EC Blog News & Reports

Spring is definitely back – and so is a lot of action as well as the scaffolding around the EC Villa.

Many friends came to help with some thorough spring cleaning both inside and outside of the EC; Abel is working on the brand new interiors of our dormitories in the villa basement, and Edwin and his team started with the renewal of the front and left side of the villa’s roof, following on from the back and the right side already redone last year. We hope that they find the time to look around despite the work – to enjoy the lively colors of Allgäu in spring!

During the weekend of April 21-22, the long-planned meeting finally took place. Friends from different editorial boards of our magazines found a free window in their tight schedules to meet.

Did you know that our oldest magazines – the German Buddhismus Heute and Polish Diamentowa Droga – have already published more than 50 issues? This means more than 25 years of work. At the same time, we have enthusiastic friends in “new Buddhist countries” who are about to prepare their first issues.

This was also the reason why the meeting took place – to get to know our history, our ways of working, different conditions in different countries, to share experiences and materials, and above all to get to know each other.

The meeting was attended by friends from Germany, Poland, The Czech Republic, France, Greece, the USA, Estonia, and Venezuela,. We had a lot to share and also a lot of fun.

On Saturday morning Detlev told us about the history of the German Buddhismus Heute magazine. He also showed us the very first issues from the time without printers, fax machines and cell phones. In the afternoon our friends from the Polish Diamentowa Droga presented their workflow and familiarized us with the process of preparing their magazine. In the evening there was time for sharing ideas and suggestions about our future cooperation, which will bring even more beautiful and useful magazines to our countries. During the day some friends from Russia, Hungary and South America also joined in via Skype.

On Sunday we continued on the practical level, preparing questions together for the interview with Jigme Rinpoche that will take place in June at Karma Guen in Spain.

And since all the participants found the meeting useful, we are already thinking of having such a meeting again in the future—we will definitely meet at least briefly during the Summer course. We all hope that such meetings will also bring some benefit to you – the readers of our Buddhism Today magazines.

Honza from Czech Buddhism Today

After weeks of very convincing spring temperatures, singing birds and blossoming flowers – we woke up to winter once again on Easter Sunday. For those who were not sure about it until now – it is definitely never too late or too early for snow in Allgäu! ;-)

The Spanish-Ukrainian country weekend at the EC started with sunny Spanish weather and ended with rather typical Ukrainian weather…

Many friends not only from the hosting countries gathered to share experiences from both countries and to get to know each other and the Europe Center better.

One of the youngest Ukrainian representatives in a traditional embroidered shirt welcomed guests and residents with a refreshing drink (smoked dried fruits and water) and tiny chocolates with Ukrainian landmarks. Soon after, the Spanish sangha joined the opening event.

Saturday started with a typical Ukrainian breakfast and meditating together.  The Ukrainian sangha presented their projects and milestones of Buddhist activity in their country. As the Spanish friends put it: “Everyone knows Spain: “We have sun, wine and Karma Guen. Ukraine has to show the map first.” So, we started with the map.

After lunch, Traveling teachers from both countries shared their wisdom about Buddhist refuge and answered questions. The Spanish sangha’s presentation before common the meditation wrapped up our exchange of information about the two countries.

Late at night, the Baucafé became a melting pot: traditional Ukrainian and Spanish dances, songs and a quiz about both countries, snacks and talking.

On Sunday, the Spanish sangha took over the kitchen and later on waved good-bye to leaving guests.

We learned that we have much more in common than we thought (in addition to Buddha nature, football, “mañana” and pork… ).
It is always a joy to work, to meditate, and to have fun together!

— by the Spanish and Ukrainian Sangha —

Caty Hartung and Tomek Lehnert took the time to share their experiences, from their many years on the road and in the air with Lama Ole.

We started off with a lecture about the student and teacher relationship by Tomek, followed by questions and answers with both he  & Caty.  We got to know how Caty and Tomek became students of Lama Ole, and how and why they started to travel with him around the world until today.

During the lectures on Saturday we talked about fearlessness, highest joy and active compassion and heard exciting stories about  trust in the Lama. In the evening we squeezed Caty and Tomek with more questions and were inspired by a selection of pictures that were  taken over the last 20 years. On Sunday morning they shared some of the challenges  they had on their way and how they dealt with them.

Rounding up every session with a meditation on the 16th Karmapa  was very fitting!

Thanks to the Czech cooking crew and the joyful activity of all the friends who helped here and there, the atmosphere was very relaxed and on top there was time to get to know each other better. Caty and Tomek let us take part in their lives and gave us great inspiration, by showing how a student can identify with the Lamas’ qualities and out of this identification, the hard work can be full of joy and fun.

This week was all about clearing the Attic and archiving our precious goodies. Friends from Hungary, Austria, Venezuela, the US and Germany participated in restructuring the entire Attic, which is quite a spacious room above Lama Ole’s flat.

All the furniture, picture frames and other things which we did not immediately use after having bought the Villa where stored up there almost four years ago. Now, it was time to reorganise the space in order to protect the precious treasuries from possible rain because the southern part of the roof will be renewed soon.

Eighty. Exactly eighty steps from the cellar up to the attic of the Villa. Not a very symbolic number, but quite impressive when carrying heavy furniture, wooden skis, a doll house, a stylish but unfortunately broken Puck bicycle or other goodies downstairs – for the tenth time! Throughout this week, the back of the Diamond Room was enriched with a wooden box containing army blankets, the Lotus Room got a wardrobe for the clothes of our visiting friends and other rooms received the most beautiful old mirrors you can imagine. If it was not for fire regulations, we would have a fantastic space for an entire loft for Karmapa, as you can see on the pictures.

— by Johanna from Graz

The Schwarzenberger invasion of the EC took place from March 9th to 11th. The first troops ;-) rolled in on Friday evening and cooked a sumptuous dinner. By Saturday afternoon our numbers had swelled to 20 and together we spent two wonderful “Mandala” days there.

First, all members of the Schwarzenberg sangha gave an update on their current situation. Then, individually and in groups, we sought and found our points of contact with the EC. We started from our Lama’s wish that we support the EC – the basis for our visit – and considered our connections with the EC in the areas of communication, inspiration and activity. In groups we decided what we wanted to share with the EC team about Schwarzenberg and its history and constructed a timeline containing historical dates and our personal memories connected to the EC.

Together with the EC-Team we spent a wonderful evening exchanging information and telling stories, for example, of the first fundraising action for the EC. This started in Schwarzenberg and a glass of wine and ended with 1000 German Marks per person in cash on the table. We thanked the EC-Team for their important work and invited them to relax at our Schwarzenberg Retreat Center. The evening continued with a hilarious pub quiz led by Cristina and Henkjan and ended with dancing and talking until late in the night.

Sunday morning was dedicated to Schwarzenberg and our visions for the center’s future. Many wishes for meditation, exchange, inspiration and growth were expressed. We will present these ideas to Lama Ole during his next visit.

Conclusion: “We have the roots, you have the roof” – this is written on our tile for the new EC roof. Caty emphasized our close connection already years ago; we have actually been one sangha and one family since the very beginning. We support the EC not only with our experience and joyful effort before, during and after each summer course but also with our “simple” visits in which we meet friends, maintain and strengthen our connections and inspire each other.

This Friday Caty surprised us with a spontaneous return visit. She led the meditation and stayed for a chat before returning to the Country Weekend at the EC.

— by Ulrike Limper & Andrea Maichele from Schwarzenberg

Four weeks of meditation retreat came to an end with Lama Ole’s departure for his tour of Hongkong, Australia, and New Zealand on Wednesday – we think that these impressions from the last weeks of February do not need further comment. ;-)