A retreat
Center in Morki
In July 1999 in Morki (Mari El Republic) on money donated by two buisnessmen-idealists, who where members of the Center, we have bought a building of ex-Statebank with general area of 250 sq.m. and belonging territory of 0,24 hectare.
The building had been made in 1932 of ripen wood. An evaluating commitee determined general abrasion of 85% but after reconstruction of the ceiling it can be use as a retreat center.
A Gompa in our cneter is rather big - 150 sq.m. 50-60 people can practice in the same time. We plan a dinning-room (16 sq.m.) and a room for lamas (16 sq.m.), two living rooms (generally - 23 sq.m.)
In our plans - broadening of the building and construction of the stone addition for toilets, showers and boiler.
Works for 2000
- Putting all the windows,
- Isolating walls,
- Strenthening ceiling,
- New flooring,
- Water supply,
- Heating,
- Solving question with sewerage.
We actively started to reconstruct the building, especially after the visit of Lama Ole and Hannah Nydahl in August 1999. The following works had been done:
- took out spare ovens;
- took apart many walls in gompa;
- heat two room, which are used now for meditations and other needs (in bad frosts a lot of interesting things happen when we sit there with a cup of tea);
- building has 19 windows with double frames 1,5x2,5 m. and we have to work a lot to put new ones
- a lot of time and efforts we have spent in clearing garbage
- renewed entrance stairs, fixed the roof.
Now in Morki 2-10 people work everyday. On weekends there come helpers from Volzhsk, Zelenodolsk, Yoshkar-Ola.
We think that our Morki is going to be a wonderful retreat place for central and Volzhsk regions. It is not only interesting work, inspiring pracice, but as well good rest (we have a lot of pure air, beautiful lakes, sacred woods, fresh vegetables, barries and mashrooms in a forest).
Contact phones:
(83635)-9-74-41 Center,
(83635)-9-79-59 Luda Alexandrova,
(83635)-9-16-56 Sasha Ermoshin
E-mail: yoshkar-ola@buddhism.ru
How to reach us
From Moscow: train No. 58 (Moscow - Yoshkar-Ola) to Shelanger station, then bus Yoshkar-Ola - Morki (every hour) to Morki village (57 km).
From Green Dol: electrotrain or bus to Volzhsk city then from autostation by bus using any of the ways below:
- Volzhsk - Morki (13-00) or
- Volzhsk - Yoshkar-Ola till the cross leading to Morki, the see above.
- electrotrain Shelanger station, then see above.
Our center is in the phase of building so you should have money for meals and leaving. We from our side will try to help you in finding the best solution in that.