It's All About
BEING HONEST
Dharma Retreats in
North America and Asia
Why silence makes a difference?
When we stop talking, different portions of our brains become more active.
"Broca's area, located in the frontal lobe of the left hemisphere of the brain, is responsible for speech production and articulation."
"Neuroscientists believe that, in humans and mammals, the cerebral cortex is the “seat of consciousness,” while the midbrain reticular formation and certain thalamic nuclei may provide gating and other necessary functions of the cortex. Your cerebral
cortex, also called gray matter, is your brain’s outermost layer of nerve cell tissue. It has a wrinkled appearance from its many
folds and grooves. Your cerebral cortex plays a key role in memory, thinking, learning, reasoning, problem-solving, emotions, consciousness and functions related to your senses."
When we function on "the everyday autopilot" we mostly use overactive front lobe, but when we spend some times contemplating or resting in silence, we activate our gray matter, or improve all of our senses. Our brain is very flexible,
it has ability to regenerate and shows Neuroplasticity. The more time you spend in silence, the more you will be able to see
& hear your own thoughts, as they begin arising. You will recognize what emotions cause certain thoughts and what actions
they lead to. You will have much better control of what is beneficial in your life an what thoughts are not. You will begin noticing how other people act and think, you can learn how to read others better. This process will eventually become your
"new autopilot", and silence would not matter much, you will be able to do it in any ordinary situation: on the bus, in the car,
in the store, in the kitchen, etc. I spend about 4 years in nearly complete silence. I communicated with a sticky notes and emails.
56 Lieb Road
Spencer, NY 14883
1702 McVeigh Road
Perth, ON K7H 3C9 Canada
690 Chemin de la Rivière Rouge
Canton D'Harrington, QC J8G 2S7 Canada
359 Hollow Road
McDonough, NY 13801
THUKPA SOUP
MAIN INGRIDIENTS:
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Beef /Meat
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Shiitake Mushrooms
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White Kidney Beans
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Ginger
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Celery
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Onion
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Potato
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Carrot
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Nutmeg
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Cardamom
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Coriander
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Cloves
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Black Pepper
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Garlic
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Olive oil Ghee for sauteing
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Handmade flat noodle
For the HANDMADE NOODLES you will need to combine flour, water and salt to form a dough. Flatten the dough with a rolling pin or hands, then shape the dough into anything your prefer.
Boil meat together with spices.
"Butter braise" all vegetables, including shiitake mushrooms, and mix together with the beef/meat broth. Add noodles 20 minutes before soup is done. Serve with fresh parsley or dill with scallions mix sprinkle.
BARLEY DISHES
MAIN INGRIDIENTS:
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Barley
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Mushrooms
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Onions
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Celery
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Scallions
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Celantro
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Dill
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Bay leaves
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Carrot
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Nutmeg
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Cardamom
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Cloves
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Black Pepper
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Garlic
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Ghee for sauteing
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Salt
"Butter braise" all vegetables, including mushrooms, before mixing it with steamed or boiled barley. You can serve plain yogurt or sour cream with fresh herbs on the side.
Shiitake Mushrooms
MUST have for TUKHPA
Barley
MUST have for BARLEY
CHAI
MAIN INGRIDIENTS:
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Cinnamon sticks
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Fresh Ginger
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Cloves
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Nutmeg
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Green cardamom pods
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Black peppercorns
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Fennel seeds
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Unsalted Butter
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Organic Raw Sugar
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Black Ceylon Tea
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Milk
-
Butter
Boil milk, add all spices together and lower the heat to the minimum.
Continue to boil and mix for 25 minutes on the lower heat until the color of the tea turns solid "coffee cream" color. Drain all remaining spices and serve, either hot
or cold.
GREEN CURRY
MAIN INGRIDIENTS:
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Thai basil
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Lemongrass
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Bamboo shoots
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Red bell pepper
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Green curry paste
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Makrut lime leaves
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Coconut milk
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Fish sauce
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Organic Raw or Brown sugar
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Boneless skinless chicken or tofu
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Chicken broth
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Eggplant
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Ghee for sauteing
Saute: curry paste, basil, lemon grass, coconut milk and bamboo shots together with coconut milk, until it thickens. Add chicken and remaining ingredients together and let it shimmer on the low heat until chicken is fully cooked. Add green leaves and serve with steamed rice.
Ginger
MUST have for CHAI
Red Curry Paste
MUST have for RED CURRY
SAMOSAS
MAIN INGRIDIENTS:
-
Russet potatoes
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Onion
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Carrot
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Green Peas
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Cilantro
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Garlic
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Ginger
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Olive oil/Ghee
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Lemon juice
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Cayenne Pepper
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Coriander Powder
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Crushed Chilies
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Cumin Seeds
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Curry Powder
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Fennel Seeds
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Garam Masala
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Garlic Flakes
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Salt & Ground Black Pepper
For the DOUGH you will need to combine flour, carom seeds (Ajwain seeds)butter and salt. Use deep fryer
or boiling butter to cook it.
RED CURRY
MAIN INGRIDIENTS:
-
Red curry paste
-
Coconut milk
-
Chicken meat or tofu
-
Chicken broth
-
Fish sauce
-
Celery
-
Thai basil
-
Red Pepper
-
Mild dried chilies
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Spicy dried chilies
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White peppercorns
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Eggplant
-
Scallions
-
Celantro
-
Brown or raw sugar
-
Nutmeg
-
Garlic
-
Shallots
-
Lemongrass
-
Galangal Root(it is not ginger)
-
Makrut (kaffir) lime
-
Ghee for sauteing
-
Salt
Saute: curry paste, basil, lemon grass, coconut milk and bamboo shots, red pepper and eggplant together with coconut milk, until it thickens. Add chicken and remaining ingredients together and let it shimmer on the
low heat until chicken is fully cooked. Add green leaves and serve with steamed rice.
Potato
MUST have for SAMOSA
Lemongrass
MUST have for GREEN CURRY
Places to Hide from the World
There are many fun hideaway locations you can find in the mountain regions.
Sometimes , we need complete seclusion for one traumatic reason or the other.
These are some places, that can be great hideaways.
Pacific BC Lakes
Deep Western Hills
Old Western Style
Midwestern Amish Charm
Pennsylvania Gloomy Calm
Southern Waterfront
Upstate New York
Magical Forest
Forest Resort
Canadian Border Lakes
Icy Lakes
Midwest Forest Charm
Country River Fun
Destress in Vermont
Snowy Mountains
Glacier Lakes
Wisconsin Cheese Lakes
Midwest Country Luxury
Midwest Country Luxury
Southern Country Luxury
New Brunswick Borders
Christians Retreats in
North America
392 Boyds Mills Road
Milanville, PA 18443
9270 Loyola Retreat Road
Faulkner, MD 20632
18165 Midland Blvd,
Nampa, ID 83687