Canny Job

Terry finishing the Kusala House fire escape

This is Andrew's last week as Kusala House Caretaker and all agree he has done an excellent job as the first person in the post. We all wish him well in his planned onward journey to Thailand. Currently he is introducing Mike Evans to the intricacies of looking after the Retreat House.

On Saturday Ajahn Punnyo and Rolf joined in a Peace Walk starting at the Hindu Temple and ending at the Sikh Gurdwara on Westgate in Newcastle, having proceeded via the Venerable Bede's Anglican Church and the Central Mosque. The organiser's intention is to initiate a multi-faith website called "City for Peace" on 10th July. Rita, Gabrielle & Trish also joined in with the inter-faith peace initiative.

On Wednesday Tan Tejananda flew back to his native city, Paris, where he intends to enter the Rains Retreat at the Sri Lankan International Vihara. The Community wished him the very best in his endeavour.

Along with Tan Hiriko, Samanera Visuddhi is already at Amaravati preparing and practicing for his Upasampada (Higher Ordination) on Saturday 4th July at 2pm. All are welcome to attend. Ajahns Abhinando and Punnyo, & perhaps Tan Nyalamoli along with Andrew are planning to travel down to Amaravati on Friday in order to be at the ceremony on Saturday.

After the July full moon on the 7th, the community of eleven will all be back on Harnham Hill and entering the Rainy Season Retreat on Wednesday the 8th.

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Dana List

Helpful food items

• Vegetables
• Fruit
• Eggs
  
• Soya Milk
• Salt
  
• Sugar
• Dried Fruit
• Unsalted Nuts
  

Helpful non-food items

• Stamps (higher value)
• Mansize Tissues
• Toilet Paper

Thank you but we have plenty of the following items:

Rice

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Current Announcements

Volunteer Drivers

From time to time we are in need of transport for our community members and so we are looking for people who would be happy to offer such a service when the need arises. Journeys made will generally be local, e.g. to the doctor’s or into Newcastle to catch a train. Any volunteers should contact the monastery either by phone or email giving their names and contact details.

Looking for a web developer

he monastery is looking for an experienced web developer to help create a new website. Experience with CMS would be a bonus. If you have time please contact our IT manager, Alex Ewing (Tel.: 01875 830 276).

For the regular notices please see our newsletter here.

The Dhamma of Sewing

Ajahn Saweang and Ajahn Go

Having spent most of June with us, tomorrow Ajahn Go is heading down to Amaravati along with Tan Hiriko and Samanera Visuddhi, who has been working hard in preparation for his coming ordination as a monk. Ajahn Go very generously spent most of his time teaching and helping Samanera Visuddhi and Tan Tejananda to sew robes and jackets. We are all very grateful for his selfless help.
In a little over a week Samenera Visuddhi will be returning as Tan Nyanavisuddhi. His ordination or "upasampada" is due to be on Saturday 4th July in the Amaravati Temple and everyone is welcome to attend.
The community was very happy to welcome Ajahn Saweang back to Harnham on Sunday and he is settling in and adjusting to our British Summer Time and British summer weather.

Returning

Ajahn Munindo, Ajahn Achalo and Tan Nyanamoli in Cumbria

This week Ajahn Munindo, Tan Nyanamoli and Skipper returned via Cumbria from their travels down South and on Wednesday we celebrated what would have been Luang Por Chah's 91st birthday.

David Barker's Health and Heritage walking group came to visit and A.Punnyo explained the monastery to them. Also the county council biannual Bolam Lake walk was led by Francis Povey and Ajahn Abhinando with Brian Povey and Ajahn Punnyo as back markers. Some years there can be as many as seventy people, the line of walkers streching across the fields. However this year, due to inclement weather there were only about ten.

We look forward to Ajahn Sawaeng arriving this weekend to spend the vassa with us.

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Silent Week

Ajahn Achalo visiting the Hill

The Community has been on silence this week so there has been very little of the usual external activity. An exception was made for Samanera Visuddhi and Tan Tejananda who have been using the time to sew their bhikkhu robes under the expert tutelage of Ajahn Go, who has kindly travelled over from Italy to help them.

Ajahn Munindo and Anagarika Skipper have returned from their 3 week tour of the Southern monasteries and brought up Ajahn Achalo, an Australian Thera who trained in Thailand, from Amaravati to visit for a few days.

Also Ajahn Abhinando and Anagarika Michael have returned from their time in Germany visiting their respective parents. So the monastery is full again with a community of thirteen sat around the breakfast table.

The New Kusala Fire Escape

Safety First

Over the weekend Alex Ewing came down from Scotland to work on the computers and brought his son Simon. They returned after the Committee Meeting on Sunday. Along with the rest of the country the community was sweltering in Monday's exceptional heat, and feeling connected to our sub-tropical Asian roots. Having very competently carried the mantle of sole anagarika for a fortnight, on Wednesday Anagarika Tomas was rejoined by Anagarika Michael returning from his visit with his parents in Germany. On Thursday Ajahn Punnyo headed up to Scotland to visit the Edinburgh and Glasgow Meditation Groups.

This weekend we are expecting Ajahn Go to arrive. He has very kindly offered to help Samanera Visuddhi preparing his robes for his upasampada in July. Having prepared the dormer in the Kusala dormitory Tan Nyanamoli is looking forward to the fire escape steps arriving next week.

Warm Work

Andrew ministering to Kusala House's verges

On a sunny Saturday at Kusala House we were fortunate to enjoy an interesting Sutta Study Day led by Professor Peter Harvey which was very much appreciated by all. We hope he can spare the time for a return visit. Having flown over from Sri Lanka in April, on Monday Bhante Dhammagawesi came to stay for a couple of days and was invited into Newcastle upon Tyne for a Dani and to give a talk.

Last week B&Q admitted they had made a mistake in supplying Mame with some old turf, which was somewhat depleted in chlorophyll. So this week Mame, Daeng and Maureen relaid the new turf which B&Q had given in lieu. So now the monastery has a beautiful deep green and verdant front lawn.

With summer just around the corner the community is outside gardening, painting and maintaning the outside woodwork around the hilltop. After many cold, damp winters there are many patches in need of some careful attention, and these dry, sunny days offer the perfect opportunity.

Many Hands Make Skylights Cleaner

Ven. Tejanada and Samanera Visuddhi

Having encouraged and exhorted the Community Ajahn Munindo headed South today on his tour of the Southern monasteries with Anagarika Skipper at the wheel. He will be returning on 12th June. Also today Anagarika Michael handed over the mantle of Kitchen Manager to Anagarika Tomas and then began his journey home to visit his parents in Germany for a fortnight. We hear that Samanera Sunnyato is settling in at Dhammapala Monastery in Switzerland.

On Saturday Ajahn Abhinando led an uplifting Renga in Kusala House and plans another in August. Mame and Daeng are working hard in the front garden to returf the lawn and reinvigorate the rockery. On Sunday Peter Harvey is holding a Sutta study day in Kusala House and on Monday Bhante Dhammagawesi is coming to stay for a couple of days.

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