Filed in hilltop newsletter
(picture: Ajahn Ahimsako)
Next Monday will be the new-moon day for October; already this year's Rains Retreat is drawing to a close. From 12th - 17th October we expect to be on our final Silent Practice Week for 2015. Ajahn Ahimsako has returned to Amaravati leaving behind a…
Filed in hilltop newsletter
(picture Kusala House Shrine)
Ajahn Abhinando arrived back safely from leading a retreat in Romania. Ian Plagaro-Neil has been at Harnham over the weekend at Kusala House leading a Gateshead Group retreat. Nick Pearce has been here cleaning the chimneys. The world didn't end despite the predictions. On Full-Moon…
Filed in hilltop newsletter
(picture: Gil strimming)
The Lake Work Day for September was a washout. This didn't stop Gil from Israel, and various other friends, from throwing themselves into the autumn cleanup. Penny coordinated activities as usual with her admirable alacrity. Abramina has been encouraging guests at Kusala House with…
Filed in hilltop newsletter
(picture: Harnham Lake in September)
It's September which means the swallows and house martins will soon be leaving; for now the swans seem happy to stay where they are. September also means it's the abbot's birthday, and to celebrate, today the new forestsangha.org website has gone live. Anumodana to…
Filed in hilltop newsletter
(picture: stupa finial)
Last week's silent practice re-emphasised our commitment to the inner life. This week we are talking again and are a little more engaged, though hopefully without losing direction. On Sunday the walkers from Bolam Lake visited. The local Council organises such walks several times a…
Filed in hilltop newsletter
(picture: August's Lake Day Workers)
Our front porch is safe and secure again, thanks to Anagarika Giovanni's woodworking skills. The footpaths and seating areas are weeded and mown again, thanks to August's Lake Day workers. A collapsed stone wall in the Memorial Garden has been reconstructed by Anagarika Will…
Filed in hilltop newsletter
(picture: Ajahn Punnyo in Thailand)
Saturday was a great success in terms of the gathering that turned out for this month's Lake Work Day. Warm weather, but not too warm, contributed to a sense of congeniality, and Penny's precise instructions meant all the good energy was put…
Filed in hilltop newsletter
(picture: model of proposed re-building)
Last week, Ajahn Abhinando guided a committed group of diligent meditators through this year's Summer Retreat. Most participants departed on Saturday, some on Sunday, thoroughly enriched and inspired. Sunday evening's Dhamma Talk by Luang Por was called Victory and Defeat, reflecting on…
Filed in hilltop newsletter
(picture: garden detail)
Last Thursday was Full Moon Day, Asalha Puja, with a Dhamma talk reflecting on The Buddha's Most Important Teaching. On Sunday Ajahn Abhinando led the monastic community and 23 lay visitors into this year's Summer Retreat Week. This is a time for slowing down,…