Namaste

Peace, quiet, nature and manual labor. That is What is Happening Here at Nagarjuna Kadampa Meditation Centre, Thornby Hall in Thornby, UK.

Thornby Hall, UK

Yes, you are reading it correctly. This part of my journey is 3 weeks as a volunteer in a Buddhist retreat centre. But before you go there, no-I don't plan to be a

Buddhist. However, it has reminded me to meditate and be more mindful. I am very open to borrowing some of their practices to quiet the mind and find inner happiness.

The grounds and buildings are amazing. The main building was built in the 17th century as a hunting lodge and is filled with historic details. The grounds are filled with flowers and lovely green spaces.

The people are kind, accepting and lovely. I had no idea places like this existed. There are staff, residents, long-term volunteers, and short-term volunteers like me, all living onsite as a community sharing spaces, meals and responsibilities.

But I know you all come for the stories; trust me, there is a lot happening here.

First, guess where I sleep? A BUNK BED It is like the summer camps I never went to...I am in one of 10 bunkbeds with ladies from all over the world (Spain, Brazil, England, China, Croatia). I was really nervous about this part but it has been easy. It is a new schedule after long days in Greece, lights go out around 10 pm and up around 7 am. We are even working through having one shower room!

I am a VEGETARIAN, well for now, and I have eaten a lot of chickpeas in the last 10 days! I even had tofu tonight and it was good! The meals have been mostly delicious, aside from something called nut roast which I will avoid forever. The cafe feeds us lunch and I can tell you the vegan cakes are delicious. I am not missing anything yet but I bet when I get to Scotland I will be happy for a pint and a meat pie.

Toastie!

Vegan Chocolate Cake and Cocoa

For those worried it would be really stuffy and all Buddhist-like, they are real people who have spirituality and a good sense of humor. I was worried about the NO SWEARING rule, but turned out I wasn't the first to drop the bomb! There is plenty of adult humor, for example, I certainly wasn't expecting to find this cup in the community cupboard for my morning tea but it made me smile and I kept it all day.

One of the most entertaining parts has been just to LISTENING to the Brits and realizing how many English words and sayings are different in England than in America. It can be a challenge to explain them to our Spanish-speaking friends. They really do say 'bits and bobs' and 'posh'! It took me a week to understand 'y'right' is like 'how are you' rather than concern that I wasn't alright. Job instructions are a bit confusing when told to 'hoover', 'put it on the hob' and check the 'rota'. 

My WALKS remind me of countryside walks at home but the cars zooming by on the wrong side of the road and the age of buildings in the neighboring towns remind me I am in a foreign land.

Nasby, UK

And finally, I am doing real manual LABOR stuff. Most days I work in the cafe (still avoiding the barista training) but I have also been gardening, cleaning, flower arranging, meal prepping and, today, I even did some modeling for Instagram videos. Nothing is off the table in this community, we all share the work. This old body hasn't bent, reached, carried, scrubbed and moved like this for a long time. At the end of a 6-hour shift, I collapse into my bunk for rest before the dinner call at 6 pm.

Outside of work time, I get plenty of time for meditation, walks, exploring the grounds, yoga, chats with people, reading and catching up with life admin stuff (like looking for a job and apt for if/when I go back to the real world). 

I wasn't sure how all this would go, being a very big change from my typical travels but it has been an amazing experience. I feel calmer and more open to possibilities than I have in many, many months or even years. I am very blessed to have this time.