~ March Newsletter
 

In this newsletter

~ News
~ The Monthly Theme--Happening, by Jaya
~ Interesting Links
~ Beauty of Sattal, by Jonathan
~ Reflections from Melissa
~ Origins
~ Upcoming Events
~ Rincón Latino

~ News

~ The Monthly Theme

~ Interesting Links

~Two fascinating links came our way this month. In the first, found right here,astronomer Natalie Batalha talks on a radio program about love, connectedness and outer-space. And in the second, found here, astronauts describe the "overview effect," the connectedness they experience when seeing Earth from outerspace. (Good full-screen viewing!) 

~Evan has shared with us a link to videos he took while at the Tiru retreats in 2012, as well as pieces he shot at Anantha Niketan and Singing Heart ashrams. (Check it out here.)

~ This link, from Jessica, offers a series of articles describing the effects love has on your body. (See more here.)

~ Nico shared this one, a gathering of five short talks on empathy. (Follow the link for more.)

After having spent few years in India, my heart feels drawn to a little paradise there: Sattal. Situated in the Lakes district, in the first smaller hills of the Himalayas, Sattal is rich and lush with nature, including the presence of water yearlong (a few lakes and a waterfall), and is still quite unspoiled by over-exploitation. Surrounded by old forested area, the songs of the birds create a heart-openness and an aliveness during a peaceful walk. One person told me once, Nature is the greatest teacher. This sentence makes sense in a place like Sattal, even without having to go out of the Ashram, as this welcoming place is, in a way, part of it, in a respectful relationship with its surroundings.

I always feel a beautiful energy there. Just arriving helps the mind to slow down, the heart to open, the senses to awaken, integrating the beauties.... being there fully, feeling the support of all the elements and the living beings around. There are two special times of the year to be in Sattal, one is in the Fall season, just after the rain, when everything gets green from the nourishment of the water. And the end of the winter and beginning of spring is the other good period, as the temperature is in good balance. The night is chilly enough to enjoy the coziness of a good blanket or sleeping bag, and the day heated up by the sun makes it pleasant to enjoy nature and sun without warm clothes or even a nice swim in the afternoon. It rarely rains during this time, but we can still enjoy the presence of fresh water.

And with time, a friendship develops with the Ashram staff. Whomever comes as a friend of Open Dharma is warmly welcomed, respected and supported, with the great necessity that the cooks know to add just the right amount of spice!!! Time there in retreat has a flowing, smooth quality, giving the possibility to go deeper inside. A real Indian place, but an Indian place that drives in lower gear, taking the time to simply be.

by Jonathan

~ Reflections from Melissa

Melissa wrote with her reflections on sitting with fire, a fox, and with Jaya at her place, Wild Peace Farm, in the Australian bush...

She writes, in part:

"...Raf and I were meditating on the eastern ridge, facing the rising sun. The ground is hard and uneven, the ants and flies curious and ever-present. This is not the ‘ideal’ way to meditate but it was perfect--dawn arising, birdsong and insect buzz. Raf was sitting with his eyes open as Jaya had suggested, and suddenly I felt the need to open mine. There, not more than two metres away, was a small copper coloured fox--watching us, watching it.

Moments passed -- silent watching.

 

Then I spoke and laughed. Raf! A fox! The fox scampered off and we resumed our sitting. What happened in that brief encounter that changed our lives? How deeply can I rest into the felt experience of meeting a fox?...."

(To read all of Melissa's letter, please link here.)

 

by Melissa

(Photo: Wild Peace Farm, by Melissa.)

---

Origins

Jaya sent in this quotation from Krishnamurti:

"What is the origin of all existence, from the minutest cell to the most complex brain? Was there a beginning at all, and is there an end to all this? What is creation? To probe something totally unknown, not preconceived, and not be caught in any sentimental, romantic illusion, there must be a quality of  brain that is completely free from all its conditioning, from all its programming, from every kind of influence, and highly sensitive and tremendously active. Is that possible? Is it possible to have a mind, a brain, that is extraordinarily alive, not caught in any form of routine, not mechanical? Do we have a brain in which there is no fear, no self-interest, no self-centered activity?"

(From This Light in Oneself: True Meditation, pg 45)

(Photo: Tree, by Melissa.)
 

---

~ Upcoming Retreat Dates & Details

5 - 12 March, 2013, Fluid Dharma with Jaya on the banks of the River Ganga, Lakshma Jhula, Rishikesh, India
Meditation, dialogue, teachings, Jin Shin Jyutsu, play, nature, silence and transformation during our couple of hours together each morning and afternoon.
Non-residential.
This is a different focus from the originally planned Jin Shin Jyutsu course.
Contact Jaya for information and registration:

jaya (at) opendharma.org
(Patience, please, since she will be teaching in Sarnath just before this event.)
 

8 - 10 March, 2013, Diving into Meditation Retreat, in Eastbourne, UK
Deep rest, silence and genuine inquiry.
Teachings will be in English.
Facilitator: Gemma
For information and registration, write to:
info (at) retreattogayles.co.uk
 

1 - 8 April & 9-19 April Silent meditation retreats at Sattal Ashram, North India
Seven-day and 10-day silent meditation retreats at Sattal Ashram in the foothills of the Himalayas in India
Teachings will be in English.
Facilitators: Jaya and Gemma
For more information write to:
opendharmainfo(at)yahoo.com
 

20 April - 4 May, 2013, Two-week Jin Shin Jyutsu and meditation retreat at Sattal Ashram, North India
Teachings will be in English.
Facilitators: Jaya and Gemma.
opendharmainfo (at) yahoo.com
 

11 - 12 May, 2013, Non-Residential Weekend Retreat in Barcelona, Spain
Deep rest, silence and genuine inquiry.
Teachings will be in Spanish or Català, and English if needed.
Facilitator: Gemma
For information and registration, write to:

hedykramer(at)yahoo.es

31 May - 2 June, 2013, Awakening with Horses workshop at Dharmaloca, Spain
Teachings will be in Spanish and English.
Facilitator: Gemma
For information and registration, write to:
dharmalocaretreat (at) opendharma.org
awakeningwithhorses.org

June through December, Ongoing 1 - 2 month apprenticeships at Dharmaloca, Spain
Facilitator: Jaya
For information and registration, write to:
jaya (at) opendharma.org

5 - 17 June, 2013, Silent, down to earth retreat at Dharmaloca, Spain
Transformation through simplicity and beauty.
Facilitators: Gemma
For more information write to:
dharmalocaretreat (at) opendharma.org

25 - 29 June, 2013, Silent Deep Rest Retreat at Le Moulin, Cubjac, France
Teachings will be in English.
Facilitators: Jaya or Gemma
For more information write to:
mail (at) moulindechaves.org

13 - 20 July, 2013, Deep Rest retreat near Ter Apel, Holland
Teachings will be in English.
Facilitators: Jaya
For more information write to:
opendharmaholland(at)hotmail.com

24 - 28 July, 2013, Retreat in Montseny, Catalonia
Teachings will be in English & Català.
Facilitator: Gemma
For information and registration, write to:
retirosopendharma(at)gmail.com

31 July - 4 August, 2013, Diving into Meditation Retreat, in Eastbourne, UK
Deep rest, silence and genuine inquiry.
Teachings will be in English.
Facilitators: Gemma
For more information write to:
info(at)retreattogayles.co.uk

8 - 11 August & 11 - 18 August, 2013, Deep rest retreats at the Stone House in NC, USA
Teachings will be in English.
Facilitators: Jaya
For more information write to:
opendharma.nc (at) gmail.com

9 - 10 November, 2013, Non-Residential Weekend Retreat in Barcelona, Spain
Deep rest, silence and genuine inquiry.
Teachings will be in Spanish or Català, and English if needed.
Facilitator: Gemma
For information and registration, write to:
hedykramer(at)yahoo.es

 

For more information about retreats organized by our sister organizations visit www.SanghaCalendar.org

~ Welcome to Everyone

 

We would love to share your inspiration in an upcoming newsletter. Photos! Poems! Drawings! Musings! Reflections on a recent--or not so recent--retreat! (You can even tell us that you'd like to contribute anonymously.) Please feel free to send any contributions  to: newsletter (at) opencentre.es

(Non-Spanish speakers, curious about the Rincón Latino? Try, as one friend did, cutting and pasting the text you'd like to read into google's translation program. You'll get the flavor.)

---

Rincón Latino

Durante todo el año ofrecemos una posición de cuidador de Dharmaloca con un compromiso mínimo de entre 3 y 6  meses y con el objetivo de cuidar el lugar y en ocasiones alimentar a los caballos, así como profundizar en el propio proceso personal  y dar la bienvenida a la gente que viene para hacer retiros personales. Si estás interesad@ contacta: gemmaji (@) gmail.com.

---

~Reflexión Mensual por Gemma

 

Desacelerar es amar

Cuando llamamos normal la manera en la que vivimos estamos aceptando una velocidad que nos es postiza, innatural en la condición humana. Es una situación a la que no hemos llegado por evolución sino en un salto mortal que nos llevó de la tierra a la modernización casi de un día para otro.

Ahora nos mostramos perplejos ante el estrés y la depresión con los que convivimos y nos humillamos a nosotros mismos pensando que no somos capaces de vivir esta vida llamada normal y que nos parece que todos viven con normalidad.

Dimos un salto y me parece que crecer implica volver atrás y andar el tramo saltado o al menos comprender nuestra evolución y reconsiderar disminuir la velocidad y la mal entendida eficacia.

Volver la mirada hacia uno mismo implica desentendernos de nuestras ideas de objetivos y espacios de tiempo. Implica un enamoramiento con el proceso mismo que olvida el tiempo y abre la puerta a disfrutar del camino mismo.

Pasar tiempo haciendo nada, desestimar posibilidades exteriores para dar espacio a lo callado y tímido que late en nuestro corazón. Y así, sin contar ni correr detrás de objetivos prefijados, la vida tiene espacio para revelarse a sí misma y manifestarse más allá de los límites de lo que pensamos posible.

Este día a día lleno de nada pero vivo de verdad, cerca de las flores y los árboles que crecen sin velocidad y sin saber hacia dónde van a abrirse sus ramas y colores. Más cerca de la tierra y del cielo, que nos enseñan cambio constante sin velocidad y nos recuerdan lo que somos, de dónde venimos y nuestro tempo de verdad.

 

por Gemma

(Photos: Sattal, por Dave)

---

Prehistorias

Sara ha compartido con nosotros un texto sobre su experiencia con los caballos y sus reflexiones sobre la existencia.

Sabiendo ya que vivimos en una especie de prehistoria de la humanidad, ahora que atisbamos eso tan sumamente alucinante que podemos llamar energía, un mundo infinito, sin moralidad ni límite, que lo contiene todo. Al asomarte allí, sabes que en conjunto, la humanidad ciega sigue en estado prehistórico. Maravilloso ese algo que todo lo envuelve y que solo tiene un estado: CONCIENCIA.

 

Ya que como humanidad seguimos en fracaso cada día, en un ni siquiera intento por aprender algo, sin ver más allá del ombligo humano; lo que se desea, lo que te hace falta, que puedes sacar provecho de... Todo ello fruto de la educación cartesiana que nos han impuesto los primeros 20 años de vida; pienso, luego existo... De verdad que a este tal Descartes le habría hecho falta un retirito de Open Dharma o unas collejas según se mire...

 

YO SOY, EXISTO y luego a lo mejor, pienso, en mi caso estoy intentando boicotear el golpe de estado que dio la mente en mi vida y dedicarme simplemente a SER. La mente tiene que ser útil al conjunto de lo que eres, no dominar el cotarro.

 

Esto es lo realmente revolucionario; cuando empiezas a comunicarte más con tu SER,de pronto te das cuenta de que todo está vivo por que sí, que todos formamos parte de un barullo magníficamente planeado y que todo tiene derecho a existir, purito presente ¡¡¡que gozo!!!

 

Mi experiencia y aprendizaje con un ser maestro, el caballo, míralo, es como un ser mitológico, su mirada, su forma, como respira... Desgraciadamente cualquier persona te preguntaría ¿lo montas?

 

Y yo me pregunto ¿por qué un caballo no puede existir también como yo sin que lo único que te preguntes sea ¿para qué me puede servir o cuanto me puede costar?

 

Un caballo existe, es un SER magnífico, que no ha venido a la tierra específicamente para cargar humanos, ha venido a existir como ser pacífico...

 

La humanidad está en prehistoria porque hasta el paisaje que vemos para la mayoría es algo simplemente para disfrute humano, hasta el paisaje, no sé si te paraste a reflexionar.

 

Afortunadamente en todo esto de las polaridades, algunos apuntamos hacia otro lado; escuela de locos Open Dharma ¡¡ey loco!! (Como dice Happy) siéntate a ver como todo respira contigo, como cambia contigo, como EXISTE Y SE HACE REAL EN EL PRESENTE.

 

 

por Sara

(Photo: Dharmaloca, por Sara.)

---

Próximos Eventos