Pema Chodron re-appears in my life

I subscribe to More (the magazine that celebrates women over 40), so I was surprised  when my friend from Toronto sent me, as a present, the same issue I thought I had at home, but was it? something looked odd, yes, it was the picture of Sigourney Weaver, the same dress, but different pose...  hmmm

That was not the only difference. The Canadian version also had a full article on Pema Chodron, which I do not remember seeing on the american magazine... how sneaky.

My first real impression of Pema was one of truthfulness. The way she describes finding out that her husband cheated on her and then throwing her cup of coffee at him is so real, so visceral, so human.  I related instantly. Then of course I read "start where you are"  and "the places that scare you",  books that are "useful".

This is a 1:11 minute video of Pema, talking about 9/11

I remember during a long unhappy time of my life when I thought perhaps leaving for the woods was the only exit, I considered joining her three year retreat, up in Gampo Abbey, in the far, distant lands of Nova Scotia.

Can you believe that people actually go away for three years?   I found out (from a woman that was helping me when I did a solitary retreat in Vermont) that they only do something like six months per year, and the other six months they are supposed to be in the world.  But in the six months when they are in they meditate ALL THE TIME.  They  do not even have bedrooms, just cells in which they sit (not even lay down).

I hope that at some point I may be able to reach a stage where even thinking of something like this would be possible...  in my short experience on a cabin solitary retreat at Karme Choling in Vermont I realized how much I need and want people around me.