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Auf dem Weg in die Scheune. Es wird erklärt, dass dies noch bis vor 5 Tagen ein Materiallager und eine Werkstatt war, fast ohne Licht und voller Spinnweben. |
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So präsentiert sich unsere alte Scheune!! |
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Etwa 300 Gäste sind da. |
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Karmapa und Lama Ole nehmen auf der Bühne Platz. Die Freunde strömen in die Scheune. Jeder bekommt ein Päckchen Saft sowie einen Keks in die Hand gedrückt. Diese werden später als Begrüßungsritual gemeinsam verzehrt. |
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Dann folgt unsere Begrüßungsansprache sowie kurze Präsentation der Altmühle - natürlich in Englisch!
"Dear 17.Gyalwa Karmapa, on behalf of Lama Ole and his Diamondway Centers we very much welcome you here to the Altmühle.
We are very happy that you found time to honour us with your visit.
We would also like to express a warm welcome to Lama Ole, Nendo Tenam Rinpoche, the monks, and also, Caty and Tomek.
Last, but very definately, not least, we would like to welcome Frau Dorette Staab.
Frau Staab is the person who made the Retreat Center Altmühle possible.
With great heart and unbounding generosity Frau Staab donated the estate to Lama Ole and therefore the Diamond Way Buddhism.
For three decades Frau Staab invested her whole energy in the property and has shown great fortitude in taking the great step of placing the Altmühle in our hands, combined with the wish that there will be a lot of meditation here ! For this generosity and the trust you have placed in us, we would like to thank-you from the bottom of our hearts.
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Altmühle is indeed a great gift.
Not only do the beautiful buildings offer much room for Buddhist activities in such pleasant surroundings, but it also lies in one of the areas of Germany which is well known for its good weather (and for its good wine).An added bonus is the fact that for very many people, we have excellent accessibility, positioned as we are, nearly in the middle of Germany.
If we take a look at the map then we can see that we are situated exactly in the center of the Mid-Rhine region. Furthermore we neatly fill the gap between two of our biggest retreat centers. On the one hand, Rödby in Denmark to the north, and on the other, Schwarzenberg, on the border to Switzerland, in the south. |
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Translated into English the name Altmühle means Old Mill which relates to the very long history of the estate. Originally, during the 13th century, which is about the time of the 1st Karmapa, this site was a mill of a castle inhabited by the Order Of The Knights Templar, a christian order of Knights, who were founded to ensure safe land passage for the pilgrims heading for Jerusalem.
Unfortunately, none of the castle remains today.
The present day buildings originate from the last two centuries but parts of the cellar and foundations are very old.
But the real excitement is what is happening here today.
17 months ago, on the 1st January 2006, 2 couples moved into the Altmühle and initiated (what we could call) Buddhist activities, meaning the organization and realization of public events as well as the everyday organisation of the Center.
At the same time we also started renovating the buildings.
It was with great joy that we were also able to inform all our Buddhist friends about the existence and enormous potential of the Altmühle in this wonderful setting.
Since then, the growth has been continuous and the number of residents has risen to 7. And, with the help of many friends, the renovation work is making steady progress.
From the very start in January 2006 we completed a provisional meditation room, and in the meanwhile, we have 4 small retreat rooms each for 2 people and a communal sleeping area. In addition there is a dining-room for 20 people, a living-room with books and videos, a kitchen, a workshop, several toilets and bathrooms and many substantional rooms which we use for different purposes, such as the cellar, which can be used as an alternative dining-room or for parties.This barn was used for storing materials and also as a workshop. Only 5 days ago we decided that this ceremony could take place here - some people broke through their limits!Already, in the short 17 month history of this center, very many different events have taken place: |
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Beide hören gespannt zu. |
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- There have been lectures from Buddhist travelling teachers.
- We invited Karma-Kagyü Buddhists from around the region to a meeting. The theme was to develop common ideas as to how we could evolve this project together.
- To expand our relationships with the neighbouring villages we invited them to an open-air concert in the court yard where two professional percussion groups performed. The intention was to demonstrate that our center was an intigrated part of the locality, and, naturally, no admission was charged.
- A medicine Buddha retreat was held.
- A course took place relating to the filling of Budda statues.
- A regional meditations course was organized which lasted 3 days and attracted 140 friends to the Altmühle.
- A benefit weekend for our Europe Center took place attended by approximately 300 guests. There were several attractions including 4 music bands, various wellness aspects such as massage and Reiki, a large flea-market, pony rides for the children; and covering the culinary necessities...... a grill party.
- We also have an internet homepage representing the Altmühle. Amongst other interesting information, there is a journal or diary which depicts, in word and picture, the various activities taking place in the center. This, we hope, makes it possible for everyone to be informed about the daily workings of the center and give a feeling of being a part of what is taking place. |
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Auf einem Blatt Papier scheint die Ansprache lang, aber gesprochen sind es nur 5 Minuten. |
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All the work that is achieved at the Altmühle, is only possible because of the boundless help of friends, not only from around the region, but also from the whole of Germany, who simply come and work.
On nearly every weekend we either organize an event or we proceed with the renovation. Some weekends, it's a bit of both !!!
This means, that every Saturday and Sunday between 10 to 30 friends come to the Altmühle to support the project in whichever way they can.
We are also lucky enough to have a great financial support not only from friends throughout Germany but especially from the Mid-Rhine region.
Many of the people who give us such unselfish support are sitting here today and we would like to take this opportunity of thanking them from the bottom of our hearts. |
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Dann überreichen wir Karmapa unser Geschenk. |
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Ein "Thanka" von der Altmühle. Auf Leinwand gedruckt und mit Stoff umnäht kann er es zusammenrollen und leicht transportieren. |
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Dazu eine CD mit Bildern der 17 Monate seit die Altmühle als Buddhistisches Zentrum existiert. Vor allem Aufnahmen von Freunden, die Spaß bei der gemeinsamen Arbeit haben sowie Bilder der bereits stattgefundenen Veranstaltungen. Dazu noch der Film von April 2006.
Karmapa freut sich sichtlich!
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Dann bedankt sich Karmapa bei uns - also allen Mitarbeitern. Er lobt uns, und lobt uns und lobt uns bis wir uns winden. "You made it shine like a crystal."
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Lama Ole pflichtet ihm bei. |
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Wir freuen uns, dass so viele der fleißigen Mitarbeiter kommen konnten und hoffen, dass das Lob hiermit alle erreicht. |
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Dann verzehren wir gemeinsam die "Zeremonienkekse" und den Saft. |
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Abschließend machen wir gemeinsam gute Wünsche. |
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Dann gibt es noch einen Segen für alle. |
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Auf dem Weg nach draußen. |
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Danach begibt sich Karmapa in seine Räume. |
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Die Empfangszeremonie ist beendet.
Karmapa zieht sich in seine Räume zurück, wo er auch speisen möchte. Er verbringt dort die ganze Nacht, meditiert und arbeitet.
Lama Ole sowie die mitreisenden Mönche, Caty, Tomek, die Vorbesitzerin der Altmühle sowie das Team, welches Karmapa und seine Begleiter versorgt, essen gemeinsam im Hof. |
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Karmapas Ess- und Besprechungsraum |
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Später schauen Lama Ole und ein paar wenige Unermüdliche ein Video, welches Tomek mitgebracht hat. Die meisten sind allerdings dafür zu groggy. Ein paar Bewohner halten noch eine Besprechung mit Caty, bevor wir uns in unserem jeweiligen Exil (Meditationsraum bzw. Wohnwagen) schlafen legen.
Erst morgens bei der Abfahrt sehen wir Karmapa noch einmal kurz im Hof, bevor er wieder ins Auto steigt.
Wir bedanken uns noch einmal bei ihm und wünschen, dass er bald wiederkommt.
Karmapa bedankt sich ebenfalls und sagt, dass er sich in der Altmühle sehr wohl gefühlt hat.
Er äußert ebenfalls seine Hoffnung, uns bald wieder besuchen zu können. |
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