Mud-brick Retreat 2002

A report published in the Buddha House Newsletter, March-April 2002

For ten days at the end of January a group of Buddha House students from Adelaide stayed at De-Tong Ling, our sister center on Kangaroo Island, for a retreat like never before.

Throw out your plush cushions and meditation schedule - this was a case of getting gunk under your fingernails and putting Dharma into action with a GRUNT! The mission: produce as many mud bricks as possible for a planned large retreat house, to be built some time in the not-too-distant future (depending on more volunteers).

4,500 bricks

Backed by the driving force of Kimball Cuddihy and Will Abram, our small group steadily eroded a mountain of soil adjacent to an inviting turquoise lake and stupa/gompa site, and transformed it into to much sought after bricks. Amazingly, by the end of our gruelling ten days, the team had managed to transform the dirt, straw and water into 4,500 large, solid, well-constructed bricks. Having never made mud bricks before we were all overwhelmed at the result.

A little bit of help from our friends

A number of Islanders and other visitors enthusiastically offered their time and energy during the week, often appearing, just in time to lift our spirits and relieve our aching limbs. We offer BIG thanks to all of them! The use of the deluxe Eco-Lodge as HQ (thanks to Kimball) was also much appreciated for, at the end of each day, all we felt like was large amounts of food and a soft bed, which the lodge adequately provided. It was also quite an inspiration in itself as it, too, had been constructed from mud brick, and almost entirely by one person!

Teachings and a fig tree

A special highlight was enjoying the presence of the most Venerable Robina Courtin for a puja and an inspirational teaching. We were also treated to a divine feast in the midst of a sprawling, magical fig tree at a nearby property. These activities and others, such as the quick visit to the local seal colonies and the relaxing swims in the crystal waters of the lake enabled us to balance the extreme conditions back in the "gravel pit". The work may have been hard at times but in general we had a great time. The opportunity to invest our time and effort to actualise the vision of our protector, Lama Zopa Rinpoche, was something most worthwhile. It will be fantastic to watch and be part of this expanding Dharma center/hermitage in the years to come. Stay tuned for updates and news on future building
projects.

Thank you to all who were involved.
Michael Reid & Jason Flaherty