Location, Location, Location

To borrow from Jane Austen, this was a happily situated place with views of majestic Mt. St Helen’s across the meadow. We were surrounded by very mature trees around the edges, a few apple trees near the buildings and pretty wildflowers by the walking path. The center is located in a rural area with neighbors far enough, except for the smell of their fertilizer in the early morning hours. The only noise we experienced were clanking of utensils on our plates during breakfast and lunch, the Tibetan gong on the premises signaling the time to wake up, eat or to start meditating at 4 am, 4:20, 6:30, 7:50, 11, 12:50, 2:20, 3:40, 5, 5:50, 7, 8:30, and finally at 9:30 pm, and the construction noises in the afternoon as the new women’s dorms were being built by volunteers.

Just as the wandering mind is not allowed, wandering bodies are not desirable either. A very short walking path is available for walking, bearing in mind that running, jogging, yoga or any other form of exercise if forbidden. There are green signs everywhere alerting us to “Course boundary. No students beyond this point.” So you were to stay on designated walkways and nowhere else. Couldn’t walk up to the apple tree and sit under it, for example. This idea of segregation repeated itself throughout the course.

Workshop is strictly segregated by sex: male and female entrances to the meditation hall sit on either side of the building with separate walkways. Male and female dorms are not in view of each other and walking paths are also completely segregated so as to minimize any contact or visual of the other sex. The only time you see men is when they are in the meditation hall, but you are not supposed to be looking at their side of the hall. You do not observe what other women are doing either. You are here to find enlightenment for yourself, which means you do not concern yourself with others, you just work on yourself. As you read this long blog you will realize that I was observing everyone around me. I can’t help it, as a researcher and a sociologist I am curious about people. Or maybe I am just nosey….