JOURNEY INTO THE LAND OF CALM ABIDING:
Have you ever wondered what this mysterious and
mythical place looks like? Read on...
"Lama Yeshe and Lama's teachers told us to stabilize these blessings of pristine awareness by seeking solitude for periods of time so that the experience becomes a "felt-sense" that abides easily in the minds. Without time spent in retreat, teachers cannot gain the realizations that can impart the essence of the teaching and inspire others to practice. To do what Lama did, we have to do retreat, like Lama did. In great kindness and vision, Kyabje Zopa Rinpoche has given us this amazing opportunity to create a sanctuary where people can gain the realizations that we saw in Lama Yeshe and in other great teachers like His Holiness the Dalai Lama. IF NO ONE GAINS REALIZATIONS, THEN THE LIVING EXPERIENCE OF BUDDHISM WILL DIE OUT."
Losar Newsletter by Venerable Lhundup Nyingje (Paula)
Lama Zopa Rinpoche Lama Zopa Rinpoche & Lama Yeshe
When people think of coming to visit Land of Calm Abiding most have the concept that it would be a nice afternoon drive down... Or ...they know that due to their situations they would probably never be able to come to such a place. Aware of this, we decided to present a small traveling introduction to all who are curious about just what it is like to visit and to live at Land of Calm Abiding that is situated in 486 acres of wilderness and surrounded by a National Forest.
First of all, on the front entrance gate that greets everyone, we read: " A Land of Calm Abiding... Baldwin Ranch (the original owners of the property)...Hermitage and Wildlife Sanctuary....There are serious Buddhist meditators taming the mind on the Path to Enlightenment in this special place...
Did you know that a Hermitage is: any secluded place of residence or habitation...And that a hermit is: a person who has withdrawn to a solitary place for a life of religious seclusion. Land of Calm of Abiding is just such a place and is located right in the midst of a Wildlife Sanctuary. Because of this we share this space with all creatures living in this area.
We actually begin this journey out on the main highway where we meet up with those who are coming onto the Land at a specific time. Why is this necessary? Because we have to drive the truck out to bring them in.
After entering through the Forest gate suddenly one is transported onto a very rough, curvy, hilly, bumpy "Jeep trail" that can only be traversed by a solid 4-wheel drive vehicle. Land of Calm Abiding's truck meets the challenge effortlessly! However, to the unsuspected visitor, this drive turns out to take over an hour to travel ONLY 7 miles.
Once they have managed to handle the bumps and turns of switch backing up to the top of the hill the view becomes spectacular. On one side is the expansive diamond-sparkling ocean.
While on the other side, is the view of Land of Calm Abiding nestled in its 486 acres of wilderness and surrounded by protective large hills. This gives a bowl-like affect to this panoramic view. Then if one can focus their eyes on the small shining metal roof of the Main House (or referred to as: "the Zopa House") can be seen in the distance. Quite an impressive scenic site.
We then traverse down the road among the natural California oak trees with their dancing branches and trunks. Not one straight limb is to be found. A true sign that we have entered into a different eco- system where there are also pine trees and many deer that greet us and sometimes closer to LCA you just might see a community of wild turkey, quail, fox and someone recently saw Elk.
Finally...we reach the bottom of the long drive down and cross what is referred to as the "Dutra Creek." At this time of year it is still a dry stream bed. However when the rains come it can quickly fill up with rushing gushes of fast white water blocking the ford on the road. Fortunately, the ATV can usually cross this section of road after 2-3 days when the water level drops. This becomes the only way to leave and re-enter Land of Calm Abiding enabling us to purchase fresh veggies, dairy products, and other desired foods....provided that each person doesn't go over the allotted space in their bag. Therefore, when the winter rains come we check the forecast constantly as the truck needs to be taken off of the Land.
Eventually, after over an hour, we arrive at our destination of Land of Calm Abiding. As we pass through the entrance gate we are welcomed with prayer flags and a beautiful white Enlightenment stupa situated in a park-like environment complete with water fountain for drinking, a swing, the lovely sounds of chimes, chairs, and a deck which holds meditation tables.
The meadow in which it is located gives an expansive and clear view of the mountains and of an outcropping of a unique stone formation that Lama Zopa Rinpoche named as: Maitreya Rock. To everyone's delight Maitreya Rock is visible at all the different places and even prayer flags can be seen near the top.
Maitreya Rock
As we progress onward on our journey from the stupa, we pass the first of 5 retreat cabins or as some of us recently learned that Lama Zopa Rinpoche says these should be known as "Houses of Attainments", (quite an aspiring name). Continuing onward we come to a dry river bed and discover that it has to be driven across if we are to arrive at the Zopa House.
Right now in the front of the house are the makings of a water feature which will soon be completed by Ven. Sumden (Roger Munro) and where Quan Yin will have a new place to live on top of the water fall.
Water feature
The house that we enter was the main house of the Ranch which the Baldwins built themselves in 1938 and where they lived during the summer months. They brought all the materials on a mule train. In 1995 this land was donated to Lama Zopa Rinpoche. Now it houses the office, two bedrooms, a living room, kitchen, and a room that has been transformed into a small Gompa. It is here in the Gompa where Lama Choepa is done twice a month along with a monthly Tara Puja and where teachings from Lama Zopa Rinpoche, Khadro-la, and Dagri Rinpoche were given last year. It is also a place where small group retreats are held. Every day Protector Practices are done along with Sur practice / Incense puja, daily prayers for all of Land of Calm Abiding sponsors, along with people who have died, and those going through difficult times are recited.
Some time ago Kirti Tsentab Rinpoche also visited the Land and said that this was a very special place and where there is no history of killings or wars done on this property. Rinpoche also stated that the Land had very good Fen Shui with the way it is situated in a bowl-like affect with a river running through it. This makes for a beneficial environment for all retreaters who come.
Getting back to the dry river bed... it divides the "Houses of Attainments", the stupa and entrance from the "Ranch" side of the land which has the Zopa House, the Pundarika Cabin (for short term retreats and for visitors), the caretakers house (referred to as the Yeshe House) and a huge well-built barn.
Pundarika Cabin Yeshe House
However, when the rains come (usually in December, January and February) this dry river bed begins to percolate with water coming from underneath. If the rains continue, the water can quickly turn into a dynamic flowing river which carries the water from the surrounding hills out to the ocean. When it first begins to rise we can still cross over with high boots.
Then there comes a point when the only way to cross over to the other side is to "walk the wire". This is definitely a courageous undertaking...
Living here or even for visitors who come for a few days, calls forth a completely different way of experiencing everyday expectations. For example:
1. We are dependent on solar energy for all of our electricity. Therefore things we take for granted are simply not available, such as irons, blenders, and other familiar electrical devices that we assume can be used everywhere...not so...here at Land of Calm Abiding.
2. Another tibit of information is that it takes over 2 hours to get to the nearest supermarket so that one plans ahead and purchases items that will last. This is why we order from the co-op all of our bulk food items in September/October before the rains come so that we will have those items during the winter months.
3. All water comes from springs which dot the surrounding hills providing water through a network of pipes, which have to be maintained. Each place has a purifying system inside.
Digging for new Spring Box location Repairing Spring Box
4. There are two covered trash-cans outside each cabin, one for recycling and the other for mixed trash. These are collected periodically and stored in a shed until the truck can be taken out and a dump-run is done. Each person does have a sealed bucket for compost which we collect and maintain on the Land.
5. We cook with propane, which means that we have to make sure that the propane truck comes before the rains and fills each cabin's tank for the year. The road itself has to be checked so that the propane truck can manage the difficult drive in and out. Also we make sure there is plenty of gasoline in the containers for the ATV, as well as for the wood splitter.
CLOSING COMMENTS AND REFLECTIONS
We have entered a different realm here at Land of Calm Abiding. In order to transform the challenges that confronts everyone who comes to the Land, we learn to gradually let go of many assumptions and expectations. And...if we can calm our mind enough and relax our body... we will soon experience the pervasive presence of deep silence that seems to permeate ones entire body. Then, one can begin to see with eyes that see that what appears is not what it seems...to hear with ears that hear... and feel from ones heart the compassion that includes all living beings.
This is a place where healings, blessings, and realizations .... even achieving Shine' (calm abiding) is possible at this amazing Buddhist Hermitage and Wildlife Sanctuary. By doing so, one becomes a sincere practitioner who participates in keeping the living Dharma alive now and into the future, as well as strengthening and preserving the Ear-Whispered Lineage of Lama Tsong Khapa.
We are all interconnected with each other. By sponsoring and making donations, with your prayers and support in so many different ways, you are connecting with those who are in retreat, as well as those who are in service here and that together, we will achieve the Awakened Mind soon...very soon for the benefit of all living beings!
We hope you have enjoyed experiencing a little of what it is like to be here at Land of Calm Abiding and how important it is for people like yourself to contribute toward benefiting this precious place so that the THE BUDDHA DHARMA WILL FLOURISH FOREVER AND EVER...where everyone receives the benefit of such a powerful relationship and where realizations may actually be accomplished.
From all of us here at Land of Calm Abiding:
- Venerable Lhundup Sumden (Roger Munro) who will soon be entering into a Great Retreat for at least 3 to 5 years.
- Venerable Lhundup Nyingje (Paula Chichester) former director and who will be in retreat until june 2014.
- Venerable Lhundup Chonyi (Patricia DeVoe) present director and who will do an annual 2 month retreat in January/February.
- Venerable Tenzin Jampa who will be entering into a long retreat next year.
- David Jaffe, our resident Botanist and joint Caretaker of the Land.
- Eryn Bordes, our Caretaker of the Land who joins her partner in doing an unbelievable and amazing job!
In January 2014 we welcome the following two people who will each be doing a year-long retreat:
Sangye Khadro (Kathleen McDonald, author of several books on meditation) and Jake Fisher.
NOTE: Venerable Lhundup Nyingje (Paula Chichester) has written an excellent article for the FPMT Mandala Magazine Oct-Dec 2013, titled: "Are There Any Yogis Out There?", pages 25-26.
"Everybody needs beauty as well as bread, Places to play in and pray in, Where Nature may heal and give strength to body and soul alike."
By John Muir
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