Winter, 2012, Hermitage Update

Theme: Practicing wonder

It is a brown January winter, so far. Some splashes of snow, including Christmas day several inches, but mostly, oddly, fluctuating temperatures and periodic mud. An unlikely Maine stretch.

David (Tibetan practice) visits from Antigonish. Nancy (Vipassana practice) from New Hampshire. Sam (Franciscan practice) from Connecticut. The bookshed/retreat has been warmed and welcoming.

The life of a hermitage is a quiet life. Except for the large German Shepherd who barks a storm running out from barn each time, whether 3AM, 7AM, or 9PM. He is a gentle giant with an enormous sound likely to keep all four footed and two footed creatures a little cautious. He comes that way. He's harmless. But his practice has been unswerving protectiveness of an elderly gentlewoman living alone on a hillside. We try to invite him into a more quiet greeting for this new outside. But sometimes, I admit, my greeting of the outside feels just as gruff.

We've begun an emphasis on eco-spirituality, eco-philosophy, and eco-theology on Friday Evening Conversations. David Abram, John O'Donohue, Thomas Berry, and the authors of "Care for Creation: A Franciscan Spirituality of the Earth," Ilia Delio, O.S.F., Franciscan Keith Douglass Warner, O.F.M., and Pamela Wood.

We continue to wander the middle place between traditions, the middle way between extremes, and the relational middle sanctuary of presence -- what some call the hospitality of heaven. There are no strangers there. It is an odd assortment of unique and loosely-knit pilgrims on the path of intention toward discovering self-forgetfulness with the help of generosity, compassion, and wisdom.

The Irish workman has migrated downeast. The aged farmhouse will adjust to the absence of tablesaw and Makita in the same way an aged body adjusts to the hours after rehab or exercise. It's nice to be off.

Saskia is back on the road gathering numbers for her work. I am back at my desk considering East Asian Philosophy this term. Our lives, like many lives, are side by side, respectfully (always trying) greeting each other in the meeting place between us. The task of being a hermit in the open (hito) is, as Dogen put it, "one continuous mistake." Still, we keep on.

Every once in a while, when we look around what is going on in town, we shudder with recall and curiosity about returning to the market-face of the hermitage. Most days we shrug our shoulders, shake our heads, and sober-up. And yet, we wonder.

Wonder is good medicine.

Twice a day.

Like prayer and meditation.

Good health to you!

Peace, and what is, good!

, Cody , & Rokpa ,

and all who grace Meetingbrook

Late Autumn 2011, In memory of Mutti

Erika Huising came here to meetingbrook. Saskia's mother spent her final two weeks here. She came here, as well as to live, to die. After being with her for 8 weeks in Southwick, arranging medical care here in Maine, Saskia began the migration to Camden with attentive care. For two weeks Erika was able to be with us in "Mutti's Room" so beautifully renovated by Mr. Murphy for her.

The hermitage community was extraordinary as was the Pen Bay Hospital doctors, nurses and cna folk for the weekend spent there. Back at meetingbrook, home health was begun, as was hospice. The rally to service was quick and comforting. The last few days were attended by daughters Saskia and Heidi, granddaughter Natasha, a visit from son Jurgen, and the wide and faithful community that graces meetingbrook.

At last breath Saskia and I were at bedside. The mystery completed itself at 2AM, 10Nov2011. Two hours later five women bathed and clothed her in (what was to be, and was) her Thanksgiving attire. She lay in state in front room for two days attended by silence, meditation, grief, prayer, loving people, vigilant dogs, flowers, candles, and the gratitude of all for her life with us.

As Buddhists chanted the Heart Sutra (unbeknownst) in Merton Retreat Saturday morning, four of us carried her body to waiting casket outside Wohnkuche glass doors. The 'green' casket made by Maine woodsman was bedded by wood shavings under silk covered pillow. We placed her in the casket on the wood shavings. Those at meditation came to assist the transport of casket to hearse for drive to New Bedford cemetery.

At gravesite we spoke eulogy with carrying help of brisk wind, antiphonally spoke blessing "In Praise of Earth" by John O'Donohue, then read blessing intended by Erika for the assembled as worded by O'Donohue:

A BLESSING

May you awaken to the mystery of being here and enter the quiet immensity of your own presence.
May you have joy and peace in the temple of your senses.
May you receive great encouragement when new frontiers beckon.
May you respond to the call of your gift and find the courage to follow its path.
May the flame of anger free you from falsity.
May warmth of heart keep your presence aflame and may anxiety never linger about you.
May your outer dignity mirror an inner dignity of soul.
May you take time to celebrate the quiet miracles that seek no attention.
May you be consoled in the secret symmetry of your soul.
May you experience each day as a sacred gift woven around the heart of wonder.

~ John O'Donohue ~ (Anam Cara)

Cody, her large German Shepherd, takes up residence with us; his huge bark a good camouflage for his gentle nature. Rokpa and he are good companions.

Now, two weeks later, on eve of Thanksgiving Day in the United States, there is a quiet hiatus that follows the passing of a loved one. Life, as they say, goes on.

It is with gratitude we thank Erika Huising for her life among us, the blessings given us, the friends and community giving themselves, and the exquisite Earth for its giving and receiving.

What we know of God is embraced and extended therein.

With love,
Saskia, Bill, Rokpa, and Cody
and all who grace meetingbrook
23November2011
Thanksgiving Eve

Summer 2011 Hermitage Update

Theme: Screening season

Cusp. In Maine it is the time between Memorial Day and the 4th of July. We figure it won't snow on the 4th. It's safe to paint boat bottom and uncover grill outside barn.

The pea pod is brought home from harbor. After a year's continual service forgivingly navigating winter swells and early spring winds she deserves scraping and sprucing up. We paint bottom dark blue, paint floorboards sky blue, slather boiled linseed oil/pine tar/turpentine soup on sides and inside boat, paint top strake pink. (These are the chosen colors Anna left on the boat when she asked us to steward the double-ender, and they will continue as she wishes.) The yard has looked like a boatyard with hanging oarlocks, anchor, lines, bumpers, tarps, cardboard, brushes, rags, and assorted clamps, wood screws, work-horses, dog, and cat.

Chapel/Zendo is fit and used with gratitude and quiet joy. Merton bookshed/retreat is stretching loose as three months with resident guest comes to end. I sit upstairs and read at end of day, watching sunlight's final climb up Bald Mountain, then shade of dusk drawn down over this valley bowl.

Visits to prison for conversations and class in philosophy of friendship continue Each week. As unofficial nobodies we delight in coming and going with only intent the good of all -- employees and inmates -- in heart and mind. It has been a gift to be allowed to be present, converse, and engage the education we all need to cultivate. No other agenda; no other purpose. Perhaps when anyone leaves prison they will have an experience and skill to carry with them of listening/speaking, appreciating/thinking, clarifying/seeing through. The links between the greater outside Meetingbrook community and the prison Meetingbrook communities grow strong with holding lines.

The nursing home poetry, tea, and thee Fridays are wonderful. These 90 year olds and their younger compatriots bring words that evoke laughter and tears. Grandchildren attend. Friends show up. We're going to need a bigger room. The delight of poetry to insinuate itself into the human psyche and corpus penetrates us at each meeting. As some weaken and some do not show up we are more intent to keep doors of attention open so that profound sentiments will amble halls to rooms around corners where they reside watchful and wondering.

Life is an odd friend.

We are pleased to share it with those we can -- free, informal, and open.

And with you.

Friend!

Best,
Saskia, Bill, Rokpa, Mu-ge*
And all who grace Meetingbrook with presence
27June2011

*Note: On 5July2011 Mu-ge, our dear cat companion, was found dead on the edge of Barnestown Road. We are saddened. We miss him. We are grateful for the time, 9 years, he spent with us.

(9July2011)

Theme: Comes Spring

Green arises everywhere. Trees bud and bloom.

We’re back in the chapel/zendo for meditation practice. There’s been a guest in the Merton Retreat for the past five weeks. The front room is in the final stages of repair and reconstruction and will serve as a guest-room with its own bathroom and own entrance.

We’ll have four Fridays of the Sandokai a poem by the eighth-century Zen master Sekito Kisen. These sessions will be led by Tom and Lee.

As a hermitage we continually keep in mind all our brothers and sisters, all sentient beings, and pray that whatever helpful grace or benefit arises from our practice will go out to each to help on your journey.

Life yearns for Itself.

With love,

Peace, and what is, good!

, Rokpa , Mu-ge ,

and all who grace Meetingbrook

10 May 2011

Hermitage Update: April 2011

Theme: Melt

April snow melts into mud.

Practice transforms movement into quiet presence.

We marvel at the renovations to rooms damaged by winter storms.

Birds sing.

Clothing lightens.

Woodpile exhales.

Light lengthens.

As hermits, we practice meditation and prayer.

We see and hear nature calling.

With you.

With love,

Peace, and what is, good!

, Rokpa , Mu-ge ,

and all who grace Meetingbrook

10 April 2011

March 2011 Update

Theme: Many feet of snow; fewer and fewer steps to Spring

It's downhill now.

Calender says 1March2011 and the mountain, yard, and roadsides are high with snow. The front room and upstairs bedroom are torn into 150 year old walls and ceiling. Saw signature, says the Irish archaeologist and can-do-everything workman, was pre-1860.

Torn out ceiling boards reveal what was hidden behind sodden tiles from last ice dam now in construction bags under latest foot of snow. My vote has long been to rent a bulldozer. I think there are irregularities in the vote-counting procedures. It's what happens when you have a repair-less or irreparable mind.

Quaker Meeting: We are pleased to announce that beginning in March Meetingbrook will serve as site Sunday mornings 9AM-10AM, October through May, Megunticook Worship Group's Sunday Morning Quaker Meetings for Worship. The Thomas Merton Bookshed/Retreat will be the site. All are welcome.

Weekend meditation practices have utilized the Merton Retreat for the winter and has served well. We are fortunate to have the light-filled, woody, and heated building for our use and the use of wider community.

We’ve been on the road with Saskia’s work the last few months. Aroostook County, Washington County, Western and Southern and Central Maine. The state of Maine is so lovely. Mountains, farms, valleys, lakes, rivers, ocean, ponds, and towns the size of a blink in sunshine.

We try to simplify. We long to learn to pray. We look out and around and hope to come to see.

We hold all our brothers and sisters -- all beings, all things, all seen and unseen relatives -- in our hearts and minds. Especially, these days, all those you’ve asked us to hold in prayer, those worried about, those suffering, and those experiencing the confusions of these times.

Spring is talking to winter about a smooth transition. We hang on. We listen in, grateful for the terrific winter, and willing to welcome the warmth of spring.

With love,

Peace, and all good!

, Rokpa , Mu-ge ,

and all who grace Meetingbrook

1 March 2011

December Update -- Wake Awake: A Season of Less and More Light

December looks around. First, freezing nights. Then snow. The last few days, warmer with torrential rains. Snow melts. Forecast: snow. December looks around to see who is looking at it. It knows it is playing with us.

All the religions have a stake in December. Many keep an eye on Jesus. Who exactly was he? Maybe he was an extraordinary being directly part of what we call God who's time on earth is unparalleled and full of presentiment love.

At the least, he was a good man who taught profound truths of being, relatedness, and loving awareness. Many are unsure whether to give life or take life in Jesus' name.

There are festivals of light. There is an enlightenment day celebration. In Maine the arrival of winter means the barn grows colder and woodpile begins to lower.

It is a time to talk to one another.

Conversations continue at meetingbrook. Our winter zendo has moved to 1st floor of Merton Retreat. Saturday morning practice and Sunday morning practice as well as Sunday evening practice are each held there.

Others are beginning to use the space for their gatherings. We invite you to consider the space for your meditation, prayer, worship, conversational or other notional & devotional gatherings.

Saskia's broken ankle is 10 weeks old. (She can put weight on it finally.) I am learning how to learn how much needs to be learned about patience and service.

The bickering and posturing among and between the political and pundit classes in America is almost too much to bear. One can only hope that the posturers and pretenders actually know how foolish and unnecessary their contumely is.

Here at Barnestown Road -- we are ok.

Whatever is, and whatever is to be, we are, each of us, here and there, ok!

It doesn't matter if you are busy being born or busy dying. What matters, I suspect, is the commitment to deepening what life presents so that all will benefit.

That all will benefit.

I like that there might be a Buddha-Mind that dwells waiting for each of us to realize it.

I like that there might be a Christ-Mind that dwells waiting for each of us to embody it.

I like that all spirituality points with holy aspect to a loving heart and a serving attitude.

It is December.

Much to like.

To love!

Peace, and all good!

, Rokpa , Mu-ge ,

and all who grace Meetingbrook

Tuesday, 14Dec.2010