[Buddha-l] Retreats?

[curt]

One problem is that many "big" "famous" retreat centers start out
as a group of friends meditating together in each other's living rooms.
But they are not satisfied with that - so they, like good Americans
(warning: anti-Americanism!!!) they "dream big". "Gee, maybe we
could buy some land out in the country and start our own "real"
retreat center?" And so the cycle continues. Having said that, my
favorite spot on planet earth is just such a place. Years and years
ago a group of friends were sitting around in Lexington, KY - but
that wasn't good enough for them - so they ended up buying hundreds
of acres of land out in the middle of nowhere and they built a Buddhist
temple there. I go there every chance I get because it is so beautiful
and serene. So sometimes it works out OK, I guess.
- Curt

jkirk wrote:

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>>I have organized many retreats over the years. These have been
>>small retreats with no more than 25 people (usually more like
>>12 - 15), and they have either been in private homes or in rented
>>facilities. And they have all been led by teachers who are neither
>>especially famous nor infamous enough to attract large followings.
>>My feeling is that people get what they are looking for. If you find
>>a retreat advertised in Tricycle that is 1,000 miles from where you
>>live in a retreat facility with a full-time paid staff and the retreat is
>>led by a teacher is who is a best-selling author - you will get one
>>kind of experience. If you find a retreat advertised on a flyer taped
>>to a bulletin board at your local health food store that is taking
>>place in someone's living room down the street from you led by
>>a teacher no one has ever heard of - that will be another experience.
>>People can easily avoid the "retreat industry" if they wish to. But
>>our culture worships fame and success and star power. I don't
>>think that all "famous" teachers are without value. I think the
>>Dalai Lama uses his fame without letting it use him too much -
>>for instance.
>>- Curt
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>>
>====================================
>Well said.......I never see any flyers at my local Coop except those posted
>by cultists, so the 2 retreats I was on were indeed led by published authors
>at places that rent space for retreats, part of the industry. These two were
>so beneficial to me such that I've decided no more retreats, for a while
>anyway. But the industry indeed flourisheth.
>Commodification ueber alles.
>Best
>Joanna
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>
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