Filed in hilltop newsletter
(picture: laying wire-mesh on the boardwalk)
Saturday was our last Lake Work Day for the year. Despite snow and sleet and temperatures just above zero, good progress was made in laying the wire-mesh on the boardwalk (to prevent users from slipping). Anagarika Will and his mother planted a…
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(picture: Ajahns Punnyo and Achalo on Vultures Peak)
Being buffeted by wild winter winds is expectable at this time of year if you live in Northumberland. Storm Desmond however was a bit out of the ordinary. Thankfully the gusts that battered Harnham Hill last week eventually passed…
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(picture: Tan Gambhiro visiting Harnham, November 2015)
This week sees the arrival of Ajahn Sukhacitto (Thurs. 3rd Dec.) and the departure of Tan Gambhiro (Sun. 6th Dec.). Aj Sukhacitto is en route to take up residence at Cittaviveka Monastery for the Winter Retreat. Tan Gambhiro has been…
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(picture: carp in the Memorial Garden pond)
Once again, this time at Chithurst's Kathina, it was evident how much dedicated effort went into preparations for this annual festival. Four of our Harnham community joined in on the occasion, travelling down to West Sussex on Thursday and back…
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(picture: Amaravati Kathina)
As usual the Amaravati Kathina (last Sunday) was a large and festive event. Over 600 visitors came to reaffirm, in the traditional Theravada way, their appreciation for spiritual community. Luang Por Dumrong from NE Thailand was the senior Elder on the day. Luang Por…
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(picture: Luang Por Pasanno)
With last week's group of guests gone we've had a brief interlude of calm. Then on Monday a noticeable ripple appeared with Tan Gambhiro arriving. Many of you will remember him from the four years he spent here at the very beginning of…
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(picture: 2015 Kathina-season Almsgiving)
Cooperation was the theme of the day at Sunday's festival. It began with an energetic crowd of Thai university students arriving early to help with parking and general preparations. We seem to have succeeded in not disturbing our neighbours this year and once…
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(picture: Aj Abhinando attending to gas supplies at the kutis)
On Sunday evening at puja Ajahn Abhinando offered a short reflection on Mindfulness of Breathing. Yesterday, Tuesday 27th October, was the end of our Rains Retreat (vassa) for 2015 and the self-imposed limitations on…
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(picture: sunrise from Harnham Hill)
The days really are significantly shorter now. Birdsong in the morning is muted and soon we can expect ice. Our recent Silent Practice week was relatively uneventful, at least on the outside. Community members made good use of the kutis and the…
