pics #1327 - #1413

Friday August 19th - White Self-Existing Mirror
This morning, waking up in the field, I practice one Sun Salutation as my only asana today: I want to make it on time in Brad to meet the people from the meditation center. I do not know when will be the next Surya Namaskar. because the guidelines of the meditation course i am joining demand to drop all other practices. I arrive rapidly in Brad where I meet with other attendees of the Vipassana course. The people from the meditation center charge our bags in their car, I go on riding my bicycle, light, while the other people take the bus. It soon turn into a dirt road. I meet the other people again at the end of the bus line when they climb in an old army van to get to the meditation center. The road is so hard that I can follow the car. After a last and steep ascension appears the eco-village and meditation center, on a hill, surrounded by mountains. A wonderful scenery.
We are guided through the course area, and leave all the unnecessary behind, which means only keeping clothing, sleeping and grooming items. In the end of the day we are invited in the community main room, where the spiritual guide, Adi, presents the course. He tells us that people meditated in Romania centuries ago, so he does not have a Buddhist only background, interesting person.

           Last climb before the meditation center

Meditation course
Saturday August 20th to Tuesday August 30th - Blue Overtone Storm to Red Lunar Moon
The course is tough, rough. The days are following a simple schedule, announced by a gong and a bell. We have about ten daily hours of meditation, two meals and one tea pause, food, coming from the community efforts, is great. We have to observe the five precepts of Buddhism: not killing, not lying, no sexual activity, no stealing, no intoxicants, Sexes are totally segregated and we keep the noble silence, which means no communication at all. The goal of this strict discipline is focus and dedicate all of our time, thoughts and energy to the meditation taught. And it works. On the second day, we start meditating with Additana: during one hour we have to abstain of moving. This is hard, with mind reacting on pain and wanting to move... After 2 days i notice my mind is less taken into long talks/imagination.... the fourth day we are taught the Vipassana method. At the end of the course we are introduced to meditating with Metta. Noble silence is lifted after that, and we go helping the men of the community for some construction work. Still one day left before lifting all the discipline of this course. With his farmers clothing, big socks and cap, the meditation guide, does not look like what you expect from a spiritual teacher, especially when used to graceful yoginis from the western money world. But calm and wisdom is around with him.

           Strîmba

Living in the community
Wednesday August 31st to Sunday September 11th - White Electric Dog to Red Magnetic Dragon
When suggested by Adi, I do not refuse to stay living in the community and take benefit of having one hour dedicated to vipassana twice per day, while participating to the eco-village life. Out of the meditation course this is the opportunity to discover a 12 year long established community. There are two hours in the day, one in the morning and one in the evening to go meditate at the meditation hall. There are many houses for the families and couples, and two dormitories. We have meals together, sitting on the floor. The food is great, seasonal, local and organic, tasty. Add the scenery, the clean air, walk in the night under the stars.
Tasks I will go through are harvesting and storing the hay, preparing food in canning jars, harvesting vegetables, cleaning the goats' stables, charging and discharging material. We usually work in groups, make the big tasks smaller, more pleasant. I enjoy learning some more words of Romanian, I feel free also, there is no one to check if you do your job, if you are efficient, ... as long as the group has done his job. The community has houses spread in a wide range around the center and I am delighted each day to discover a different area in the mountains.

           Hungry goats

Reflexions on lifestyles
The variety of tasks is another good aspect: I got bored with my previous job by always doing the same thing, day after day. month after month. Not only boring but also not helping creativity. I can see how industrial agriculture destroyed traditional farming, letting less autonomy to farmers. They have to buy seeds, fertilizers, and then sell their product to a big company who decides of the price. Here, we grow what we need to eat. No money is necessary for that. Compared to that life I see how city life is complete crap. Seriously: out of work that is basically exchanging time and energy for money, people still have to satisfy needs, like socializing, contact with nature, sporting. Here we do all of it while working: how efficient, and this brings no stress, no imbalance, to the contrary.

           Integrated in the environment

Spiritual seekers
Talking with the resident I discover interesting paths, although I am annoyed by hearing them repeating words of Adi about spiritual practices that they did not personally tried. They had a breakthrough with Vipassana, good, but it does not mean that this is the only way. My breakthrough was with something else, in which I established a practice. No use in changing tradition until the next teacher, better integrate the teachings. If spiritual paths are many, a constant is dedication in a given practice. From there I think it is wise to carefully integrate other techniques. But from my limited understanding, a guru would be helpful.

           Vulkan

Conclusion
My time here is great, great people, great ambiance, great food, I simply miss yoga practice. This place is the closest to what I am looking for, it marries a life close to nature with spirituality. This last aspect cements the community. They live close to complete autonomy with the food they grow and receiving donations from the meditation course attendees. The scenery is wonderful. I easily understand that many people never left this place. It seems easy, too easy maybe I am not ready to surrender. So I am taking the way out, going on my quest, with yoga in the menu, por favor.