General Questions and Answers

How long is the circumambulation path?

The path is about 200m in total, and the section I am resurfacing about 40 - 50m. It is now all done, except for the beginning part which I have promised to also still do, though that may take a while. We have not had much rain for a week, so it is not too serious, plus the ground is now frozen, so it is a bit pointless trying to dig it up too much. In addition, the dentist has cautioned against too strenuous activities for a couple of days to a week, so it all works out kind of good. I reckon for the bit I have done so far it took about 21 wheelbarrows full, and the remaining is maybe another seven at the most. I think. Plus the remaining is a little closer, though I first have to dig up that section, as it currently has some pebble stones on it, but they are not helping much. So they need to be cleared, or moved to the sides to become thicker, and the centre have the proper gravel.

Aren't you happy you are not one of the retreatants? I think your life is still much more interesting then theirs.

No, life being interesting on its own does not necessarily make it worth living. Usually things which are interesting are invariably neither important nor relevant. It also needs to be remembered that not being one of the retreatants I do not get to learn and practise as much as they do. Their living conditions are generally much more congenial, plus they have few things to worry about, other than perhaps the sky falling on their head. All they have to do is adhere to the gong signal in terms of when a session starts and ends, whether individual practise or as a group. Perhaps put some thought to personal aspects, but in terms of laundry (which each one does them self), there is a roster. Likewise for shower usage, etc. With limited resources, and living in a ‘community’ it is necessary to ensure that everybody has equal access.

But other than practise, there are few things to have to think about (though they probably think more about other things than we do). Lunch is provided, provisions are provided, special needs or requests are written in a book which the caretakers check twice a day, and action or respond as appropriate. Weather condition wise they are also substantially less affected by the cold and rain than we are. Two days ago Ross Road was iced up, so until noon no vehicles could travel on it, until the grit truck had come through. Beginning of the year they were snowed in for over a month. We have to worry about supplies and the likes, whereas that is not their concern. Unless of course the kerosene or diesel or gas runs out, because then they too are affected by it.

Who is the teacher there now?

At the moment Lama Yeshe is here. He will be here for about four months, thus another about three I think. After that I am not sure who is coming. It changes from time to time.

How often do YOU meditate? In the hall with the retreatants, or on your own?

I have no contact with the retreatants. Strictly speaking we should not only not speak with them, but they should actually not even see us. As it is still early days, and many things still need to be resolved and sorted out it is not too stringently enforced yet, but it will probably gradually get to that. Lama Yeshe is already starting to clamp down on some of the 'liberties' they are taking. Though nothing serious, but he believes it is in their own interest, or to their benefit, to not do what they are doing, or not doing.

So I only meditate about an hour a day, on my own, but that too may change once we are fully in a routine. Still many things that need attending, learning, sorting out, etc. like the ordering of food, where or how what works, and even getting my own personal things sorted out, like my stand-by electricity and so on, hence there is not much free usable time. I finish in the kitchen around 14h30, from about 8h30, and electricity only comes on at 16h00. But at 16h30 it starts getting dark. Plus it is bloody cold outside, so any work one does outside is not a pleasant experience at all.

How much do the retreatants have to pay?

It cost them £4000.00 per year, thus 16 000.00, plus another £2000.00 for 'pocket money', for incidentals etc. Actually the monastery had wanted to increase it to £5000.00, but it was a bit late in terms of how many had already been given the old price, so in fairness they left it, but the next retreat will definitely be much more expensive.

How far is it to the town where the doctors / dentists / shops are? What is the town's name?

The nearest 'town' is Lamlash, which is about 8km, and though they have a medical centre, and a pharmacy, relatively close to one another, the dentist is another kilometre or so further next to the 'hospital'. But the main shops, or where one actually has a bit of a selection, are at Brodick, which is another 3 - 4 km further.

What is the gender mix of the retreatans? - Or are they males only?

This is a cloistered retreat. There is no gender mix. This is the Men's Retreat Centre, and the Women's Retreat Centre is on Holy Isle. In some of my future photos you will see the maps (GoogleEarth) which demonstrate the layout or proximity, plus in one of my very first photos I mention Holy Isle.

From which countries do they come? What ages & professions, roughly?

I guess there is an even distribution as far as countries goes. Though probably mainly the UK, two SA, and one from Zimbabwe, one from Nepal, and the others I would think mainly Europe. Maybe one from Australia from the voices I hear, but as I do not get to speak with them, I can only comment on the ones I knew beforehand already, or from when I was at Samye Ling four years ago. Profession wise ... hmn ... I would say mostly monks, drug addicts?, ;-) what can I say, I have not had a chance to get to speak with most of them, and that is about all I can about that. Sorry.

How much of the daily routine do you do together with the other participants? Or is your schedule totally different to theirs?

I am one of the three 'caretakers'. We do not mingle with them, we have to ensure that their needs are attended to, and my function is mainly to be the cook. And as each of us has a specific main function or duty, our individual schedules also vary greatly. The 'manager' is actually a retired 70-year old Scot, whom Lama Yeshe has known for the past fifteen or so years, the main caretaker is Namdrol, who did the last four-year retreat as a monk, but has since de-robed (due to a girl-friend I think), and then there is his Holiness, ME! Jordan the manager mainly handles the money, accounts of the retreatants, orders, purchasing, outside maintenance, etc. Namdrol mainly does the shopping, driving, collecting, and on two days he cooks, so I can have a full day off as well.

Do you have a chance to 'socialise' (talk) with them? Do you eat with them and can you talk at mealtimes?

No socialising with the retreatants, no eating with them. I can talk as much as I want, but not with them. They can, and do, talk to one another. Not only during meal times but all the time (other than when they are in their sessions, which they do individually in their own rooms). Though there may be periods later on when noble silence will be enforced.

Who leads the course when the Geshe (?) is not there?

Lama Yeshe is not a Geshe, he is a Lama. When he is not here there will be other Lamas, Rinpoches, or teachers. There is also one person (a monk) who is the disciplinarian, and it is really up to him to ensure that there is some decorum, discipline, order, etc. regardless of whether there is a ‘teacher’ here or not.

What do you cook?

I only cook food. Jokes aside, my brief was to cook simple, but healthy. They have one main meal per day, which is at 12h00. If they want something other than to drink tea or coffee at breakfast time, then they can have bread (with jam, marmalade, Tahini, Peanut Butter, honey), cereals, or porridge which they prepare themselves the night before.

All meals are strictly vegetarian, and adhering to the Vinãya, thus no pungent herbs. In addition there are the issues of allergies and intolerances, thus also no salt, wheat, yeast, lactose, etc. It is not easy cooking a tasty meal without seasoning (most seasoning and stock contain onion, garlic, chives, asafoetida, or leeks), no Marmite or Soya sauce (yeast), no leeks themselves, no salt, … thus only celery, herbs, pepper, and chillies.

There is a fairly big selection of fresh fruit and veggies, though with it being ordered via telephone and brought over from Glasgow the quality is not always what one would hope for. Naturally rice, barley, various beans, sweet peas, nuts, grains, and a limited amount of canned goods for emergencies or to have food on hand in case a delivery is late.

I know one of the main reasons for many people who go to a secluded Tibetan Buddhist Retreat (like the one you joined in Scotland recently) for an extended period of time is to attain Moksha (Liberation), but isn't developing some Siddhis ("magical", spiritual, supernatural powers) one of their objectives, or an import...ant by-product of such training anymore, like it used to be the case for many Orientals for centuries, and many Westerners who went to Tibet in the past 150 years?

Are you sure that is the main reason? I know personally that would not be even on my list, and from the little I know of and about the guys who are here, I doubt if any of them are deluding themselves into believing that they will develop any special faculties, other than certain practices, as well as various aspects about specific Tibetan Buddhist practices relevant to this specific lineage.

Perhaps the question one needs to first contemplate is what does one consider, or understand by, supernatural powers. And of course also whether they actually in fact exist. What may be a supernatural power or ability to one person (or possibly even nation/culture), may be a perfectly ‘normal’ phenomenon or ability to the another group of people. There are also many aspects which in the dim and distant past were considered “magical” or special etc. but which with modern-day science, physics, facilities, technology and so forth, can quite easily or ‘logically’ be explained.
When the first light bulb became available, the majority of people would have marvelled at such magic. Producing light in a glass bulb. Wow! There are even more recent instances, maybe thirty years ago, when things which are now considered common, would have been considered “magical’ if not outright impossible. Hence one need not go that far back into history when there are many examples closer in time; just take the fax machine or mobile phones. If somebody had said thirty years ago that one day you will be able to phone somebody almost anywhere, from almost anywhere, with a small gadget you can easily hold in one hand, or that you can ‘transport’ (and in the process duplicate) a document or image by feeding it into a device the size of a typewriter, to any other country in the world without leaving that room, you would probably have been laughed at, or even considered insane.

As for liberation, who says you are not already free? I certainly believe that people are dissatisfied with life as they know it, simply because they have unreasonable expectations. I suppose that then also raises the question “what is a reasonable expectation”? There are of course also the five mind poisons which cause many of our problems, but that is what we do to ourselves, and with practise, right intention and emotion, it is possible to be in control of those poisons. They are usually listed as ignorance and delusion, anger and hatred, greed, jealousy, and pride. All of those are totally within the control, or ability to control, of each individual person. If they choose to want to do so. By not getting caught up in or with any of them almost guarantees that you will have considerably less problems in your life, and consequently be liberated. I would again have to ask, liberated from what? Who is holding you in bondage, or prevents you from reaching your full potential?

We all have choices in life, with just about everything, except death. Accordingly it is really up to us and how or what we choose, that will determine whether we are free or not. I am sure that you can not be referring to physical liberation, because unless you are in prison, then you would pretty much have physical freedom; except for being ‘tied’ to your physical body. That then leaves intellectual freedom, emotional freedom, spiritual freedom, and those are all dependant on decisions.

Perhaps if by liberation is meant to accumulate information and knowledge in order to better understand things, or life, or be better equipped to help others -- then yes.

© ~ (Karma) Tsegyal [a.k.a. Peter G Just] ~

December 2010

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