My Wonderful, Exciting Life Here In California. Part 3

Evan made a bed

SLC to Reno

I wrote this whole long post, an it got erased. Doh! Basically, the trip to Reno was uneventful, save for the 100+ temperature! Some final pics from Salt Lake:

Thanks to Michael and Sophia for putting me up!


My final night I saw Genpo Roshi speak here. He's amazing...


Other pics from the drive:








Later!

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Hello from Salt Lake City

Well, I've been in Salt Lake City for a few days now, and I must say it is a really lovely place. The weather is great and the people are very kind. My old college friend Michael Case and his girlfriend Sophia have been kind enough to put me up for a few days, until I leave for Reno.

Last night I saw my favorite band, the Avett Brothers! They played an outdoor concert. Here's a pic:





Michael and I checked out the huge Mormon Temple. We weren't allowed in the actual temple, since we're not Mormons, but we were able to go to Temple Square:






Today Michael took me to possibly the best pizza joint in the west, Este Pizza. And then we went hiking. More pics:







This is the view Bringham Young saw when arriving to the Salt Lake basin, after walking 1300 miles, and proclaiming, "This is the spot."



Ta ta!!

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A few Dathun pics

Lots of silence!
Beautiful rainbows throughout, including the first and last day:

Beautiful sky....

Group photo!

This is a typical oryoki meal. Here we have oatmeal and scrambled eggs:

One morning we woke up at 5am and hiked half an hour to see the sunrise...

Acharya Ferguson:

The tent. It got really, REALLY cold at night!

Out of Sangha Retreat and Dathun!

Wow, that was an intense five weeks! The first one was spent with Acharya Adam Lobel, Pema Chodron and Sakyong Mipham Rinpoche. The the next four weeks was spent, mostly meditating in silence, with Acharya Gaylon Ferguson. I posted all my pictures at www.facebook.com/evansilverman but I'll throw a few up here:

Great Stupa of Dharmakaya, Which Liberates Upon Sight:


Last picture with best friend Ciprian, who was at Shambhala Mountain Center on a different retreat:

With Pema Chodron!

At the highest point of SMC, called Marpa's Peak:

For Dathun pictures and more, go to my facebook page. Much easier than posting here!

David Bartlett encounters iAlien during Dathun

Perhaps anything is funny during a thirty day meditation retreat...

Waking up to deer at dathün

Leaving my tent in the morning while on meditation retreat, I encounter 3 deer!

Last update for a while

Today I begin a four week retreat called a dathün. They're moving us to a new section of SMC called "Red Feather" and noone is allowed there unless they're also doing the retreat.

Some pictures before I go...



Small group photo at Stupa




The deer walk right up to you here!!




I snuck a picture of this set of Chogyam Trungpa photos in someone's office




This is the "padma west" campground




Oh deer!


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Acharya Adam Lobel Auctions off Calligraphy by Sakyong Mipha

Acharya Adam Lobel auctions offa work of calligraphy by Sakyong Mipham Rinpoche. Hilarious! Taken during the 2009 Sangha Retreat at the Shambhala Mountain Center in Colorado.

Few days off from retreat

I spent the last week in retreat at the Shambhala Mountain Center with Pema Chodron, Sakyong Mipham Rinpoche and Acharya Adam Lobel. What a wonderful week! Now I have a couple of days off before starting a monthlong retreat called "dathün".




8,200 feet high, at Marpa Point







With Pema Chodron




The Great Stupa of Dharmakaya, Which Liberates Upon Seeing




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In Colorado, finally

Yesterdays loooong drive was fairly painless. It's nice when the speed limit is 70mph, as it is in Kansas. Then in Colorado it turned to 75mph!

Here are some pictures from the drive:
Obama air fresheners











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The loooong drive!

If you're reading this today, give me a call and keep me awake! 917 847 1263. I hit the road around 7:30 Central Time Zone, one hour earlier than NYC.





Longest drive of the trip!



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Final pictures to & in KC

Yesterday afternoon I spent more time at a doctors office trying to handle this ear infection. Think it's finally under control. Got a lot more medicine. Tomorrow I begin 5 weeks of retreat, with only a few days where I'm free. So, this thing has to be handled right away.

I can't believe how well everything worked out here on
Lake Lotawana. Cullun and Leanne were wonderful hosts. Entering today's drive with a very clear head.

Ok, so some final pictures. Here are shots from the drive:















KC Royals Stadium:


Fishin'


Cullun & Leanne:



Oklahoma Joe's is a famous ribs joint. #13 on this list:


Mmmm I'm Gene Simmons of rib eating!



Some final KC sunsets;








-- Post From My iPhone