Kendra Rickert's blog

Well it is July now.  Ben and I are in full swing trying to get this cabin built.  I have to say that I am enjoying the hard physical work.  It is hard.  We practice yoga for two hours before we start working, I think I would be a wreck without it.  We have been trying to level our floor, non-stop pick axing.  It is exhausting in a really satisfying way.  Like when you are a kid and you've been swimming all day.

Still don't know how it is all going to come together.  My parents came during the term and they are both quite blown away by what is happening here.  It kind of seems like they want me to do it.  Which has been a total shift.  They couldn't deny that the people here are exquisite.  I think that is what convinced him.

I went on tour to China with Lama Christie in the spring.  It was one of the most magical experiences I have ever had.  Traveling the world and connecting with people by sharing the dharma is really the way to go.   She told us that we should all be teaching as much as possible before going into retreat. I feel like the people I met while on tour are forever imprinted in my heart and mind.  I imagine that when the difficult days in retreat come it will be the memory of these faces that motivate me to go on.  Ben and I plan on going on another teaching tour of sorts in October through December.

I really just want to be with my family right now.  It hurts quite a bit.  My sister is expecting her first child.  She is due on Christmas day, five days before we are supposed to go in.  I am praying that she is on time.

That is it for now.  Thank you for reading this and for supporting this wild endeavor.

love,

Kendra

At the moment I am in New Mexico spending a few days with my parents and sister.
Keep thinking, 'this might be the last holiday together.'
Don't know if my parents will be here when I get out of retreat.
My patience and compassion is motivated by this thought.
They are trying to understand.
They are trying to be supportive.

My sister is planning on moving back to New Mexico for a year.
I think this will help them with the transition of me going into retreat for three years.
I don't know if she realizes it, but it is a huge gift to me.

I taught a workshop at a local hip yoga studio the other night.
To help me prepare, the night before the workshop my parents listened to the lecture I had to give.
Three years ago I couldn't have sat them in a room and talked to them this way.
They heard what I had to say, and we talked.

I have a lot of work to do still. I still see them suffer. They still fight.
But it has gotten so much better. I see this as a result of my practice.

So, I will go into retreat.