Venerable Lobsang Chunzom's blog

One of the first steps I took toward preparing my site for the three-year retreat was to clear the path from the location where I will most likely pick up retreat supplies to the spot where my house will eventually reside. I traveled the distance in a zigzag direction; through brush and cacti up a steep incline I climbed, gently moving small rocks to the left and to the right of me. Each step I took was measured and deliberate, placing my foot carefully only after looking closely at the ground before me, to ensure no living creature stood in my path.  My intent in taking such purposeful footsteps was to ensure that I didn’t harm any living being with this first visit to the actual retreat home location. 
  Whenever I paused and stood completely still, I’d take a deep breathe and inhale the desert-rain scent of creosote, feel the warmth of the sun on my skin, and in the distance hear the call of a bird. At my feet in the dusty dirt I’d perceive the scurry of a lizard as it tuned in to my presence. I was aware of each subtle movement around me and conscious of each action, which was motivated by my desire to not harm myself or other living beings. When I consider the many actions it will take to carry out the three-year retreat, including that first step to clear the path, I am reassured knowing that each action will be guided by such clear intentions to protect life, the environment, and the planet.

As the sunsets in the Arizona desert the sky fills with vibrant color above me shifting from a deep yellow orange to red then purple.  The sun exits, dipping behind the distant, dusty mountains leaving the sky awash in a lavender hue as evening makes its entrance and the moon takes the stage.  I stand on the site of my future Meditation Studio staring out into the horizon breathing in the crisp air and envisioning the year ahead as I prepare to embark on a three-year journey. As perfect as the evening sunset, it will be nothing less than brilliant, an experience in deep meditation that will allow me to transform my mind and thereby the world.  

If you knew that you could stop all the suffering in the heart of every living being, to what lengths would you go to do so?  Three-year retreat is a powerful way to let go of all limitations.  Out here in the desert, surrounded by lizards, snakes, scorpions, and coyotes, extreme changes in temperature, and the stark contrast of the natural scenic beauty, the environment provides the opportunity to break with habit.  I shall spend time in the Arizona desert for this journey to delve deeply into meditation so that I may discover what I can and become enlightened in this very lifetime.