This is the south facing side of our Monastery with 16 solar panels on the right side of the roof which provides us with all of our electricity in the form of free energy! Yes, even in Vermont we can capture enough sunlight to provide for our energy needs!
These are our dogs, Bodhi and Tashi, Tibetan Terriers which were a gift to the monastery. These dogs are known as "guardians of the temple" and originated in the monasteries of Tibet! They are considered to be a blessing to a monastery and we concur! Bodhi means "awakened heart", Tashi means "auspicious one."
This is where we share meals. Simplicity and the dignity of objects in our space are essential elements of our Monastic Aesthetic.
This energy efficient Russian Fireplace is located in our 'Great Room', it is a beautiful piece of living art in the form
of ancient stone. This form serves to heat our space by radiating fire energy out through the sheer power of its mass. While it offers us heat it also tells a story because embedded in its stone body is the geological history of Vermont from the Pre-Cambrian Era to the Present. As we sit upon the soapstone bench we recall the intense heat which forged it and the journey of these stones through molten magma, lava flow, pressure and intense conditions.
This is an Oak Burl Table created from a fallen tree in Vermont. Burls are created when a tree suffers an injury such as a major limb loss or lightening strike and is able to recover by gradually covering the injury with layers of wood growth and bark that protrude out of the tree. This table is a reminder to us of the Earth's capacity to heal itself and the beauty inherent in any healing process.
