Rinpoche and the guests of the consecration celebration have said their goodbyes. Peace settles over Pema Choling…
The consecration of Pema Choling has come to an end. https://pema-choling.de/en/water-snake/
On June 23rd, Rinpoche sets off for Warsaw. There, he will lead a retreat.
On the afternoon of June 24th, the last guests of the consecration celebration leave Pema Choling.
I stay behind.
Alone.
For seven weeks.
Not even Suriyel comes to visit.
Just me — and an old tomcat.
Surrounded by many wild animals.
The roe deer that grazes in the meadow behind the house at night.
The fox that naps in the afternoon under the bush by the fence.
The huge flock of starlings that descends on the ripe fruit in my cherry trees.
The kite that hovers above the parsonage roof, as if hanging from a kite string.
The swallows hunting mosquitoes over the surface of the pond.
The kestrels dogfighting with the swallows in the air.
The bats hunting over the pond once the swallows have gone to bed as night falls.
The frogs that croak me to sleep.
The owl whose shrill call jolts me awake in the first nights.
Every morning, I practise in the pavilion by the pond.
First Zazen.
Then Riwo Sang Chö.
After that, I do whatever needs doing.
No more, no less.
It feels as though, with every day I spend alone, I become more a part of Pema Choling.
Merging with the peaceful stillness.
Becoming one with the timelessness of the place.
Despite all my neuroses, which become painfully transparent against the naturalness of Pema Choling.
“Interesting!” I think, again and again, whenever I’m confronted with absurd patterns, thoughts, and fears within myself.
I spend seven weeks alone at Pema Choling.
Every day the same.
Every day a surprise…
