July 2010SimplicityAt the Dharma evening yesterday we talked about simplifying our lives. I started by saying that when we sit to meditate we are, for that time, simplifying our life down to a bare minimum: sitting still in a quiet room facing a blank wall. Sensory stimulation is pared right down, including the stimulation of discursive thought. We do this in order to allow ourselves the opportunity to experience this moment in its fullness, just as it is.
RenewalI very much enjoyed my trip to the Isle of Wight last week. Thanks very much to Dave for organising everything - it makes such a difference to me, and to those attending the retreat, when someone takes such good care of all the arrangements for the day.
Dragon Bell Temple & DecoratingIt looks like it is going to be hot again today. It was 27c here yesterday. After almost 20 years up in the Pennines at Throssel I am not used to such heat!
Local CommunityThis has been a week of various contacts with the local community in Reading. On Tuesday the vice-chairman of the Reading Interfaith Group came round for a cup of tea and a chat about the activities of the Group. I am going to attend one of their upcoming committee meetings as a first step to seeing how I could find a sustainable level of involvement. I will be posting their literature on the notice board at the Priory. Their next event is a Friendship Walk around Reading on the 12th of September and I hope some of you who live in and around Reading will be able to join that.
Rochdale Zen Retreat and Priory MoveHow nice to wake up to a cool damp morning. The garden will like it too. I was away this weekend and it was lovely to come back to a tidy garden - someone had spent the Saturday here mowing the lawn, digging up a shrub that had gotten far too large and generally tending to things, thank you!
Schools and InterfaithI went to visit a local school, in Lower Earley, yesterday and met with two classes of year 8 (age 14) students for question and answer sessions on Buddhism. I'm always delighted when teachers want to give their students the opportunity to meet people of different faiths and I was impressed by the thoughtfulness of the questions from these classes. 
Dharma EveningsYesterday was our regular Friday Dharma evening (I have decided to call the Friday and Wednesday evenings Dharma evenings as we have the opportunity after meditation for a talk and/or questions about the Dharma). We did Midday Service, two periods of meditation and Evening Office (Vespers) and then had tea and talked about the meaning of self-compassion. To have compassion for our own suffering, especially distressing mental states, we really have to be willing to accept them i.e. to experience them without all the self-judgement and the grasping for a solution to them.
1st July 2010 - 1st post!This is the first post to our news section! You will see that a new donations page has also been added to the website, including an online donation facility. A photo gallery will be coming soon. I would welcome any comments you have on anything on the website as I would really like to make it a site that helps people to feel more in touch with life at the Priory.
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