Saturday I had a spur of the moment thought to travel up to Cittaviveka Chithurst Buddhist Monastery. I have been speaking and talking about since last year, and now finally I got myself together and took the plunge, so to speak. I arrived at around the tea time for the monks and nuns, having made the journey by train and by taxi (15 pounds!). At first I was very apprehensive, I walked into the main reception building and froze when I thought I saw monks and nuns lining up for some kind of ceremony (later I learnt they were receiving their single meal a day).
I walked the grounds having a made a swift exit. The day was unfortunately overcast and rainy, but the silence and stillness that I encountered made the cold and the rain more than tolerable. I wondered through a meadow and up through a bluebell wood beside a farmers' field. I thought I was lost until I found a round shrine and a Buddha which pointed me in the direction back.
Once inside the main building I made the acquaintance of Julia, a lay person cooking for the monastics that day. She asked me if I had any questions, and being that I was nervous of being there and had come over shy, I waited a long time before I asked any questions or really told her about my own meditation practice.
We talked until it was time to volunteer in the forest. On the website Sunday was called Forest Day, I didn't know what that meant, but the tag 'Meet at the Workhouse' gave me a clue that it was not going to be a gentle stroll. The Forest is on top of a Celtic fort of some kind and it is not allow that full trees should grow on it. Not only this but those that take care of the forest wanted to encourage alternative undergrowth to the young birch trees. It was tough but pleasant work with monks, nuns and lay people chatting and getting to know one another again or meeting for the first time. I told a nun about some of my future plans, and she seemed by disappointed for me about the unemployment, but excited that I was out trying new creative things.
All of us rested with tea and dark chocolate (the monastics can only have chocolate or cheese in the afternoon if they have been working), before continuing with the last part of out labours. Just before five we finished work and walked back to the main buildings for the tea with the monk and the evening meditation. The tea with the monk brought up main insightful questions and answers, which answered a few of my own, but as always raises others. The talk was unplanned and the monk spoke very quietly making him hard to listen to at times. By about 6.30 I was developing a head ache (which after the meditation turned chronic and lasted all the way home to Portsmouth until I had located some lemsip).
As for the evening meditation, I have never experienced a service quite like it. There was chanting for the Buddha before at least 45 -50 minutes breath meditation. Again I learnt a great deal in a very short amount of time about breathing meditation, giving me lots to work with alone. Afterwards Julia and I parted, wishing each other well. She had kindly taken care of me throughout the day.
Getting home was problematic but I found a kind father and daughter to give me a lift to Petersfield train Station, where I stood, in the cold, trying not to give in to the now raging head ache. Luckily the train journey from Petersfield is a short one, with regular trains. From the station I took a taxi and soon found myself changed ready for bed, with a lemsip.
The beautiful clarity of being at Chithurst contrasts so sharply with inner city Portsmouth. Though I was only there for a day, Portsmouth barely feels real in comparison. I remember the blue bells whilst working in the forest. I would stand up whilst working, straighten my back, look, taking in the moment and the gentle beauty of their nature. Tranquil, restful, restorative, all words that could describe the forest and the community that live within it.
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