Friday, June 8, 2012

Tassajara Zen Retreat & Hot Springs

The Road to Tassajara

My friend Rossana and I sign up for 3+ days of Guest Practice at Tassajara. We set out on the Sunday of Memorial Day weekend with Rossana driving.
Foggy coast & sand dunes by Monterey

Sunnier ranch lands in Carmel Valley close to Tassajara Rd


The pavement ends at Jamesburg, which is mostly a stop for picking up and dropping off visitors not wanting to brave the drive in and feeling rich enough to pay for the Stage.
Check in station for the Stage

Full parking lot on Memorial Day

Chair to wait for the stage

Leslie, former Director of Tassajara, with grand daughter

Rossana checks All Wheel Drive info

At first the dirt road seems easy

The Road In
Soon, we enter Los Padres National Forest

Fire is a danger to this forest

Magnificent oak trees dot the first section of road

Soon the road gets narrow and rocky

Horse trough of old bath tub is almost washed way 

Lots of rocks

the long and winding road into Tassajara



We arrive !
A meditator - we must be close

Registration Office


After signing in, we find our home for the next few days.
Ahh --- There it is - Cabin 10

ohh - it's nice inside

and the beds are fine

Around Tassajara

Wandering around the grounds, it's apparent that Tassajara is indeed a Zen Retreat Center. As part of our Guest Practice program, we get up with the early (and do I mean early) bell for the 5:30am meditation. Fortunately, I tend to be a fairly early riser (but not that early).
Metal gong

Stone steps to Zendo

Side entrance to Zendo

In fact in some ways, it's like mini trip to Japan.
Zen monk walks to Zendo

Small temple

Garden Buddha

Then there's the fun things to do..
THE BATHS

Ahhh - the hot pool

New Retreat Center

... and lots places to hang out.
Sunny grassy area in front of Office

seating area in courtyard

teas and coffee are available throughout the day

Then there's the FOOD!  Since we're doing the Guest Practice, we eat with the students/staff for breakfast/lunch and then with the guests for dinner.  The meals for the students/staff are simpler than for the guests, but all the food is a selection of wonderful vegetarian dishes.
The main dinning hall for guests

Buddha celebrates good meals to come

Opps - just heard the dinner bell. Time to grab napkins.

The garden is another great place to hang out. The quality of the light in the late afternoons brings out all the photographers.
person reading in flower garden

Peony ready for picking

Columbines

The swimming pool area is another fun area.
Entry to pool

toilet & cold shower 

Warm pool - at 95 degrees, a little too warm for laps

Nature

Tassajara is in the middle of a National Forest,  surrounded by wilderness area and a good choice of hiking trails.
Late afternoon sun on the top of canyon walls

Suspension bridge over Tassajara Creek

You do have to watch for Poison Oak (and an occasional rattle snake) on the trails

Ode to Tassjara Creek



The deep canyon brings out a lovely quality of changing light as the sun moves through the day.
Sunlight rims the edges of leaves

light and shadow

dance with each other through the canyon


Half moon over Tassajara


Our time in Tassajara is over all too soon.... as we've really enjoyed our Guest Practice.  Since the first half of the day is spent with the students/staff and the second part of the day is spent as a guest, we are able to get a good overall view of how Tassajara works.

We're already planning to come back next year and stay longer, maybe for the Work Period in April. The early meditation isn't quite so early and is optional. It'll be a good way to get to know the students and staff even better.

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Retired and enjoying life.