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Nourishing our Winter Garden
A Message from the Director and the Team at Gampo Abbey
The year 2023 was a period of retreat and renewal for our monastic community. We repaired buildings, fixed lots of plumbing problems, improved landscaping features, and trimmed trees — all while maintaining our commitment to the Dharma and using our monastic forms and training to hold the practice strong.
We've weathered trying times within the community. We also faced challenges because of extreme environmental conditions that severely impacted most of our buildings. Yet we finish this year of the Water Rabbit infused with more enthusiasm and belief in what we are doing here.
Each year we pay special attention to preparing the garden for "over-wintering". We plant a cover crop that continues to nourish the soil and replenish it ready for another productive season. A fallow garden is not inactive — magic is happening in the richness of the soil. In the spring, the cover crop is gently dug into the beds, enhancing the soil's capacity for productive growth. Likewise, in our monastic community, we have used 2023 as a period to sow seeds for new growth.
In just a few weeks we will welcome Ani Pema Chödrön for another Yarne winter retreat. Soon after we will begin a new cycle of the three-year retreat. I can feel the excitement building, bring on the Wood Dragon!
—Trinkar Ötso (Director) and the team at Gampo Abbey
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