Our Meditation Room set up at The Mandala Center

This past November I had the good fortune to participate in a meditation retreat at The Mandala Center, led by Don Handrick of Santa Fe’s Thubten Norbu Ling Tibetan Buddhist Center.   Although I have read nearly every book published on Zen Buddhism over the past fifteen years, my practice has remained completely unstructured and ritual-free; something I felt I needed to remedy.  My ego, or spirit, or body- perhaps a collaboration- began to nag that I wasn’t disciplined enough in my spirituality.  I wasn’t trying hard enough.  I was lazy.  So, to jumpstart my new-found commitment to a more solid spiritual foundation, I eagerly signed up for this four-day silent meditation retreat on the Four Immeasurables.  I was a little intimidated.  I’d never done anything like this before, but I brushed off the insecurity and allowed myself to wear that ‘beginner’ title proudly.  I understood that unless I was willing to take the risk and try, I’d never progress.

So I jumped in, and found it remarkably difficult; more so than I imagined, in fact.

Around day three (after nearly eight hours of sitting meditation a day) I found myself in the middle of a meditation on compassion, struggling with so active a mind I thought I’d never find my way back to internal silence. I began to feel angry with myself.  Surrounded by a group of people seemingly so deep within their own peaceful mindfulness, I began to compare myself to those who could do this, feeling as though I could not. The attempts to suppress the constant battle I found myself embroiled within began to exhaust me.  So as our teacher had instructed, I called on the image of Chenrezig, the Bodhisattva of compassion, to help me. I envisioned this glowing Divine Being floating in the air above me and I asked him to flood me with the light energy of acceptance and compassion- for myself.

At that moment, a beautiful thing happened.

I heard a loud knock on the window of our nature-surrounded meditation room.  It was more than a knock really – it was more like a small jackhammer pounding at lightning speed.  I tried to stay focused, but it only got louder.  I cracked my eye open a tiny bit to see if anyone else was curious about this intrusion.  Nobody seemed to notice.  They all remained quiet as little Buddhas, deeply within their own contemplative serenity.  And then, as the pounding got louder and louder, it was as if time stood still and I was the only witness to a very personal moment.

I quietly turned around, eyes unapologetically open, to see what was behind me.  There, clinging to the adobe wall, pounding on the window frame was the most glorious orange Flicker.  His little head was cocked to the side and he seemed to be staring me directly in the eye.  I imagined he did this upon direct guidance from Chenrezig himself and pictured him enquiring as to the nature of his summons- “Which one of you called for me?”  I nearly ignited with joy. The Flicker is my birthday totem on the Medicine Wheel; one of my very favorites of the avian species and a totem symbol of spiritual harmony and rapid growth. It was as if I received the direct message that I was more than fine.  On the journey of our own spirituality there is no ‘wrong’ way to progress.  It is only our own overactive, internal critic which tells us so.

Perfect imperfection.  A step forward is beautiful no matter how clumsy.  And I believe at the dawn of the brand new year, amidst the swirl of resolutions, this is an important reminder for all of us.

Kristy Sweetland
Marketing Assistant at The Mandala Center

Pinwheels for Peace by local students decorated our Center

Our International Day of Peace Event took place Saturday September 18th through Tuesday the 21st, 2010.  It was a huge success and a wonderful event for those who attended.  Peace and blessings were sent out to those who were unable to make it.  We want to share some photos and recap all that took place.

• You can find MORE PHOTOS in the column to the right in the
  IDOP PHOTO GALLERIES 1-5.

• You can find more photos on our Facebook page as well!

• See our page (to the right) on Poems for Peace too!!

INTERNATIONAL DAY OF PEACE has been celebrated on September 21st each year since its establishment in 1981 by the United Nations Resolution.   In 2002 the General Assembly officially declared September 21st as the International Day of Peace.  This effort encourages humankind to cooperate in acts of peace and provides opportunity for individuals, organizations, and nations to create practical acts of peace on a shared date.  The Mandala Center wanted to act and become one place were people could gather to be part of this global effort.   The Mandala Center provided a space for a variety of ages, races, faiths, and backgrounds to come together to celebrate our shared interest in promoting peace for the good of all. (www.internationaldayofpeace.org)

The Monks on our deck under the Rainbow that appeared one day!

Our special guests for the event were the monks from the Drepung Loseling Monastery (www.mysticalartsoftibet.org).  These are genuine monks who are taking time off from their lifelong devotion of contemplation and study to participate in this tour (c0-sponsored by Richard Gere Productions) and share their cultural traditions.   It is their hope to make some small contribution toward world peace through their teachings and art.

We asked the monks to come and create a sand mandala of conflict resolution – called Akshobya Mandala.  It seemed appropriate for The Mandala Center to have a mandala created for peace and for the spiritual and creative process of this art to be dedicated on International Day of Peace.

Monks working on the Mandala the first day

Mandala in Sanskrit means sacred cosmogram.  In Tibetan the art of the mandala is called dul-tson-kyil-khor, which literally means “mandala of colored powders.”   This practice has roots extending back 2500 years.

The Monks performed an opening ceremony, a healing Buddha Puja, and a closing ceremony where the mandala was swept up – a reminder of the impermanence of life and an act to release the healing energy into the world.

Monks performing healing puja

The COMPLETED MANDALA

Rinpoche told us that the Mandala is like a road map – something for our minds to follow when dealing with negative emotions or situations in our lives.  The symbols and images are teachings and guidance for how to let go our our attachments and how to maneuver violence in the world.

The monks study 5-7 years in preparation for this task.  It is believed that the healing energy of the mandala is released into the world – and to those who view it and stand in its presence – regardless of our understanding.  It is  a portal – a visual prayer for peace.

The monks brought many blessings during their stay and The Mandala Center is very thankful to them.  It was an honor and a pleasure to host them here.

Pinwheels for Peace in our Labyrinth overlooking Capulin Volcano

The monks were NOT the only attraction at our event!  So much more took place!

Students from area schools and some adults made Pinwheels for Peace (www.pinwheelsforpeace.com).

More Pinwheels by Local Students

These are created by writing a prayer or poem for peace on one side and creating a mandala of peace on the other. Pinwheels are then created and placed outdoors to send our wishes for peace into the world!

We loaded our pinwheel photo on the international site – contributing to over 5 million pinwheels made world wide!

Peace Pole Unveiling on Sunday

Lori, Kim (and Anna taking photo) Planting the Peace Pole

The Mandala Center was graciously gifted with a Peace Pole – funds donated by Bob and Phyllis Stice. This peace pole is part of an effort beginning back in 1955 when Masahisa Goi dedicated his life to spreading the message “May Peace Prevail on Earth” in response to the bombings of Hiroshima.

The Mandala Center was also – synchronistically – gifted with a Declaration of Peace document by two guests, Jerry Bozeman and Lon Jones,  who attended the memorial celebration in Hiroshima this August.   Blessings were bountiful all weekend!!

Christina Boyce at our peace pole

Our Peace Pole says “May Peace Prevail on Earth” in four languages.  Although there were many languages to choose from we picked the four that seemed to be most appropriate to our region.   We have English, Spanish, Navajo and the fourth side has animal paw prints – for recognition of our relationship with the earth.

Rocks were piled at the base – testimony to our rocky and volcanic landscape and guests wrote prayers of peace on rice paper and placed them amongst the rocks along with flower petals and other offerings for the dedication.
Christina, an artist in our local community brought flowers on International Day of Peace during our peace pole meditation for peace on Tuesday.

STILL MORE!!!

One of our Labyrinth Walks

Our Event also showcased our Labyrinth – built on the grounds in 2002 – and we were blessed to have Dennis Grogan and Tina Proctor join us from Denver to lead several labyrinth walks during our event – including a night walk using solar lights and flashlights.  It was a magical experience.   For more information about labyrinths visit www.labyrinthsociety.org.

Hal teaching a group to play Harmonica

Hal Walker – a talented musician from Ohio also offered his time and talent to our event.  Hal offered a harmonica workshop to guests and performed for us on Sunday night in concert.   (see

Hal Walker in Concert - Photo by Tim Keller

www.halwalkermusic.com)

Setting off on a morning hike

Our Center is surrounded by natural settings and parks land. We enticed rangers and guides from Capulin Volcano National Monument and Sugarite Canyon State Park to join in the fun.   A hike, medicinal plant workshop, star-gazing talk, and conservation lecture were given.  (Bruce Robinson, Patricia Walsh, and Lynn Cartmell)

Art as Meditation Class

Lori Coon, the Center’s director offered an “Art as Meditation Class” where participants explored the use of breath for wellness and painted their “inhalation and exhalation” with watercolors.

Lori also offered three sessions on the Seven Point Movement Meditation or Tslagi Dance of Peace as she was taught by White Feather at the Wolf Clan Lodge of Twylah Nitsch, Seneca Grandmother.  The group, welcomed International Day of Peace at 7 am with the dance.

TO THE STAFF AND VOLUNTEERS!

I want to say a big THANK YOU to our wonderful staff – everyone worked hard and overtime to make the event a success.

A GREAT BIG THANK YOU to all our volunteers -  As a volunteer YOU help support our efforts with your energy and enthusiasm and make things run smoothly for everyone!  We could not do it without you.   Everyone contributed in ways we could not even imagine ahead of time.   THANK YOU!!

TO THE GUESTS AND SPECIAL PRESENTERS

We were blessed by everyone who walked in the door!  It was an amazing gathering of people and everyone brought the gift of themselves to the event.   The conversations and exchange of information, talent, and compassion was awe-inspiring.   Our numbers were not large but our impact was immeasurable.   I know everyone who was here will carry the experience in their heart and take it out into the world.

PLEASE VIEW MORE PHOTOS OF OUR EVENT RIGHT HERE ON OUR BLOG IN OUR IDOP PHOTO GALLERY PAGES 1-5.

Phil and Monica Sanding the Deck

We are so thankful and appreciative to all the people who helped to make our volunteer week a success.   We accomplished so much  – made new friends, improved and updated  many areas of The Mandala Center, and learned a lot!  I know that I cannot begin to include all the wonderful moments we shared during the week here on this blog nor even communicate the amount of effort, dedication, and talent but this is our tribute to the week.

First I want to list the people who did contribute – in one way or another to our success.
(If I missed anyone in this first attempt we WILL correct it and apologize because we do appreciate everyone!)

1. Kristy Sweetland (NM) is our regular weekly volunteer who put up our facebook account, helped with our newsletter and assists in the office. She joined the work week to help with the decks, stain the teak table an chairs on the patio and more!
2. Peggy Minich (NM)  helped with sanding/staining decks, weeding, office work and more!
3. Joe Ress (from Ohio!) helped with sanding/staining decks, fixing wallpaper, cleaning light fixtures & more!
4. Faye Good (Ok) painted the whole interior of the Artist Nook and the Wolf Lodge doors and more!
5. Dawn Mondragon (NM) helped with the decks, stripped and refinished our wooden doors on the Casa Mandala, washed down siding and cleaned the gutters at the Artist Nook and more!
6. George Whitman (NM) came with his saws and helped trim LOTS of trees and removed trees helping with landscaping as well as fire prevention.  George did not get enough on the work week so he came back for more to help Lori finish putting in the stone path down to the labyrinth a few days later.
   

   Faye Painting the Wolf Lodge Door

7. Alex Rykken (NM) helped with the deck work, the labyrinth, and more!
8. Katie Green (CO) helped with the decks – sanding and staining along side her dad Nathan Green – our grounds and maintenance person.
9. Phillip Freeman (NM) (who stained our decks the last time on his own!) came again to help us with the decks.  He also helped with tree trimming and removal and more!
10. Jack Ingamells (NM) (husband to our operations manager – Monica) helped in a lot of our preparations for the decks and painting – measuring areas for the needed stains, paint, and supplies, traveling to purchase supplies and compile tools, driving out tools to the center when we needed them and more!!
11. Ken and Dina Parsons (NM) came to help assess what we could do to help put in a path down to the labyrinth.  Ken helped transport several buckets of gravel and the pavers to the location we needed them.
12. Joesph Wolf (NM) came with his weed-whacker to help clear paths and reduce fire risk.  He returned then with his truck and assisted with the removal of the tree trimmings and brush.
    

    Peggy (holding sand paper) and Joe sanding decks

13. Our staff also assisted.
14. Monica Ingamells put in a LOT of time and effort helping to organize the event, purchase all our supplies, and organize meals and lodging for guests. She also helped with the decks and other tasks during the work week – her efforts helped with the organization of the event to make it a success.
15. Marsha Stepleton, our lead chef, planned and prepared meals for the guests for the week.. No one goes hungry here!
16. Sasha Jensen assisted as well with some meal preparation during the week.
17. Denise Atwater, our lead housekeeper, prepared the rooms ahead of time and then helped with the decks, kitchen clean up and she brought her truck and helped with tree trimmings removal.
18. Nathan Green came to help with the decks by running the big floor sander, overseeing the project and staining the larger areas of the deck.
19. Lori Coon worked primarily with George on the tree trimming and removal.  She trimmed (and removed some trees) around the entire Casa Mandala and in front of the Deer Lodge and Wolf Lodge.  She also helped put in the pavers for a new pathway down to the labyrinth.

George armed with the saw and protected by goggles!

In total, we clocked (conservatively) approximately 280 volunteer hours and including staff hours – 550 hours – in 7 days!
(This is a first guestimate while we finish compiling everything and does not include all the preparations prior to the work week.)  WOW!  Everyone can be proud of what we got accomplished!!

We still have a “list” of things we did not get done and some people were already talking about our Second Annual Volunteer Work Week next year – so it may become a regular event!!

SEE MORE PHOTOS on our Volunteer Week Photo Page
in the right bar here on the blog!!

Volunteer Work Week TESTIMONIAL by Joe Ress
It was “Fun in the Sun” at the Mandala Center this summer!!

It was our first ever “Volunteer Work Week!” – June 30-July 7th, 2010. The volunteers hold The Mandala Center in a  special place in their hearts and gave of their time, talent, and energy to help with some “sprucing up” around the place.   The beauty of the Center, it’s ambiance, the desert scenery,  and the hospitality of the staff are the big things that draw people to this place (not to mention the food too!!) Just being here for these things makes me feel renewed, rested, and rejuvenated.  It did not matter what job we were given to do. Just being here was a gift.  This feels like my home away from home (which is in Ohio.)

Joe Ress

We had quite a lot of fun.  We teased each other and enjoyed the “afternoon siesta”- time to read, relax or nap (I was usually napping!) while escaping the hot afternoon New Mexico sunshine.  We had the 4th of July off and headed out for some sight-seeing.
I hope this becomes an annual event.  Many other volunteers agreed and look forward to returning to The Mandala Center again.

Courage and Creativity Art Work

These are photos from the Courage and Creativity Retreat with Donna Bearden and Cindy Johnson. They show some of the art  projects the group created in exploring their own “block monsters” and passions in life.  It was a wonderful experience for all involved. 

This retreat was based on the concepts developed by Parker Palmer and Circles of Trust processes through the Center of Courage and Renewal North Texas.

Participants from Courage and Creativity Retreat

Art as Meditation

Our Winter Silence Retreat offered a time for individuals to come and relax and renew at special winter prices.   We offered home cooked meals and a few special activities such as massage by Pam, yoga by Sasha,  and art as meditation by Lori.   Here is a photo of our group engaged in the creative process.  We did a brief meditation focusing on our breath and then participants “painted their breath” using watercolors.  Here are a couple of the finished products.  The rest of the time participants shared meals, hiked, read, slept, and visited together.  The photo shows Makyla, Faye, and Susan.

Pam's breath.

Ralph's breath

Please check out our “Photo Gallery” page in the right column for more photos of guests, nature, the center, and events.

An evening sky taken from The Mandala Center where stunning sunsets and skyscapes often bless each day.

Sunset over Capulin Volcano