Retreat center
in Askat
Appearance and realization of the project is inseparably connected with the name of Dmitry Polyakov - a man of incredible power and energy. In 1995 he found a place in Altai and showed it to Ole. Having Ole's support of thoughts and means, he with the group of friends began building. In the spring of 1996 the group of builders made their first turn to the place. The beginning was very prosy - transfer of the toilet to a new hole, renovation of the fence and so on. However we (builders) were "hooked" from the very first second. The state of some euphoria accompanied the whole first building season. It was the time of great enthusiasm of working in rough conditions - 10-11 hours long way on weekends in the cargo part of the UAZik car (often together with drinking measurable doses of "cooling" drinks), two days of hard work of grouting the basement in the atmosphere of the exuberant high spirits, and departure with the feeling of the good weariness in the limbs, until the next weekend.
Especially remarkable point - when putting Ole's nails in the corner of the foundation, in a completely windless weather there was a level, strong and absolutely special blow of the wind. That season very substantial foundation was completed.
The next, that of the 1997 was devoted to putting a blockhouse (walls of timbers and the frame of the roof). That time in Askat in some sense became a kind of a "range of the friendship of nations". People from St.Petersburg, Volgograd, Barnaul, Czech tourists (having no relation to Buddhism before), some local people from Askat and just good people took an active part in building. There were also present Germans and Austrian. There were a lot of possibilities to communicate and have a good time. It was the first time when the differences between German and Slav mentality became evident. (Consequently they got more obvious.) That time traditions were developed and deepened. So many different people were there - one could come across a very interesting personalities.
That summer everybody had a hard teaching of impermanence - Diman Plyakov, the heart of the Altai project, man of steel, died in an accident on his way to Askat. However his presence and turbulent energy remained there. One can really feel it in everything. He put so a lot into Askat and created such an impulse, that it could be possible to build 200 such centers based on that.
In this 1998 season there was a lot of diligent work, which can't be seen so obviously. There was also made a blockhouse for banya, dug and covered with concrete a big basement, recently was done the roofing. Also bought the boiler for heating system, and when there will be enough money for the rest of the equipment for heating and water-supply, it will be installed by specialists from Irkutsk center. Michel from Switzerland brought and left for Askat an old minibus Ford Transit, which is of great help. Participants of works are gradually getting professionals in building craft.
What can one say about Askat in general? The place, for sure, is beautiful. Besides the beauty of the environmental nature, pure ecology, mountains and proudly carrying it's sometimes blue, sometimes emerald and sometimes cloudy white waters, river Katun, there's a lot of exotic stuff. In Askat lives a warlock in a pentagonal tower, orthodox Christians are building a hut for themselves. Near the place is situated a mountain called Lukovitsa (onion bulb), which is said to be a very strong "energetically". Around the region one can meet some self-made mages, people of agni- and sahadja-yoga, extrasenses and the other jerks. All the practitioners notice special experiences in their practice. But the strongest practice is the building itself. Work shoots really well! In Askat everything fastens, becomes more intensive. Attitude to Askat put the proper accents in relationships between Novosibirsk Buddhists, helped to realize who is who.
The blessing of Askat is so strong that if one comes here with improper motivation (e.g. for self-advertisement) his working tools refuse to work, limbs can be broken and so on. Therefore those looking for free entertainment should think it over. And those sincerely wishing to help in building of the retreat center in Askat are welcome with their cash.
Yours, Altai Center
Ilya Sandomirsky
e-mail: altai@buddhism.ru
Lama Ole's words about Askat
I'm very glad about the place here. I can see a very good development and many people will find inner freedom and deep meaning for their lives. And here especially so many chances to go deeply in one's mind and really learn in the deep level. What you do here - it's historical, and very meaningful. We will be together in it. I think you'll have here a great chance to make really deep and useful practices.
As for myself, it was always my dream. When Hannah and I started in early seventies, the first thing we did was the retreat center like this in Sweden. But we were too trusted and when we were in India one lama, who want to monopolize Dharma in Europe, his name is Akong, - he advised to Swedish woman we've bought it together to sell it. And when we came back the place was going. We got the money back we've put in, of course, also with interest, but more or less our work was finished in Scandinavia. Of course, if we were more in Scandinavia, we wouldn't be able to work in Germany, Poland and here. It was blessing in the skies.
But anyway, after that time we never have a period when we could be in the wood to cut down few trees and use the axe and saw again, and the fact that it becomes possible here in the kind of climate and kind of nature which is so similar to Sweden, it makes me very glad. We are getting something we've lost long time ago and it's coming together.
***
Lama Ole Nydahl said it in March 1996, when in Askat, besides a piece of land, which was almost completely bought, was nothing. And there had been no permission for building neither, it was received only in May, 1997, when there was ready foundation and building had already started.
On March of 1998 Ole went to see the accomplished blockhouse without roofing (there was no enough money) and he liked it very much.
Take a look at Askat photo albums:
