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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.
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'Skycliffe'
Updates
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| Previous
Skycliffe Updates: February, March, April, May, June,
2009 |
July, 2009
A tour of the HÜMÜH
Monastery has recently been enhanced by
four new self-guided walking adventures. Explorations
to Amitabha Vista, the River Walk, the Edge
Walk, and the Labyrinth have now been added
to the gifts offered to all visitors, as they leave
the bustle of their busy lives to meander through the
quiet of the lush forests and summer gardens of Skycliffe.
Edge
Walk
The path to Amitabha
Vista veers to the left of Padma Valley,
where one follows the ascent, well-marked by signs and
guided by railings that line the trail to the crest of
the hill. Amitabha Vista is named for one of the
five Transcendental Buddha Energies and stands for “compassion.” At
the top, white yarrow, brown-eyed Susan, chamomile, showy
daisy, and Indian paint brush are a few of the wildflowers
that greet the eye. In the quiet of the gentle breezes,
the heart leaps at the sight of a vast panorama of sun-lit
trees and the sparkle of the Kettle River as it winds through
the valley below.
The River Walk,
beginning at the right of Padma Valley, invites visitors
to listen to the calming, steady “gurgle” of
the Kettle River flowing at its side. Many stop to linger
awhile, sitting on a bench or rock to enjoy the songs of
birds and the scampering of ground squirrels. The River
Walk winds through shafts of light filtering through
deep forest, leading one up gentle slopes to view the vast
expanse of the river that seems to flow without beginning
or end.
The third of Skycliffe’s
new walking experiences is the Edge Walk,
found as one follows the signs to the Forest Temple
of Enlightenment. To the right of the Temple, logs
have been positioned on the ground, end to end, in
a circular pattern to form a raised “path” through
the summer grasses. Visitors are invited to walk the
logs in meditative balance as they still the mind while
focusing attention on placing one foot carefully in
front of the other. Soft breezes and the play of light
on the logs help bring body and mind into a state of
inner peace.
The most recent of the walking
adventures at the Monastery is found just
west of the main building in Padma Valley. A Labyrinth is
nestled in a corner not far from the river. Here, students
and visitors quiet the mind to follow the circular
path defined by the many stones and designed as a meditation
tool, curving inward to a quiet center, where one may
stand, becoming one with the silence that blesses the
tiniest flower and every cloud that slips past the
towering pines of Skycliffe.
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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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