From Maitrekara:

Akashavana  later in July 2024, Vidyachandra still very recently arrived, and there’s a short break between retreats.

For a few days the team’s focus has turned to the Community house and I have been invited to lend a hand. By the time I arrived Padmasakhi’s room had been decorated - but there was still much to do. Refreshing the whitewashed walls and ceiling in the community shrine room, painting and whitewashing the office/lounge and downstairs the walls and ceiling of the big kitchen living room space. It was fascinating to work with a lime based substance called Cal. It has the texture of soft putty and when liberated from its packaging and mixed in a bucket with water, turns into a milky liquid. When applied to the old uneven walls it has little immediate impact - but dries to a satisfying bright white. Although not always! A teaching was coming up for me as the work proceeded of how, like the Cal, the effect of my actions is not always as I anticipated or hoped and my understanding of the underlying conditions as to why this is the case, is not always clear. But enough Cal dried white -  to give an overall positive effect, and somehow that gives me hope. Now the house is brighter and feeling the love and care it has had these past days.

And it wasn’t all work. As the walls dried we celebrated Dharma Day at the Centro Mandala in Valderrobres (led jointly by Karunavapi and Bodhipaksini - and even a swim. What a treat to put a toe - not only into the reservoir, but to jump right into the swim of community life at Akashavana. I leave tomorrow- with such love, gratitude and admiration for the wonderful women who support this project for us all. Sadhu Bodhipaksini, Padmasakhi and Vidyachandra.