Before
I set off, I asked Tara for a little help and she obliged. I did not make a
single wrong turn. Certainly a good omen and I was there early. A ready
prepared meal was waiting, courtesy of Thomas Beaver who was going to be
cooking for us.
In
previous years, I had often wished that I could have made the time to receive
Julia’s instruction. However, it was not to be until now. The
retreat began later in the evening with a “Tara Ganapuja.” This was different
and along the lines of a retreat in Delhi that Rinpoche had conducted a while
back. The versatile Tom Beaver had naturally been present on that occasion.
The next day, Julia, in her relaxed style
began by emphasising the universal compassion and path to realization that Tara
offered. She explained the essential and main practice (tun) with special
attention being paid to pronunciation and melodies. We then settled into a
routine of four tuns a day. Two were collective and the other two, individual
and personal.
Almost
everyone that attended had some familiarity with the practice and this made for
a rapid and smoother progression over the week. Indeed Julia felt that when
compared to other retreats more time was spent on actual practice.
Nick
Segust coordinated proceedings with great assurance and dealt with general
administration, sleeping arrangements and accommodation. Meals and catering were
in the very capable hands of Thomas Beaver who was ably assisted by Marie Nege.
Thomas surpassed himself with the effort that he put in. We were treated to
delicious and wholesome meals even allowing for a few dietary idiosyncrasies.
A
valuable and hopefully productive seven days under Julia’s guidance ended with
another ganapuja on Dakini day. The weather had been extremely kind to us and
Kunselling stood in all its peaceful glory.
(Photos by Diana Aubrey)
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