I have arrived at the Grand Barrail Hotel and Spa, just returned from a most amazing spa treatment, and am now prepared to begin recording my experiences of the past week.
Perched atop a wooded hill, mostly hidden from the surrounding vineyards and orchards, sets a truly unique place. Unique to me because I have never been to, let alone lived in, a monastic village. The founder of the monastic order and still its leader at over 80 years of age, Thich Nhat Hahn (called Thay by his followers) built this place in the Dordogne region of France. Its purpose is to teach and promote his Buddhist philosophy of mindful living. The monastic community of over 150 monks and nuns is predominately Vietnamese, but there is a sprinkling of various other nationalities from around the world (e.g., French, Italian, American, Indonesian, Spanish, etc.). Together they work within the confines of this small forest.
Their uniqueness isn't that they live within such a confined space but their style of life within that space. Each part of each of their lives, while extremely tranquil, is very focused (I.e.,very mindful of everything in their world). Life is orchestrated so skillfully that it might be a masterfully composed symphony.
The details of daily life are interesting but the string holding it together is amazing. Herein lies a real world experiment of how people of widely varied cultures and backgrounds can live together in harmony, buffered by kindness, understanding and compassion. While each individual searches for their own true nature, they reach out to help others find theirs.
If you would be interested in the details, I am happy to share them. If you would like to spend some time in a place that will, by its very nature, put your mind and body at rest, this might be the place for you.
Perched atop a wooded hill, mostly hidden from the surrounding vineyards and orchards, sets a truly unique place. Unique to me because I have never been to, let alone lived in, a monastic village. The founder of the monastic order and still its leader at over 80 years of age, Thich Nhat Hahn (called Thay by his followers) built this place in the Dordogne region of France. Its purpose is to teach and promote his Buddhist philosophy of mindful living. The monastic community of over 150 monks and nuns is predominately Vietnamese, but there is a sprinkling of various other nationalities from around the world (e.g., French, Italian, American, Indonesian, Spanish, etc.). Together they work within the confines of this small forest.
Their uniqueness isn't that they live within such a confined space but their style of life within that space. Each part of each of their lives, while extremely tranquil, is very focused (I.e.,very mindful of everything in their world). Life is orchestrated so skillfully that it might be a masterfully composed symphony.
The details of daily life are interesting but the string holding it together is amazing. Herein lies a real world experiment of how people of widely varied cultures and backgrounds can live together in harmony, buffered by kindness, understanding and compassion. While each individual searches for their own true nature, they reach out to help others find theirs.
If you would be interested in the details, I am happy to share them. If you would like to spend some time in a place that will, by its very nature, put your mind and body at rest, this might be the place for you.
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