Kusala Buddha giving blessings
On Saturday Luang Por Sumedho and the gathered Sangha offered a baby blessing for Imogen and Aaron, the grandchildren of Clive and Myint Su, our good friends from Edinburgh. It was held in the newly-finished meditation room at Kusala House, where everybody gathered to hear the Paritta chanting. It was the first time the space was used for such a formal occasion and hopefully the first of many. We wish Imogen and Aaron a happy life and hope to see them back at Kusala House in years to come, on retreat..
Then on Sunday came the Kathina festival, beautifully organized and orchestrated by Khun Jeab. We were joined the afternoon before by many visiting monks and nuns from our other monasteries, and hundreds of people came along for the celebrations on the day. This year, the Kathina cloth was presented to Ajahn Munindo and the robe was made by Tan Hiriko, who measured, cut, and sewed a sabong in just over 6 hours (and without any mistakes!). Luang Por Sumedho gave the Dhamma discourse and visitors stayed to chat informally with the senior monks in attendance. We are very grateful to Khun Jeab for his effort and also to everyone else who helped to set up and put away everything in such an orderly fashion.
The senior Sangha members had their six-monthly Elder's Council on Monday, giving our junior visitors a chance to brave the elements and experience some of the local geography. Then after a well-attended Patimokkha recitation on Wednesday, our guests left for their respective monasteries, and life at Harnham returned to comparative stillness. Though not very long: tomorrow Ajahn Munindo and Samanera Visuddhi will journey down to Amaravati for their Kathina, after which Ajahn will return and S. Visuddhi will venture further to Chithurst, where he will help out during their 'forest month' and return just before Christmas.
Then on Sunday came the Kathina festival, beautifully organized and orchestrated by Khun Jeab. We were joined the afternoon before by many visiting monks and nuns from our other monasteries, and hundreds of people came along for the celebrations on the day. This year, the Kathina cloth was presented to Ajahn Munindo and the robe was made by Tan Hiriko, who measured, cut, and sewed a sabong in just over 6 hours (and without any mistakes!). Luang Por Sumedho gave the Dhamma discourse and visitors stayed to chat informally with the senior monks in attendance. We are very grateful to Khun Jeab for his effort and also to everyone else who helped to set up and put away everything in such an orderly fashion.
The senior Sangha members had their six-monthly Elder's Council on Monday, giving our junior visitors a chance to brave the elements and experience some of the local geography. Then after a well-attended Patimokkha recitation on Wednesday, our guests left for their respective monasteries, and life at Harnham returned to comparative stillness. Though not very long: tomorrow Ajahn Munindo and Samanera Visuddhi will journey down to Amaravati for their Kathina, after which Ajahn will return and S. Visuddhi will venture further to Chithurst, where he will help out during their 'forest month' and return just before Christmas.
