tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26581931170770513832024-02-07T18:32:33.806-08:00Karmê ChölingKarmê Chölinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06414993717267168751noreply@blogger.comBlogger18125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2658193117077051383.post-86830674929097832042012-02-13T14:48:00.000-08:002012-02-13T15:01:16.079-08:00Working with Obstacles - Dön Season<br />
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<span style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">If you have been around the
Shambhala community in the earlier part of any year, </span></span><span style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">you likely have heard talk about Dön Season (pronounce
the ‘ö,’ like ‘</span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">could’</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">).</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><span style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This is the period of time that leads up to the Tibetan New
Year -- referred to by the community as </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Shambhala
Day -- </span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">which marks the end of the lunar calendar and opens a new energetic
cycle. </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">While Shambhala Day is an occasion
to celebrate, rejoice, and be merry, </span></span><span style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Dön Season traditionally is seen as a time to hide in
the house, not travel, and walk on eggshells, so as not to incur any really bad
juju.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">But, as non-theistic warriors of awakenment, we are
invited to take a more fearless approach. </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Let’s look at what Dön Season actually
is about.</span></div>
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<b><span style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">First of all,
what in the world is a dön?</span></span></b><span style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Döns are expressions of confusion,
sickness, and discord that appear in our daily life.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">They refer to the various obstacles and blockages
that manifest in our body, speech, and mind, that infiltrate any aspect of our
experience. </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In a 2008 talk on döns, Sakyong
Mipham Rinpoche teaches there are </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">outer
obstacles</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">, which include the four elements, other individuals, and unseen
forces; </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">inner obstacles</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">, which
include heavy discursive concepts and emotions that plague the mind; and </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">secret obstacles – </span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">those which “impede the
progress of our [Buddhist] path.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Döns can manifest anywhere from
stubbing our toe on the way to the bathroom, fighting with our partner over
nothing, getting a migraine, or locking our keys in the car . . . while it’s
running, and our cell phone is sitting on the front seat, ringing, with our
boss on the line. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">On a more subtle level, dons are the
emotional upheavals that disrupt our meditation practice, our spiritual
development, and our sense of delight in life.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-size: 16pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>"Fundamentally, döns are anything that
distract us from engaging with the present moment in the most clear, precise,
and authentic manner possible."</i></span></span></div>
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<b><span style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">What is Dön Season?</span></span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Dön Season refers to the ten most
congested days of the lunar year, when karmic accumulation is at its ripest,
and negativities are gathered into a mad crescendo.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It is the time when obscurations are the most thick,
and calamities roam wild.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Dön Season is seen as a time when there is greater
disagreement in relationships, more intense emotional turmoil, more physical
disease, and more, overall, cosmic and domestic imbalance. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Basically, it is like mercury in
retrograde -- on steroids.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This does not sound fun, does it? </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-size: 16pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>"In our tradition of
warriorship, we do not see these occurrences as insults or punishments, but,
rather, messages and powerful invitations to wake up."</i><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As warriors, we ‘bring our
obstacles to the path,’ and delight in the challenge. In fact, the greater the
challenge, the greater the payoff. Therefore, Dön Season can be seen as the
most wonderful week and a half of the year!</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
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<b><span style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">How do we work with döns?<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">When we encounter an attack of döns, we slow down,
soften our heart, and heighten our mindfulness and awareness. We pay close
attention to the döns, and listen to them.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-size: 16pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>"What is the phenomenal world trying to
tell us? How can we receive the feedback, and see the obstacles as our
spiritual allies?"</i></span></span><span style="font-size: 16pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">First of all, we need to establish
a relationship with all the elements of our outer and inner environment. We can communicate with the phenomenal
world by invoking drala (the awake energy of goodness). Döns are totally
overwhelmed by drala, which literally means ‘above the enemy.’ </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">How do we invoke drala -- by
purifying our space.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This refers to our
physical space -- by cleaning, performing lhasang (smoke offering), and
appreciating the details of our environment -- as well as our mental space, by
simplifying, organizing, and focusing our intentions and aspirations.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Sakyong Mipham Rinpoche teaches
that Dön Season is a time to reflect upon our actions, regroup, and look
closely at the obstacles that have manifested throughout the year.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In particular, during Dön Season we are called to
strengthen our relationship with the protector principle -- the aspect of
wisdom that transmutes and overcomes negative energy.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">There are formal practices that activate the protector
principle (such as making tea-offering), but fundamentally we are talking about
focusing, deepening, and stabilizing the inherent power of our awareness, and
applying it gently and fearlessly to every dimension of our life.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Also, during Dön Season it is important to gather
with our fellow warriors and practice together.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">One
example of this -- and a shameless plug for an upcoming weekend retreat --</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">is the Dön Season </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Dorje
Kasung Gathering of the Clan</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">, which will take place at </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Karmê Chöling
</span><span style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">from February 16 through19. But anything as simple as
gathering together with your fellow practitioners to practice mindfulness
awareness meditation will do.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKwXJjmp9TUoJRHOOjhNems-_BFhRXFVHuOYHAQafe6GucuyCVRi1CmDw5BEGnC62-qxp00GjOApe5lLKwLbmbOKrwcYAUe0KC59lLsGF2ISvjAk9BykJplhxCUgMNXMVmNGyZZ8_SOZ4/s1600/photo.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="221" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKwXJjmp9TUoJRHOOjhNems-_BFhRXFVHuOYHAQafe6GucuyCVRi1CmDw5BEGnC62-qxp00GjOApe5lLKwLbmbOKrwcYAUe0KC59lLsGF2ISvjAk9BykJplhxCUgMNXMVmNGyZZ8_SOZ4/s320/photo.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Yours in dancing with delight in
the display,<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Karme Choling Rusung<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Pablo Coddou, Kadö<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">More information:<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">To learn more about working with
döns and the protector principle, check out these links:</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">·</span><span style="font: normal normal normal 7pt/normal 'Times New Roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">
</span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Sakyong Mipham
Rinpoche 2008 Online Address: </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://shambhalatimes.org/2011/02/21/meeting-don-season-with-mindfulness/" target="_blank">Meeting Don Season with Mindfulness</a>:</span></i></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">·</span><span style="font: normal normal normal 7pt/normal 'Times New Roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">
</span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Dorje Loppön: </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.shambhala.org/int/protectorchants.html" target="_blank">Averting the Negativity of the Old Year</a> </span></i></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">More information about the
<a href="http://www.karmecholing.org/program.php?id=4596" target="_blank">Dorje Kasung Gathering of the Clan retreat</a> </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">To learn more about the <a href="http://www.shambhala.org/kasung.php" target="_blank">Dorje Kasung</a></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Typically, the ‘Rusung’ leads and coordinates activities that protect the ‘dharma,’ or Buddhist teachings, at a
Shambhala meditation center. The Rusung provides overall leadership to protect
the community, as well as visiting and residential teachers.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>Karmê Chölinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06414993717267168751noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2658193117077051383.post-50774706088550561732012-02-10T13:22:00.000-08:002012-02-10T13:25:24.769-08:00Be-My-Valentine Heart Cookies<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxTlcJ2x6Kj5PYM8Qeq6netzE6dJiBW6vLXajnAAOLBQTXAuf0LV9MmjeaDBl0F1zJOi_xAWlemwlNMnhMiqNB1hnpiA5pUJ67w2Q6U_qVId8TNfB4SJa64Z2dnajyOFpBgNrFMDjBsTo/s1600/vdaycookies.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxTlcJ2x6Kj5PYM8Qeq6netzE6dJiBW6vLXajnAAOLBQTXAuf0LV9MmjeaDBl0F1zJOi_xAWlemwlNMnhMiqNB1hnpiA5pUJ67w2Q6U_qVId8TNfB4SJa64Z2dnajyOFpBgNrFMDjBsTo/s200/vdaycookies.jpeg" width="149" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">(The cookies in the photo were part of a triple batch of Valentine cookies made by a small group of Vermont children who donated them to their local soup kitchen. Share the love!)</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">By Anne-Marie Keppel</span></div>
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Ingredients</span></b></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Will make approximately 34
cookies - 17 sandwich cookies and 17 small cookie cutouts. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">For this recipe, pick out one or more of your favorite flavored jams. You will need pink frosting and sprinkles.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Cookies</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1 cup butter</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1 1/2 cups confectioner's sugar</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1 egg</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1 teaspoon vanilla extract</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1/2 teaspoon almond extract (optional)</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1 teaspoon baking soda</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1 teaspoon cream of tartar</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Frosting</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">1 cup confectioner's sugar</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">1/4 teaspoon salt</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">1 tablespoon water</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">2 drops food coloring</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Directions</b></span></div>
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<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">For frosting: blend sugar, salt, and flavoring. Add just enough water to make it easy to spread. Add food coloring and mix well. Set aside.</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In a large bowl, cream
together butter and confectioners' sugar. Beat in egg, vanilla and almond
extract. Mix well.</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
In a medium bowl, stir
together flour, baking soda and cream of tartar; blend into the butter mixture.
Divide dough into thirds and shape into balls.
</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Working with 1/3 of the dough at a time, roll out dough into desired thickness on a slightly floured surface. For each heart sandwich cookie, cut out two three-inch hearts. Cut out the center of ONE of the 3-inch hearts about one inch (save smaller heart shapes).</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
Place each piece separately
on an ungreased cookie sheet, 1 - 2 inches apart. Bake in a preheated, 350
degrees F (175 degrees C) oven until lightly browned (7-8 minutes for 1/4 inch
thick cookies). Cool completely on wire rack.</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Spread your choice of jam
on the large whole cookies. Frost the open centered cookies with Pink
Valentine Frosting, cover with sprinkles and place on top of the jam covered
cookie to form the sandwich.</span></span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Frost the small
"insides" of the hearts and serve as separate cookies.</span></span></span></li>
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<o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Bon appetit! </span></div>
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<o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">* Frosting recipe from <a href="http://allrecipes.com/">allrecipes.com</a>.</span></o:p></div>Karmê Chölinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06414993717267168751noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2658193117077051383.post-33932869701105716522012-02-10T12:32:00.000-08:002012-02-10T15:15:24.619-08:00Valentine Flowers - Ikebana Style<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU2BajNrGAaLvm6YUkSTDWmnDt2PMS3RDIyCvKaIXM-Zz-uHlNwWx5qZt2j6KfpCV81tuOwDYOYcMLZ59THhvjmkbfnSfsM2XSuu33JblKnfmf2Nwx8VkLW9qZ6fNuGZqN7uGES3PBK7E/s1600/P1120461.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU2BajNrGAaLvm6YUkSTDWmnDt2PMS3RDIyCvKaIXM-Zz-uHlNwWx5qZt2j6KfpCV81tuOwDYOYcMLZ59THhvjmkbfnSfsM2XSuu33JblKnfmf2Nwx8VkLW9qZ6fNuGZqN7uGES3PBK7E/s400/P1120461.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">By Anne-Marie Keppel</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Don't order flowers for your
loved one this Valentine's Day. Instead, make your gift more intimate by
creating an Ikebana arrangement! </span><span style="color: #535353; font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;"><i>Ikebana</i>, traditional
Japanese flower arrangement, has its origins in Shinto where arrangements are a part of shrine offerings. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;"></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial;">What sets ikebana apart is the asymmetry in design - open spaces create harmony between the flower stems and the
container. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">This contemplative art form is meant to bring beauty, vividness, and wisdom into our lives and environment. The practice
of ikebana, combined with contemplative meditation, is art in
action. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial;">Although this is a very specific
practice, you can try your hand at it with some beginner instructions (if you cannot attend an ikebana class or find a friend to help you before Valentine's Day).
Simple instructions can be found at: <a href="http://www.ehow.com/how_8132729_ikebana-instructions.html" target="_blank"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">Ikebana Instructions eHow.com</span></span></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">For more information on other
Shambhala Arts visit: <span style="text-decoration: none;"><a href="http://www.shambhala.org/arts.php" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">Shambhala Arts</span></a></span></span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial;">*</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.karmecholing.org/program.php?id=4637" target="_blank">Karmê Chöling</a> will be hosting Shambhala Art this April 6-13 with Arawana Hayashi and Laura Simms.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>Karmê Chölinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06414993717267168751noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2658193117077051383.post-87197765110367523342012-02-07T14:15:00.000-08:002012-02-07T14:15:25.623-08:00Winter Haiku<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">By Anne-Marie Keppel</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Photo take by Anne-Marie Keppel at </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: small; line-height: 14px;">Karmê Chöling</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">First month</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Bone deep cold.</span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Visible breath forms air bodies.</span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Through icicles water</span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Still flows. </span></span></div>Karmê Chölinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06414993717267168751noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2658193117077051383.post-43629279991752038912012-01-31T07:50:00.000-08:002012-02-01T14:13:46.807-08:00Seaweed Soup<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjHL19pFLtPG8o_imN_PiNkTS5hJRlMJC5rPM-PZ7etAs9WRYy3CAVmrj-r70mQX3YY4x55p8PPb73WEuxyWxADxJTQFSzNfFT1yNjT5Gq-rnmZLSfRZK6a5SoJ0wZ9q_aBAVZwAfdIh4/s1600/DriedWakame.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="173" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjHL19pFLtPG8o_imN_PiNkTS5hJRlMJC5rPM-PZ7etAs9WRYy3CAVmrj-r70mQX3YY4x55p8PPb73WEuxyWxADxJTQFSzNfFT1yNjT5Gq-rnmZLSfRZK6a5SoJ0wZ9q_aBAVZwAfdIh4/s200/DriedWakame.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #1a1a1a;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">By Anne-Marie Keppel</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #1a1a1a;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This is a very simple, highly
nutritious, and delicious recipe. It’s perfect to boost your immune system
and detoxify your body. It is vegetarian, vegan and
gluten-free. Of course, it's best if you can use an onion and scallion
from your own garden or your neighbor's garden! </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #1a1a1a;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #1a1a1a;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Seaweed soup is delicious on it’s own as a light meal or can be a perfect appetizer, especially as a prelude or accompaniment to a rice dish.</span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #1a1a1a;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Ingredients:</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #1a1a1a;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">- One yellow onion<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #1a1a1a;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">- Wakame seaweed<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #1a1a1a;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">- Miso brown rice paste<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #1a1a1a;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">- Sea salt<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #1a1a1a;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">- One bunch of scallions<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #1a1a1a;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">- Olive oil<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #1a1a1a;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">- Tofu (sprouted tofu is best)<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #1a1a1a;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Preparation and cooking instructions:<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #1a1a1a;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">- In a large pot, gently </span><span style="color: #1a1a1a;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">sauté the</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> onion in olive oil until the onion is slightly transparent, but
remains crunchy.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #1a1a1a;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">- Create broth by adding desired amount
of hot water and brown rice paste to the sautéed onion. Start with a half-gallon of water and 3/4 cup of paste and add more water or paste as needed. Add sea salt
to preferred taste. Mix well until all the brown rice
paste has dissolved into the water.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #1a1a1a;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">- Drain and cut the tofu into
bite-sized pieces and add to broth.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #1a1a1a;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">- Add two cups of dried wakame
seaweed. The seaweed will expand and soften in the water. More seaweed
may be added if desired.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">- Chop the scallions and add to broth.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #1a1a1a;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Since all these ingredients essentially can be eaten raw, cooking time is minimal. Make sure all the brown rice paste has dissolved, the seaweed has expanded to full size, and the tofu is warm all the way through. </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It's easy to reheat this soup and add fresh seaweed, so making a large quantity is a good idea. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #1a1a1a;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">*Nutritional note:</span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> s</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #1a1a1a;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">eaweed contains all of the minerals and many of the vitamins the human body requires for restoring and maintaining supreme
health! Seaweed is known to prevent diseases and
enhance the healing process for cance</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #1a1a1a;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">r, heart disease, and immune deficiency
disorders.</span></span></div>Karmê Chölinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06414993717267168751noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2658193117077051383.post-31561660026566224082012-01-11T14:14:00.000-08:002012-01-11T14:24:19.971-08:00Dathün Creativity and Aspiration<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4_SGSN_JRe0UlZPJaYo6UZOE0KjAK-09j6t7crIvyKycsbaoD-cImru8SOSzOQheFbf3MFXsurHtsXOPc9KKXVLPHKT_8x8t3pW5DvVZAjCTHima-5ACV69_wNz40j7NyfrRzuvJqgkw/s1600/This+World+Poster+003.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4_SGSN_JRe0UlZPJaYo6UZOE0KjAK-09j6t7crIvyKycsbaoD-cImru8SOSzOQheFbf3MFXsurHtsXOPc9KKXVLPHKT_8x8t3pW5DvVZAjCTHima-5ACV69_wNz40j7NyfrRzuvJqgkw/s320/This+World+Poster+003.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Reflecting on her recent dathün, Jenny Bruce was inspired to create a message. During the retreat, she watched a video featuring <a href="http://www.shambhala.org/teachers/chogyam-trungpa.php" target="_blank">Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche</a>, titled "Building Enlightened Society."</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">At the end of the video, Rinpoche said, "This world needs your help very badly." Jenny says, "Those words came to mind a number of times during my trip back to Buffalo and as I returned to work."</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Jenny set to work on creating a poster: "The words remind me to engage wholeheartedly in whatever I am doing." </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">With regards to the poster, Jenny aspires the words inspire others to engage in this world.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4rwFmGOWnTamXzA4njotmRNoS1c-NjSs5My1fcpi56LlFkwFPj3GfMSWa4Lnwmjj4Xx1oSr5ylFoM0DFRuoPIiz9NGsvtLi4pZcnxYHt2GgB1ohdfd-Q4dt9k1q8dPq-g6eHOrJjSmiU/s1600/mail.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4rwFmGOWnTamXzA4njotmRNoS1c-NjSs5My1fcpi56LlFkwFPj3GfMSWa4Lnwmjj4Xx1oSr5ylFoM0DFRuoPIiz9NGsvtLi4pZcnxYHt2GgB1ohdfd-Q4dt9k1q8dPq-g6eHOrJjSmiU/s1600/mail.jpeg" /></a></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Jenny Bruce</b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> lives in Buffalo, New York, and works at the food co-op on the corner of her street. She first encountered Shambhala in January 2007. The Buffalo Shambhala Group had two members at the time and has since grown to 15-20 meditators who practice every week. This past fall she began to explore the art of letterpress printmaking.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>About </b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Dathün</b>: </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Dathün, Tibetan for "month session," is a one-month group meditation retreat, and one of the most important training programs in the Shambhala Buddhist tradition. The program is open to anyone and is a very powerful introduction to and deepening of mindfulness-awareness meditation (<a href="http://www.karmecholing.org/dathun.php" target="_blank">learn more</a>). </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Karmê Chöling hosts 3-4 full </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">dathüns each year and also offers half-dathüns.</span>Karmê Chölinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06414993717267168751noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2658193117077051383.post-48791707150473955832011-12-30T15:47:00.000-08:002012-01-04T13:35:22.278-08:00Hospice Work and the Art of Meditation - An Interview with Arthur Jennings<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px;">Interviewed by Anne-Marie
Keppel</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px;"></span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">Arthur Jennings </span></b><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">is a registered nurse and hospice
worker and has been helping families, friends and patients with end of life
transition for more than twenty years.
For more than 35 years, he has been a part of the Shambhala Buddhist community.
In a recent interview with </span><span style="color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">Karmê
Chöling, Arthur offers </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">his
experiences assisting the dying, as well as how death has influenced his Buddhist
practice and career.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">* For italicized terms, please refer to 'Key Terms' below.</span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">Karmê Chöling</span></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">:</span></b><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;"> <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">What were your
impressions and feelings surrounding the first death you were present for?<o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">Jennings:</span></b><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;"> The first time I saw someone die it blew me away and
affected me for weeks. It really put things into perspective. We can go any day and it really drives
home the preciousness of life.
That has been really good for my [Buddhist] practice. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">One thing
about death I had not realized until I saw it – most </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">people
die after being in a coma-like state for at least a day or two. They are pretty unresponsive, and at
the very end the breaths become slower and slower - maybe even a minute or more
between breaths. You think, “That’s it!” -- and then there’s another breath.</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;"> There is definitely a <i>bardo period</i>.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">Karmê Chöling</span></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">:</span></b><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;"> <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">What do the family
and friends of hospice patients expect or need from you?<o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">Jennings:</span></b><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;"> Often, my job is to be a rock in the house and just let them
fall apart. Most of the families
have not seen death up close and they are looking for someone who knows what he
or she is doing. I help patients, who, oftentimes, are in pain or have wounds
that need to be tended. I help
tidy the space and uplift the room a little or put on soft music . . . if there
are people in another room talking or working, I invite them in to be with
their loved one. There often is a lot of confusion in these situations, so I
reassure everyone, “This is normal.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">Part of my
job is to soak up blame. It’s a
perfect time to practice <i>“Drive All Blames into One."</i> Sometimes people think that, if Hospice
is involved, death should be painless and a lovely spiritual experience. But often it is not so pretty. Even with good care, the person dying
may be throwing up, in pain and questioning whey he or she is still alive.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14pt;">“For me, it’s an honor to be there at a time when families are in such
need and to get to know them so quickly in their rawness.”<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">Karmê Chöling</span></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">:</span></b><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;"> <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">How does your
Buddhist practice influence you hospice work and vice versa?<o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">Jennings:</span></b><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;"> Buddhist practice affects my work
because mindfulness affects my work.
Buddhism is all about working with speed and distraction and cutting
through to be present, even amidst chaos. The medical world is so speedy - this
is getting worse all the time. So if you can go into the situation being
present and efficient, but slowed-down, people really notice. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">I do <i>Tonglen</i>, as well as mindfulness awareness practice to remain a steady
presence. Sometimes families and friends, or the patient, are really struggling
and I just want to do something. Tonglen helps in these situations . . . it
really would be helpful for any medical practitioner. Also, sometimes I do <i>Phowa</i> in my mind. Most families are not Buddhist. If the person
dying is Christian, I visualize Jesus above his or her head and I visualize him
or her moving towards Jesus.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">Karmê Chöling</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">: Is there anything special or unique you have noticed being
present with the dying? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">Jennings:</span></b><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;"> More often than not, the dying see Jesus, or their
grandmother or a childhood friend, and I try to warn the families about this. I bring it up because a lot of time the
patient does not want to be the first to talk about it. I’ll ask patients, “Have you seen any angels?” -- and
their faces will light up. They start using a lot of symbolic communication and
they are confused. They’ll say
things like, “I need the key,” or “I have to go home, do you know the way
home?” I tell the families and
friends to say empowering things, like “You know the way home,” or “Go the
usual way,” or, “You have the key.”
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">Karmê
Chöling</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">: You were present for a death at </span><span style="color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">Karmê Chöling</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">, would you like to tell the story?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">Jennings: At </span><span style="color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">Karmê Chöling, </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">Ruthie Aster was head of practice and study and she also was my meditation
instructor. She was living at
<i>Ashoka Bavhan</i> and I became
her visiting nurse. Today, the Aster Suite is named after her. Towards the end
of her life, I moved into the house, taking time off from work.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">It was a
perfect hospice situation- it’s the kind of situation you would want for
everyone. The </span><span style="color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">Karmê Chöling community</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;"> really rallied around her. People would come to clean her up and
take her to appointments and bring her lunch. We had a scrabble day once a week and, even when she
couldn’t play anymore, people would come and she would be there in the middle
of this little, weekly party. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">When she
passed we already had talked to her doctor about performing a </span><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 10pt;"><i>Sukhāvatī</i></span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">. Lady Kunchok (the mother of Sakyong
Mipham Rinphoche) was living on the property at the time and guided everyone
through the three-day period. As Ruthie was dying, Lady Kunchok encouraged us
to whisper in her ear and remind her about her practice and to remember </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">Chögyam Trungpa</span><span style="color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;"> Rinpoche</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">The unusual thing was that Ruthie was in samadhi after death.
Lady </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">Kunchok</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">
advised us to leave her body totally undisturbed until this was over. Lady </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">Kunchok</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">
felt Ruthie’s heart every day - she was really happy, because samadhi is a sign
a person is a very good practitioner. Most people do not go through a samadhi
state and heat leaves the heart center more quickly. Lady </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">Kunchok</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">
showed a few of us where to put our hands at Ruthie’s heart center, to feel the
heat. On the third day the heat was finally gone and we bathed the body and
moved it into a casket. </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">The casket was made simply of
plywood by a local community member, who installed a dry ice compartment
underneath. Ruthie’s body was washed, lotioned and perfumed and it stayed at </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">Ashoka Bavhan</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">,
in a shrine room for people to come to sit until we held the </span><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 10pt;">Sukhāvatī</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">
ceremony. There is nothing like meditating next to a corpse to drive home the reality of death, impermanence and precious human life.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">~<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b>Key Terms</b></div>
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><i>Ashoka Bavhan - </i>a house for practitioners near <span style="color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">Karmê Chöling.</span></span></i></span></b></div>
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><i><br /></i></span></b></div>
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><i>Bardo period - </i>a state of transition.</span></b></div>
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></span></b></div>
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><i>Drive All Blames into One</i></span> - </i></span></b>a Buddhist practice for working with blame to reduce harm to self and others.</div>
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<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><i>Phowa - </i></span></i><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;">a practice to help another attain enlightenment.</span></i></div>
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<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-style: normal;"><i>Sukhāvatī - </i></span></i><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 10pt;">a </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">traditional Buddhist death ceremony which involves cremating the body three days after death.</span></span></i></div>
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<i><br /></i></div>
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<i>Tonglen - </i>a practice of sending compassion and love to others and taking in their suffering.</div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;"><o:p><br /></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;"><o:p>~ </o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">To learn more about Hospice, please
visit: <a href="http://www.hospicenet.org/index.html">http://www.hospicenet.org/index.html</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>Karmê Chölinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06414993717267168751noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2658193117077051383.post-2583678719903753112011-12-04T07:15:00.001-08:002011-12-04T07:25:49.359-08:00Rebirth in the Garden: Composting at Karmê Chöling<br />
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">By Aaron Delong</span></b></div>
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Why Do We Compost?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Managing
fertility is a key component of long-term success in any garden. At Karmê
Chöling, we rely on our compost as a primary source of achieving this goal.
Compost acts as both a slow release fertilizer in our beds, as well as an
organic matter builder in our soil. It also helps to reduce the waste stream
produced by the center. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4YY-b2SrB5anEbp2BKcZdrpLH9QGWYK33HWPV0VRNbbPkffuIVln7iNEhgIqVfVqPdHrFFMSK79RcVZtTiQaofnLMWP2WEWONOenSsZbXk5Wvhr4SRmYH3TezzLhCpT6JNy2Es_dj-L8/s1600/Compost1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4YY-b2SrB5anEbp2BKcZdrpLH9QGWYK33HWPV0VRNbbPkffuIVln7iNEhgIqVfVqPdHrFFMSK79RcVZtTiQaofnLMWP2WEWONOenSsZbXk5Wvhr4SRmYH3TezzLhCpT6JNy2Es_dj-L8/s320/Compost1.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">What Do We Compost?</span></b><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The
answer is: what have we got? Our compost is primarily composed of kitchen scraps
(excluding meat, dairy, and some cooked foods), garden residues (plant debris),
and cow manure (supplied by the farmer who hays our fields). Kitchen scraps and
fresh plant debris are considered 'green' materials: materials rich in
nitrogen. Older garden residues, such as woodier plant debris, straw and
leaves, are considered 'brown' materials. Brown materials are rich in carbon.
By striking the proper balance between brown materials and greens (about 20:1,
carbon to nitrogen), we can create a compost pile that is both nutrient-rich
and structurally sound. Cow manure is a vital component for us, intrinsically
providing nearly the ideal balance of carbon and nitrogen, as well as being a
good microbial activator in the pile.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Often,
we chop up our compost ingredients before putting them in the pile. Sometimes
we use a machete, sometimes we use a chipper-shredder machine. Chopping up
materials reduces particle size and gives microbes and bacteria more access to
their food source, speeding up the composting process. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLLU4iAgZLGrywSI_krbJ_n-qApBuAkygBqNvZFdVw0FqL4RHLX7QMpwxLWQ_shlXRc5qZjQ2SoY933L4SJ8b2q7K6yvJiXx2NRCfQIKSrkKAO8T6aRuAoI0N2L5Ih9V7ErMp49OEiN3E/s1600/Compost2.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLLU4iAgZLGrywSI_krbJ_n-qApBuAkygBqNvZFdVw0FqL4RHLX7QMpwxLWQ_shlXRc5qZjQ2SoY933L4SJ8b2q7K6yvJiXx2NRCfQIKSrkKAO8T6aRuAoI0N2L5Ih9V7ErMp49OEiN3E/s1600/Compost2.jpeg" /></a></div>
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">How Do We Compost? <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We
build our piles in a layering method: a layer of brown materials is followed by
a layer of greens, followed by a layer of manure. The sequence is then
repeated. Our piles, when finished, are about ten feet by five feet by three.
It is important for any pile being made to be sufficiently large enough to
create an internal environment where bacteria and microbes can thrive. Three
feet by three feet by three is considered a minimum requirement for this goal.
At Karmê Chöling, we build bigger, hoping to attain internal temperatures
between 130 and 150 degrees Fahrenheit. This ensures weed seeds will be killed
and any potential diseases will be sterilized. Over 160 F, however, and harmful
bacteria can enter the pile; bacteria that might negatively affect plants were
the compost to be applied to a garden bed.</span></div>
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Turning the Pile<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Compost
happens, whether we tend the pile or not, but how fast the process occurs
depends in large part on how much effort we put in to facilitating the decomposition
process. Probably the hardest part of making compost is turning compost, but
this action is critical towards speeding the breakdown of the organic materials
in a pile. Turning introduces oxygen into the pile, allowing the bacteria
inside to breathe and helping to elevate temperature. It also keeps the pile
from turning towards anaerobic respiration in the absence of oxygen, a
development that can slow down decomposition and lead to the buildup of toxic
components in a pile. Often, when a pile 'stinks,’ it stinks of anaerobic
respiration. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">To
turn our piles, we simply move the contents with a pitchfork from one place to
another, hopefully nearby! We try and put the parts that were on the outside of
the pile to the inside, and the parts that were on the bottom on top. This
maintains an even rate of decomposition throughout the pile.</span></div>
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Water<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In
addition to size, oxygen, and carbon and nitrogen-rich materials, water is a
crucial factor in the composting process. Too little water slows everything down,
too much cuts off oxygen flow. The general guideline is that a compost pile
should have the moisture content of a wrung out sponge. Occasionally, we will
add water to a pile if it seems to dry. Often, we will cover our piles with
cloths or tarps to prevent them from becoming too wet in the rain. We build our
piles on old pallets, as well, to aid with drainage and aeration. Excessive
moisture is one of our principal composting challenges at Karmê Chöling.</span></div>
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The Finished Product</span></b></div>
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The length of time
it takes to create finished compost depends on time of year, time spent
managing the pile, and quality of materials used. Generally, in peak season, we
manage a finished pile in eight weeks. The original pile can be expected to
diminish to half its original volume during the composting process. The
finished compost itself should be a black, crumbly soil with a slightly greasy
texture, high in organic matter content, holding a good supply of nutrients
that will be gradually released over a long period of time.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We apply finished
compost at a rate of about one wheelbarrow to every eighty square feet, lightly
working the fertilizer into our garden beds with a rake. We can plant
immediately thereafter.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Composting can be
a lot of fun. There is an art to the process, a mixture of chemistry, alchemy,
and common sense that changes with each pile we build. There is also a
satisfaction in taking our 'waste' materials and using them as a foundation for
future growth. In that sense, composting is a metaphor any meditator can relate
with.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk_iFb-OcX9z1k2nCvEE1NTUwdA9LEvhXL4MW9TmFCEbGsrINC3rA5ysm2Mb2fLu1-UNiq1VRxTGYmmtDxMw19L2HcCTGceO9beyIPR9ACvLTH_D5m2PdDGdBUZwgUL8p-rM4Tms6J0ZA/s1600/Compost3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk_iFb-OcX9z1k2nCvEE1NTUwdA9LEvhXL4MW9TmFCEbGsrINC3rA5ysm2Mb2fLu1-UNiq1VRxTGYmmtDxMw19L2HcCTGceO9beyIPR9ACvLTH_D5m2PdDGdBUZwgUL8p-rM4Tms6J0ZA/s320/Compost3.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>Karmê Chölinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06414993717267168751noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2658193117077051383.post-49986085796014396732011-11-23T09:09:00.001-08:002011-11-23T09:24:26.659-08:00Buying Local and Organic with Vermont Fresh Network<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikABFjtciyz84HxEU4BkDEMRD3eMTVCNk99yKnVXcROK315cwcsUs0VbcpTI9bncBdqcwJxObAIWvi30lt-YU3DWaTN31JZXKLncLHR5OkTe_ER2jynD_yZBkntAWVjmM5FaUGWesr6OQ/s1600/IMG_8111.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikABFjtciyz84HxEU4BkDEMRD3eMTVCNk99yKnVXcROK315cwcsUs0VbcpTI9bncBdqcwJxObAIWvi30lt-YU3DWaTN31JZXKLncLHR5OkTe_ER2jynD_yZBkntAWVjmM5FaUGWesr6OQ/s320/IMG_8111.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">By Greg Garner, Director of Planning and Major Projects, </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Karmê Chöling</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Since its inception,
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.karmecholing.org/index.php" target="_blank">Karmê Chöling</a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> has paid a great deal of attention to how food is prepared and
eaten. For years, our meditation retreat center has offered month-long retreats
where oryoki, a Japanese monastic way of eating and appreciating food, is
practiced.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Our kitchen staff
practices mindfulness and awareness when it prepares and offers food to
practitioners, teachers, staff and guests. Food is made from scratch using local
and/or organic ingredients.<br /><br />
For the last several years, we have taken a fresh look at what we serve and
where it comes from. Being in Vermont, we are fortunate to have many local
growers and producers. Karmê Chöling has made a heartfelt effort to purchase
more ingredients from local sources, in addition to our own organic garden. </span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Currently, we use more
than fifty percent organic and/or local products! Our leadership and kitchen staff are committed to increasing
this percentage and sourcing directly from farmers and producers whenever
possible.<br /><br />
One key way we have been able to buy local ingredients and eat healthy organic
produce is through our partnership with <a href="http://www.vermontfresh.net/" target="_blank">Vermont Fresh Network (VFN)</a>.</span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Since 2007, VFN has
opened doors for us, helping us meet local growers and producers. It has been a
joy getting to know more folks that really care about the local food scene and
how and what we feed ourselves. We look forward to making more relationships as
we continue our goal of creating a sane, enlightened environment where
wholesome, nutritious, local and minimally processed food can be offered to
staff and guests.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">~</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.vermontfresh.net/" target="_blank">Vermont Fresh Network (VFN)</a>, </span></strong><strong><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">founded in</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></strong><strong><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1995,</span></span></strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> is a statewide organization
that encourages farmers, food producers and chefs to work directly with each
other to build partnerships. Building strong regional connections contributes
to stronger local communities and their economies.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">VFN is dedicated to promoting and publicizing Vermont chefs and restaurants
that use Vermont grown and produced foods. Chefs that purchase the products of
Vermont's working landscape help maintain her agricultural heritage and
contribute to the future of Vermont's farm economy. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">VFN also educates consumers. Through its website and links VFN hopes to
educate the dining public of the wholesomeness, nutritional value, freshness,
and safety of Vermont-grown foods, as well as the economic impact of supporting
local businesses. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4rtF63to5a34rDfyWnIRGx4mNpEMsqiTn4gLsOaBNITq81dqp7TB61sXNv0hdH1LoMnHvQ7JMZV2ZI0YXJk0M6bic7zuhQw-SX2y46HT9MZFyTyBBfmL2uVVS5LF7Uv2WjL89JlurxSs/s1600/carrot-farmers-market.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="220" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4rtF63to5a34rDfyWnIRGx4mNpEMsqiTn4gLsOaBNITq81dqp7TB61sXNv0hdH1LoMnHvQ7JMZV2ZI0YXJk0M6bic7zuhQw-SX2y46HT9MZFyTyBBfmL2uVVS5LF7Uv2WjL89JlurxSs/s320/carrot-farmers-market.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>Karmê Chölinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06414993717267168751noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2658193117077051383.post-61899895867768936892011-11-22T15:56:00.001-08:002011-11-22T16:07:50.034-08:00It Is My Home<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Practitioner, John Godwin, writes about his connection to </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate; color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Karmê Chöling:</span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoMnMBZgumK3lCZfw7iteuJJvupKQ38_g64OJgVR_Ft66zq29ScLyoStZrAJ3n5A0FVGit8pDIVTs3EVpaz1v2Wc0fRa51hIf8pGhefdNS1DxPJo1wvC_PBjOlGoxEEqbEDWI9-WWzhsA/s1600/Blog5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="148" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoMnMBZgumK3lCZfw7iteuJJvupKQ38_g64OJgVR_Ft66zq29ScLyoStZrAJ3n5A0FVGit8pDIVTs3EVpaz1v2Wc0fRa51hIf8pGhefdNS1DxPJo1wvC_PBjOlGoxEEqbEDWI9-WWzhsA/s320/Blog5.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">It is my Home. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">I really have no other home, even though, physically, I am rarely at <span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate; color: black;">Karmê Chöling</span>. So the idea of home for me is, that place, where I have the most genuine experiences of my life, both of myself, and of others, whether it is joy, sadness, anger, humor or anything else. </span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Having had these experiences, I go out into the world and try to extend this truth of genuineness to everybody I meet, usually with just a look, a gesture, or a tone of voice. What often comes back to me is genuineness, from 'total strangers.' People are genuine right off the bat, or they are not genuine, and the pain of that is obvious in their faces. </span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">So everybody naturally understands genuineness, and in his or her heart wants to express it. </span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Genuineness is home. </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">It becomes a matter of creating a container, an atmosphere, an environment, which promotes that inherent openness, which leads to expressions of genuineness. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate; color: black;">Karmê Chöling</span> is, of course, such a place, and, in some sense, we are all such a place.</span></div>
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</div>Karmê Chölinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06414993717267168751noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2658193117077051383.post-53396497831435125312011-11-22T15:23:00.000-08:002011-11-22T15:24:27.678-08:00Vermont Maple Ginger Tofu<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFQJCOWHolMWqkcTlP_FlsJiXHQ0lYZp7GhGNHjK_WOcLpBBVufcZ-rcZ0VeerUUZ3KRhdO5OW_4G8Qa_pBITX7tuAmUSnkO5MlSznyb-1KkyBTTXL4Cz6XscQA5Bf3UF3Mur91A7JL0w/s1600/tofu.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFQJCOWHolMWqkcTlP_FlsJiXHQ0lYZp7GhGNHjK_WOcLpBBVufcZ-rcZ0VeerUUZ3KRhdO5OW_4G8Qa_pBITX7tuAmUSnkO5MlSznyb-1KkyBTTXL4Cz6XscQA5Bf3UF3Mur91A7JL0w/s1600/tofu.jpg" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><span style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br />
</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><span style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">This recipe is easy to make and delicious. It is even well received by meat eaters!<br />
<br />
You will need: </span></span><br />
<div style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><span style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br />
</span></div><div style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><span style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"> - tofu or *tempe </span></div><div style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><span style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"> - Vermont maple syrup </span></div><div style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><span style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"> (or raw Vermont honey)</span></div><div style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><span style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"> - diced fresh ginger</span></div><div style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><span style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"> (or diced fresh garlic)</span></div><div style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><span style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br />
</span></div><div style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><span style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Dice the tofu into cubes and put into a skillet (be sure to drain the tofu first). </span></div><div style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><span style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br />
</span></div><div style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><span style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Thin out the maple syrup, or honey, with enough warm water to cover the tofu or tempe in the pan while still retaining the flavor of the syrup or honey. This is a very thin watery sauce. </span></div><div style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><span style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br />
</span></div><div style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><span style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Add garlic or ginger to taste, and simmer for 1/2 hour. Be sure not to boil. Serve warm over rice with your favorite vegetables. </span></div><div style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><span style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br />
</span></div><div style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><span style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">So simple but so good!<br />
</span><span style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"> </span></div><div style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><span style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">*Tempe can be substituted for the tofu as long as you steam it until tender to remove some of the "footy" taste and odor. Then, follow the recipe as above.</span></div>Karmê Chölinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06414993717267168751noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2658193117077051383.post-5418164047737760222011-11-17T08:52:00.000-08:002011-11-17T08:53:03.946-08:00Succotash - just in time for Thanksgiving!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRad-TBVDe0I1sLeh3Uv3eGPcuZXLY2Afz_iMtp1LkRLeTsOzsUfhb7_y7qU3OOll51TbJyF4k8FYR2zfiwT_0-HaArippOjRe-eER1HZLOI5AfsqjzSMqbw2SwTsUiY1DNTG7yxcnrZI/s1600/Succotash.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="233" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRad-TBVDe0I1sLeh3Uv3eGPcuZXLY2Afz_iMtp1LkRLeTsOzsUfhb7_y7qU3OOll51TbJyF4k8FYR2zfiwT_0-HaArippOjRe-eER1HZLOI5AfsqjzSMqbw2SwTsUiY1DNTG7yxcnrZI/s320/Succotash.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="font: 13.0px Arial; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Submitted by </span>Robert P. Stuart Jr.</div><div style="font: 13.0px Arial; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font: 13.0px Arial; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">This recipe is an adapted Succotash:</span></div><div style="font: 13.0px Arial; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font: 13.0px Arial; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><b>Succotash</b> originally comes from the Naragansett Indian word msickquatash. Basically, it comprises the three sisters: corn, beans and pumpkin. The three were grown together in one mound, corn to provide a pole for the beans to grow up and pumpkin to provide shade at the base of both the corn and beans. The three combined hold all the necessary nutrients for survival while symbiotically helping each other. The most common bean used is Lima beans, however, we use regular green beans.</span></div><div style="font: 13.0px Arial; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 15.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></div><div style="font: 13.0px Arial; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Ingredients:</span></div><div style="font: 13.0px Arial; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font: 13.0px Arial; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">- *one pumpkin diced and roasted with olive oil salt and pepper</span></div><div style="font: 13.0px Arial; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">- garden corn cut from the ear</span></div><div style="font: 13.0px Arial; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">- beans snapped</span></div><div style="font: 13.0px Arial; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 15.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></div><div style="font: 13.0px Arial; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">How to cook: (use equal parts of pumpkin, corn and beans)</span></div><div style="font: 13.0px Arial; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font: 13.0px Arial; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">- in a 350 degree oven, roast pumpkin until slight browning occurs on edges</div><div style="font: 13.0px Arial; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">- mix in both corn and beans with the pumpkin</div><div style="font: 13.0px Arial; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">- cook slowly at low temperature in a pot while slowly adding enough water to keep the ingredients moist</div><div style="font: 13.0px Arial; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">- add cinnamon, nutmeg and allspice to taste</div><div style="font: 13.0px Arial; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><br />
</div><div style="font: 13.0px Arial; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">*Sweet potato is a great alternative to pumpkin in this dish.</span></div><div style="font: 13.0px Arial; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><br />
</div>Karmê Chölinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06414993717267168751noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2658193117077051383.post-43514498173712963232011-11-17T08:31:00.000-08:002011-11-17T08:32:16.543-08:00AHH AHH CHOOO! a tincture to boost your health for cold/flu season<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxpV9ruhbZvzMh7uMowXyF3n9r-nI8w0RERI_d_qbMQqKyS4NJbcxekcvNVpsmWWutoT8xWYEXQmbGV4ap2HVK_E2UjOlak4HnSwcD0jOuKQDdRLHZP49rYv8dIt_mXmYSxbA-ylHmYEc/s1600/Tinctures-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="224" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxpV9ruhbZvzMh7uMowXyF3n9r-nI8w0RERI_d_qbMQqKyS4NJbcxekcvNVpsmWWutoT8xWYEXQmbGV4ap2HVK_E2UjOlak4HnSwcD0jOuKQDdRLHZP49rYv8dIt_mXmYSxbA-ylHmYEc/s320/Tinctures-1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="font: 13.0px Arial; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">Submitted by Gardener Anemone Fresh</div><div style="font: 13.0px Arial; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><br />
</div><div style="font: 13.0px Arial; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">A <b>tincture</b> is a solution to extract the medicinal properties from an herb. </span></div><div style="font: 13.0px Arial; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font: 13.0px Arial; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">During cold and flu season you may want to try a fresh astragulas or echinacea root tincture to ease the symptoms and encourage healing. </span></div><div style="font: 13.0px Arial; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font: 13.0px Arial; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">First, harvest and clean well the root of the desired plant. Then chop the root into small pieces and put it in a glass jar. Pour 100 proof vodka* or grain alcohol into the jar so it completely covers the herb. </span>Cover the jar and leave it in a cool, dark place and shake it daily. </div><div style="font: 13.0px Arial; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><br />
</div><div style="font: 13.0px Arial; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">In 6-8 weeks, strain the root from the liquid and you have an herbal tincture! For cold or flu, use up to 1 tsp. of astragulas or echinacea tincture in hot tea 3 times daily.</div><div style="font: 13.0px Arial; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 15.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></div><div style="font: 13.0px Arial; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">*High proof alcohol is best, but vinegar can also be used though it is less effective in extracting the full potency from the herb.</span></div>Karmê Chölinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06414993717267168751noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2658193117077051383.post-86084082762432041952011-11-15T11:23:00.000-08:002011-11-15T11:30:45.583-08:00Radiating Our Best Intentions to the World - 100,000 Aspirations at a Time<div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">Today, <a href="http://www.sakyongfoundation.org/" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">The Sakyong Foundation</span></a>, in collaboration with <a href="http://www.karmecholing.org/index.php" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">Karmê Chöling</span></a>, is launching ‘<a href="http://www.100000aspirations.org/" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">100,000 Aspirations</span></a>,’<b> </b>an online community (website and Facebook) to support the Stupa that Conquers All Directions.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKOg-8QYI59NmnAC-cqofvOiKaTX0NhvxZRAUf76eMJ64AkQia8lnz1XnigSSCcTez1dk7GfxqdKaLrUg3M-k_8F52NAwWj8rhISXAGO6tIsAJIU5dzgqyQQ_ZYrhnOyVc-_NgYjBD5so/s1600/Stupa1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="178" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKOg-8QYI59NmnAC-cqofvOiKaTX0NhvxZRAUf76eMJ64AkQia8lnz1XnigSSCcTez1dk7GfxqdKaLrUg3M-k_8F52NAwWj8rhISXAGO6tIsAJIU5dzgqyQQ_ZYrhnOyVc-_NgYjBD5so/s320/Stupa1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana;"><br />
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</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">Currently being built at Karmê Chöling, at the request of Sakyong Mipham Rinpoche, the stupa embodies wisdom and compassion in the world.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">The goal of 100,000 Aspirations is to energize the stupa with the best intentions of 100,000 people and to enable a large community – within and beyond the boundaries of Shambhala – to engage in its construction. (The stupa is architecture that promotes peace – for people of all cultures, religions and backgrounds to enjoy.)<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">In support of this effort, Acharya Pema Chödron has provided a brief <a href="http://www.100000aspirations.org/" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">video teaching</span></a> about the power of aspiration. She has auspiciously offered the first aspiration, followed by other great teachers and members of our community.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family: Verdana;">We’re counting on you and our Shambhala community to help us create the momentum to magnetize 100,000 aspirants!</span></b><span style="font-family: Verdana;"> <b>Offer an aspiration and share this project with your friends and networks. Your aspiration will be placed in the stupa!</b><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">Making an aspiration does <i>not</i> require a donation, but we hope that you will choose to deepen your connection with this project by making a financial contribution.</span><span style="font-family: Verdana;"> You can make a donation at <a href="http://www.100000aspirations.org/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">www.100000aspirations.org</span></a>.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="color: #262626; font-family: Verdana;">The most important way you can help us reach our goal is to make an aspiration and share the vision of manifesting peace and creating a better world with your family, friends and colleagues!</span></b><span style="color: #262626; font-family: Verdana;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">Building the stupa is the beginning of an expansion project at Karmê Chöling – to reach more people and practitioners with deep meditation programs and trainings.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">Please join us by offering an aspiration at: <a href="http://www.100000aspirations.org/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">www.100000aspirations.org</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">Or <a href="http://www.facebook.com/100000aspirations"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">www.facebook.com/100000aspirations</span></a>.<o:p></o:p></span></div>Karmê Chölinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06414993717267168751noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2658193117077051383.post-15226987849379268022011-11-10T12:43:00.000-08:002011-11-10T12:53:40.165-08:00Garden Contemplation<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="font: 13.0px Arial; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkU8RYxfU4_ATrxTyPXkw5C4NzrMYsMIS5ITqMfvOEQFawKcrshfnmBrqDAxFgJ_wV03JmdKnB5QNuhzz2nfYmlvR-E6YRPLw7C1cQ81H-f6QvRPr6Y-5X5k0-JTuWQfeztbMM9J7o3xw/s1600/IMG_0236.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="305" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkU8RYxfU4_ATrxTyPXkw5C4NzrMYsMIS5ITqMfvOEQFawKcrshfnmBrqDAxFgJ_wV03JmdKnB5QNuhzz2nfYmlvR-E6YRPLw7C1cQ81H-f6QvRPr6Y-5X5k0-JTuWQfeztbMM9J7o3xw/s320/IMG_0236.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><br />
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If we were to treat our bodies as if we were caring for a precious life form that we would like to thrive and grow and be flavorful, colorful and nutrient-rich, how might that look? </div><div style="font: 13.0px Arial; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font: 13.0px Arial; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Would you take a moment to consider its source of energy and quality of food? Would you do your best to shield it from storms, yet have the wisdom to let it stand against an occasional strong wind to grow strong? Would you be able to lovingly tend to it, even though it may not be growing as quickly as you wish? Could you accept its changing appearance and eventual collapse and decay knowing it is just beginning another journey into the formless?</span></div>Karmê Chölinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06414993717267168751noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2658193117077051383.post-45917101426215881472011-11-10T12:33:00.000-08:002011-11-10T12:36:40.332-08:00Delicious Brussel Sprouts<div style="font: 13.0px Arial; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj99CjRFQH2xgwDNI8Iz3hEQGUB72pWzODm6Pe8BrLKH0WKxXsXuIkrbdubi6Zv8frOe8vyo4GVD0DhdpVKvDpUDz1uNuHBADshoVBF6AUlI4YztWS1KRM4TzjQI3plXF4CUDy_6AadBl0/s1600/brusselssproutsrecipe_02.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="160" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj99CjRFQH2xgwDNI8Iz3hEQGUB72pWzODm6Pe8BrLKH0WKxXsXuIkrbdubi6Zv8frOe8vyo4GVD0DhdpVKvDpUDz1uNuHBADshoVBF6AUlI4YztWS1KRM4TzjQI3plXF4CUDy_6AadBl0/s320/brusselssproutsrecipe_02.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A new spin on the otherwise mushy sprouts you never liked!</span></span></div><div style="font: 13.0px Arial; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 15.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></span></div><div style="font: 13.0px Arial; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">- Wash a solid bunch of brussles sprouts, just enough to get the garden soil off. (Don't remove the outside leaves, since they will become crunchy and a tasty treat in the end.)</span></span></div><div style="font: 13.0px Arial; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span> </span></div><div style="font: 13.0px Arial; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">- In a big bowl toss the sprouts in a good olive oil and add coarse salt and pepper. It's nice to add a fair amount of salt so they become salty like french fries. </span></span></div><div style="font: 13.0px Arial; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span> </span></div><div style="font: 13.0px Arial; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">- Pour your sprouts onto a baking sheet and broil at 450 degrees for 15 minutes </span></span></div><div style="font: 13.0px Arial; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span> </span></div><div style="font: 13.0px Arial; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">- Shake the sheet a couple of times half way through. </span></span></div><div style="font: 13.0px Arial; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span> </span></div><div style="font: 13.0px Arial; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">- Remove from oven et voila! Brussles sprouts so good you will be eyeing your neighbors plate...</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><br />
</span></div>Karmê Chölinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06414993717267168751noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2658193117077051383.post-40776806475546796132011-11-08T11:32:00.000-08:002011-11-08T11:34:23.788-08:00From Karmê Chöling’s Garden Gate<div style="display: block; font-family: tahoma, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 1em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Many people ponder how humanity can continue its proliferation on planet earth with its limited material resources and a rapidly widening ecological footprint.</div><div style="display: block; font-family: tahoma, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 1em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><a href="http://blog.karmecholing.org/wp-content/uploads/Use1.jpg" style="color: #666666; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none;"><img alt="" class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-1428" height="300" src="http://blog.karmecholing.org/wp-content/uploads/Use1-241x300.jpg" style="background-color: #f3f3f3; border-bottom-color: rgb(221, 221, 221); border-bottom-left-radius: 3px 3px; border-bottom-right-radius: 3px 3px; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-color: initial; border-left-color: rgb(221, 221, 221); border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: rgb(221, 221, 221); border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 1px; border-style: initial; border-top-color: rgb(221, 221, 221); border-top-left-radius: 3px 3px; border-top-right-radius: 3px 3px; border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 1px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="Jan Enthoven, Master Gardener" width="241" /></a></div><div style="display: block; font-family: tahoma, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 1em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">I am just a small-scale organic gardener who has been cultivating his plot of land, first in Holland for ten years, and then in Barnet, Vermont for the last twenty years.</div><div style="display: block; font-family: tahoma, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 1em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">The question I ask myself is how can we (all humanity) grow our food sustainably so that future generations will still be supported by the elements, the microorganisms and the plants and animals of our embattled planet? How can I help foster an interest and appreciation, also among hardened skeptics, for the magnificent, dazzling interconnectedness of life on earth?</div><div style="display: block; font-family: tahoma, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 1em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Though the challenges ahead are clearly daunting, there is a growing enthusiasm around the world, from China to Vermont, to eat organically grown food and shrink our carbon footprint. For example, the United Nations just came out with a study, called ‘The Right To Food,’ in strong support for agro-ecology: ‘agriculture should be fundamentally redirected towards modes of production that are environmentally sustainable and socially just.’</div><div style="display: block; font-family: tahoma, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 1em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">The purpose of this blog is twofold:</div><ul style="font-family: tahoma, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-top: 10px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><li>To share with you my stories and experiences with cultivating a beautiful bio-diverse one acre organic garden in Vermont,</li>
<li>And, secondly, how my involvement with the Shambhala and Buddhist wisdom traditions have helped (guided) me to stay positive and inspired.</li>
</ul><div style="display: block; font-family: tahoma, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 1em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">In this first blog entry I want to take you to our Karmê Chöling garden gate.</div><div style="display: block; font-family: tahoma, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 1em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">I have developed a ritual where before entering the garden I consciously unload all my psychological baggage: preoccupations, expectations and judgements of all kind, so I can enter with an uncluttered mind.</div><div style="display: block; font-family: tahoma, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 1em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Just as trees drop their leaves every fall, quite elegantly, if I may say, you, too, can let go of your busy, scheming mind (for a moment). You might feel naked and exposed, at first, but it will create a very fresh atmosphere, full of creative possibilities. This way, you step into the garden with your doors of perception (and your senses) wide open.</div><div style="display: block; font-family: tahoma, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 1em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Instead of being weighed down by feelings of responsibility or fear that a superbug descended on your garden overnight, you allow yourself to be surprised, whether painful or pleasant. (You ‘take it as it comes,’ as Jim Morrison sang.)</div><div style="display: block; font-family: tahoma, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 1em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Even when an old familiar voice whispers in your ear to speed-up and not loosen your edge of cleverness and productivity, you can train your mind to ‘hold its horses.’ If fact, you might discover that, if you allow yourself to relax for a second in this open space with no agenda, the garden starts to communicate with you in much more intimate and subtle ways.</div><div style="display: block; font-family: tahoma, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 1em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Not only do the flowers appear more vibrant, you also smell the earth with subtle distinctions, you feel the breeze against your skin, you become more receptive to your co-workers’ needs and you feel ready to relate with whatever challenge pops up.</div><div style="display: block; font-family: tahoma, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 1em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">This easy trick, or method, of ‘stop, drop and meet the world of the senses free from commentary’ can be repeated many times through day. In the middle of harvesting a long bed of spinach, for instance, you remind yourself to stand up for a moment, look at the skyline and feel the richness of the space around you. There are many variations on this theme. See what works for you.</div><div style="display: block; font-family: tahoma, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 1em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Jan Enthoven, Master Gardener</div><div style="display: block; font-family: tahoma, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 1em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><strong>Slogan of the week: Stop, Drop and Touch the Speechless Sky</strong></div><div style="display: block; font-family: tahoma, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 1em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">p.s. I will happily share this blogspace with with my two garden teammates; Aaron DeLong and Anemone Fresh.</div>Karmê Chölinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06414993717267168751noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2658193117077051383.post-86039583520935962062011-11-08T11:12:00.000-08:002011-11-08T11:35:18.971-08:00Garden Pictures by Anemone Fresh<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6Nk2SIX3ZTYNEqfkHFUnJwDgCfuoxYQCirzHldO-I2BnRDIgoFY-hDpd9U2-OCfIdiuzEHuOVc-sRMZWStRzWEEN2Jg46TmN8KoVPi8U2wJ14v0eEQ0ZaHt4Y3vdkI589FTefjQ72AvE/s1600/Cabbage.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6Nk2SIX3ZTYNEqfkHFUnJwDgCfuoxYQCirzHldO-I2BnRDIgoFY-hDpd9U2-OCfIdiuzEHuOVc-sRMZWStRzWEEN2Jg46TmN8KoVPi8U2wJ14v0eEQ0ZaHt4Y3vdkI589FTefjQ72AvE/s1600/Cabbage.jpeg" /></a></div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDN4z46NpXDJhZXfID0l4IZ6a4FEQZhttIPYQf9Z9Pjj9UMOPLUYEpMWIMhH8ol99prOstcOfoVvNcnPdIkOrRRyXzX9PhLzsZWmTU8ILWmk3VQaEvDfM-cvh1NgPKUa-xWNM6YBCmFzY/s1600/Tomatillos.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDN4z46NpXDJhZXfID0l4IZ6a4FEQZhttIPYQf9Z9Pjj9UMOPLUYEpMWIMhH8ol99prOstcOfoVvNcnPdIkOrRRyXzX9PhLzsZWmTU8ILWmk3VQaEvDfM-cvh1NgPKUa-xWNM6YBCmFzY/s1600/Tomatillos.jpeg" /></a></div>Karmê Chölinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06414993717267168751noreply@blogger.com0