So some of you might wonder why Lucy and I decided to move to Ecuador. A big reason for us was the state of the U.S. economy contributing to the lack of opportunity for people of our ages (59 and 60) and millions of other Americans. With job opportunities so scarce, we were drawn to Ecuador by the chance to try being in business for ourselves with the possibility of becoming self-sufficient income with a much smaller investment than would be needed in the U.S. That possibility became concrete when we found and purchased a small adobe building in the historical center of Cuenca which we shall turn into Windhorse Cafe (pics in earlier blog). Still working on our residential visas and having to put in a working kitchen is teaching us even further patience.
Another dream of mine is to bring the Shambhala teachings as taught by Chogyam Trungpa Rinpoche, to Ecuador in a way that many Ecuatorians can find accessible. These secular teachings can be found in the book
Shambhala: Sacred Path of the Warrior but are best experienced as a series of training levels that include extensive meditation instruction and practice. Shambhala training has been a great help to tens of thousands all over the world who have been searching for a way to find more peace and compassion in their lives. Cuenca, I feel, is at the stage of development where people are looking for an authentic spiritual path that addresses the lack of spirituality people are feeling in the modern world, yet does not ask to believe in something that is outside the world that we perceive with our senses.
So I shall see who is interested in studying the teachings and learning to meditate. If there is enough interest at some point, perhaps Shambhala training levels can be offered here in Cuenca. As our Tibetan prayer flags send wishes for happines for all beings we say:
May all beings enjoy profound, brilliant glory! KI KI, SO, SO!
