by Dawn King
Coastal fog shrouded our hillsides, but Sunburst’s solstice “sunrise” labyrinth walk went on as scheduled. Craig, Sibylle, Steve and Sandy were at the labyrinth walk. Personally, I would have been happy to sleep in today, but got up for meditation, and was glad I did.
Six baby turkeys, and their mother hen, visited the temple this morning just before we spilled out the doors. It was fun to see them. JK was first out, and they jumped/flew 8 feet into the air at the sound of him opening the door. The turkeys then slowly headed into the redwood trees around the temple.
My husband, Al and I walked home while watching a coyote leaping at mice across the field. It was a magical morning for wildlife. We have at least two beautiful and rare Eurasian Collared Doves here, and one of them serenaded us during meditation. Mostly white, they like our evergreen trees and are usually perched or flying as a pair. I often see them drinking at my ground-level water saucer. A lovely fox drinks there daily as well. He’s so comfortable around us, that we can get in the car and bang the door shut while he’s sleeping undisturbed on the hillside 15 feet above our driveway.
Summer is officially here. Let’s find joy in every day, no matter where we are. Joy is God’s life and love in us.
– Dawn King
Walking the tree lined path on the way to meditation at the Sunburst Sanctuary is an experience in itself. The peaceful walk over bridges and under arbors, surrounded by smells of redwood and pine trees, one begins to feel the peace, presence, and intention of the many seekers who have traveled this path before you.
On a morning when you arrive early take some time to meander off the main path and travel along the winding walkway, where native plants are growing and giving sustenance to butterflies, hummingbirds, and honey bees. This path will lead you back into the main lodge area where meditations are held almost every day of the week.
I have heard that on a farm, the farmer’s footsteps makes the best fertilizer. I find that the same is true of meditation centers that seem to be infused with all of the energy and heart of its meditators. When you walk into any church or temple you can feel the prayers and devotion that linger long after the devotees have left the building.
One of the comments that we receive often from visitors to the Sunburst Sanctuary are how peaceful they feel the minute they drive onto the property. The wildlife agree, it seems, the deer no longer bound away when cars drive by, and recently even the foxes, coyotes, and bobcats are seen playing and hunting openly in the fields.
Letha Kiddie and good friend Ischa brandishing spatula
I love walking into the kitchen at the Lodge on Sundays before meditation service. There’s the wonderful smell of whatever the week’s brunch team is cooking, underneath which I can always detect the kitchen’s usual comforting aroma of coffee and spices. It’s nice and warm in there now, too, on these suddenly chilly winter days.
But my favorite part is seeing the people I’ve come to love so much over the last year and a half. No matter how busy they are with final preparations as the clock races toward the 10:30 deadline, my friends always make time for me with smiles, hugs, and laughter. I always feel grateful to be part of this special group of people.
Even when there’s some kind of tension in the human community known as Sunburst, I feel confident that it will be worked out with consciousness and kindness. I’ve never had that trust in people before, so this is a new experience for me. I’ve also never seen a group of people who love and care about each other as much as this one! I guess that’s part of what it takes to live in community—a commitment to look at ourselves and our own issues as least much as those with whom we’re having a disagreement or problem.
The remarkable Brother Craig Hanson
As I go to sit down with my friends in the meditation circle, I always get a big, involuntary smile on my face. I probably look a little goofy. But it strikes me suddenly, as I enter that sacred space, how wonderful it is that so many people want to do the same thing: make the world a better place by becoming clear in their own purpose and goal of Self-Realization. Whether or not that’s how each of us articulates it, the energy of that desire is palpable and very powerful in our beautiful meditation circle.
I’m also struck by how very often the speaker for the meditation service says exactly what I needed to hear at that particular moment in my life. John Henry McCaughey did that on a recent Sunday, with his talk about the rain and being alone in nature and creating beautiful memories for each other. John Kiddie, Heiko Wirtz, Val King, Jake Collier, Craig Hanson, and others have also done the same on more than one occasion. In my experience, this only happens when a teacher is tuned into Source Energy and has learned how to put ego aside and allow Spirit to speak through him or her.
It’s a most wonderful experience to be in that Presence.
During this holiday season, I’m so thankful for the people in this community and all the many guests who come to share their time and energy here. I’ve never met so many people in one place who understand and practice the art of gratitude!
One of the ways I show my love for Sunburst is to mow the rose garden lawn at the Lodge every week.
Prior to my ministrations… Note pesky gopher eruption.
To be honest, it’s not a burden at all. I love doing it. I used to have a big lawn out in South Suburbia on a third of an acre, and l really enjoyed keeping the grass manicured, soft, and pretty. So when Jim and I came to Sunburst last summer, I saw that cute little square of lawn surrounded by Norm’s roses and I thought, “That’s mine!” I let Heiko and everybody know I wanted to be in charge of that.
I bought one of those old-fashioned push mowers with the spiral blades that rotate around a central axle. They’re so out of style now that people stop me and say, “Hey, I had one of those when I was a kid! Where’d you get that?” (Less than a hundred bucks at Home Depot, by the way.) I’ve even had guests and friends walk by and ask if they can try it out.
The question I get asked most often is, “How come you don’t use a power mower?” Well, at the ranch we have an industrial gas-powered mower that’s about two feet square, runs at roughly 85-90 decibels, and requires its operator to don several different types of safety gear. (OK, I’m including long pants in there—to me, that’s “safety gear,” especially when it’s hot!) We really need it here, with all the brush and ranchland that has to be maintained. I’ve seen The Guys running it out in the fields, and it does a beautiful job. And yes, it would mow the rose garden lawn in about 25 seconds flat.
Eh, voila! Ready for Sunday service.
But if I used it, would I have seen the delicate red dragonfly perched on the tip of a rose leaf who came and watched me work last week? I saw the same one, maybe, with a mate as I mowed this evening! Would I have noticed the huge, swooping brown bat looking for his hidey-hole in the Lodge rafters? What about all the Pacific tree frogs, blue-bellied lizards, and snakes that hop and slide away from my push mower as I slowly cut another stripe?
If I used the power mower, would I get to keep my arms and legs strong, breathe in the fresh, green scent of cut grass, sweat a little, stop and talk to friends, take a break to scoop critters out of the way, or pause to watch the shadow of the Lodge roof advance across the lawn in the late-afternoon sunshine? Would my son Cisco get to see how fast he can make a new swath in the thick, green growth and test his increasing strength?
So while I appreciate and admire the power of the big gas mower, I also see the beauty and value in a slower, gentler way. It may take more time, but I’d never want to miss the gifts I receive every week when I mow the Lodge lawn. (Don’t get me started about the gophers, though—that’s a topic for another time to be posted under “Perseverance.”)
Next time you come to visit, take a moment to sit on the lawn or stand and look around for a few minutes at all the life that surrounds you. If you’re quiet enough, my new red dragonfly friend might stop by to check you out!
