susan and david stumpf's blog

Here it is, May 2nd, and I have been intending to add to this blog site since early Feb. It seems that I would only think to do it when I was no where near my computer. But, look! Here I am, finally, where the two have come together.

In January, I (Susan) had the good fortune to do a retreat in this retreat cabin. The weather cooperated in putting the cabin through it's paces. We had the usual chilly but sunny Arizona winter days, as well as 4 days of storm that brought 4" of snow, another storm that dropped 3" of rain and a few days of DM's characteristic blasting winds. The cabin shuttered, shook and groaned, just like my old body, but did not leak or break or suffer any kind of damage. I learned how to prepare meals in the solar oven, and what to do when the weather did not allow it. I learned that it just takes enough layers of clothes and blankets to be comfortable even when there is no solar gain for the passive solar heating of the gompa.

During my time in retreat, the DM Retreat Valley seemed to spring to life with other construction projects. It was wonderful to hear all the activity, and to see the results upon my exit...4 more cabins at various states of progress. Now there are even more.

The day after I came out of retreat, we started DM's Winter 2010 school term. As usual, it was an amazing time here. A week after it completed, David went into retreat in the cabin for 4 weeks. He, too, got to experience a wide range of weather conditions and learned the ritual of solar cooking, when to put the food out and when to bring it in, and how to keep it hot until he was ready to eat it. He kept careful records of all that he ate, both for costs and for nutritional evaluation. We have a student who is a dietician. She has suggested that we plan for 6-8 different meals that we will rotate through. This would provide variety but minimize the distraction of making choices and planning for supplies. She has made some suggestions for improving our diets in terms of protein and calorie intake.

Now that David is out of retreat, I have been back up to the cabin to put it's finishing touches on it. I have been painting window and door trims and finishing the floors.  Last will be the construction of a short pathway called a "Reflexology Path" from the door to the outside offerings altar. Walking along it in stocking feet will serve to give one's body a reflexology treatment. Does anyone know how to make one of these? We will be winging it, based upon one that I visited in Singapore last year.

Next will be furnishing the place. We are scavenging things, and we have 2 wonderful students from El Paso who are helping us. It will be simple and sparse.

Actually, the other task we have is to find new homes for most of our possessions, not an easy task given that we live here at DM, an hour's drive from just about anywhere. It's not like we can just have a big garage sale. But, we'll figure it out.

232 days until Retreat!

Obviously, we are not too familiar with blogging. But, we thought to share with anyone who happens along to this blog site, that cabin 30 received it's certificate of occupancy on Dec 24. That means that it has passed inspection by the county and is now legal to be occupied. It still has many details to complete before it will be ready for the Great Retreat, but it is ready for a trial run. Susan will enter retreat in it on Jan 3, 2010, staying until Feb 6. The cabin has running water, an outdoor shower and vaulted privy (read "outhouse".) The kitchen has an old RV propane refrigerator and stove and we have a solar oven from Solar Oven Society so Susan should be self sufficient, provided everything functions as expected. Now we will be needing some minimal furnishings. Things like simple shelving, curtains, 2 chests of drawers,  4 all cotton zabutons, It's a bit difficult to gather these things as we live here at DM and it is remote. But, we go to the second hand stores any time we have the need to be in a place big enough to have one. Slowly, we are gathering the things that will help the cabin be livable but still simple.

We've been meaning to get photos of the cabin, but each day as we are there, we are so involved in the work to be done that we forget to take the pictures! Sorry.

More later...

s&d

In September we were asked to interview with Bert Sass from TV channel 12 in Phoenix for a program about the upcoming retreat. Here is the result. Hope you enjoy it.

Hi, David and Susan!

http://www.azcentral.com/12news/news/articles/2009/11/16/20091116buddhistretreatbonus-CR.html

Cabin #30 Devachen David and Susan Stumpf Why would a Research Scientist in Plant Biochemistry and a Physician Assistant/Acupuncturist leave it all behind to go into a deep silent meditation retreat lasting 3 years, 3 months and 3 days?

Because we have come to see that there is no other way to truly help the people we love. We have tried giving money, giving food, giving emotional support, giving healing, giving fun...but it all falls short. They, or someone else are still in great need, or they just die. We have come to see that it is the way that we perceive our world that is in error. That it is our own mind that creates all the discontent that we see around us. And so, we have come to see that we can change it all, by changing our own mind.

We first took Buddhist Refuge in 1993 and have been in training since 1999 under the guidance of our precious Lamas, Geshe Michael Roach and Christie McNally. They have shared with us the tools that we need to enter into the deep realm of our own mind, where we can recreate ourselves and our world, which includes you. Samsara doesn’t work. There is nothing here that can bring us the happiness we seek. But, samsara has no nature of it’s own, it only exists as the projection of a suffering mind. Paradise, Heaven has no nature of their own. They will exist as a projection of a blissful mind. And, you will be a part of it, just by way of knowing us, by way of us knowing you.

Background: David K. Stumpf May 6, 1953-
Susan P. Stumpf April 2, 1954-
Married March 21, 1976, no children

David worked for the University of Arizona, in Tucson, as a Research Scientist 1980-2003. Susan worked in Primary Care medicine private practice 1981-2002, using acupuncture as one of her main therapeutic tools. In 2004 we moved 100 miles east, to Diamond Mountain to prepare for and attend the University’s training in the Tibetan Secret Teachings.

We have been teaching the Asian Classics Institute’s 18 Sutra Courses and the associated meditation modules since we completed them in 2003. We have both taught at Diamond Mountain’s university in various capacities.

Between the two of us we have completed 21 solitary retreats of 4-5 weeks each and many group meditation retreats. We are eager to deepen our retreat experience with this Great Retreat.

How You Can Help:

Since 2003, David and I have had the unique opportunity to serve as the main administrators of Diamond Mountain, and as officers of the Board of Trustees. David has been the Secretary, Bookkeeper and Operations Manager. Susan has been the Treasurer. We will be handing these duties over to others soon. We are keenly aware of what is required for Diamond Mountain to function properly.

It would give us great peace of mind to know that it’s needs are being met. We actually have the resources to support our 3 year retreat. We would love it if those who feel called to help, would give generously to DM’s General Fund. This would provide for the ongoing needs of DM’s infrastructure, it’s support people and it’s on-going teaching programs.

However, if you still wish to help the Great Retreat specifically, the retreat cabin that we are building could benefit from your assistance. We have yet to build it’s outdoor shower and composting toilet, it’s solar hot water system, and it’s storage shelves, altars and modest furnishings. We anticipate all of this to come to $3000-$4000 USD. Any help you give would be highly virtuous and greatly appreciated.

With your offering, please provide us with a picture of you for our altar. And, provide DM with a mail or email address so that we may thank you in 2014. Or perhaps we can come thank you in person, by sharing what we have learned.

Blessings to you,

Susan and David Stumpf