Author: SMarieVernon
Number of entries: 1
Email: [email protected]
Web: http://shambhalanetwork.org/members/SMarieVernon
S. Marie Vernon enjoys poetry and creative writing. She has three published poems; one in 2005, with The International Library of Poetry in the book Twilight Musings titled, Lion Eyes Tame the Beast, and two in 1996, with The National Library of Poetry; Conscious Awareness in A Muse to Follow and Beautiful Man in The Best Poems of the 90’s. In January, 2011, she wrote, On Serving Humanity for The Birmingham Alabama Crisis Center where she is a volunteer. She has a few articles and short stories in process. Marie is an active meditation student at the Birmingham Shambhala Meditation Center. She, especially, enjoyed writing A Pinch of Rice, a fun, short story about Weekthun Retreat and Oryoki dining.
Mar 23
Wednesday
Filed underCommunity Articles, Regions, Southern States
By S. Marie Vernon
The lodge is cozy and comfortable with a huge fireplace that constantly invites us to “come sit by the fire.” It’s our Winter 2010-2011, Weekthun and Oryoki Retreat in North Alabama. Twenty three of us are here for the event with our teachers, Shastri Chuck Whetsell and Mary Whetsell. Most of us have come from Alabama, Georgia, and Florida — one young man is from as far away as Nova Scotia.
Oryoki practice during an intensive meditation retreat
It’s my first silent retreat, and I’m pretty distraught about my Oryoki napkin. I’ve been cleaning my bowls with it for three days. I imagine, with horror, the varieties of germs that have taken it over. My retreat is ruined, but what can I do? I can’t just leave. That would mean failure in my discipline. I have to find a way to conquer this dreadful napkin. Continue…
