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Visiting Skycliffe...
Nestled
in the woods along the Kettle River, in the interior
of British Columbia, lie the peaceful 220 acres of ‘Skycliffe,’HÜMÜH’s
Monastery and Retreat Centre. Upon entering the main gate,
a gently curving gravel road, with prayer flag poles lining
both sides, leads visitors into the heart of the property.
Quiet and serene, Skycliffe is a sanctuary for people as
well as local wildlife.
Everything on the property is arranged to allow visitors the opportunity to release
the tensions and strains of their busy lives. Relaxing hiking trails wind through
the hills and valleys. The Kettle River, which meanders along the western edge
of the property, offers many places to sit and enjoy the sights and sounds of
the gently rolling currents. An inlet of the river forms a swimming hole for
summer visitors to cool off on sunny mid-afternoons.
For those who like to sit in quiet meditation, there are many ideal spots. The Temple
of Enlightenment offers regular hour-long meditation sittings at 7am, 11am,
2pm and 7pm. For less formal or personal meditations, there is a rustic little
single-person meditation hut nestled in the woods. Up above the river, at the
south-east edge of the property, is Amitabha Hill. With a broad expansive view
of the Kettle River Valley, one can take in the scenery while sitting in the
silence. There is also a beautiful Mandala Garden surrounding the golden Stupa,
where people can sit on one of the many benches or walk the curving path around
the Stupa as the Wish-Fulfilling Gem Mantra quietly plays throughout the garden. |
'Skycliffe' Updates
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Skycliffe Updates: February, March, April, May,
2009 |
June, 2009
Brightly-coloured prayer flags flutter from atop the spire of HÜMÜH Monastery’s Golden Healing Stupa. They extend greetings to visitors and students alike, who come to bask in June’s lush beauty and the pristine quiet of the surrounding Mandala Garden.
The many hundreds of prayer flags that grace the winding paths of the Monastery are all sewn, bound together, and hung with loving care by the many students and retreatants who come to enjoy this quiet refuge from their busy lives.
As a blessing to all who come to Skycliffe, the bold colours of the prayer flags: blue, white, red, green, and yellow, represent the corresponding colours of the five Buddha energies: Vairocana (Wisdom), Vajrasattva (Purity), Ratnasambhava (Clarity), Amoghasiddhi (Fearlessness),and Amitabha (Compassion).
The cadence of the Wish-Fulfilling Gem Mantra, silk-screened in black lettering on each prayer flag, is carried on the wind through every white rose bush in the Stupa Garden and every tree and wildflower on the grounds. The Mantra, written in Sanskrit, Pali, and Tibetan, provides “a cadence that can enliven and uplift the mind of all sentient beings, and contains antidotes for suffering, i.e. ill health, poverty, discontentment, fear, and inertia, as well as the fulfillment of all desire through the transmutation of desire into a mind cultivated for enlightenment, which gradually opens as a bloom into the God-realized state of consciousness.”
As one walks through the park-like
setting of the grounds, the vibrant colours of the prayer flags
are matched only by the bright green of the clover and grass.
Yellow dandelions and the bright colors of garden blossoms
and wild flowers under the endless blue of the sky make Skycliffe
a gift for the eye
and a treasure for the heart.
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Visitors
are invited to attend the 10:45am Sunday Service at Skycliffe.
After the service, they are welcome to take a Self-Guided Tour
of the monastery grounds, including the Forest Temple of Enlightenment
and the Golden Healing Stupa.*
Visitation is by donation.
*A Stupa is a sacred monument that houses the ancient
spiritual Teachings,
which are at the heart of all religions. |
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For reservations, call: 1.800.336.6015 or e-mail: Reservations@HUMUH.org |
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