Labour W’end Retreat:Almost everyone arrived on Friday night which got things off to a nice solid start. The overall theme of the Four Brahma Viharas (Divine Abidings) wove through periods of walking and sitting meditation and gradually built a lovely group energy. view photos Accommodation was a bit squeezy in parts but with such an abundance of metta, karuna, mudita and upekkha there were no problems at all. The next retreat will be in January – date to be advised.
Rooster:Everything at the monastery is so quiet and peaceful that there is enough space in this update to update you on the welfare of our live-in rooster, As Yet Unnamed. He is doing well and enjoying the generosity of this place. There is still some training to be done as regards metta – and probably the other three Brahma Viharas – with occasional displays of aggression. Does a rooster have Buddha Nature? view photos
Cloister Marquee:Our celebration of the Kathina season and the robe offering ceremony is on Sunday the 18th of November (details below) and we are ready to erect the marquee over the sala cloister. We hope to have enough bodies after dana next Sunday, 4th, to get this done. We may not finish on Sunday and you can come on Monday. Weather is the main factor so if you are coming could you let us have your phone number so we can contact you if we decide to cancel. Come and join us for dana – 10.30.
Kathina Season:Our robe offering will be on Sunday the 18th of November. You are most welcome to join with us to celebrate this auspicious occassion.
9.45 Welcome
10.15 Precepts
10.30 Pindapat and meal offering
12.00 Dhamma Talk
12.30 Robe offering
12.45 Circumambulation (vientienne)
1.00 Offering Gifts to the Sangha
1.45 Paritta chanting and blessing