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It’s the time of year when leaves are raked, gutters are cleared and gardening tools oiled and stored away. This year it is also the time to call on Nick Pearce’s skills to help in re-roofing behind the kitchen. The covering over the walkway has been leaking for many months…
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A quiet week this week at Harnham, but the diary suggests next week could be rather busy. Activity need not denote confusion however, so we look forward to hosting the many guests who have booked in. Meanwhile the resident remaining swan at the lake seems to have settled in with…
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Before our friend Herman-from-Holland departed he helped remove the wasp’s nest from Luang Por’s amenity shed. The earlier hostile inhabitants had departed (or terminated) once the temperature had dropped sufficiently. We hope they find somewhere nice for next year, just not here. At the HBM Trust meeting on Saturday a…
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Last Saturday’s Lake Day went well with a lot of work done. Help offered by the (Scottish) Kirriemuir Meditation group was significant. Luang Por offered a Dhamma talk on Saturday evening contemplating the pursuit of happiness. On Sunday Ajahn Abhinando led the Study/Practice group in contemplation and cultivation of Mindfulness…
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Ajahn Punnyo and Anagarika Marcin got snarled in traffic in Newcastle on Saturday and missed their train, so were absent from the Amaravati Kathina on Sunday. Luang Por Sumedho arrived though from Thailand, as expected, to join in the event. Luang Por Munindo spoke on the theme of Universal Truths…
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Abbot Karuniko
Last weekend several of the Harnham sangha joined in the Kathina at Chithurst monastery which included appointing Ajahn Karuniko as the new abbot there. After 22 years Luang Por Sucitto has stepped down and is now preparing for a year sabbatical, starting in New Zealand. This…
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As expected, many good friends from our sister monasteries joined us for the annual Kathina on Sunday. Similarly, many good friends from the extended lay communities also joined us – over 300. As was not expected, the forecast rain didn’t appear. Luang Por Tiradhammo expressed his gratitude for the evident…
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Field mice sense the approaching winter and are trying to move into the house; we are trying to keep them out (compassionately). Luang Por Tiradhammo arrived on Tuesday and we are delighted that he can be with us right through until Saturday 26th October. Jenny-from-Leeds has been here this week…
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Walking Meditation
The previous week was the last Silent Practice Week of this year’s Rains Retreat. Not much happened; a bit of walking meditation, perhaps some chanting practice (exempted from the silence rule), some fasting. Ex-Kovido turned up part way through the week and wasn’t phased with people…
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The MacGregors.
Last week the 4 Ajahns accepted an invitation to dana at the McGregor’s place, The Sneep. On the weekend Ajahn Sawaeng led a meditation retreat in the Thai language. Thursday saw our good friend and wonderfully helpful Yom Yoo depart (as her visa required) and another…