These words greeted me at the entrance of the Buddha Hall in the Deer Park Institute:
It is a quote misattributed to the Buddha, but it was apparently written by Jack Kornfield, echoing something similar by Carlos Castaneda.
In any case, does it matter who said it?
The words point to the impermanence of all things and are a reminder not to delay important actions. Helpful pointer, as one steps into the hall to sit quietly. Inside the hall, there is a large Buddha statue, and the hall itself welcomes silence.
Outside the hall is this lovely tree that I spent a fair bit of time gazing at:
Looking the other way, one is greeted by these beautiful snow-capped ranges:
Some flowers too:
Add to that a simple private room and a kitchen that serves hot chai and rotis (and much more) — it’s the perfect place for a quiet retreat.
Deer Park Institute is a couple of hours away from Dharamsala. I meant to visit it for several years, and finally it happened this March — a good time to visit that part of the country, the weather being cool and pleasant. Four days of quiet, many hours of meditation, some walking in the hills.
There is also a library with a great collection of wisdom literature. I picked up a book titled The Teachings of Ramana Maharshi, and I found some passages were profound, because I was also meditating for the rest of the day. Here is one:
Q: Why did the Self manifest as this miserable world?
RM: In order that you might seek it. Your eyes cannot see themselves but if you hold a mirror in front of them, they see themselves. Creation is the mirror. See yourself first and then see the whole world as the Self.
There was another beautiful hall nearby:
With another sign at its entrance:
A sign outside a tea shop as well:
I now want to find more places like this around India where I can spend a few days in quiet retreat — live simply, walk in the hills, and meditate. For a few days in the year, to begin with, and who knows, it might just become my retirement plan!