REPORT: Spring 2005 College Retreat
THEME: "Foods for the Body and Mind"

Perfect sense

Entering the dining hall Friday evening there was some excitment in the air and a fair level of chat. That's Ok, time to say hellos and get comfortable socially. And, i thought, with a good orientation at 8 they'll be well placed to experience some good mindfulness practice on the Saturday. Then the clock chimed: 7 O'clock . Without prompting or hushing everyone stopped very naturally. There it was; a beautiful silence, calm and strong. I looked around and smiled. I felt nourished and supported in my own practice by this silence. I remembered too a similar moment of grace with the previous college retreat but enjoyed the sense of surprise all over again. I turned to my brother to share the event and said, "Wow, not bad hey, they know the practice". My brother, also impressed, thought Peter and Barney (our two wonderful professor friends who help organize and bring many students along to these retreats) must have given them a good introduction before coming. Surely he was right but there was something more...A deep conviction arose in me that what we have to offer in our way of practice here in Deer Park makes perfect sense to the young people. The same perfect spiritual commonsense it made to me when i first encountered Thay's books and began practicing.

PHAP LAI