Blogs from Montebello, Quebec, Canada, North America

Chapter 1 - Anicca Pali was said to be "a common language of culture among people using different dialects in Northern India, used at the time of the Buddha, and employed by him." Much of the teachings of Vipassana Meditation are based on the Pali language, and translated as closely as possible into other languages for non-Pali speakers, which is just about everyone in the world. Vipassana Meditation is a non-sectarian practice taught to all people, regardless of religious affiliation. It is said to be the purest teaching of meditation taught by the buddha some 2500 years ago. It was practiced by tens of thousands in the area which is now south asia, including Northern India and Burma. According to the present day leading lay teacher, S.N. Goenka, the pure teachings of Vipassana were all but ... read more

Montebello is an hour-ish drive outside of Ottawa. It's a sleepy area that's very perfect for getting away from it all and lots of outdoorsy things to do. The Chateau is a beautiful log cabin in the woods. You can just imagine the people in the 30's in the long dresses playing croquet on the lawn. It's right by the river (haven't figured out which one yet) so the view is amazing. Being here on the last week of summer means I miss the beautiful fall colours and most of the summer fun. The outdoor pool was closed and the river was just a little bit too cold to do any canoeing or kayaking. I spent my day off visiting a restored heritage house (Manoir Papineau) and learning about the history of the area. I had ... read more