My current quest has to do with finding a spiritual community (Buddhist or Hindu preferably; with a focus on meditation and engaged compassionate action) in the USA. I'm looking for a place to live modestly, consciously, and simply: in peace and service to the planet and others, like prisoners, who have the time and interest to grow spiritually. In the 70s, people who set out to find such places were called "dharma bums," but that gained a (sometimes undeserved) connotation of dabbling and maybe messing about with psychedelic drugs. Not what I mean. I've been musing about this in my http://blogs.bootsnall.com/Grannygold/ blog. Have any of you been to any of these places? What was your experience?
I have been to Green Gulch many, many times. I used to see them every Saturday, no exceptions, around 8AM. But, alas, Grannygold, not for spiritual in the literal sense, but for their divine produce!
It was the first stand I would go to at the Farmers' Market, because their produce, especially when the market was in its infancy, was the very best quality - pristine and perfect. I don't know if the center is up to those same standards.
I would be drawn to staying there just for the scent of the eucalyptus trees and the cool coastal air, the beautiful gardens nestled in the deep gulch, and the ocean and Stinson Beach as the neighbor next door.
Posts: 804 | Location: Istanbul | Registered: 04 September 2004
Update: I've narrowed the search to Green Gulch (Marin County, north of San Francisco), and Upaya Zen Center(Santa Fe, NM). I'm going to both places this coming July & August for a tryout. I'll do another update after that.
They provide three courses: Astral Travel and Dreams, Self - Discovery and Gnostic Wisdom. All three of them are free of charge. They also covering meditation and another important practices for complete spiritual transformation. They are indeed life-changing, and I recommend them to anyone who is interested in spirtual growth.
For all others that are unable to take the courses in the study centers, Gnosticweb also provides on-line courses, as well free of charge.
Well, clearly this is not the hottest topic on the boards. Now I know why. I've done my quest. I liked Upaya much better than Green Gulch, but ultimately I decided that for me, both are too much work, too little fun, too much like new age hotels--and the people who live there are new age (unpaid) hotel laborers. Not what I wanted. So I've decided to move to Portland, Oregon. It's a great city, and in my opinion, it's a "spiritual center" where I can do everything I want to do, find community, etc. It's also, coincidentally, the home of BNA. Who would have thought it? Full details are on the blog.
