Community life in the Rila mountains

This week was a bit special : we went to the Rila mountains to discover a new form of community life. After having experienced a small-scale community life in Zhelen, I discovered a different extent here, as well as a new environment. Located close to the Fish Lake, the second of the Seven Lakes of Rila, our camp was nestled between these pine trees that grow low to the ground, creating a landscape full of surprises : sometimes closing in on itself and sometimes opening out onto the grandiose landscape of the Rila National Park.

What I discovered and felt here went beyond anything I could have imagined. I discovered a group of incredibly welcoming people, who never made us feel like we weren’t one of them, but instead always tried to integrate us, to teach us things and to learn from us in return. The exchanges we had were constructive and inspiring, on a personal, human and spiritual level. It wasn’t without some trepidation that I also experienced the highly ritualised aspect of community life, as I had never experienced anything like it before ; but as I gradually learned to understand the meaning of everything, and thanks to the many people who spoke to me with passion and enthusiasm about this life, I managed to integrate it fully.

Within this daily rhythm of songs, dances and readings, we also shared great moments over meals, talking and getting to know each other better. I was very impressed by the camp’s rigorous organisation, essential to the smooth running of group life, which was discussed by everyone at group meetings and always carried out in good humour, with some people taking care of the cooking, others helping to transport the luggage of new arrivals, or fetching water from the source. Some mountain lovers, and connoisseurs of the history and spirituality that permeates the Rila lakes, took us on hikes to places that were both magnificent and full of meaning for the community.

I arrived at the camp as an outsider and, when I left, I still felt nostalgic. This immersion only lasted one week, but I have the impression that I learned a lot ; the richness of this experience is that it was both collective and individual, but also both intense and peaceful… just like the place : a mountain that is both calm and unpredictable, both immense and full of secrets.

Maya