We had a wonderful retreat with Rinpoche here at Merigar East and the Teachings we gratefully received were from the Upadesha Longsal Cycle – The Mirror of Vajrasattva (Longsal Dorsem Melong). We enjoyed a relatively large international participation, with some people coming from as far as Mexico and the United States. It also seems the locals are waking up to the immense opportunity of hosting Merigar East here on the Black Sea shore, and I was very happy to see many young Romanians coming to meet Rinpoche and taste from the one-taste Dzogchen Teachings. Slowly, but surely, the Romanian community is becoming more solid.
Geko Mihai Ciobanu
On another level, it was a time of great change for the Gar. After Anatolii Carp served his full 3 years as geko, it was now Mihai Ciobanu’s first turn to ride the wild horse of preparing the Gar for the retreat.
This year the retreat was managed by some of the finest practitioners of the Czech Sangha, under the direction of Jirka Trnka and Magda Ourecka. Part of the job was to inaugurate the new Multi-Fun House (meaning “multi-functional”, the legend has it), a long-awaited alternative to the big tent we used to rent every year to provide space for eating and for all the booths that come with the retreat. We had the tables set up around the house – there was a pleasant breeze and shade almost all throughout the day – and very quickly the feeling of being home appeared. We also had enough merits to be able to use the main living room to host the MeriBar and, implicitly, the wild parties thanks to which so many potentialities are given space to manifest. Although I had my usual human enthusiasm mixed with nervousness, I can now happily say this new “civic” centre of the Gar was properly inaugurated and consecrated night-and-day, and is here to last, for the benefit of all beings. May we soon meet in the MultiFun!
Speaking of benefit for all beings, the first Stupa is now finished and ready for action, thanks to the dedication of Migmar and Pepa’s team, who made several trips from the Czech Republic this year. Although it was hard work and the construction now provides home for many more tsa-tsas than we had ever expected, it is a wonderful example of fruitful collaboration. Come and see the Stupa against the blue cloudless sky.
It was my third retreat here in Merigar East and somehow I was able to have a clearer perception of this place. Although at first sight one might be utterly surprised by the strange emergence of the Gar in the semi-desert landscape, there is more to it. First one experiences the lack – like the lack of a car to drive you straight-away to the village – and the distance – four to-and-return trips from the Multi-Fun House to the Gonpa is pretty good fitness training. Or to the village. Past these, one can really become aware of the elements. Full Fire from the sun, calling for hydration and cooling down one way or another. Strong-blowing Air – making you aware that everything light that you leave on the table might quickly go with the wind and you might have to run after it. A huge Water mass called The Black Sea – a most inviting ten-minute-walk from the Gar – where all can be washed and relaxed and where, if you’re lucky, you might see the dolphins. The obviously hot and dry Earth with deep cracks from the drought. But most of all – space, as in freedom of movement. All-pervading space, with nothing above and nothing around – except for the faint and distant structures of a few hotels starting to emerge in the area. Space which doesn’t shock at first, because it seems so natural, but which subtly relaxes and expands one’s perception. Space whose lack is abruptly felt when getting back to city life after spending more than one month at the Gar, as in my case. Lots of space waiting, of course, to be integrated into the crowded human dimension.
That’s about it for now from Merigar East!
With deep gratitude for our beloved Master and all Vajra-kin whose presence kept the retreat running, I hope to meet you all soon. Stay tuned, as we are planning several innovative retreats for Vajra brothers and sisters to fully experience the freedom-space by the Black Sea.
Alexandru Anton, on behalf of the Merigar East Blue Gakyil
