Activities

February 17, 2024 Monthly Gathering
We gathered on the 17th of February as planned. It was a great weekend. We had ceremonies on Saturday, studied a document on the "Mental Form" and had many conversations on several other topics in small groups. We ended the day with a great dinner prepared by Ken on a fire we built even when it was raining very hard. Below, some great pictures of the Hall Janet took on a break we got from the rain.

January 2024 - Hall Nearing Liftoff!

If you visit Red Bluff Park these days, you'll be greeted by a remarkable sight: our Hall - which since its conception in 2007 has remained stubbornly invisible - is at last appearing, and even seems to be sprouting wings!

This is because our wonderful builder, Eric, has spent the winter crafting the beautiful wooden arches that have begun to rise above the foundation, creating the impression of something so light and airy that it might at any moment float away, like a great seed pod.

And indeed, our Hall will be a place to sow the best of what is human - a place to nurture ourselves and each other, and a place to connect with the Sacred and the Profound within us.

The structure, when complete, will be a graceful white onion dome with nothing inside but rings of benches around the center, waiting to welcome all who enter. This Hall will be a place of welcome for friends old and new, human beings of all backgrounds and beliefs. It will be a place to take refuge from the chaos of the external world. A place to feel the deep peace that comes with the simple ceremonies of Silo's Message. A place to simply sit in silence...

Twenty years ago, Silo spoke these memorable words to a gathering of friends: 

"We have failed… but we keep insisting!" 

 

And at those words there came a great eruption of the most joyful laughter - because everyone knew that failure so well, and yet it did not remotely matter!

 

He went on to say, "We have failed, but we keep insisting on our project of humanizing the world. We have failed and we will continue to fail, not just once but a thousand times over, because we ride on the wings of a bird called Intent..."

 

Today, at Red Bluff Park, we say the same: we have failed, and we keep insisting on our project of overcoming pain and suffering, of treating others as we'd like to be treated, of reconciling - because we ride on the wings of a bird called Intent.

 

And today the focus of that intent is the building of our Hall. 

 

We recognize that a project like this is daunting, and will require that we give the very best of ourselves. And we have no doubt that we, light-hearted failures with nothing to lose, will be able to do what is necessary to bring our Hall into being. 

And you - if you have read this far, perhaps you resonate with our experience. Perhaps you too have failed. Perhaps you have failed even to be disheartened by your own failure, and have instead jettisoned great wobbling loads of seriousness and self-importance, and become immeasurably lighter. If so, we welcome you here - you are home.

If, on top of that, you, too, resonate with the building of this Hall as a gift to the Human Being of the Future, we embrace you and invite you to join us.


Trudi Richards.

September 2023 - Help Build the Hall at Red Bluff Park
Have you ever visited a different time and space? A place without rush, without pressure; without mine and yours, without mistrust? A place that is just about friendship - with others, but also with oneself?
I have. I go once a month, on the third Saturday, to a park on the outskirts of a small town in northern California called Red Bluff. When you walk through the entrance to that park, you enter another time and space, and for the next day or two, however long you can stay, you can relax and just be. Everything from the outside world falls away, so you can feel what it means just to be alive with friends in the sweetness of nature, with nothing at all to do. And when it's time to go home, you do so with new heart, new hope, new caring.
You might call me deluded, or a wishful thinker, or some kind of true believer. Maybe I am all of those - maybe not. All I can say is, come and see for yourself.

Red Bluff Park of Study and Reflection is one of more than 4 dozen such parks scattered all around the world. They are the brainchild of the late Argentine thinker and writer Mario Rodriguez Cobos, pen name Silo, whom many regard as a spiritual guide. All the parks are open to the public and welcome visitors of any nonviolent persuasion. People gather sometimes to study Silo's Message, the author's seminal work, but often without any planned agenda, just to be together. Whatever else takes place at any Park of Study and Reflection, the common intention and aspiration is to treat each other with kindness. Because as Silo puts it in his iteration of the Golden Rule, "When you treat others as you would like to be treated, you liberate yourself."

Now in its 17th year, Red Bluff Park of Study and Reflection is at last about to begin construction on a long-awaited, much beloved project: a Meditation Hall.

Over the next months, construction will begin on a white dome with four entry doors facing more or less in the cardinal directions - more or less, because nothing can be perfect in a Park of Study and Reflection, or it would not be a welcoming place for human beings! The interior of the finished Hall will be simple, with white walls empty of decorations or images of any kind, so that people of all persuasions may feel at home there.

And that is the central purpose of all the Parks and all the Halls: to welcome human beings of all backgrounds and beliefs, providing a quiet place where we may all  come together in the silence of the heart. 

Our fundraising campaign for the construction of the Hall is just beginning. Contributions in any amount are welcome

Trudi Richards.

April 20, 2023 Monthly Gathering
We gathered on the 20th of April as planned. It was a great weekend. We had ceremonies on Saturday, had a conversation on the subject of "faith" (see it in Resources) and had many conversations on several other topics in small groups. We ended the day with a great dinner prepared by Ken. Some pictures below and a video from the weekend.

April 15, 2023 Monthly Gathering
We gathered on the 15th of April as usual. It was a very inspirational weekend. We reviewed the plans to build our Meditation Hall and they looked very good.  Below, a poem written by Trudi and a picture of the weekend. 

Another time and space

Outside, the sun is rising

and the multitudes of birds

sing and chitter

over the shimmering meadow

Yesterday I came here 

with my worry about dying 

and left it at the portal

with my other excess baggage

Today my entire life

weighs the same

as the sublime quiet

inside my heart

Time enough tomorrow 

for death -

Inside this plentiful kindness

life is eternal.


Trudi Richards

March 2023 Seasonal Celebration

November 2022 Monthly Gathering
An important milestone
We gathered again for our monthly gathering, many of us at the Park. We started with  ceremonies of Service and Well being at 10 AM.

This weekend’s monthly gathering was important because we launched our official fundraising campaign to collect funds in order to build the foundation of the Hall. 

———————–

Dear Friends,

We hope you are doing well.

As you already know, our Park of Study and Reflection in Red Bluff has been an important part of our community for many years. It has provided a space for personal reflection, gatherings, and activities that have brought us together and enriched our lives.


Since 2007, people have been meeting at the park to do personal work, retreats, and workshops.  Our park has provided a meaningful space for personal study, meditation and deep interchange with others.  However, the park would not be complete without the construction of our meditation hall.

We have now arrived at the moment when this is possible!   This is precisely when we need your support. We have found the right contractor to assist with the construction of the hall and the very first step is to build a foundation.  


Your financial contribution will make it possible for us to go to this next important step!

The construction of the hall’s foundation, including obtaining all necessary permits from the building department, will require 50K to complete.  There are members who have already pledged $1000 or more.  We know that it will take all of us to complete this project and we are grateful for any contribution you can make, no matter the size.   Your donation will go directly towards the construction of a foundation for the hall, ensuring that it remains a safe and reliable space for our community. The foundation will be built to last, providing a strong and sturdy base for the hall to continue serving our community for generations to come.


There are several ways you can contribute:

Donate using paypalcircleoffriends@redbluffpark.org

Write a check to Pangea World Community, PO Box 460314, San Francisco, CA 94146—please include note saying check is for the Meditation Hall

For bank transfers: please email Kathy Beck at kathybeck9235@comcast.net for the bank account information.

Your donation will make a real difference in helping us begin the construction of our hall—a place where all people, regardless of their beliefs, can find a sacred refuge for inner calm and reflection from these busy and challenging times.

Thank you in advance for your generosity and support.


Sincerely,

Janet and the fundraising team of

The Center of Study and Reflection, Red Bluff

August 2022 Monthly Gathering

A nice weekend

We gathered again for our monthly gathering many of us at the Park. We started with  ceremonies of Service and Wellbeing at 10 AM on Saturday at the fountain. We connected by Zoom with other participants who couldn’t come to the Park. Immediately after we continue to study a contribution written by Jorge Pavon about Chapter III of The Inner Look, The Non-meaning.

This weekend’s monthly gathering was really nice. Eric, the builder, came over and showed us some work the engineers did for the Meditation Hall. He said something like we could start building it this fall. Here are some pictures.

 

Rocio

June 2022 Monthly Gathering

A very special weekend

We gathered again for our monthly gathering many of us at the Park. We started with  ceremonies of Service and Wellbeing at 10 AM on Saturday connected by Zoom with other participants who couldn’t come to the Park. Immediately after we started to study a new contribution written by Jorge Pavon about Chapter III of The Inner Look, The Non-meaning.

It was a very special study, lecture and interchange that was interrupted briefly by lunch outside and continued after well into the late afternoon. The general feeling was of a great comprehension of that chapter, especially when we exchange for hours our understanding and experiences related to several questions being presented by this contribution. We agreed to continue our study next month and in our weekly Saturday meetings.  

 

The general tone was of a deeper understanding of this important chapter  and also a deeper reflection upon OUR personal situation in front of the challenges that this chapter presents.

 

Sending a warm hug

Fernando

February 2022 Monthly Gathering

Another wonderful experience

We gathered again for our monthly gathering of 15 of us at the Park. We started with  ceremonies of Service and Wellbeing at 10 AM on Saturday connected by Zoom with other participants who couldn’t come to the Park. We have lunch outside and later we study parts of the book “The Internal Landscape”.

For the first time in years we were able to make a fire and we took full advantage of the option. We cooked some “choripan” on the open fire and ate some “smores”. We had a great time and on Sunday there was a meeting with one of the possible bidders to do our hall. We just got the permits to start building. Our gratitude to Michael and Rocio who found and worked with the contractor until we had everything done and all of this work done during the pandemia. Thanks again!!

 

Sending a warm hug

Fernando

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