THE ADVENTURE BEGINS!

THE ADVENTURE BEGINS!

On Saturday a few of the hikers arrived but the rest came today, Sunday. There was a Day of Mindfulness here so about 100+ people came. There was a 7:30 a.m. morning meditation, then DELICIOUS breakfast (my favorite meal here!! Oatmeal, raisins, nuts, almond milk, French bread, butter and jam!! and bananas, oranges and apples! ) We had it once here on the Sisters’ side but then it was “self-service.” I didn’t know where anything is in their kitchen, so was digging into my stash (eating Easter eggs!!) when Leah came and invited me and showed me how to do it in their kitchen. Yesterday I cooked it myself (she had some croissants to add) with added grape tomatoes and some cheese!

At 9:30 was a dharma talk given by Phap Xa, one of the crew, a Dutch monk living at EIAB (European Institute for Applied Buddhism) in Waldbrohl, Germany (I went to a teacher retreat there maybe 4 years ago - when I did the Turkey trip on the way home!).  Unfortunately, with my poor hearing, and even with the hearing aids, I couldn’t catch most of it. He is very soft-spoken and I have to sit in the rows of chairs towards the back, behind all those on cushions. Doug was taping it so sometime, maybe on the weekend, I can listen to the recording. This will be a problem for me throughout but, oh, well!! They all speak so quietly and I just can’t catch a lot of it! 

There was a walking Meditation through the grounds but I ran some errands in town, got a Sunday paper, some rope to tie things down in the trailer, a couple of locks for the trailer, for when I leave it detached from the car. Lunch was in the big meditation hall. By 3:30 the DOM guests had left and just the first hiking group and crew met. Doug did a great job, I thought, with a couple of get-acquainted games! First, we each introduced ourselves, where we were from, what inspired us to do this, and what aspirations we had for the trip. About 4 of the 10 hikers had never been on a retreat before. Some heard about this on the Path of Happiness Facebook page. Many are in a Sangha (that’s a group that meets together in their area, practices together, followers of Thich Nhat Hanh) at home and heard from someone there. Susan is from Canada. Sam is from Michigan. Victor lives in Ethiopia but I think is from Netherlands. Jackie grew up in this area but now lives elsewhere. There is Sierra, Eric, Max, Anna and Yu and Yu. I’LL FILL IN LATER!

Most wanted an adventure, quiet time, time away from daily life, doing something active with a group, be with nature! And living in the moment mindfully. 

First game was in a circle, say your name and do a gesture, to help us remember your name. We went around twice, and then one had to do someone else’s gesture and that person then had a turn. It was fun and funny!! 

Next games was sort of like musical chairs!! We made a circle of cushions, with one short! We stood in front of a cushion with one person in the middle. He went up to someone, said their name and asked, “Do you love your neighbors?”  If the person said Yes! the two neighbors switched places, with the person in the middle trying to take a spot, leaving one of the neighbors to be in the middle. 

If the person asked says, “No!” then was asked, who do you love? They would say, for example, “People with glasses.”  All those with glasses had to switch places, again leaving someone out, to be next in the middle!! Everything from toe socks, wearing a vest, having siblings, wearing plaid (Ramon lost that because he didn’t know the word “plaid!”), been on the AT before, etc. was chosen!! It was really fun! I thought it was a great get-acquainted game, great to use in school or any group!!

Doug then got down to the business of their daily schedule, telling them it will be flexible, and experimental, depending on how it all goes, the weather, etc. There will be two groups of about 10 each, so 5 hikers and then the crew. The crew has one person as Pacemaker - sets the pace of walking; two monastics are the Practice Coordinators - I guess doing the meditations, discussions, bells, etc.; then Caretaker / Contact Person - to make sure everyone is the group is doing okay; and then a Sweep (staying at the end of each group to make sure no one gets left behind) / Food Coordinator (make sure everyone has enough to eat - although everyone was bringing their own; but sharing is encouraged). 

The groups will be spread apart as AT rules don’t want large groups traveling together. So they might be 1/2 mile apart or so. I think they will even camp separately. There is a “Second Body” system, like the “buddy system” we used to do with school groups. So you keep track of your “second body” to make sure they are THERE, feeling okay, etc. 

Their basic schedule will be:

Sunup - Get up! and begin to break your campsite

At a bell, short sitting meditation - 10-15 minutes

Breakfast - each person cooks/fixes their own. Maybe jointly sharing hot water, etc.

And then the morning mindful hiking begins

Everything from the night before to after lunch is done in NOBLE SILENCE!  Only necessary questions, etc. but basically silent hiking.

Lunch will be silent for first 15 minutes and then mindful talking. Lunch will be more snacks, not cooking.

Weather permitting there might be TOTAL RELAXATION which means lying down, maybe a guided meditation for a short time.

Then afternoon hiking until arriving at next campsite two hours before sunset (between 4-5) 

Set up campsite

Dinner - main, hot meal

Then sitting meditation 10-15 min.

NOBLE SILENCE at sunset.

There won’t be any fires except maybe on Thursday, the last night together. I think they are mostly not allowed on AT. They will have little cookstoves to heat pots. The monks have been practicing cooking some of their “camping” food this week. The pasta alfredo was pretty good.

So tomorrow the hikers will start off around 9:30 from here, uphill to the Shawangunk Ridge Trail (I have hiked this before with Doug up to it) and then go along the ridge. A few of us here want to start with them for maybe a couple of hours and then come back. I found on the top of the ridge by car where they will reach a parking lot at the top and start along the ridge. I may drive there and meet them and hike along the ridge for an hour out and then back. We’ll see how it works out. Some were already practicing sleeping outside here. It’s pretty C>>O>>L>>D!! Glad it’s not me!! :)