Monday, May 19 , Heading to Plum Village

This morning had a lovely chat with Miles who is headed home to London. He talked about his parents and growing up with his mom working two jobs to raise him and his brother. But,his dad died recently and he just put his ashes in the river the day before coming to the Spanish tour. lovely man!

Pilar came to escort us to the train via the metro and brought more FOOD for our trip! Let me tell you, these monastics are NEVER lacking for food! Fortunately we rode Line 3 directly to the train station and had just a bit of walking with all our luggage. Doug and others had left their larger bags in storage at the University and someone in the sangha was going to ship it back.

The train is so quiet and VERY comfortable. We had maybe four hours through beautiful rolling hills with the snow-capped Pyrenees in the distance. Phap Linh pointed out where his dad and step-mom, whom I met last time I was in PV, when Dylan was ordained as Phap Linh. We had a lovely hike then with his parents to a nearby old chateau. I remember his step-mom asking how I had first felt when Doug was ordained as Dylan's dad was having a hard time with it. He had completed Cambridge, was having some success as a cellist and composer and getting some recognition. But he felt that was not the right direction for him. And seems very fulfilled with his choice. Everyone I've talked to of the monastics has taken a different path and different reasons for their choice of this kind of life.

 

Windmill farm

Very tired monk!

 

Tired monk

Phap Yung on left and Phap Linh on right (Yoda and Darth!)

We pulled in to Toulouse and had to wait maybe an hour for the next train. Three of the monastics were waiting with two cars at the station for the hour or so drive through luscious vineyards and fruit orchards to Plum Village. Doug searched around to find me a vacant room. I'm all settled in for my two nights. Doug didn't come for dinner at 6 so I ate a bit. There are a few people here for a week long retreat that ends Friday.

Saw Doug after dinner and met a few more familiar faces. Then he and I headed off for a walk to Thenac, not really even a town with a church and cemetery, one or two homes and a building he said is being renovated into a B & B. Then I saw the cherry tree he was after. I ate many handfuls of delicious right off the tree cherries, and for Doug, that was his dinner! Hope we don't have belly aches!

Doug and me under the cherry tree!
He got me a temporary Wi-Fi password from computer monk and so here I am in the Registration Office typing away. 5:45 meditation tomorrow! Hope I make it!