click here to see more pictures. Family Camp opened with a Lhasang ceremony, a ritual fire in which juniper and various substances are burned to create a column of smoke connecting earth and sky. The smoke invites energy of basic goodness, purification and the lineage of Shambhala.
click here to see more pictures. January 1 a lot of people went home after spending part of the Christmas holiday at Karme Choling. I stayed an extra day to relax after the New Years Eve party.
click here to see more pictures. Joan Kidd, who has been practicing ikebana for many years, did a demonstration and answered questions. The demonstration inspired me to go out later and take photos of things leaping in and out of imagination.
click here to see more pictures. Karme Choling received a lot of snow from December 20 to 23. The temperature rose and the snow turned to slosh. I spent some time driving around to enjoy the beauty of rural Vermont, and stopping to take pictures along the way.
click here to see more pictures. Cooking is an important part of everyday life. One of the reasons I come to Karme Choling is in order to not have to cook. Here one can enjoy the cuisine of chefs such as Paul Leard. He allowed me to photograph a cooking demonstration.
click here to see more pictures. After heavy snow fall, Karme Choling was quiet and relaxed. A snow-removal crew quickly cleared the parking lot, lanes and pathways. I drove to the Barnet General store and then bought new shoes in St. Johnsbury. Read the rest of this entry »
click here to see more pictures. Last memory of leaving: lush greenery, sunny day after days of rain, people loading up their motor vehicles, some of Malina’s friends came out to the parking lot to say goodbye. Keep the heart open. It is possible to love people and to make friends, as opposed to closing down in fear and selfishness.
click here to see more pictures. It’s a sad feeling when a program ends and you say goodbye to old friends. I first visited Karme Choling in 1989, en route from Montreal to New Haven and was blown away by the positive vibes and friendliness, which stood out in contrast to the dreary reality I’d been experiencing up to that point. By dreary, I mean the big fish eat little fish, competitive, self-absorbed, aggressive, get ahead at all costs and to hell with everyone else approach. Over the years, I met a lot of wonderful, kind and interesting people at Karme Choling.
click here to see more pictures. For ten days at the beginning of August, parents and children gathered for the annual Karme Choling family camp. A lot of activities were organized for the children. Adults had a chance to relax and chat with old friends. In spite of all the rain, it was an enjoyable and friendly gathering.
click here to see more pictures. Thursday morning, some people gathered for an Ikebana class, under the direction of Joan Kydd and made flower arrangements. After lunch Malina and Melina did a fashion show with clothing they found in the free box.