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I woke up at 3:45am to pee. The stars were amazing. It was a warm night, I wore only one
layer. I was down at the Can by 6am. I put laundry into the washer, it was a full
load. After setting the washer going I
sat in the car and did morning ceremony.
Then I continued to sit in the car and fell asleep. I got out of my car when everyone else
started to show up for breakfast. I
began making chili, salsa etc.. for our Mexican lunch.
One of the staff came to discuss the issue of how we all
speak Chinese and we are sitting gender separate, that someone new to the crew
may feel left out. So we changed, we
mixed things up. It’s good to
communicate. We get so caught up in
catching up trying to get things done as soon as possible that we miss some
basic things at times, some basic human touch things. We are so used to being around people who speak
multiple languages that we just mix it all in and forget that not everyone is
so.
We also discovered Henry’s wife Myra is a very shy and
sweet, but amazing artist and a great chef.
She made me a heart shape chocolate chip pancake.
After lunch I felt super exhausted, I was in need of a
nap. But I had to move my tent out of my
yearly site and into a new one, which I didn’t mind, I just want it quiet
wherever I am so I can sleep. I didn’t
get to nap, I just had time to lay down for a bit and take a break from
standing on my feet.
Tonight after dinner we all went up and sat in meditation
for forty five minutes. I got a lot of mosquito
bites in the mediation hall. My ankle
managed to survive the criss cross sit.
It was all I could manage with the injury.
Marion, Orlan, Connie and her brother Michael showed up
during mediation. Connie showed up with
her guitar.
Today a tent broke in transport from the Can up to the
campground area. Any abstract energy
tension in this case is manifested in real time and reflected on the tangible
external world. This alarm rang like a
big bell throughout the land. All of us
as Buddhist nonviolent practitioners knew better and as staff with
responsibilities, we were too well experienced and trained to be in denial. People reflected on such a manifestation. It was a sound of alarm for this community
and we all knew and had to pay attention and do better in our own thoughts and
harmony in working with each other. I
am glad no one physically got hurt today.
Two staff apologized on behalf of the group for the lack
of professional work performance up to date and have yet to pick up the slack
on the work load. I feel blessed to be
with people with honest amazing hearts full of integrity.
The work week is hard work. You have to love hard work to be happy
here. You do what others don’t want to
do. You do what others can’t do. You are selected and invited to work week for
the strengths you can contribute. We
meet once a year. People show up in
which ever condition they are in and we as a group must adjust each year on the
spot to fill in. It means some people
are able to sneak in three hour breaks and naps while others work 15 hour
day. And if you are doing the 15 hour
day, it’s your test to not let negativity rise in regards to fellow crew or the
retreat itself. That’s just how it is. It’s never boring. It’s
what you agree to when you sign up.
