Kasung Protectors Arise at SkyLake Lodge

A Summary by David Rook – Kasung Protectors Arise

All of us approached the weekend with mixed degrees of excitement and apprehension.

Since The Troubles, Kasung presence, events, and programs seem to have faded a bit.

I hadn’t been in uniform since early 2016.

Earlier this fall, I saw that Lennart Krogoll, Rupon would be leading Kasung Protectors

Arise at Sky Lake Lodge, I wrote him to check in as we had not seen each other for a

quite a few years. After a brief exchange, I registered for the program. When I did, my

old friend Irene Woodard, the Sky Lake instigator of this program, wrote to tell me she

let out a whoop when she saw my name pop up and to let me know that others had

expressed interest.

Our group of 10, including Krogoll Rupon, were a mix of the new and old. People

arrived from around the northeastern seaboard – Philadelphia, Baltimore, Albany, and

locally. Friday evening, we had virtual participants from Atlanta and Washington DC.

Some of us were able to put our uniforms together. With an air of inclusion, participants

could wear whatever they wanted.

Friday at 1800, we began with dinner in the dining room of Sky Lake Lodge where we

greeted old friends and made new ones. At 1930, we moved to the shrine room for

sitting and a talk by Mr. Krogoll based in part on excerpts from “It’s Your Duty (insert

title)” out of “True Command.” Spirited discussion ensued – friendly, curious, personal,

and insightful.

Saturday, we arose and gathered in the shrine room at 0800 for silent breakfast. At

0900 our first adventure outdoors down to the Sky Lake pond for a lasang – a thick

beautiful column of smoke arose. After the lasang, we raised the flag and began our

first drill practice. By about 1030, we headed for the shrine room with continued

readings, talks, and discussion. A delicious lunch in the shrine room followed. For work

period, Al Wolcott, one of the participants and the Sky Lake facility manager, guided us

through our work period.

These were beautiful late fall days in the New York Catskills.

By 1630, we gathered in the shrine room for sitting, further talks and discussions, and

protector chants followed by lowering the flag. We had a spirited mess and another

savory dinner prepared by Mr. Krogoll in the shrine room.

After another silent breakfast on Sunday, we gathered for drill again at 0900. By this

point, Mr. Krogoll had us fully venturing into drill giving everyone an opportunity to lead.

At 1000 we gathered in the shrine room for a final round of talks and discussions. With

another round of drill practice at 1100. Given some of the distances some people

traveled we joined for lunch at 1300 and were able to begin saying our good-byes at

1400.

Everyone left with enormously raised lungta. .... and it was agreed to gather again the following year at Sky Lake Lodge and bring our Kasung friends: November 13 to 15, 2026