I have spent quite a bit of time at Samye Ling. I loved the lifestyle, the library, the workshops and the company. There have been times when I burned myself out as an activist or messed up my personal relationships. Driving to Samye Ling itself is a meditative process. It is remote and difficult to find. One time, in deep snow and late at night, I arrived on my last breath of fuel and coasted into the car park with my engine silent. I was exhausted, having driven in difficult weather for 12 hours from the south of England.
The whole place was thickly blanketed in snow and the golden statues were gleaming in moonlight. It was so magical that it took my breath away.
I was safely placed into a small basic room where I crashed out gratefully. I needed to rest for 2 days before I could function, that is how burned out I was.....
Samye Ling restored my health in less than a week. It put no pressure on me to take part in anything so I attended dawn prayers and breakfasts but wandered around dipping in and out of the facilities, almost as if I was on holiday. I practised Tai Chi and Chi Gong (Qi Gung to some) with a small group and I socialised in the evenings in the tea shop. I bought beautiful copies of their books and a few wall hangings and ornaments from their merchandise shop. The weather was intensely cold so wandering around the grounds took courage but I did it to have 'thinking time'.
The food at Samye Ling is absolutely fabulous and I ate a lot. I became close to one guy who was there on his motorbike (in that weather??).... He was so tough and performed Chi Gong with beautiful form.
I shared frequent giggles with the chef (a mountain of a tattooed monk) and then, when I was ready to leave, I asked him for advice regarding my van which had run out of fuel. He got me a can of diesel from the Monastery stores and tiddled around with my frozen engine until he got it awake and purring.
I drove away restored and ready to get back in the fight with the insistence that I return soon echoing in my heart.
I cannot recommend a place above Samye Ling for a retreat from this insane world. If you can get there, do it for your spirit, we all deserve that type of nurture occasionally.
you will LOVE it, I have had a lot of synchronicities since discovering Akong and Trungpa my brother has been to Samye Ling but they were closed for Covid (pending Vaccination) when I was in the country. I can't believe even the Buddhists were duped, the Dalai Lama was corrupted and has a lot to answer for.
People I have met at Samye Ling recommended that I visit Findhorn but I never got around to it. The emphasis there is slightly different I hear: https://www.findhorn.org/
I have spent quite a bit of time at Samye Ling. I loved the lifestyle, the library, the workshops and the company. There have been times when I burned myself out as an activist or messed up my personal relationships. Driving to Samye Ling itself is a meditative process. It is remote and difficult to find. One time, in deep snow and late at night, I arrived on my last breath of fuel and coasted into the car park with my engine silent. I was exhausted, having driven in difficult weather for 12 hours from the south of England.
The whole place was thickly blanketed in snow and the golden statues were gleaming in moonlight. It was so magical that it took my breath away.
I was safely placed into a small basic room where I crashed out gratefully. I needed to rest for 2 days before I could function, that is how burned out I was.....
Samye Ling restored my health in less than a week. It put no pressure on me to take part in anything so I attended dawn prayers and breakfasts but wandered around dipping in and out of the facilities, almost as if I was on holiday. I practised Tai Chi and Chi Gong (Qi Gung to some) with a small group and I socialised in the evenings in the tea shop. I bought beautiful copies of their books and a few wall hangings and ornaments from their merchandise shop. The weather was intensely cold so wandering around the grounds took courage but I did it to have 'thinking time'.
The food at Samye Ling is absolutely fabulous and I ate a lot. I became close to one guy who was there on his motorbike (in that weather??).... He was so tough and performed Chi Gong with beautiful form.
I shared frequent giggles with the chef (a mountain of a tattooed monk) and then, when I was ready to leave, I asked him for advice regarding my van which had run out of fuel. He got me a can of diesel from the Monastery stores and tiddled around with my frozen engine until he got it awake and purring.
I drove away restored and ready to get back in the fight with the insistence that I return soon echoing in my heart.
I cannot recommend a place above Samye Ling for a retreat from this insane world. If you can get there, do it for your spirit, we all deserve that type of nurture occasionally.
Have you read from a mountain in Tibet Frances?
No, but it is on my list!
https://www.penguin.com.au/books/from-a-mountain-in-tibet-9780241439272
Still loving your work btw!
you will LOVE it, I have had a lot of synchronicities since discovering Akong and Trungpa my brother has been to Samye Ling but they were closed for Covid (pending Vaccination) when I was in the country. I can't believe even the Buddhists were duped, the Dalai Lama was corrupted and has a lot to answer for.
I hope that was lip service and they thought better of vaccinating! xx
Thank you Frances. Feeling a need for such wisdom now. Could have benefited years earlier from it also. :)
Thank you Frances for reminding me of this wise master. And the tiger is cool too...
Beautiful and wise words. Thanks, Frances!
Thank you a much needed piece/peace for most, and a great reminder for others.
People I have met at Samye Ling recommended that I visit Findhorn but I never got around to it. The emphasis there is slightly different I hear: https://www.findhorn.org/