An article by Joanne Alexander

I arrived for the first time at Juniper Hill, the home of Louis Allen and Madeline Conacher, on a sunny Monday morning in August of this year for weekly meditation. The house with its lovely shrine room sits high on a hill overlooking the valleys and smaller hills of Northumberland County. I thought, what a beautiful place! When Madeline told me about the upcoming Simplicity Retreats during tea, I felt that I would definitely want to attend at some point.

Needing some respite after a gruelling move, I signed up for the September retreat. I arrived shortly before dinner on Friday and was welcomed graciously. Those who came earlier were taken for a tour of the multiple acre property by Louis. The participants, most of whom came from Toronto, became acquainted over dinner.

On Friday evening, Louis reviewed the schedule for the next two days, and we had a short meditation sitting. The group was also informed that meditation interviews were available with Madeline or Louis on Saturday. Mabinti Dennis assisted with time keeping and leading meditation over the weekend.

We were fortunate to have some time to take walks, relax and read during the retreat.

The weather was beautiful all weekend – unseasonably cool evenings with a clear sky for star gazing, and sunny days with warmish afternoons. One brave soul, David, slept in a tent on the lawn. The rest of us slept comfortably in the house. Madeline is an excellent cook, and the food was abundant, fresh and delicious, mostly made from local produce and ingredients.

We awoke to the sound of bells at 7 a.m. each day. The mornings were spent in silence, which was quite an adjustment for those who had not experienced this tradition before. On Saturday morning, Louis reviewed meditation instruction prior to participants engaging in chants, sitting mediation and walking meditation outdoors through the meadows. Meditation sessions were interspersed with shamatha yoga.

On Saturday afternoon, I met with Madeline and sought advice on developing a regular meditation practice and staying on the path. Her sage guidance was very helpful and practical. After a hearty lunch that day, Louis reviewed the obstacles and antidotes to mindfulness practice, then led a discussion and responded to questions. Meditation and tea followed. Later, a video of Sakyong Mipham Rinpoche speaking about meditation at Dalhousie University was shown, which the group enjoyed immensely. A lively discussion ensued, with participants sharing their insights.

That evening, we enjoyed a sumptuous wild salmon dinner. Afterward, some of the group watched a film called ‘Travellers and Magicians’ which was produced by a Buddhist meditation master and film director. Some of the more adventurous folks went for a walk to observe the stars and enjoy the peace and quiet of country life.

After Sunday morning chants and meditation, Louis prepared a delicious breakfast of blueberry crepes. Madeline later provided instruction on contemplative meditation. Meditation continued on into the afternoon, followed by a celebratory tea and treats.

As I drove back home, I thought fondly about spending a weekend of simplicity in the company of new friends, and of the wealth of teachings and profound insights from Madeline, Louis, Mabinti and my fellow participants. Going to Juniper Hill was a wonderful experience!

About the author: Joanne Alexander recently moved to Prince Edward County from Orangeville, Ontario.

Simplicity - “a simple state or quality, as of form or composition; freedom from intricacy or complexity.” Webster’s New World College Dictionary

An article by Teresa Peipins

When I first heard of a simplicity retreat at Juniper Hill Retreat Centre, hosted by Madeline Conacher, Louis Allen, and Mabinti Dennis, I didn’t hesitate in signing up. I’d had the pleasure of hearing Madeline teach a Shambhala Training Level near Buffalo, in East Aurora, New York and though I wasn’t sure what the weekend would bring, I was ready.

The setting of Campbellford, Ontario, a two hour drive east of Toronto was perfect for a retreat. Madeline and Louis invited 10 of us into their home situated on many acres of rolling hills and lush valleys. The geography was perfect for following paths past juniper trees, oaks, and pines and seeing the occasional birch hidden in the forest. Or for some of us, it meant just sitting in the garden on a hilltop reading or listening to the sounds of birds.

Mornings began with the gentle but insistent sound of a bell ringing. We woke to see mist rising in the surrounding green hills. A half hour optional meditation with morning chants followed at 7:30 before breakfast.

In the morning Louis reviewed meditation instruction, later followed by shamatha yoga. We had the opportunity to do our walking meditation in the green meadow by the house, feeling part of the land as we followed him single file on the inclines and descents.

Since during the mornings we were functionally silent, it took a few moments to adapt to the spoken world. We then sat down to a wonderful lunch on long wooden tables beneath the trees in the garden. This provided a feeling of community and joy in meals that is so often missing in our harried Western lives. Lunch consisted of local produce and cheeses and like all the meals was healthy and delicious. Madeline is a superb cook and I took note of many of her recipes.

In the afternoon there was sitting and walking meditation followed by a video of Sakyong Mipham Rinpoche’s teaching. A discussion followed and we were all able to benefit from the participants’ insights and experiences.

In the evening we were able to enjoy the lovely interior of the main house while we had dinner and viewed Mabinti’s slides of the Sakyong’s weddings. The electricity unexpectedly went out (not a common occurrence) adding to our feeling of warmth and reminding us of what simplicity means as we sat by candlelight and simply enjoyed being present.

On Sunday, after a special breakfast with Louis expertly flipping crepes, Madeline gave instruction in contemplation meditation. A first for me was aimless walking which I took to immediately. After our afternoon meditation, we saw a video of a talk given by Chogyam Trunpa Rinpoche (Creating Enlightened Society). It was another first for me and I was mesmerized by this historic figure who died just a few years after this talk.

We had bonded as a group under the kind instruction of Madeline, Louis, and Mabinti. We said our goodbyes and were left to return home with teachings and a vision that a simple life was indeed possible. Many of us hope to return.

Bio
Teresa Peipins is a writer who recently returned to the United States after living abroad. Her chapbook is available on Amazon.

Additional remarks from Madeline and Louis: A special thanks to the participants who came to the first Simplicity program and to everyone who helped organize the weekend. Mabinti Dennis who came up with the initial idea, provided guidance, helped to coordinate the weekend and encouraged people in Toronto to attend. Susan Wood, George Free and Greg Vassie with publicity and website support. Teresa Peipins for writing this article; and Henry Chapin for his guidance and support. Lastly, we encourage people to come and do solitary or group retreats at Juniper Hill Retreat Centre. Thanks.