Kristína Sacherová from the Czech Republic participated in an IVS project at the Tara Kadampa centre in Derbyshire. She wrote the following about her time there:
“A workcamp in Tara Kadampa Meditation Centre in Derbyshire, UK, which I took part in this March 2018, has brought me lots of new experiences, findings and friendships. The centre is situated in the beautiful pure nature of the English countryside near the Peak District National Park. There are many walking and cycle routes around where you can see typical English scenery with houses and fences made of stones, green fields and sheep. Together with 4 other volunteers from Spain, Ireland, Belgium and Italy and other residents of the centre from all around the world, we worked on the preparation of annual Dharma Easter festival and helped out in a nearby café which belongs to the centre.
Most days, my task was to serve people in the café. I enjoyed the work and atmosphere very much. The World Peace Café is a very cosy and calm place full of the nice smell of coffee and English tea, delicious cakes and smiling people. Since I am going to start working as a waitress next month, this experience was not only lovely but also very valuable to me. Alongside, I experienced the life of Buddhist monks and other volunteers who live permanently in the meditation centre. Every day I took part in a 30-minute midday guided meditation and once for a week there was an evening lecture with a resident teacher which included meditation, too. Also, there were several singing prayings per week called which were open to public and us, as well. I really liked all of them and will, for sure, continue to explore myself and find my inner peace with meditation techniques I learned about in the centre”.