EC Blog News & Reports

In sunny autumn weather there was a lot of tidying-up action at the EC this weekend. Besides removing all sorts of summer course leftovers, tons of wood have to be sorted and stored, woodsheds have to be built to keep the wood dry in the snow… basically, everything has to be ready for six to seven months of winter and snow very soon. The golden fall is usually very quickly followed by the first snow. Of course, in between we also found enough time to enjoy the sunshine while meditating, having breakfast, lunch, and meetings outside and playing with the kids.

And last but not least, more deligent helpers came on Sunday to also polish the Villa – preparing everything for someone very special to arrive tonight for the next days… we will keep you updated!

By meike

Birds are heading southwards, the wineleaves shine in bright hues of yellow, pink and red and the nights are becoming quite chilly. There’s even already snow on the higher mountain tops that can be seen from the EC.

These pictures are probably just the start of  some more blogposts within the next weeks – we would like to share lots of photo impressions of the extraordinarily beautiful Allgäu autumn with you.

By meike

After a summer of hard work by many, hindrances like injuries and long periods of rain that prevented the continuation of the work – we had a lot of reason to celebrate yesterday: Edwin and his team put the last tile on the roof of the 2nd House, took down the scaffolding right afterwards and celebrated the fresh and clear view from all sides together.

Lots of thanks to all the friends who spent hours, days and weeks of their summer on the roof to get this done – please come back home soon to see the results of your great work (before it’s all covered by snow! ).

By meike

Once a year, the Immenstadt ladies put on their nicest dirndl – the traditional Bavarian dress – and the gentlemen the according fine leather trousers for the “Viehscheid”. Translated directly, this means something like “cattle division” and it refers to all the Allgäu cows being taken down from the meadows to their home farms for winter. Even the cows themselves are dressed up – the sound of the hundreds of huge bells around their necks is very impressive when they pass through the valley. The “leading” cow of each farm wears a crown made out of flowers to show everyone that things went well during the summer season up on the mountain meadows.

After the cows have all arrived safely in their owners’ transporters, it’s the Immenstadt version of the Oktoberfest. Probably there’s no need to add much to the pictures. We had a wonderful time down in town today, learning a bit about the Bavarian culture and traditions – hopefully you will also enjoy some “Viehscheid” impressions!

By meike

Even the cows on the meadow seemed to be wondering what was going on today. Lots of chainsaw sounds in the middle of peaceful, quiet Allgäu?

Well, to literally cut it short – our resident arborist Jürgen and a team of helpers took down the line of big trees separating the 2nd House from the parking lot. To improve the view, secure the house and to bring bright sunshine into the rather dark dormitories. New trees have been planted already and more are still to come. It’s about time to do all this, since there is already the first snow on the mountain tops…

Okay, from the outside it might look a bit like a battlefield at the moment – with the tree logs and the not yet finished new roof. However, EC residents Charlotte and Tamás immediately inspected the new view across the mountain meadows and the lake from the dormitory windows. They were obviously delighted with the result of the “tree action”!

And as if it had not been enough action and challenge already, the guys afterwards tried some rope acrobatics in the garden…

By meike

Here are some beautiful photo impressions taken by Wolfgang from Hamburg during the Summer Course. Yes – there was a loooot of rain – however, clearly there was even more fun, friendship and cosiness all around!

By meike

The transmission days with Lama Ole made us understand our roots and the wider context and backgroud of our own work and practice.  We learned all about Lama Ole and Hannah’s years with dharma after their first meeting with the Lamas in the East, their inspiration from studying with yogis, and all the stories about the work in the West.  This is why we are deeply thankful for the situation we are now in with established centres all around the world and great opportunities to meditate and study dharma. To read about history is one thing, but to be in the presence of the Lama together with sangha “family” was something really unique.

By klara

The Transmission Days could not happen without the presence of good old friends of Lama Ole, who spent a lot of time with him traveling, organizing, planning or teaching dharma. Present among our vast family are: Caty, Tomek, Gabi, Leif, Maxi, Erik, Wojtek, Karola, Magie, Manfred, Bernhard, Kerstin, Gerhard, Ronald, Sasha, Rüdiger, Wolfgang, Jesper, Pit, Meike, Didi, Mäc, Mira, Kai, Marianne, Zsuzsa, Karol, Juliane, Grisha, Marta and many others who are enrichenig Lama Ole´s talk with their input, interesting questions and stories. A team of dozens of friends had prepared lots of data and sorted memories of the past in order to update the Diamond Way history timeline. In huge tables and files, our history is written down and checked by many bright heads.

For the photos we thank this time to Jan and Ginger

By klara

The first day of Transmission week in the EC brought lots of stories as well as excitement for upcoming sessions. The talk began with 1968, when Lama Ole and Hannah went to Nepal on their honeymoon where they met with the highest teachers of our lineage. The Lama  also spoke briefly of an even earlier time, when young Ole and Hannah met for the first time. Ole was 10 and Hannah was only5 years old…

After the stories of childhood and wild times at university, we traveled to the Himalayas where Lama Ole and Hannah recieved blessing from Lobpon Tsechu Rinpoche, teachings from Kalu Rinpoche in Sonada and blessing and first instructions from the greatest and most revered spiritual teacher 16. Karmapa Rangjung Rigpe Dorje. The stories were  accompanied by photos and felt vivid and alive. It was like being present in those old times…

By klara

The Phowa (tib.: Conscious Dying) course with 1.300 people as the first part of the 3rd International EC Summer Course was successfully completed yesterday.

Sunday night brought the beginning of a whole week dedicated entirely to talks and lectures with and by Lama Ole about 40 years of bringing Diamond Way Buddhism to the West. Lama Ole and friends will recall stories from the past and explain the reasons and backgrounds of developments and decisions made that formed the way we practice Buddhism today. Please join in via live streaming if you cannot be here!

By meike