August 2010A Boot Full of PaintJust got back from B&Q and have also figured out how to use the camera so here you have proof of both! 
Jade Mountains and Stopping!Recently Rev. Master Mugo recommended her readers to this site and I would like to repay the compliment by linking to her Jade Mountains website. Rev. Mugo is the Lay Ministry Advisor for our order which involves her in a fair amount of travelling in Europe and North America. I was particularly taken with her piece called Stop Means STOP! Rev.
Meditation DayYesterday we had a meditation day, a completely silent day with a 40-minute meditation period on the hour every hour from 9am to the last one at 5pm. Each period was followed by 10 minutes of walking meditation and a 10 minute break. The idea was that people could arrive any time during the day and sit for as many periods as they wanted to, bringing a packed lunch if they were here over lunchtime.
Decorating the Common RoomLast Saturday morning I spent a couple of hours planning the re-decoration of the common room with one of our regular folk who has volunteered to make it all happen whilst I am away at the Rules Conclave of our Order at Shasta Abbey in the US during September. I think it would be good to do a thorough number on it i.e. strip off the wallpaper, take down the picture rails and repair the plaster (I've had a plasterer come and quote for re-skimming the room).
Blackberries and Day RetreatsI went for my walk along the canal last Sunday. The brambles along the path were heaving with ripe blackberries and I wished I had a container with me. The following day I met up with two monastic friends from other Buddhist orders and we had a day out at Avebury. I hope to soon acquire a simple digital camera so that I can put more photos on here with my news.
Sunday MorningSunday morning. People will arrive for meditation shortly after 9am. There are a few people who come pretty regularly now on Sundays. We have longer meditation periods than we have time for on the Dharma evenings, two 40 minute periods with walking meditation in between, followed by short morning service. People are welcome to stay for a cup of tea afterwards and it is more informal than on the Dharma evenings.
Connection with the DharmaSeven new people came to the introductory evening yesterday. I always enjoyed seeing people arrive for introductory retreats at Throssel and I enjoy teaching the introductory evenings here. When I see people coming to the temple for the first time, experiencing meditation and hearing the Dharma for the first time I am reminded of how I felt when I went to my first class at a Buddhist centre in London in the mid-1980's.
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