A Year of Living Virtually
Light Cast a Rainbow on the Prayer Book, photograph by Patricia Steckley
After months and months of being homebound, working, attending meetings and trying to stay connected with people via Zoom, I wasn’t sure about doing an on-line retreat at home. While the pandemic has afforded the opportunity to attend many Dharma offerings in a frequency and variety I normally wouldn’t have access to, (which has been incredibly supportive and enriching), the zoom fatigue had become an experience that body and mind were finding hard to cope with.
Realizing this, and yearning to leave my room and its familiar routines behind, my dear dharma sister and I decided to pack up and head to the DC to create a satellite hybrid retreat situation where we would attend part of Lama Mark’s Galiano summer retreat via zoom from the natural retreat environment of the DC. We headed up and because wi-fi reached my cabin we were able to tune into the tent on Galiano thousands of miles away to receive glorious teachings and “be with” the retreat happening on the other side of the country.
The power of the DCC land and the blessings it is steeped in were felt immediately and deeply. The property looked lush and beautiful and we received such a warm welcome from Marion and Marta -- it was so good to see them again. The importance of being away from home and all its associations was recognized right away, and I could feel the organism start to perk up.
Tuning in to the tent on Galiano was joyful. The high quality equipment that Crystal Mountain had purchased, combined with a strong internet, made it seem as if we were right there. Seeing Lama Mark on a daily basis, his image crystal clear and voice strong, elicited a familiar expansive feeling and the teachings came through compelling and vibrant. Remarkable to contemplate how years of technological evolution have enabled such high-quality experiences that now support the transmission of Teachings.
We found an easy rhythm of attending classes together, doing movement or nature walks, some shared meals and most importantly, we could practice dharma together live! After so much time spent isolated at home; the power of coming together in person to unite our intent in practice was precious and at times electric.
I feel grateful for all the work that goes into keeping the Dharma Centre going and all the beings who work so hard to maintain this place of refuge. I give thanks to all our teachers for continuing to transmit Dharma, whether in person or through other means when needed. The time in this hybrid retreat made all the more real the preciousness of being able to be in person with the one’s teacher and Sangha; although grateful for this zoom opportunity, it only made the longing to be in the presence of the Lama stronger. This pandemic has made the truth all the more poignant, that we never know what is around the corner. It is so important to not take for granted the treasured ability to share space with other humans and to practice dharma together in each other’s presence.
by Patricia Steckley