A few years ago I became more familiar with the practice of yoga- which means "Union". Yoga is definitely that- a union of body and mind. As I read different books on this art I also came across books about meditation as well as Buddha and his teachings. What I find most interesting about the Buddhism belief, is that it urges you to question things, and it does not condemn doubt. Buddhism does not right or wrong any emotion, but only encourages you to accept what is and to use emotions as tools to discover your path to enlightenment.
Working at Big Hill Retreat
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The main cabin at Big Hill Retreat, tucked away, just off the Cabot Trail a few km from Baddeck. This cabin is gorgeous and hand-crafted by Terry himself, just like the other 3 cabins which are available for meditation and vacations! The Pottery Barn to the right is where Linda, a very talented and long-time potter makes her creations and holds seminars!
http://bighillpottery.wordpress.com/ www.bighillretreat.com |
Working at Big Hill Retreat
The first time I went to Nova Scotia, in the Fall of 2009, I had the privelage of working at this beautiful getaway on Cape Breton Island, Nova Scotia.
I spent my time there:
- Enjoying the island life! Hiking, fishing
- Listening to Michael Gabriel (a beautiful singer) for the first time, and hours spent listening to Sting!
- Learning more about meditation, and meditating
- Learning some Indian and Indonesian cooking, including Gado Gado! Yum.
- Harvesting, preserving and packaging vegetables
- Winterizing the organic garden
- Maitaining the meditation/vacation cabins
- Stacking wood
- Digging a loooooong trench with 2 workers from France who were part of the wwoofing network. (Willing working on organic farms). This turned out to be a lot of fun! Jokes in broken english can be a riot. I have remained friends with the boys from France and I think overall it was a great experience in life. Together, we managed to dig a 60 ft. long (or so) trench which would eventually connect the electrical wire from the main cabin to the new pottery barn which was previously an old goat barn!
http://www.blipfoto.com/view.php?id=389746&month=10&year=2009
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Photo by: Jamie Boland. From the driveway at the retreat, you have I great views of the vast landscapes and the Bra-D'ors Lakes (which are very cool because the lake is part salt water and part fresh, creating a unique eco-system. The salt water comes in the inlet from the North of the island from the Atlantic!)
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Shambala Meditation with Monks
Big Hill Retreat was named after the large hill the settlement it sits on- it's a 3km walk just up the driveway to the cabins! It is the perfect place to relax away from the noise of the city and your mind. Previous to visiting the retreat, I had attempted meditation but found it very, very hard, and I had no idea how to begin. At Big Hill Retreat, I was in a positive and calming atmosphere where I could learn about Buddhas teachings and get tips for meditation from Terry and Linda. They also asked me to join them in a Shambala Meditation Workshop in Margaree Harbour, another beautiful place with stunning landscapes.
The drive there in the morning was gorgeous, I was in my element! The winding roads led us past lakes and rivers and streams, and through the gorgeous fall colors up to the coast. The experience I had that day I can never forget, because I learned how to meditate from very experienced people- who better but Buddhist monks themselves?! The monks came from The Gampo Abbey Monastery, in Pleasant Bay, Cape Breton, now the home of famous Buddhist teacher and author, Pema Chodron. I was really honored to speak with monks who were mentored by Pema Chodron, who is very "interested in helping to establish Tibetan Buddhist monasticism in the West" You can read more about Pema Chodron at this link(www.gampoabbey.org/home/index.htmlhome/index.html )
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| This is Gampo Abbey Monastery in Pleasant Bay, N.S, A breath-taking coastal region. |
I had been reading a lot of Pema Chodrons work during my stay at the retreat so I thought this was an exciting opportunity. The monks were completely open, answering any and all of my questions, and they were exceptionally accepting of every individuals journey, regardless of differences- a key part of Buddhism. It was a long day, because meditation can be very draining in the beginning, since our minds have been conditioned by society to go, go, go! But when you leave, after meditating (essentially the skill of being aware) for the first time virtually ever you literally have had life breathed back inside of you and you have a clear state of mind. Now I have the tools and understanding to continue meditation on my own.
Thank you monks from Gampo Abbey Monastery for welcoming me and treating me sokindly. Thank you for helping me better understand Buddhism, and the art of meditation.
I would like to give a special thanks to Terry and Linda who welcomed me into their home and offered me opportunities for learning and enlightenment. I can never forget the experiences I had during those few weeks. THANK YOU!
