Imagine That

Photograph provided by Karen Russell

Imagine that a decade in the making

Navigating the gravel road of Galway to the DCC

Cecilie was running a retreat 

Sitting in the main house full of new friends, Maria, Barbara and others

Dharma as the foundation I felt at home

In 1982 the Sayadaw came and built the first Pagoda in Canada forever linking us to the commitment of world peace

Many friendships were formed.

Imagine that

Age old barriers were broken women and men challenged the boundaries of convention

Tarchin especially laid the ground work and challenged in debate the Sayadaw

“Can women realize awakening?” he asked the Sayadaw, “Yes” was the response 

Cultural conventions were forever changed as East meets West

Retreats of all kinds were given over the 80s by Rinpoche. 

Imagine that  

As time marched on cabins were built, sheets of plywood and dry wall were lifted

More friendships were forged, Bryon, Gerry and many more

The hermitage was conceived 

The Golden Oldies Mahamudra retreat, bubbles anyone?  Individual retreats, one in particular sticks in my mind where I was covered in mud and Heather Rigby met me on the path and did not blink an eye

The Womb retreat was given this ground breaking approach has helped so many of us

The Holistic Clearing Meditation was imparted giving us tools to help others on the path

Meanwhile the forest kept growing providing the space for unfoldment,

Wildlife learned there was refuge on the property. 

We encountered, bears, wolfs, deer, moose, fox, racoons, porcupines, cougar, and an abundance of birds. The Hermit Thrush flute melody pins us in the moment, singing “awakening, awakening”

The first Academy became in 1984, people from around the world attended the three-year study. Most were sponsored by their community. They were a dynamic group of Christine, Kim, Brian U, Eric, Adrea, Matthew, Sophia, Brian Mc, Theresa, Leroy, and Mark, there were many others who joined for periods of time. This was the creative time fostering new dharma teachers for the future.

Following their strong leadership and collaboration in 1987 the second academy was conceived. Kim, Peter, Paul, Don, myself and others designed the first term with Marina as the academy’s chancellor. Victor, Mark, Sky, Wendy, Rob, Karen M, Karen R, Marsha, Derek, Senge and Chime were the core group with Sophie, Shelley and baby Caitlin joining us for long stretches. David Bohm graced us in the first term and forever changed our path. The Venerable Namgyal Rinpoche and his mandala of Namgyal Lineage teachers and other teachers shared their wisdom throughout the three years. Western thought, family sculpture psychotherapy, crown initiations, homiletics, basic Buddhism and the Buddhist Teaching of Totality were just a few of the explorations. 

Steps to the temple were made

The mandala of Kalachakra dissolved into the stream

Imagine that

Venerable Khen Rinpoches came and formally recognized Namgyal as the manifestation of White Manjusri. It was an incredibly rich teacher training experience. Sophie Carol advised us that our lives would be forever changed and that it would not be the same intensity when we graduated. 

We participated in the conferences at Hart House of U of T where Rinpoche was the key note speaker.

The Dharma Centre of Canada gave us a home to study dharma, teach dharma, share our strengths, appreciate nature and each other.

To be a magician and leave no trace 

Imagine that 

We walk in the dark to Log cabin feeling the path with our feet looking behold the trees to the night sky to find the light of our mutual bonds of love and appreciation for what we are committed to 

Christine and I walking the path to the hermitage 

As women we said something has to change, and it did. Women needed to impact the evolution of dharma in the west.

The DCC is a place for women, men, young and old, people in robes, lay people working or not working to study dharma, to teach dharma and to support the evolution of dharma in the west while supporting each other while we break and heal the boundaries of our own making 

Each of us have given others a leg up for the next decade

Imagine that

Aurora Borealis creates sheets of light that vortex above where we stand on the DCC

Karen Russell