KMC NYC's Annual Country Retreat at the World Peace Temple, Glen Spey
Every year, KMC NYC hosts a weekend away at the upstate Temple. This is a unique opportunity for our Sangha to take time away together, and receive teachings from Kadam Morten on emptiness. It's during these weekends that we have the chance to deepen our understanding of what it would be like to be free of all limited self conceptions and begin to authentically identify with our potential.
This year, Kadam Morten explored the relationship between emptiness and compassion, and how it is emptiness that enables us to let go of our ordinary identity, our limited self and become a Bodhisattva -- a being bound for enlightenment.
Below, some of our Sangha members share what moved them most and the ideas that they'll be taking away from the teachings to move forward with their personal practice.
Enjoy!
Lesly
Trinity
Tamara
Kadam Morten made it very possible to actually envision loving everybody and wanting to take care of everyone. That has always seemed so overwhelming to me but during this retreat, by focusing on how we're a cell in a vast body of life, made it clear to me.
Marita
Chris
Daniel
Marcia
Sandy and Alex
Dale and Blair
Dale: During this retreat, I've felt a deepening connection to other people and the feeling that I can take this Bodhichitta part more into my life. So with the people I deal with everyday I can be coming more from the heart. I've really enjoyed the deep, rich conversations I've had, getting to know people better, feeling more connected. Also, I've never been at the Temple in June. It's as beautiful outside as it is inside.
Blair: This weekend, I came in touch with a four-lane highway of blessings running through me. I feel I am going to be able to bring that back with me to NYC. Usually I feel the blessings mostly when I'm meditating. Now I feel like I'm going to be able to take this into my life. This is do-able. It's all about keeping the blessings flowing, the conduit open all the time and not just when I'm sitting down meditating. This Temple is sacred ground. I really feel that.
Sharon and Andrea
Janna
Yogi and Dani
Hussain and Kevin
Hussain: I now understand that ultimate truth is emptiness...it's like the bottom of the ocean. I may be on the surface of the ocean attached to the world right now, but I want to go deep!
Kevin: Friday night at the introduction Kadam Morten talked about how we're all basically the same. The circumstances of our lives may be different, but underneath we all want the same thing - to be loved, to feel joy, to be happy. If we can connect at that level, then we'll feel connected to people even when they're being difficult. So the key is, instead of caring so much about what people are saying connect with what they really feel.
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