Friends of Aruna Ratanagiri Buddhist Monastery often inquire regarding what is needed. Please find below a list of what would help along with things you might like to know. Anumodana.
Tun Ñānamoli (new work-monk) and Samanera Visuddhi
It has been a busy week here at Harnham. The community has been working around the clock to prepare for the forthcoming Summer retreat - one night required Tan Hiriko and Tan Ñānamoli to stay up until past midnight working in the plumbing department. Thankfully everything is adequately resolved. The old larder has been transferred to the car park at Kusala House and is now a garden-shed, making much-needed room for seating in the space outside the kitchen at No.2. Our new larder is now fully operational and complete, special thanks to our good friend Rolf Wojciechowski. Today, being the new-moon day, we are all appreciating a somewhat quieter atmosphere, preparing ourselves for retreat, starting Sunday; one week with about 24 lay guests followed by our own monastery silent week. From time to time Ajahn Abhinando has occasionally been spotted walking outside and seems to be getting a little more energy back.
One week into the Vassa and everybody is making extra effort with both monastery work and their personal practice. As you can see from his letter below, Ajahn Abhinando is recovering well and in good spirits, being helped along by Tan Hiriko, who is presently acting as his attendant (do contact him directly if you wish to communicate with Ajahn Abhinando). Anagarikā Visakhā (Kath Jones) is a joyous new presence in the community. And having her as Kitchen Manager is indeed appreciated, particularly as our new larder comes together (thanks to Farad again) .
I am back at the monastery, as expected, relieved by 1 kidney and 1 tumor and slowly growing together again. The Freeman hospital once more proved worthy of its excellent reputation. I was deeply impressed by receiving and witnessing so much kindness and down to earth compassion being applied by so many doctors, nurses and other staff in a very appropriate and professional manner in such a short period of time. So, it might sound strange to you, but, in spite of the physical discomfort and well, (say it:) pain, it felt like a very worth while and beautiful experience to go through. I will remember many of the people at the hospital for a long time and be immensely grateful to them.
Also my surgeon lived up to his professional reputation. The operation wasn't without its risks, but as far as I can know (and everyone says) he steered clear of all obstacles and did a perfect job, taking his time (4h) to stitch me up beautifully (got the interestingly shaped scar of a "Mercedes-Incision" big enough for a cesarean birth now).
I contributed my part, by healing up quickly and without complications so far. So everyone is content.
I was received beautifully back here at Harnham and am looked after with much care and dedication by my fellow samanas. A second thing I am very grateful for and will equally remember for a long time to come. (Hey! - maybe all this might even help me become a better person myself).
I am going to hide for a while now and won't be available for contact in person or by phone for – say – a couple of weeks. Feel free to write though. I felt and feel tremendously supported by all your many messages of friendship and support. Now there's the third thing I am immensely grateful for and which I shall not forget. It's good to have friends!
I probably won't send out another collective email as I expect that there won't be anything dramatic to communicate while I slowly claw my way back through convalescence over the next couple of months. If there is, of course, I'll let you know. Otherwise, well, I guess you'll just notice more and more of me being around again...
See you later then,
and may all the blessings and protections of the Dhamma be with you all the time,
Ajahn Abhinando is recovering well from his surgery, able to walk and shave unaided. He is still unable to eat solid foods, is still 'taking drugs' (morphine) but is maintaining impressive equanimity. He won't be back for the first Vassa ,which we enter tomorrow, but will make it in time for the second.
Today is Āsālha Puja, and tonight, Kath Jones will take the Anigarikā precepts during the evening puja, beginning at 7pm.
Āsālha Puja commemorates the day when the Lord Buddha gave the first sermon to the first group of 5 Bhikkhus, one of whom became a Noble Disciple upon hearing the teaching. This sermon, the Dhammacakkappavattana Sutta, concerns the central teaching of the Buddha and will be chanted every evening throughout the Vassa, except on Sundays when we will have the regular puja.
Having just returned from Ward 3 Urology Department of Freeman Hospital I am happy to report that everyone on AA's team were pleased with the 4 hour surgery. The patient is pleased too (he is on morphine). He talked non-stop almost for most of the hour or so I was there - mostly about how grateful he is for the extrordinary kindness and competence of everyone at the hospital and about his appreciation for all his friends. He wanted me to send greetings and gladness to all of you. He has two massive scars at right angles across his left belly. The Doctor was pleased that they didn't damage the spleen (which was not unlikely) in the course of removing the left kidney and a significant amount of tissue around it. Initial report suggests no complications but of course there will be a series of CTs scans for some time to come. Likewise, over the next few days they will be doing thorough tests on the 11 cm tumour to acsertain ...... (I am not sure what. But it will determine whether or not he has follow-up chemo/radiation etc). Probably in a day or two he will be in touch with you directly as his bedside multi-media unit offers email/internet. Right now he is disinclined to move much, however the physio-folk want him up and about - or at least in a chair tomorrow if possible.
On Sunday we were visited by Ewen Hardie (pictured), who called at the monastery on his walk from the Scottish Parliament to Westminster. He is treading the entire route barefooted to raise awareness of the current situation in Burma/ Myanmar and is only eating whatever he is given, so if you spot him on his journey, your support will be greatly appreciated by him. You can check his blog at www.barefeetforburma.blogspot.com Also on Sunday, Ajahn Jayanto's weekend retreat concluded, and on Tuesday, Abramina arrived for a month and has subsequently been pottering around and generally taking care of things here. On Sunday Kath Jones will begin her 6 week stay here, and will take the Anagarikā precepts on the 17th.
On Wednesday morning we bade farewell to the visiting Sangha from Thailand and Amaravati. We are grateful for the inspiring talk given by Ajahn Jundee at the Sunday night puja and to Ajahn Nyanadhammo for his meticulous and skilled translation. This evening sees the start of the weekend retreat, led by Ajahn Jayanto, who has kindly come up from Amaravati to teach. Lastly, on Tuesday the constitution of the newly formed Harnham Buddhist Monastery Trust was signed, with our good friend (and JP) Mrs. Irmgarde Horsley witnessing, marking a new beginning in the organisation and running of the monastery.
