June at Gampo Abbey

Hi All,

Wow, how time flies! The weeks just fly by here – it’s the minutes that can kill you. Particularly the last three minutes at the end of a three hour period meditation session, you are at the front and it’s your job to ring the gong at the end. The digital clock is in front of you and you have to keep an eye on it, the numbers slow, slow some more and……freeze, the clock goes into stasis – you have entered the twilight zone!

This last month has been action packed. The latest group of Three year retreatants finished their current period in the Sopa Choling retreat centre. They have been practicing hard, 7 days a week for about 10 months, meditating and sleeping upright in their Tibetan box thrones (like a wing armchair, but different). The retreat centre is “sealed off” except for a few essential persons and the retreatants are not allowed outside of their fenced area during their stay. We had an official gate opening ceremony led by Bhiksu Lodro Sangpo and a Lasang (a kind of Windhorse raising fire puja), great fun, very Tibetan and very smoky if you stand in the wrong place. Everywhere I stood seemed to be the wrong place! I smelled as if I had been barbequed.

Ani Pema Chodron delivered a further three talks (I think) during her one month stay and covered a lot of ground in meetings on the new monastic code for Gampo Abbey. Just before she left we had a whistle stop visit from the Sakyong (Chogyam Trungpa’s son and Dharma heir) and his wife, the Sakyong Wangmo. The Sakyong and the Sakyong Wangmo are at the head of the Shambhala sangha and represent the masculine and feminine principal in Shambhala Buddhism.

Photo by Kalsang

The Sakyong and the Sakyong Wangmo were received in royal style. I helped to bolt together the teaching throne in the shrine room and weeded flower beds and garden paths. We were all very busy. This was a big event for the Abbey and for the local Nova Scotia sangha who turned out for the occasion. We had a celebratory feast with lots of lovely goodies donated by the local sangha, including some excellent scones and clotted cream – I love that British influence in Nova Scotia. The local sangha are a very friendly bunch and appreciative of the Abbey, I got to chat with a quite a few of them.

The Sakyong led a Lasang (fire puja) just before his departure. I knew I should have waited before washing the smoke out of my robes from the last one!. He presented us all with blessing cords to be worn around the neck. The Sakyong Wangmo kindly gave out Tibetan style cookies she had baked herself – and very tasty too.

The Sakyong also presented the Abbey with a wonderful Padmasambhava rupa, which is currently enthroned on our main shrine.

Wesak was celebrated in June (a little later than in the FWBO calendar). The atmosphere in the Abbey was quite wonderful – it felt a little like Christmas! We started the day in our usual way, chanting the liturgy, meditation, housework and breakfast, then we started to prepare a feast for later in the day. Some local sangha members joined us for a Sakyamuni Buddha sadhana and combined feast, held in the main shrine room. Several people made feast offerings of readings and I read Pinghiya’s Praises. We even had a folk music offering from two of our guests.

Ani Migme celebrated her 85th Birthday. We had a wonderful rejoicing and storytelling session and celebratory lunch. People recalled their experiences of Ani Migme and some of these were very funny. Zen Priest Ryumon sang and ballad and got Ani Migme up to dance which was very entertaining. Ani Migme fell over at one point (too much twirling about) but was quickly up on her feet again. That new pacemaker is marvelous.

The Relay for Life sponsored walk went very well. The weather was awful but fortunately the organizers decided that we would walk inside the arena rather than outside on the track.

Photo by Kalsang

I exceeded my sponsorship target of $100 by raising $195. Thank you all for your support! The Abbey Team raised over $1500 in total and our man Rick won a voucher from a local restaurant as the largest single fundraiser. Way to go Rick! The weather seemed too windy for camping (our tent blew away twice), so I decided to stay up through the night. We had live music till around 2am and plenty of coffee and flap jacks.

This week Lhagtong, one of our nuns had her graduation ceremony for completing the three year monastic study course called Shedra.

photo by Kalsang

She gave an excellent talk outlining the principles of Yogachara Buddhist philosophy in a very light hearted and pleasing way. She was then awarded her certificate by Bhiksu Lodro Sangpo.

After a wet and windy week, summer has reasserted itself and we are enjoying some beautiful summer days with refreshing cool breezes. I am spending my work afternoons mostly in the garden cutting our vast oceans of grass. I am starting to develop a slight tan and quite a number of very itchy black fly bites.

The Abbey has just started its’ five week open retreat program. This week we welcomed three new faces. Some people will be staying for one week, others for two weeks. The retreatants live in a separate building but join us in our daily program. Towards the end of this period the number of “in house” retreatants will rise to 13 – lots of new names to remember.

I have just finished reading the Brothers Karamazov by Dostoyevsky. This is my first venture into the Russian novelists, I was a little apprehensive at fist, but thoroughly enjoyed it. Around nine hundred pages, it was a two month read, but really worthwhile, emotionally moving, intellectually stimulating, spiritual and very human.

The next event on the horizon is the very important softball game against the local volunteer fire service. This takes place on Canada day (July 1st). We have had some practice and we have a very promising team (and then there’s me). Will it be enough though? We have only won once in the games history – and that was with the help of some local schoolboys.

Love to All,

Jayasiddhi

Back to Gampo Abbey

I have now been back at Gampo Abbey in Nova Scotia, Canada for a little over two weeks. I am being made very welcome and am feeling pretty well settled in already, which is comforting as I will be here for a whole year. There are currently about 35 people in residence. There are perhaps ten people here that are new to me, the rest I already have a connection with through my 7 month stay back in 2007.

As we drove over Irish mountain on the way down to Pleasant Bay, there were still some persistent patches of snow on the ground. Coming down to the Abbey I was glad to see that the snow had gone for the year, although it has still been quite cold some evenings with some strong winds and driving rain some days. The swimming season feels a long way off.

The countryside here is even more stunning than my memory of it. Especially the view from the hill behind the Abbey called Gampo Lhatse. The view over the highlands, cliffs and the deep blue bay is fantastic. The animals here are often very tame, birds will come and sit on your shoulder expecting food and I was joined on my rock seat one afternoon by an inquisitive squirrel, very cheeky and not all scared. I have already seen four or five sunsets here that wouldn’t be put to shame by those of some exotic island.


(photo by Kalsang)

Ani Pema Chodron, the Acharya (teacher) to Gampo Abbey arrived around one week ago. There was much preparation for her arrival and she was warmly welcomed. Last week, she gave a talk on Chogyam Trungpa’s teachings on the Black Ashe. How to work with the mind when experiencing difficulty, about courage and fear and containing the desire to take our difficulties into our world. It was a good talk. I very surprised when I was asked by Ani Pema to comment on taking our practice into the world. I was put right on the spot, but managed to respond with a couple of reasonably coherent (I hope) sentences. Talk about feeling groundless!

My long term work situation here has not yet been decided, I volunteered to help out in the facilities (maintenance) department in the meantime. I am enjoying this work and would be happy to continue doing it in the long term if asked to. I have been hanging Buddhist flags for Ani Pema’s arrival, putting up fly screens on the windows and other small maintenance work.

My meditation practice seems to be settling in and calming down quite quickly. I am sure this cannot last! The longer hours of sitting are causing me some back ache, but I guess this is something I will just have to work with. Ani Migme, a wonderful nun of 85 years has agreed to be my meditation instructor. This is great, as I felt a strong connection with her from the last time I was here. Unfortunately, she has not been in good health this last week and continues to struggle with an ongoing heart condition. We have all been very worried for her.

The Abbey is currently in the process of formulating new house rules based on the Vinaya. I was included in a study group giving an overview of the Pratimoksha (training rules for monastics) and have been allowed to observe the committee discussions in formulating these new rules. It is a fascinating process.

Karma Chogyal, a very funny Texan monk in the room opposite mine is a big fan of our (British) Queen – he has even written to her! He even gave me a large photograph of the Queen, which now dominates most of my desk (along with a large plant). He is also a fan of Chouwowa (the Mexican dog), but fortunately hasn’t offered me any pictures of these, well not yet anyway.



I am getting used to being back in robes, much simpler than worrying about ordinary clothes. This visit I am trying out wearing a blue Dzen (pronounced zen) over my ordination robes. This is a Tibetan style upper robe worn by monastics here. It wraps around one shoulder leaving the other uncovered. It seems a good way to fit in with their life and practice here. Wearing it requires mindfulness and patience as it is constantly getting in the way or falling off. Some days I wish I had forgot to bring it, especially when it falls into your dinner or the washing up bowl.

Love to All,

Jayasiddhi

What Happened to 2008?

Wow that went fast! I haven't updated this since March 2008. What a crazy year.

So, News in brief:

My niece Rebbecca got married early 2008 to her long time boyfriend Peter. A great dress - shocking red, and a great party!



I have been working at Windhorse:evolution project managing the expansion of our chain of ethical giftware shops. Some long hours, some hard work but well worth it. What a fantastic bunch of people in the Retail Team - Abhayakirti, Peter Hunt, Sam Cottis, Aryajaya, Matthew Widowson, Paul Wiseman, Andrew Turner and Mia. It was great working with you all and the guys in the Property Team. Lots of fun, lots of laughs and some real challenges. Thanks for it all, wouldn't have missed it for the world!!



Two chances to study with Bhante Sangharakshita, a week on our ordination group get together studying the Bodhicaryavatara and a weekend with the guys ordained by Arthapriya studying a Perfection of Wisdom text. I feel so lucky to have had this opportunity to study with Bhante as I didn't think I would ever get the chance.

September 2008 A very challenging month long order retreat at Guhyaloka. Lots of difficult emotion to work with - urgh! Much help from my good friend Vajrapriya.

March 2009 Beccy and Pete have a very handsome baby boy! Way to go guys - not wasting any time there!

April 2009 - finish work at windhorse:evolution to return to Gampo Abbey.

Peterborough Meditation Group going strong thanks to help from Peter Hunt, Paul Wiseman and Jayamuni. Hand the group over to some very obliging friends (you know who you are!) until Peter Hunt picks it up on return from his ordination in August.

Phew.

Peterborough, Tibet and Wolverhampton

I seem to be all over the place at the moment. Physically I'm busy shuttling back and forth between Wolverhampton, Cambridge and Peterborough. But my mind travels further afield to the people of Tibet and the Tibetan refugees I met while traveling in India.

There has been much in the news regarding the civil unrest in Tibet and also concerning the protests at the opening ceremony to Chinese Olympic Games held in Greece. It would seem that whether for good or bad, the civil rights issues in Tibet are going to be an integral part of our memory of these Games.


The Greek police are accused of incompetence for allowing protesters to make such a highly visible demonstration so close to the Chinese delegation and also for "roughing up" two other protesters during the procession of the Olympic flame. The Olympic Committee, meanwhile, struggle to justify allowing China to host the Games.

The Committee claim that inclusion of China and the high media presence during the Games can only be of help to the civil rights situation in China. Given the draconian state media controls in China and the willingness of Western Governments to turn a blind eye to brutality whenever it threatens international trade or political alliances, this outlook seems rather optimistic.

What can we do to help? At a practical level, probably very little. The least we can do is register our objections to the Chinese treatment of the people of Tibet. This link takes you to an on-line petition. It only takes a couple of minutes to complete. The Chinese Olympics has put Tibet back in the media spotlight and we should all do what we can non-violently to make the use of this extra leverage while it lasts.

This week marked the start of the Peterborough FWBO Buddhism and Meditation Class. Given that the advertising had been very last minute and that the class fell on a Bank Holiday Monday, I am please to report that two people turned up, Barbara and Mark. Both had visited the Cambridge Buddhist Centre in the past and had experience in meditation. Barbara has meditated for eight years and has experience of retreats, training in Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction and has good links with Amaravati monastery in Hertfordshire.

We started the evening off by building a small Buddhist shrine together. We then went on to do a 30 minute Mindfulness of Breathing Meditation. After a cup of tea we spent the remainder of the evening doing potted life stories and talking about our hopes for the group. It feels like we have a Peterborough Sangha already! A very promising start. Visit our new and slowly improving web page at:- http://buddhistmeditationpeterborough.googlepages.com/

Tomorrow, I'm off to Wolverhampton in Birmingham. This will be my third visit in two weeks. I am preparing shop fitting plans and meeting sub-contractors in order to open a new evolution Shop. Fingers crossed it should be trading by mid May.

Buddhist Meditation Group in Peterborough, UK

I have been back a while now it seems, because I am looking for a new project - and I have found one.

The Cambridge Buddhist Centre made it known that they had received some inquiries from some people in Peterborough,UK, who wished to learn about Buddhism and or learn to meditate. It sounds like a great opportunity , so I have agreed to give it a shot.

I have so far managed to make contact with around half a dozen interested people in Peterborough and hope to start some advertising soon.

We have booked a room at the Quakers, Friends Meeting House in Peterborough, starting on Monday March 24th. It will be a weekly drop-in meditation class open to Buddhists and non-Buddhists alike. I feel both excited and a little nervous about taking this on.

I have already received offers of support from good friends in the community including Padmadeepa, Nagavira, Paul Wiseman and my old friend Jayamuni.

I intend to offer introductory meditation in the mindfulness of breathing and metta bhavana and general discussion and exploration around Buddhist topics and living a meaningful life in the west in the 21st century - particularly the corner known as Peterborough!

I have started a little web page to promote the new group. It can be found at:-

http://buddhistmeditationpeterborough.googlepages.com/home

Back to Work

So here I am back in Cambridge, UK and back at work after around nine months of adventures. Firstly, six months at Gampo Abbey and then two pilgrimages back to back in India.

I am beginning to settle back into life here. It was a difficult transition at first and I often felt grouchy and dislocated.

Luckily, I am now back in the bosom of my old community (Bodhicharya community) in Newmarket Road. This is thanks to the generosity of Graham Denton who offered to move to a neighboring community to make space for me. Many Thanks! It feels good to be back here amongst good friends. I feel a sense of warmth, support and common purpose.

I am back working at windhorse:evolution a Buddhist team based right livelihood business/charity (not for profit organisation). My new role here is in the Retail Team. I am project managing the opening of five new evolution (fair trade giftware) shops this year. I handed over the first of these in Walsall, Birmingham, fully shop fitted to our merchandising team a few days ago and am now enjoying a quiet week or so before work starts on the next one.

I really appreciate having had the opportunity to take time out for more full time Dharma practice. I continue to review my long term plans but feel that a period of intensive practice every year or two would do me wonders.

It's been good being in touch with my friends at Gampo Abbey and many thanks to Ian for the photos. I miss you guys.

Love to All,
Jayasiddhi

Hello from Sikkhim - Goodbye India (30/11/07)

Hi All

Made our way out of Kalimpong with a police escort (we have local connections!) and managed to avoid the worst of the political strike.

A whistle stop tour of Gangtok then on to Pelling far up into the hills and fantastic views of the mountains. Clean, fresh stunningly beautiful and very cold. Got up at 5am to watch the sun rise on the snows of Mt. Kachenchunga - well worth the trouble.


Next stop Tashi Ding. A magical shangri-la sort of place in the middle of nowhere. Strong associations with Guru Rinpoche, it has it's own cremation ground and a really special atmosphere. A great place to finish our pilgrimage.


Back down to Siliguri (West Bengal) stopping off on route to pay our respects to one of several caves associated with Guru Rinpoche in this area. This involved a somewhat claustrophobic crawl through a very small tunnel into a bell-shaped meditation chamber (most excellent!). To get to the cave we crossed a wonderful river - video below:



Have finished my antibiotics I am well on the way to recovery, apart from a hacking cough and a badly bruised and scraped leg (I fell down a gap in a bridge while playing with some kids - happens every day, right?).

I have been traveling in India for 8 weeks now and have done what I came for. I am tired and India'd out for the moment, so have decided to cancel my solitary retreat and come home early. I fly back to Blighty on the 4th December - in time to get in some Xmas shopping (yippee!).

I'm really looking forward to seeing my friends, some clean clothes and a hot bath, not to mention real coffee and a croissant.

If anyone is able to offer a slightly scruffy, ever so slightly homeless traveler some accommodation for a few days/weeks, I'd be pleased to hear from you (my community is not expecting me until January 15 - Hi Guys!).

Love to All,
Jayasiddhi