40 Days and 40 Nights

Say what you will, but I've always liked the phrase: "What would Jesus do?"

Well, what Jesus DID do was go into the desert and fast for forty days. So, maybe that's a good place to start.

I won't be fasting for forty days, but on March 15th I'm going on retreat again. I think it's forty one days, however, as I'll be released on April 25th. I also looked and saw that a nearby Goenka center is starting a course on the 26th of April, so I might go and sit that course too, which would be about 52 days. Or, I might serve the Goenka course, or maybe not go at all, depending on how I feel after the first 40. But, the chances are that you won't hear anything from me for about 50 days after I go into silence.

The course is led by OpenDharma.org, who have been highly recommended to me, and I've already met Jaya (one of the leaders of the retreat.) It will be at a beautiful Christian Ashram (another sign?) called Sattall Ashram. It's said to be in the woods, far away from the busy cities. Smile!

I'm quite grateful for this opportunity for extended practice. What incredible fortune to have the luxury of time and support for my meditation practice. One of my meditation mentors recently told me that I must have good karma, to see the Dalai Lama, and the Bodh Gaya retreat, and now this. It's wonderful. Jesus had to go to a desert and didn't have anyone serving him food! Oh, man!

I actually just finished a little informal six day self-retreat here in Dharamsala and it went very well. I'll write more about it later. I managed to subsist on about $7 per day, so that makes for a pretty economical retreat! I may have to come back here.

I topped off my self-retreat with a hike to Triund (2900m). I'll write more about that later too (and upload some of the several hundred photos I took).

For the record though, Jesus didn't really plan to go to the desert, he was led by the Spirit.

(Mat 4:1) Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the desert...

It seems most things he did were led by the Spirit. So, I think that closes the case on "what would Jesus do?"... he would follow the Spirit. End of story.

Follow your Spirit.