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Project breathes new life into historic retreat
By Stacy Moore / Hi-Desert Star
Her lips curving in a quiet smile, the Japanese goddess Quan Yin balances on a rock outside the Lotus Meditation Building at the Joshua Tree Retreat. Her eyes are cast downward as she watches over the world.
In Buddhist legend, Quan Yin paused on the threshold of heaven and chose to return to earth, where she brings mercy to creatures trapped by misery and despair. An ancient entity that offers guidance to modern humanity, Quan Yin fits right in on the grounds of the home of Mentalphysics, which was founded by a man who wanted to guide modern Western civilization with ancient Tibetan techniques.
It was in 1941 that English journalist Edwin J. Dingle founded a spiritual retreat in Joshua Tree for followers of his Mentalphysics teachings.
One of the first white men ever to enter Tibet, Dingle studied Buddhist teachings, breathing techniques and meditation. When he returned to the West, it was as Ding Le Mei, a teacher who would spread his belief in the power of the mind and spirit.
Today, people all over the world acknowledge Ding Le Mei's teachings as a source of the breathing and meditative techniques they follow.
Thousands visit the retreat he built in Joshua Tree with the help of architects Frank Lloyd Wright and his son Lloyd Wright.
But for many people in the Morongo Basin itself, the complex most often known simply as “Mentalphysics” is a mystery - maybe even one that shouldn't be explored. Although Sunday services have been open to the public for years, the purpose and population of Mentalphysics has been regarded as secret.
New executive director Victoria Jennings wants to change that, opening Mentalphysics to the public arena just as the Wrights' architecture opens the outdoors to the interior.
Jennings looks at this century's interest in melding ancient spirituality with contemporary sciences like quantum physics, and she sees a renaissance of Ding Le Mei's teachings and ideas.
“It's all about finding balance in a chaotic world,” she explained during a recent tour of the facilities. “It's an approach most of us are taking now because life is so tough.”
Since she arrived in January, Jennings has been overseeing a remodeling project that is massive in scope. Buildings that have lain dormant, water fountains that have dried up and wood that has rotted are all being rebuilt, refurnished and scrubbed up.
Meanwhile, groups continue to use the facilities for conferences and retreats. Together, the buildings can sleep up to 300 visitors and Jennings says they frequently are full.
When a private group has not booked the retreat, however, it is open to anyone who wants to visit, tour the buildings, meditate in the gardens or simply find someplace quiet to reflect or read.
She asks that would-be visitors call first (365-8371) to make sure the facilities aren't booked, and to check in at the office when they arrive.
In another venture that could open up the facility to the outside world, workers are expanding the bookstore already on the site. “I want to bring in some rare books you won't find anywhere else,” said Jennings.
Books on self-help, metaphysics, spirituality and religions of the world will be featured. Incense, jewelry, crystals and other objects that would appeal to those books' audiences will take up some of the space as well.
Services, held at 10:30 a.m. Sundays, are open to the public and offer what Jennings calls inspirational, non-denominational services. Visiting authors and spiritual leaders are invited to be guest speakers.
The services are held in The Sanctuary, an octagonal building with vaulted ceilings. No microphones are necessary for speakers or musicians; the acoustics of the space enable two people standing on opposite ends of the room to have a conversation without ever raising a voice.
Mind-body-spirit
Triangles dominate the architecture of most of the site's buildings. Symbolic of the mind-body-spirit connection Ding Le Mei advocated, the shapes are everywhere. Even many of the closets and showers are angular, and Ding Le Mei's labyrinthine house features a triangular pool.
Like most Wright-influenced architecture, the buildings are designed to harmonize with the surrounding environment. The roof in Water Terrace, the dining hall, seems to spring up from the ground.
“Everywhere you look, there's beauty,” said Jennings.
The structures echo Ding Le Mei's teachings about seeking harmony and realizing the power of the mind. Jennings summarized mentalphysics as “the science of the mind and how it creates its reality.”
Primarily, Mentalphysics preaches a method of breathing which Ding Le Mei learned in Tibet.
“People never really knew what mentalphysics was all about,” said Jennings. “It is primarily yogic breathing techniques backed by his teachings about how powerful the human mind can be.”
The founder preached that the mind is so powerful, it can make dreams come true.
“Ding Le Mei's philosophy was that the human mind can create anything,” Jennings said.
He wasn't just speaking metaphorically. A member of the Mentalphysics board of directors who knew Ding Le Mei tells the story that as a teen-ager, he craved a certain car. Ding Le Mei told him to visualize himself as the owner of the car, putting every ounce of belief and power behind that vision. The car was sold and returned, and sold again until eventually it became available at the price the boy could afford. His vision became his reality.
Beyond material gain, Mentalphysics' founder hoped to show Westerners a path toward peace.
“Life has so much to offer,” said Jennings, “but we think it takes us in a certain direction and we can't do anything about it.” Ding Le Mei taught that humans can attract what they desire and find contentment in what life brings them.
Today, Jennings is bending the power of her own mind toward invigorating Ding Le Mei's dream.
Expansive vision
Now called the Joshua Tree Retreat Conference and Wellness Resort, the facilities occupy 420 acres on top of a natural aquifer - “so you are actually walking on water,” said Jennings.
There are two meeting halls, The Sanctuary, a dining hall and a meditation building. On another part of the property, Harmony Hall is a gathering space with hotel-style rooms that Jennings has vowed to turn into the hottest wedding venue in the region.
An outdoor amphitheater with a fire pit and earthen stage will, Jennings hopes, become the scene of a yearly community luau. A small park will be redesigned into a camping area.
One-bedroom apartments, studios and 21 cottages dot the property.
Everywhere there is new carpet and tiling. The kitchens gleam with new stainless-steel equipment.
A corps of contractors and cleaners has spread out across the acreage. They are deep into Phase I, the carpeting, tiling and plumbing phase. Phase II will be painting and Phase II, landscaping.
Throughout the project, every corner of every triangular shower stall is scrubbed and polished, ready for visitors. “I have the best, absolutely the best housekeepers,” beamed Jennings. “I'm so thankful.”
Outside the dining hall, a workman cleans out a reflecting pond while nearby, goldfish wriggle around their temporary home, a plastic kiddie pool.
Jennings plans to add more water features, and in particular wants to replace Quan Yin's square of colored rock with a pond.
In the meantime, the goddess presides with quiet grace over her corner of the retreat while around her, there is the blur and buzz of another dream coming true.
In Buddhist legend, Quan Yin paused on the threshold of heaven and chose to return to earth, where she brings mercy to creatures trapped by misery and despair. An ancient entity that offers guidance to modern humanity, Quan Yin fits right in on the grounds of the home of Mentalphysics, which was founded by a man who wanted to guide modern Western civilization with ancient Tibetan techniques.
It was in 1941 that English journalist Edwin J. Dingle founded a spiritual retreat in Joshua Tree for followers of his Mentalphysics teachings.
One of the first white men ever to enter Tibet, Dingle studied Buddhist teachings, breathing techniques and meditation. When he returned to the West, it was as Ding Le Mei, a teacher who would spread his belief in the power of the mind and spirit.
Today, people all over the world acknowledge Ding Le Mei's teachings as a source of the breathing and meditative techniques they follow.
Thousands visit the retreat he built in Joshua Tree with the help of architects Frank Lloyd Wright and his son Lloyd Wright.
But for many people in the Morongo Basin itself, the complex most often known simply as “Mentalphysics” is a mystery - maybe even one that shouldn't be explored. Although Sunday services have been open to the public for years, the purpose and population of Mentalphysics has been regarded as secret.
New executive director Victoria Jennings wants to change that, opening Mentalphysics to the public arena just as the Wrights' architecture opens the outdoors to the interior.
Jennings looks at this century's interest in melding ancient spirituality with contemporary sciences like quantum physics, and she sees a renaissance of Ding Le Mei's teachings and ideas.
“It's all about finding balance in a chaotic world,” she explained during a recent tour of the facilities. “It's an approach most of us are taking now because life is so tough.”
Since she arrived in January, Jennings has been overseeing a remodeling project that is massive in scope. Buildings that have lain dormant, water fountains that have dried up and wood that has rotted are all being rebuilt, refurnished and scrubbed up.
Meanwhile, groups continue to use the facilities for conferences and retreats. Together, the buildings can sleep up to 300 visitors and Jennings says they frequently are full.
When a private group has not booked the retreat, however, it is open to anyone who wants to visit, tour the buildings, meditate in the gardens or simply find someplace quiet to reflect or read.
She asks that would-be visitors call first (365-8371) to make sure the facilities aren't booked, and to check in at the office when they arrive.
In another venture that could open up the facility to the outside world, workers are expanding the bookstore already on the site. “I want to bring in some rare books you won't find anywhere else,” said Jennings.
Books on self-help, metaphysics, spirituality and religions of the world will be featured. Incense, jewelry, crystals and other objects that would appeal to those books' audiences will take up some of the space as well.
Services, held at 10:30 a.m. Sundays, are open to the public and offer what Jennings calls inspirational, non-denominational services. Visiting authors and spiritual leaders are invited to be guest speakers.
The services are held in The Sanctuary, an octagonal building with vaulted ceilings. No microphones are necessary for speakers or musicians; the acoustics of the space enable two people standing on opposite ends of the room to have a conversation without ever raising a voice.
Mind-body-spirit
Triangles dominate the architecture of most of the site's buildings. Symbolic of the mind-body-spirit connection Ding Le Mei advocated, the shapes are everywhere. Even many of the closets and showers are angular, and Ding Le Mei's labyrinthine house features a triangular pool.
Like most Wright-influenced architecture, the buildings are designed to harmonize with the surrounding environment. The roof in Water Terrace, the dining hall, seems to spring up from the ground.
“Everywhere you look, there's beauty,” said Jennings.
The structures echo Ding Le Mei's teachings about seeking harmony and realizing the power of the mind. Jennings summarized mentalphysics as “the science of the mind and how it creates its reality.”
Primarily, Mentalphysics preaches a method of breathing which Ding Le Mei learned in Tibet.
“People never really knew what mentalphysics was all about,” said Jennings. “It is primarily yogic breathing techniques backed by his teachings about how powerful the human mind can be.”
The founder preached that the mind is so powerful, it can make dreams come true.
“Ding Le Mei's philosophy was that the human mind can create anything,” Jennings said.
He wasn't just speaking metaphorically. A member of the Mentalphysics board of directors who knew Ding Le Mei tells the story that as a teen-ager, he craved a certain car. Ding Le Mei told him to visualize himself as the owner of the car, putting every ounce of belief and power behind that vision. The car was sold and returned, and sold again until eventually it became available at the price the boy could afford. His vision became his reality.
Beyond material gain, Mentalphysics' founder hoped to show Westerners a path toward peace.
“Life has so much to offer,” said Jennings, “but we think it takes us in a certain direction and we can't do anything about it.” Ding Le Mei taught that humans can attract what they desire and find contentment in what life brings them.
Today, Jennings is bending the power of her own mind toward invigorating Ding Le Mei's dream.
Expansive vision
Now called the Joshua Tree Retreat Conference and Wellness Resort, the facilities occupy 420 acres on top of a natural aquifer - “so you are actually walking on water,” said Jennings.
There are two meeting halls, The Sanctuary, a dining hall and a meditation building. On another part of the property, Harmony Hall is a gathering space with hotel-style rooms that Jennings has vowed to turn into the hottest wedding venue in the region.
An outdoor amphitheater with a fire pit and earthen stage will, Jennings hopes, become the scene of a yearly community luau. A small park will be redesigned into a camping area.
One-bedroom apartments, studios and 21 cottages dot the property.
Everywhere there is new carpet and tiling. The kitchens gleam with new stainless-steel equipment.
A corps of contractors and cleaners has spread out across the acreage. They are deep into Phase I, the carpeting, tiling and plumbing phase. Phase II will be painting and Phase II, landscaping.
Throughout the project, every corner of every triangular shower stall is scrubbed and polished, ready for visitors. “I have the best, absolutely the best housekeepers,” beamed Jennings. “I'm so thankful.”
Outside the dining hall, a workman cleans out a reflecting pond while nearby, goldfish wriggle around their temporary home, a plastic kiddie pool.
Jennings plans to add more water features, and in particular wants to replace Quan Yin's square of colored rock with a pond.
In the meantime, the goddess presides with quiet grace over her corner of the retreat while around her, there is the blur and buzz of another dream coming true.
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