| Hi vilin bakhta,
I got a mail from the nun there for new-year's a few days ago, so you should probably insist.
But from having spent a month there in september/october, I would say that, although my retreat experience is limited, in retrospect, in my view, the benefits from having gone to this specific center did not justify the enormous amounts of co2 dropped in the atmosphere collectively by us all foreign retreatants come to nepal as "meditation tourists" of sorts. There's a real ethical problem there.
May I suggest that, if at all possible, avoiding the long flight from USA to Nepal would be a good thing, given that the most pressing issue of our time is the ungoing climate catastrophe. Since there are many retreat centers in your country, perhaps you could wait until a spot opens ? Both teachers spend a few months a year abroad, giving retreats.
Realize that I'm not trying to guilt you into not going there. Your intentions are certainly honorable. I'm a bit uneasy about telling people this, because it might be detrimental to this center, which relies so much on the fact that foreigners come there because it's got a solid reputation. But ... seeing the ecological state of Nepal and in particular their capital city Kathmandu, currently first or second most polluted city in the world, really made me rethink of the morality of my presence there. Actually, to be perfectly honest, I think that truly opening up to the situation that Life, as well as our human systems, are in (you have heard of how much death is being caused by our overconsumption) . to the degree of economic/climactic inequalities which exist in countries such as nepal, has had a much stronger effect on me than those 350+ hours of meditation practice... You are interested in doing good through your meditation practice, through realizing the truth of existence, for the benefit of all - so please consider this point with care. Sure, many westerners like going there for things such as trekks and don't give one thought to their ecological impact, but this doesn't have to be us.
Of course, if you're sure, then just email them again ;)
Best wishes for your practice and life,
Olivier |