Sheltering in Place in North Fork - The Spring of 2020

A double rainbow leading the way to Standing Stone Village

The Spring of 2020 has been anything but normal. In March, we were all suddenly swept up in the COVID-19 pandemic and its consequences. On March 10th, just as the virus began its aggressive transmission in California and the US, Jeannine and I arrived in North Fork to serve on a 10 day course at Dhamma Mahāvana. The course started but two days in, the decision to end the course was made and the students and servers were sent home. This was the start of the unprecedented cancelation of all Vipassana courses in North America and around the world.

We spent the remainder of March sheltering in place in North Fork and stood by as the response to the pandemic evolved on a day to day basis. While it became quite clear that it would not be possible to hold courses at the center until the situation changed, there was a strong desire to keep some type of meditation and Dhamma service going at the center. It was eventually decided to hold a 30 day course for a handful of the local students during the month of April. Jeannine and I were fortunate to be among this small group of five men and five women that participated. On April 1st, we disconnected from the outside world to focus inward. We emerged 30 days later, recharged from sitting the course, but not knowing what we would face. To be honest, we were quite thankful to have been protected from the daily turmoil that everyone else had been facing and to have the opportunity to meditate deeply on the ever changing nature within. Fortunately we are not the only ones able to benefit and additional self courses have been organized for other old students in the vicinity, and the wheel of Dhamma continues to rotate at the center.

After the course, we continued to stay at our residence in North Fork, continuing to take advantage of the relative solitude of the rural community and having our Dhamma brothers and sisters nearby. Everyone was looking out for each other, whether it was sharing a roll of toilet paper or offering to pick up supplies on a run to Fresno.

Since there was very little transmission of the virus in Madera county and no known cases in North Fork, we felt safe taking walks with our friends, enjoying the spring and taking in the wild flowers. For Jeannine and I, taking a walk on a mile long loop on the property, became a daily activity. And every few days, we would be joined by one or more fellow meditators.

Wildflowers for ever, at Three Springs Ranch.

If anything, the COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the benefits of living near the center and it has been a wonderful time to be an old student living in North Fork. We hope that as Standing Stone Village develops, it will afford more and more old students the opportunity to live and experience these benefits.