First Encounters with the Mountain. Excursions to the Summit of Moussala

[Ani]

First Encounters with the Mountain

The connection with nature is essential for modern man. The confused rhythm of life in large cities, the noise, and the polluted air prevent us from leading a healthy life. Excursions in the mountains charge us with vital energy. It can best be felt high in the mountains where the influence of human civilization is the smallest. Being part of nature, man needs a continuous connection with it to preserve his vital balance.

Peter Dunov took every opportunity to go to the mountains, alone or with his disciples. In the early years of his work, while traveling the country, he would visit certain places: from Varna, he would go to Tashli Tepe, from Bourgas to Biaz Bair, from Aitos to Paspalata, and from Sliven to Koush Bounar. He was usually accompanied by a group of disciples. After the sunrise, they would do exercises together. These were the Master's small lessons. They were later re-taught in other forms, and the small excursions developed into mountain camps.

Excursions to the Summit of Moussala

With the opening of the School, Peter Dunov put his disciples to more serious trials. In the second half of July 1922, he led a large group to the summit of Moussala. His purpose was instructive: "If one can conquer Moussala, he will be able to overcome many other difficulties as well," he said. After the excursion, his recapitulation was:

"We climbed Moussala, 104 men and women, aged 15 to 70. We went up the southern side and came down the northern side. We made the first attempt at the New Teaching, trying to see what it could give the human soul."

For the summer excursions to the Moussala, the group usually traveled to Cham Koria with a truck. From there, they climbed up through pines and scrubs and streams and flowers. The Master would go slowly, talking with the disciples, telling them about the rocks and the trees - giving, if fact, lectures on everything they saw on their way. A distance any hiker would cover in a couple of hours, they walked a whole day, sometimes even two days. They spent the night in the open. The Master's purpose was not to climb the peak and return. He wanted the disciples to spend more time on the mountain, fill themselves with energy and have the magnificence of Nature imprinted on their memory.

They went up so as to be able to greet the sunrise on the summit. The rising sun presented a majestic picture. It was the reward for their efforts and ennobled their hearts.

After the opening of the School, it became a tradition to make an excursion to Moussala in July, before the August convention. They set up a camp at the foot of the peak and climbed it early in the morning to greet the rising sun from the mountaintop. The weather conditions were not always favourable. On the 12th of July 1925, after a strenuous climb in a rainy and foggy weather, the disciples stopped for the night by the first lake. That night they all sat awake by the fire, just below the peak. "You thought this year we would have a fine weather as usual. You were so sure of it that you took no coats. I told you to get sweaters," the Master said. Some of the disciples were discouraged by the bad weather and doubted whether they would be able to climb the peak the following morning. "Say T can do it'," the Master advised them. "When you concentrate, it is as if you wrap up your body and you keep warmer." The next morning the whole group climbed the peak.