Contributor: Marta Vigerstad

June 14 2010
I arrived at Dechen Choling 20 days ago, and it already feels like I’ve been here for months.  On May 21^st I flew from Halifax, Nova Scotia to visit friends in  Amsterdam for a few days before taking a train  DCL for a 4 month stay as a summer volunteer.  I had never been to Europe before. Despite what I had heard about French people being cold to foreigners, especially those who don’t speak a lick of French and sound American (Je suis Canadienne, merci) I met many amazingly helpful people who helped me carry the 36 kilos of luggage I had brought and find my train when I was lost. I had my first genuine French pastry experience, a hastily-shovelled buttery chocolate affair, while standing in line to buy a ticket at the Paris train station. Even though my travels had been somewhat arduous, when I arrived at DCL I immediately felt comfortable—this place feels like Shambhala.

 The Great Bliss of DCL reveals itself slowly. There are many facets and layers to this intriguing, enticingly-named piece of land, but the most obvious is the green. I’m from Nova Scotia, and so am no stranger to plants, to wild landscapes and sky, but the blooming profusion of life here is completely new. In last May the patio entrance to the Chateau is framed by an abundance of roses in various shades of pink and red, filling the air with a subtle fragrance. In early June the blossoms wither with alarming suddenness. Sitting under the roses in the morning sipping coffee, eating supper in the evening amid the fallen blossoms. Framed by the empty rose trellis is a landscape graciously inhabited by enormous ancient trees (what kind of trees?). The sky here is soft and vast.  Blues from baby to brilliant mix with sunshine and puffy clouds.  In the mornings a mist rises between the hills, an ethereal wake-up call. Birds and frogs chatter and cry ceaselessly, mixing with the fractured whine of crickets and the patter of rain on tents. I open my eyes and see prayer flags.
It’s easy to not sleep much here. The energy of living here, the pace of life, changes depending on what program is happening. Right now its Warriors Assembly, a 10 day program which is the culmination of Shambhala Training, in which the participants are expected to actually manifest enlightened society.
The participants dress in elegant clothing. They wake up early for physical excercises and mediation, and stay up late into the night at formal banquets or simply  enjoying each  others company. While there’s usually a lot to do here, the energy of Warriors Assembly makes sleep difficult. Everyone is having such a good time.