residential meditation retreat – the first time (a beginning)

I had looked at the aerial shot on the website so many times it was surreal driving through the gates and seeing the long driveway leading up to the temple and the big house. One of those I really can’t believe this would ever happen to me moments.

The energy field around me took a shift right then and there. Within the boundary of that property, within the time that I was there, I was in no doubt that I was in quite a different world.

How can I explain to you karma? Not your karma, not the concept karma, but my karma leading me to this point and to the internal experience of being there.

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There was the time I first saw the cute guy and thought it was more than it was, thought it was something. It Was something but not what I thought. That locking of eyes led me to a different sangha. My new teacher’s teacher, a Geshe, was a major figure in Tibetan Buddhist history in Oz. My first moment of Buddhism had led to this. The guy that introduced me to the Buddha Dharma, to meditation, way back when, had actually studied under the same Geshe.la, with my new teacher. Both cute guys and sharing the same first name. Too bizarre? Too much coincidence?

Years ago I was taught ‘there is no such thing as coincidence’ – karma, everything happens exactly as it is meant to. I find my way to this master, I prepare to travel to his temple in another state, to retreat, take refuge, take some initiations from him, and he dies.

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Now here I am at the temple of our teacher who I never met in this lifetime. Led here by a long samsaric path since meeting the first cute guy over 30 years ago, via the second, and it just feels so right. I wish I had heard Geshe.la’s voice but I am told, that in his teachings, I am getting his essence. I am his student.

I am led into the central part of the house to the largest bedroom. I’ll be sharing with seven others. The room is dusty, musty, has been unused since when? My bed is in the most auspicious position, I am blessed the resident who picked me up at the airport, and has been showing me around, tells me. I am sleeping next to the altar. This room was the gompa before the temple was built. My teacher, a most revered monk in Australia, sat where I would sleep. Had given years of teachings, offered refuge, given initiations, led meditation from this very spot. His Holiness the Dalai Lama had visited and had also sat in this spot. My teacher’s bedroom was the room above so he had slept directly above this spot.

I was overwhelmed. Did not feel worthy. Didn’t feel that anyone should sleep there actually. Right next to the altar? Let alone the history of energy, the incredible lineage. Everyone told me ‘you’re so blessed’, I felt so small…

To be continued..

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australia, buddhism, Dharma, life, writing