Like Buddhism itself, Plum Village is many layered ... kindly the visitors are mostly left to discover the place for themselves, with some clues from time to time about what is going on ... a basic programme starting at 6 am ... a vegan diet ... lots of noble silence ... a chance to pay attention to the food you're eating ... which is delicious ... a chiming clock and a ritual of stopping whatever you are doing when it sounds ... along with random bells also to be observed ... all designed to bring us back to the present moment ....
When eating, eat ... when walking, walk ... when listening, listen ... when talking, talk ... and if you have nothing to say, say that ...
The teaching is simple enough and mostly practical ... this morning's Dharma Talk apparently quite witty ... based on the laughter of the nun next to me ... it was in Vietnamese and the technology enabling simultaneous translation failed ...
Research will reveal more, but this is a serious enterprise ... three linked locations here in the Dordogne ... organic farm ... resident sangha, many from Vietnam ... Ireland too ... lots of visitors on one or two week retreats ... the extensive countryside around designated hunting free ... tame magpies taking advantage ... all done with a light touch ... no pressure to attend anything ...
First impressions ... some very interesting folks ... and a link to the Camino de Santiago close by ... research needed to see if Friday's walk starts here or by train to Irun from Bordeaux ...
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