French Buddhist retreat, back home, memories & a recipe

Spaghetti with simple things

I’m just back from a Buddhist teaching retreat at our centre in the Dordogne. It was peachy as peachy could be. Sweet, luscious and full of good things. And, that was before the teachings got going. This is where I was staying, just up from a small town called Le Bugue.

Before I caught the plane I sat. Early morning, with mug in hand looking out of the windows. Sunlight wobbled across one, tree branches beyond; ruffled.

Golden pots of light shone through leaves. Golden leaves.

Herbs in window boxes still as still.

I ignored the phone, the ipad, the thought of writing this post before I left. I thought about the world I was momentarily leaving. I thought about nature.

So many centuries of our developed world striving to get something that never satisfies for long. But nature, it fills up all the parts this developed world doesn’t reach. Peachy, I thought.

When I worked on a land project young people came, some from schools for weekend courses, others came to our young leaders project. They moved through a detox – no phones, no processed food. It was hard for them the first 2 or 3 days and most didn’t want to be there. But then, something would happen. They settled into it, found themselves happy for no reason, and by the time they were leaving many didn’t want to go, and they wanted to come back.

The young people who had had troubled lives beyond what their years should have experienced, who came to the Young Leaders Project, we took into the woods for sleeping out and making rabbit stew. They had to skin and bone the rabbits. For the first day or so, they would struggle to get up or speak, except for swearing, and spent their time winding each other and us up. But by day 3, that would all fall away. And, when they skinned and boned the rabbits, there was total unbroken silence and deep respect. We made the stew and the evening passed with warmth and soft laughter around a fire. They were filled up with the peace of the woodland and felt a part of it.

They came each month, and it was the same pattern each time. I know their lives back in the world tore what they were filled up with apart, but sometimes I wonder if, perhaps deep down; their bodies will remember. And I wonder if in later years they will return back, to where we all come from. Or if the world of wanting, of not getting, of emptiness that doesn’t fill for long through the world of things, will keep them caught. I hope, with every little bit of me, that it won’t.

There’s a richness in these memories. Of our young discovering the warmth and fulfilment of the simple things that this planet, and human kindness, has to offer.

Joy dots

Kindness

Sunlight

Lit up leaves

Sunlight wobbles

Ripe peaches

Hot sun cool breeze

Laughter

Honesty

Caring

Not needing to win

Recipe

Spaghetti with simple things

Simple lovely food. I sautéd red onion, fennel bulb and courgette in butter and olive oil. Served with spaghetti, fresh parsley, lemon and salt. I wish I could pretend I had done something fancy, but it was this simple. And, it tasted absolutely lovely!

I’m reflecting on which of my ideas to take forward next. Would anyone like me to write a seasonal cookbook and relate this to the Ayurvedic constitutions? If I get 10 yes responses that will be my next project over here on substack.

Back in the U.K.

Back here in the U.K. the little piece of planet where I find myself is wrapped in charcoal and grey. The tree out front is blowing in a breeze. It’s really quiet and I think I shall put some music on as I remember this is where I live, for now. And slowly, slowly, I will wend my way into the evening, filled with the memories of warm laughter and friendship. As night arrives, owls, will not be too far away, and people will be sitting somewhere outside under starry skies with warm fires.

wishing you the warmest,

Lucy x