For the past five days, I've been submersed in a powerful peace. The kind of peace that wraps kindness around your temples. That pulls your center of gravity out of your fast-paced head and down into your heart.
The kind of peace that is like cotton wool headphones plugging you into another soundtrack. Where air and space take the place of busy sound. Where we can begin to slow down the cogs.
It all started early last Friday when Rebecca appeared outside my window in the West End of Portland, with a rented car with New Jersey plates. We set out on the six and a half hour journey to the Catskills of New York and the home of the World Peace Temple at KMC New York.
The kind of peace that is like cotton wool headphones plugging you into another soundtrack. Where air and space take the place of busy sound. Where we can begin to slow down the cogs.
It all started early last Friday when Rebecca appeared outside my window in the West End of Portland, with a rented car with New Jersey plates. We set out on the six and a half hour journey to the Catskills of New York and the home of the World Peace Temple at KMC New York.
After the seven hour drive, we pulled up the long driveway through the pine trees, and out into the sun where we saw our first glimpse of the temple. Glinting with golden vajras on the roof, this astonishing design set to the mandalas of Heruka and poised atop a hill so that it overlooks forested views beyond.
We got out the car, stretched our legs, and padded over the grass to sign in, and then over to the marquee to eat our first communal, veggie dinner. It was quiet, not too many people about and all the while, I was aware of the peace permeating every pore of body and mind.
You get it just by arriving and standing in the grounds.
We got out the car, stretched our legs, and padded over the grass to sign in, and then over to the marquee to eat our first communal, veggie dinner. It was quiet, not too many people about and all the while, I was aware of the peace permeating every pore of body and mind.
You get it just by arriving and standing in the grounds.
When I returned to Maine on Tuesday afternoon, I felt the peace walk with me into my apartment.
The peace was with me as I opened my fridge to pull out milk for a cup of tea. It lay in the trees outside my window that had by now manifested small green buds. This peace was appearing all around me. And I deeply felt the truth of that teaching: that a peaceful mind is a happy mind.
My job now is to keep this peace coming, by picking up the designs and starting to build that temple deep within my own heart.
By rising each morning and spending concentrated time in meditation to harness my mind to the stake of positivity. To use mindfulness continually throughout the day to pull me away from stress and worry. To realign my focus with wisdom and love and to learn to stay there, moment by moment.
In that space, we find home.
Photo credit: Whoever the kind soul is who took photos at the US Festival, I hope you don't mind me pasting your work here! Thank you.
The peace was with me as I opened my fridge to pull out milk for a cup of tea. It lay in the trees outside my window that had by now manifested small green buds. This peace was appearing all around me. And I deeply felt the truth of that teaching: that a peaceful mind is a happy mind.
My job now is to keep this peace coming, by picking up the designs and starting to build that temple deep within my own heart.
By rising each morning and spending concentrated time in meditation to harness my mind to the stake of positivity. To use mindfulness continually throughout the day to pull me away from stress and worry. To realign my focus with wisdom and love and to learn to stay there, moment by moment.
In that space, we find home.
Photo credit: Whoever the kind soul is who took photos at the US Festival, I hope you don't mind me pasting your work here! Thank you.
