michigan, what better than a weekend festival of yoga, kirtan (devotional music) and meditation? Arriving in March, I am currently a staff member and yoga teacher in residence at the Song of the Morning Meditation Retreat in Vanderbilt, Michigan. The following photos share some of the beautiful fun of this four day event, Yoga Fest MI. Check out their website http://www.yogafestmi.com for complete info.

I hope your summer plans include staying cool. Blessings on these Dog Days!

Namaste

Main Tent with Malveka

Henna Tatoos

Flags on the Pigeon River

Rockin’ Kitchen Crew

Platform Yoga

Lucas at the KId’s Tent

Suitcase DJ

More of the Pigeon

Haley, the Massage Master

Similar to Christianity in which there are numerous denominations, Buddhism also has different sects. Tibetan Buddhism is a style of practice developed by Buddhist practitioners in the geographic section of Asia, north of India, which includes such countries as Nepal and Bhutan, as well as Tibet.

Having studied Eastern philosophy through the avenue of Yoga, I was attracted to Tibetan Buddhism with it’s apparent similarities to other Eastern practices. As in Hinduism, there is great emphasis on the use of art in Tibetan Buddhist worship. In these photos (with my minimal photography skills!) I present but a portion of the artwork in the main shrine room of the Tara Mandala Temple.

Thankas are large paintings usually done on silk fabric which depict the life of the Buddha or other important deities. A torma is a figure sculpted of  barley flour and butter, often quite ornate in their embellishments. Seen as an offering cake (hence flour and butter), the torma is eventually scattered across the land or water as an offering, as an act of non-attachment.

Tibetan Buddhist practice often involves periods of  specifically outlined prayer chanting, interspersed with silent meditation and mantra practice. All aspects of one’s psyche are acknowledged; from the fierceness needed to dispel negativity, to the rapture of bliss, to the peace of open space.  Undeniably there is a huge cultural aspect to Tibetan practice and this is an obstacle for some. However I have found the practices to be of great benefit in “reprogramming”  some of my unconscious egotistic intentions. As I have traveled the US these past years, I have been surprised at the widespread availability of Tibetan Buddhism in places as far away as Montana and Utah. If you are so inclined I would suggest you look into a Center in your area.

Enjoy the Art!

Blessings for a very happy Thankful Season!

21 Tara Thanka

Offering Tormas

Torma Close up

Protector with Fangs

Offering Tent

Fierce Tara

Peaceful Tara

Practice with Italian Friends

Martina from Germany

Tibetan Mantra Practice

Temple Mural

Lama Teaching Throne

A Retreat Center is often a facility established to provide an opportunity for personal practice and study away from day to day life in civilization. Many times this type of Center is in a rural setting. Often technologies such as computer and phone service are limited. “Retreat” can be defined as a place of privacy or refuge. In the Buddhist tradition students are encouraged to go on retreat to help strengthen their meditation and associate practices.    I have been involved with various spiritual Retreat Centers and fully appreciate the deepening of one’s understanding and growth by stepping out of the “mainstream” of life.

In the early months of this year I made the decision to enter a 2 year study program at the Namgyal Institute of Buddhist Studies in Ithaca, NY.  Upon application to the program and meeting with the Director, it was explained to me that the Namgyal Institute is strictly a study facility and offers minimal practice opportunity. This is a viable approach for study, but was not what I had envisioned for my time in a 2 year program. Subsequently I found the Tara Mandala Buddhist Retreat Center in Pagosa Springs, CO. For more complete information on this beautiful Retreat facility please go to their website at http://www.taramandala.org.

In these photos you get a glimpse of the beauty of Tara Mandala both in nature and in esthetics. Due to the cold temperatures of the Colorado mountains, the Center is only open from May until October. There are numerous volunteer positions for Buddhist practitioners who would like to help support their practice with service. My primary work was with the gardens, both temple gardens and vegetable gardens. I would encourage those of you who have a semester schedule, with freedom in the summer, to explore the opportunity of  living and working in a full time practice environment.

For a better visual you can click on the photos for a full view. To return to the blog use your “back arrow” key. My next post will focus on some of the art of the Tibetan Buddhist tradition celebrated at Tara Mandala.

Happy Autumn!

Namaste

Summer Temple Garden

View from Upper Temple

Temple at Tara Mandala

At Home, the Women’s Dorm

East Temple Entrance

Roomate Dani and Friend

Entrance Gate

Stupa and Prayer Flags

My Job as Gardener