hilltop newsletter


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Spreading the Goodness

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Picture: planting a tree for James

A good number of the Glasgow Group gathered at the monastery on Saturday 17th to say goodbye to our dear friend James Scott. James was the founder (and sustainer for many years) of the Glasgow group and was much loved by many…

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Red Sky at Night

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Picture: Sunset on Harnham Lake

Whether or not a red sky at night is really a harbinger of fine weather around the corner, sunsets can be a treat. Life for most of us here presently proceeds as usual; except for Aj Punnyo who is leading a group of…

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Retreat Again

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Picture: Ajahn Punnyo

The Full Moon for this next month falls tomorrow, 1st September. Recently here it's been raining again, but also the sun has been shining again and now we are about to have a retreat again; this time a lay retreat led by Ajahn Punnyo at…

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Gentle Calm

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Picture: Ajahn Go at the Lake-side Kuti

After all the wind we had during the recent retreat week, last Saturday's Lake Work Day with a wash-out, however moods were not too dampened and lots of work was still done. Thankfully these interludes of inclement weather are beautifully contrasted…

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Very Helpful

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Picture: Rolf Henrik

The Full Moon for this month falls tomorrow, Thursday 18th August. In recent weeks it seems we've had more than our fair share of windy weather, but it has not been cold. And during the recent retreat week there wasn't anything so serious as to…

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Business As Usual

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Picture: kitchen manager, Justin-from-France

Justin is already well settled into kitchen managing although because of the retreat he is having this week off. The 22 or so retreatants on our annual Summer Retreat, led as usual by Ajahn Abhinando, have also settled in, with Rolf Henrik and Jonathan…

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Settling In

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Picture: Ajahn Go

The New Moon for this month is today, Wednesday 3rd August. Last week was a quiet week with residents and guests settling into a period of silence and solitude. Ajahn Go seems to be settling into living in the somewhat cooler, wetter climes of Northumberland. We

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Rains Retreat 2016/2559

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picture: the sangha at Harnham vassa 2016

The Full Moon for this month fell yesterday, 19th July. This month's Full Moon is known traditionally as Asalha Puja and is a time for reflecting on the very first occasion when the Buddha offered teachings on the Four Noble Truths

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'The Blessings House'

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Picture: Mangala House to be

The Full Moon for this month falls next Tuesday 19th July. Today, Wednesday 13th July, is Ajahn Punnyo's birthday. And today Ajahn Punnyo will visit the Carlisle Group. Oh, and our monastery trustees have just bought one of the neighbouring houses here on…

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