Time Out 2: Cloud Mountain Retreat Center

For five days, I have been attending a silent Vapassana meditation retreat in a beautiful setting of Cloud Mountain Retreat Center. All electronics were left in our cars away from the meditation hall and trails, but just before leaving, after silence had been broken, I retrieved my phone and took a few shots to share and to help me remember this very special time.

An Untidy Meditation Hall
Novice yogis are free to try out all forms of cushions, benches, and chairs.
It makes for an untidiness, but it was helpful in figuring out what works best for  sitting.

Meditation Hall 

View from My Room

Woodland Paths

The practice of walking meditation
is easy in a setting of deeply forested land
that is filled with creeks, ponds, ancient trees,
and an understory rich in biodiversity of
plants and animals.

The Gardener

Have I lived enough?

Have I loved enough?

Have I considered Right Action enough, have I come to any conclusion?

Have I experienced happiness with sufficient gratitude?

Have I endured lonliness with grace?

I say this, or perhaps I’m just thinking it.

Actually I probably think too much.

Then I step out into the garden.

Where the gardener, who is said to be a stupid man,

Is tending his children, his roses.

By Mary Oliver

http://www.cloudmountain.org