With
the overload of news these days, sometimes you just want to unplug, go
somewhere with no cell service and just be.
Nestled in groves of redwood trees in the town of Soquel in Santa Cruz
County is the Land of the Medicine Buddha, a much-needed haven to retreat from
the noise of the outside world.
Who Can Visit
Open
to all visitors, (not just Buddhists), you can visit for the day or stay overnight. Currently the yurts situated in the middle of
the redwoods that is normally available from May-October are closed but there
are 19 guest rooms in the main lodging area that are available for reservations. In line with providing a tranquil experience
free of distractions, rooms are not equipped with telephones, television, or
internet services.
We
hope to experience the latter in the future but for our first visit, we settled
for a few hours on a sunny afternoon. Since
they are a non-profit, recommended donations for day visitors are $5 per visitor
that goes towards maintaining the property and trails within the Land of the
Medicine Buddha.
Respect
Regarded
as a sacred place, this is an active Buddhist community with ordained monks and
nuns living, working, and teaching here.
Therefore, please follow the guidelines below out of respect when you
are guests on this land.
Please
dress modestly at all times (shirts required, no short shorts or short skirts)
and if you are lucky enough to cross paths with the monks or nuns, address them
as Venerable.
Use
your inside voice at all times to maintain the environment of peace and tranquility
Follow
the Five Precepts
Abstain
from killing (even bugs)
Abstain
from lying
Abstain
from stealing
Abstain
from sexual misconduct
Abstain
from usage of intoxicants: tobacco, alcohol
and drugs
Hiking Trails
Hiking trails that is open to the public on weekdays include a two
or 6 mile loop. Be aware with parts of
it crossing over into the Forest of Nisene Marks State Park, trails may not be as
well maintained or marked off the LMB property. As gates close promptly at 5:30PM, due to time constraints, we limited our visit to within the
LMB property line as day guests need to be off property beforehand. Overnight guests have more flexibility and can
re-enter later with the code provided with their reservation.
Holy Objects Lower and Upper Areas of Property
Even
before venturing onto the trail, near the entrance, the Land of the Medicine
Buddha allows you to let go of that negative energy and heal through mantras
with the spin of the prayer wheel.
As
you climb further up, you will find the Ksitigarbha Statue to walk around with
mantras and practices to avert danger and purify obstacles,
a smaller prayer wheel
to turn clockwise for peace and happiness,
the Namgyalma Bell where the sound
of the bell helps the sentient beings reach enlightenment, and ending with the strike
of the gong.
Eight Verses Pilgrimage Loop
The
Eight Verses Pilgrimage Loops is a beautiful leisurely walk shaded by the redwood
canopy to enjoy at your own pace. Side
note: Off this loop is where you would
find the Yurt village when it was open for guest stays. With sayings and teachings along the prayer
flags to contemplate along your walk and benches at each stop to meditate, you will
find yourself letting go of your worries.
Whether
you just want a break to decompress or rebalance, with no distractions or noise
except for the songs of the birds, you are sure to emerge from the Land of the
Medicine Buddha with a deeper sense of peace, something we all need more of
these days.
Land
of the Medicine Buddha
5800
Prescott Road
Soquel,
CA 95073
831-462-8383
Land
of Medicine Buddha | providing Dharma study and practice opportunities and
retreat facilities in the Santa Cruz redwoods
Hours
and accessibility can change any time with the current environment so please
check their website for most updated information.
