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Visiting Skycliffe...
Nestled
in the woods along the Kettle River, in the interior
of British Columbia, lie the peaceful 220 acres of ‘Skycliffe,’HÜMÜH’s
Monastery and Retreat Centre. Upon entering the main gate,
a gently curving gravel road, with prayer flag poles lining
both sides, leads visitors into the heart of the property.
Quiet and serene, Skycliffe is a sanctuary for people as
well as local wildlife.
Everything on the property is arranged to allow visitors the opportunity to release
the tensions and strains of their busy lives. Relaxing hiking trails wind through
the hills and valleys. The Kettle River, which meanders along the western edge
of the property, offers many places to sit and enjoy the sights and sounds of
the gently rolling currents. An inlet of the river forms a swimming hole for
summer visitors to cool off on sunny mid-afternoons.
For those who like to sit in quiet meditation, there are many ideal spots. The Temple
of Enlightenment offers regular hour-long meditation sittings at 7am, 11am,
2pm and 7pm. For less formal or personal meditations, there is a rustic little
single-person meditation hut nestled in the woods. Up above the river, at the
south-east edge of the property, is Amitabha Hill. With a broad expansive view
of the Kettle River Valley, one can take in the scenery while sitting in the
silence. There is also a beautiful Mandala Garden surrounding the golden Stupa,
where people can sit on one of the many benches or walk the curving path around
the Stupa as the Wish-Fulfilling Gem Mantra quietly plays throughout the garden. |
'Skycliffe' Updates
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Skycliffe Updates: February, March,
2009 |
April, 2009
The path to the Forest Temple of Enlightenment at the HÜMÜH Monastery winds through towering pines and past a gentle meadow, now green with the emerging growth of April, to a place of utter quiet. ‘Skycliffe’s’ Temple, a wood and stone structure graced by its great, upswept roof, greets all visitors, retreatants, and students with the gift of spiritual sanctuary.
After leaving shoes outside, one enters through the seemingly ageless wooden doors which open to the quiet within, a respite from one’s busy life. The Temple’s white walls appear to expand “beyond the bounds” of space as one notices the subtle, golden gleam of the wooden floors. Burnished meditation benches, topped with purple meditation cushions, fan out on either side of an aisle of deep blue carpet.
It is an invitation to enjoy the silence and to quiet the body and the mind, to choose a cushion or sit on one of the many comfortable chairs for meditation. Aware of the sunlight that filters through the gleaming windows of the Temple, aware of the occasional chatter of ground squirrels and the songs of neighboring birds, one notices that sounds blend with the stillness of no sound at all. It seems natural to relax into a stance of just be-ing.
The Forest Temple of Enlightenment is a place like no other. It is a place where one may come, just to leave the world behind for awhile and bask in an ever-growing sense of inner peace. The Temple is a “place” at ‘Skycliffe’, but it is also a place in the heart to which the visitor may return at any time, no matter where they are, and remember the feeling of being one with the light of divinity which connects all living things.
 
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Visitors
are invited to attend the 10:45am Sunday Service at Skycliffe.
After the service, they are welcome to take a Self-Guided Tour
of the monastery grounds, including the Forest Temple of Enlightenment
and the Golden Healing Stupa.*
Visitation is by donation.
*A Stupa is a sacred monument that houses the ancient
spiritual Teachings,
which are at the heart of all religions. |
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For reservations, call: 1.800.336.6015 or e-mail: Reservations@HUMUH.org |
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