EC Blog News & Reports

Inspired by the five Buddha statues standing on a window sill in the EC gompa, the sangha wanted to know more about their meaning. Therefore, Maike and Pit were asked to give five lectures about the five different Buddha families.

We probably meet the five Buddhas more often than we are aware of: When taking refuge we become a “member” of one family; when seeing a stupa, a double dorje or prayer-flags; or when the Lama inaugurates a meditation room.

The five Buddhas Akshobya (the Unshakable – Diamond family), Ratnasambhava (the Jewel Born – Jewel family), Amitabha (Limitless Light – Lotus family), Amoghasiddhi (Meaningful Realization – Karma or Action family) and Vairocana (the Radiant One – Buddha or Tathagata family) are an expression of the tantric forms of Buddha Shakyamuni – Diamondholder, and should be experienced as being inseparable from him.

The teachings comprise the dissolution of the apparent opposites of the relative and absolute level. Many symbols like mudras, elements, colors etc. turn out to be solid methods in order to overcome one’s ego-illusion. Through these teachings practitioners more and more discover the qualities inherent in disturbing emotions and the skandhas in everyday life. - by Maike and Pit Weigelt

By meike

It was kids and parents Sunday last weekend – organized by the newly formed EC childcare team, which consists of voluntary helpers – parents themselves or not – like Henkjan and Leonie, EC’s new residents from the Netherlands.

Such family afternoons give the parents time to meditate together while their kids enjoy themselves too – this Sunday they could get their faces painted, draw, watch a movie or just play with each other. Parents also found time for a chat, collecting ideas how to organize the EC childcare together for the benefit of everyone involved.

In return for the childcare, the parents could give a donation towards the moreEC – this way everybody got something out of it. It’s an activity we would definitely like to repeat. Thank you Childcare team!

By meike

The EC Villa magically turned into a glamourous casino last weekend – for the benefit of moreEC, of course!

Who knows more about glamour than the Austrians – so thanks to the Graz Sangha, everything from the red carpet to the chips to the handsome croupiers was perfectly organized. We just had to take a seat at the poker, Black Jack or Roulette table and play – after taking part in what was certainly one of the best-dressed meditation sessions ever seen at the EC.

The fact that no one was going to get a single cent for themselves out of it or that only fake cigars were permitted did not stop us from discovering hidden and quite passionate gambling talents in our friends – some did not get up once for hours from the poker table, others spent the whole night at the Roulette, now looking forward to retreat days at the Buddhist Retreat Center in Graz for their friends instead of money.

Enough said – we think that the pictures speak for themselves, so there are a lot of them this time.

By meike

A place like the EC with all its local and international projects, frequent events and unceasing flow of guests can be a complex thing to navigate organization-wise. Throughout the 4,5 years of building it up many different teams and working groups established to keep the EC not only running but foremost inspiring and home-like for many friends from around the world.

Last weekend, the team leaders and representatives of the different EC teams met under Michael’s guidance to take look at how our work is organized and what could be improved. After an introduction into the latest knowledge on the subject we proceeded with mapping all our groups, their roles and how they interact with each other. The following presentations of each teams’ maps resulted into insights and action plans to be used as a basis for further development of how we do things here. We aim, as in all our centers, for the leanest organization possible – after all, it is only a tool on our way of human development towards liberation and ultimately enlightenment for the benefit of all.

Britta, Pit & Martin

By Martin

Life at the EC is fast – and Lama Ole is even faster.

In less than 24 hours, he arrived home after touring the Channel countries – just to repack the bags and drive off for a weekend course in Switzerland and afterwards the Americas tour starting in Canada next week.

The packing frenzy did not stop the Lama from guiding the morning meditation for the EC sangha, praising our gompa in the villa: “This is a very powerful, very blessed place!”

By meike

Autumn mornings in Allgäu frequently transform the surroundings of our EC into a magical mystery fairy tale wonderland…. we wanted to share some impressions. Enjoy!

By meike

Last week Lama Ole arrived for some project days at the EC after giving lectures in Hungary and the Czech Republic for as many as 2000 people in Budapest.

Upon arrival he surprised the EC sangha with a spontaneous session of questions and answers in the Diamond Room gompa – and afterwards joined a movie night for the benefit of moreEC.

Lama Ole and a film team spent the first project day recalling the decades of bringing Diamond Way Buddhism from Tibet to the West, filming a documentary movie about his wife Hannah Nydahl. In between he was photographed for a book of portrait pictures of Diamond Way practitioners that will be sold for the moreEC campaign.

As usual during his work days at the EC, emails by Lama Ole’s students were answered and project meetings took place. Also, a letter to all his students was written that will be sent out to the worldwide sangha soon.

Another interview was filmed on the villa’s terrace overviewing the Great Alpsee lake on the third project day. This material will be used to inform about Lama Ole’s book “Buddha and Love” in several countries, especially the USA, where the long-awaited English translation is going to be published soon.

After climbing one of the highest trees surrounding the EC, Lama Ole and Caty rounded off the last project day by meeting and meditating with the EC sangha and guests. On Friday morning after blessing a newlywed couple, it was time to say goodbye for now with the Lama leaving for the annual German center meeting in Braunschweig on Friday.

Time and again, Lama Ole´s project days give an insight into the tremendous amounts of work he does joyfully every day for the benefit of all beings.

By meike