I have finally arrived in Europe Center, the flagship of the Diamond Way lineage, the crown jewel of the western Dharma world for many, and the most incredibly welcoming of places I have been in a long time. Arriving over a day late, after passport losing trouble, rescheduling airplanes, an extra night in Madrid and a few more hours in the car I am here, exhausted, but really excited for my first time visit after hearing so much about it from nearly everyone.
The place is incredible - simply put - the atmosphere is so stunning and grandiose while maintaining a wonderfully calm and serene energy, I really don’t know how they do it. Nestled in the mountains just two hours from Munich, right next to a giant lake and lush green in all directions, the Europe Center is not only beautiful, but the people who make it so are even more impressive than I could have imagined. They are rushing over to you, greeting you with arms outstretched and huge smiles on their faces to say hello, welcoming you - all of them - all 6000 of them that are currently making up the residency here in the EC. It’s so big - the main tent seems to go on for ages and ages; a clean white backdrop to colors of every tint and shade imaginable. Bodies in all directions, some lying down, others slowly pacing, many many in meditation posture as Karmapa leads an almost 10 hour guided meditation. He sits on a beautiful stage, shrines of glimmering white and gold on each side, adorned with thankas that give the whole place a truly regal atmosphere. Karmapa is seated as he has been since 10 am, without a break, leading the enormous crowd in a guided meditation and mantra session, sitting peacefully like a true Dharma King with an unflinching and peaceful gaze.
In order to come to terms with just how big it all is I needed a step back and a moment of pause, make that several steps back, it was actually a lot to take in. I had heard it all described before, but seeing the bustling, colorful, vibrant energy laden place that is the EC simply has to be seen to be understood. The food is amazing, and somehow extremely well prepared for over 6000, served with a smile as per usual here, I’ll let you all know when I figure out how they do it, but for the meantime rest assured that it’s pretty impressive to say the least. There are thousands of tents all across the hillside, stretching as far as I can see in every direction, I couldn’t fit them all in a photo if I tried, colorfully dotting the grassy hillside like a giant rainbow colony. The mess hall has a gourmet coffee stand, cell phone charging stations, volunteer posting boards, they’ve quite possibly thought of everything. I am now settled in, I have a place to work, new friends to meet and not to mention an office of photographers that are just too cool and welcoming, I’m really taken with their hospitality and warm invitation to share their space with them. I only have a few photos to offer from the day, I seem to have been wandering almost in a daze as I just let my eyes adjust to all the activity, all the people, the enormous everything that makes this place run like a well oiled machine. I will spend many more hours just investigating and searching through the campus here, there’s still more to see, people to meet and quite a few events to take part in. For now I am so happy to be here, with Karmapa Trinley Thaye Dorje and Lama Ole Nydahl leading the way, surrounded by cheerful and amazing people, many of which I have yet had the great chance to meet. I take my leave for now to go and make some new friends, to see old ones as well, to revel in this amazing place for the first time. Tomorrow is another great day to be here in the EC!
