hostel to vipassana center

on the way to the SE Vipassana Center i traversed one of the most miserable, sandy roads in the country. i had opted to take the most direct route and did not consider that the roads might not be paved. after getting onto paved roads again and riding a dozen miles or so i decided to try to hitch a ride. i was getting tired and it seemed like i might arrive after registration time if i didn't speed my way. a very kind woman stopped for me in her pickup truck and drove me all the way to the vipassana center, which was several miles out of her way. she was an amateur woodcarver and had some things to say to me concerning spirituality and religion. the words i remember most are, "religion is when we reach out to god. christianity is when god reaches out to us."

my experience at this course was as challenging as the first one, and challenging in some different ways. i came down with a cold on the first day and continued to hack up phlegm the whole time. i treated it with hot vinegar, cayenne, ginger, and lemon drinks. my right nipple is still the most persistent 'blind spot', and i worked a lot with pain emanating from the base of my skull on the left side of the spine. BIG sankara! i will not speak any more of the specifics of the meditation experience as i do not want to influence anyone's expectations who have not already practiced vipassana. it is different for everyone. let's just say i received benefits through hard work. becoming stronger in awareness and equanimity.

while meditating, one of the most persistent distractions for me was the arena of fundraising for the remainder of this trip through a kickstarter campaign. it all seemed so clear and like it would work out perfectly. i kept thinking of old friends of mine who would surely lend their support. friends i have not thought of in years and want to get back in touch with. it was not clear to me at times whether this was some kind of craving or more of a revelation through the clarity of an equanimous mind. i also had some thoughts like, 'the hoop is dhamma!' and "what would happen if we all lived the life of full renunciation like monks? do we need 'householders' to survive?" which i feel are useful insights.

this center has a healthy compost system utilizing pallet bins. they do a good job of incorporating a good balance of carbonaceous materials, including paper towels that might otherwise go to waste. i would love to see more edible plants in the landscape and a vegetable garden to produce food for the center, and perhaps that will come soon. there is a man i met who is involved in the center and lives next door. he is a green builder and grows some of his own food.

once the vow of silence was lifted i connected with many of the other men. one of them has recently been living with a community in miami that sounded like a hoop-spirited one.
i found a ride easily with a fellow meditator who lives near savannah. he was generous and gave the ride as a gift, not accepting gas money. i feel so blessed!

thank you to all who are following this story and especially those who leave comments every once in a while. keep loving those around you and be well!