Worldly Winds

Harnham View

Last week's blizzard did indeed portend the arrival of further Wintry weather as this week the views from the monastery's windows have been largely scenes of heavy frost and much snow. However the monastic community didn't take this as a sign to go into hibernation. Work must go on, so monks and guests have been wrapping up well as they both mindfully and cheerfully brave the elements.

This week though it has perhaps been political forces rather than natural forces that have had the greatest effect on the community's proceedings. The dramatic closure of Thailand's international airport has meant that Ajahn Munindo and Venerable Nyanamoli have had to postpone their flight there and instead keep our numbers up here for the time being. Conversely Ajahn Punnyo has been unable to fly back to Britain and has been stranded in Bangkok temporarily. Thankfully Ajahn Punnyo hadn't actually checked in at the airport and wasn't caught in a bureaucratic 'no-man's land' so he's been able to receive appropriate support in the Thai capital. Perhaps it is another example of how actions can have all manner of unforeseen consequences, the ripples of which are felt thousands of miles away around the world. Back on our chilly hill top community we contemplate the interconnectedness of things and consider how we're also exposed to the worldy winds of political storms, and not just the biting Northumberland gales. Brrrr...

Natural Forces

Andrew on the ladder

Although there are scores (nay hundereds!) of rabbits to be seen in the nearby fields generally they are rather shy neighbours and shun our benevolent contact. However this week one brave rabbit was to be seen almost everyday loitering around our car park hedge, fearlessly observing the peaceful comings and goings of the community. Had it been irresistably drawn to the wholesomeness of Kusala House? Perhaps, but probably not; a closer inspection revealed that our furry friend had in fact discovered some delicious new grass growing amongst a low stone 'wall' one of our regular guests from the Carlisle group had built to help support the hedge. Hmm, Nature's flora and fauna are always waiting to usurp and take advantage of our man-made achievements. At least our other human guests this week had been attracted by the wholesome opportunities afforded by the retreat house and have been making good use of its facilities (whilst refraining from eating grass in the afternoon). The monastic community also have been back at work after the Silent Week, naturally.

Also this week we have felt the first touch of Winter's ragged hand. This morning's brief snowfall was whipped around by a bitter wind such that one could have been forgiven for thinking it was a proper blizzard, a taste of things to come no doubt. (Let's hope that when Ajahn Punnyo rejoins us on Friday from the heat of Thailand he'll quickly readjust to the cold and dark of good ol' Blighty).

Silent Week at Harnham

Full moon at Harnham

This week at Harnham we have a Silent Week; no one is talking, not much is happening (externally). Occasionally a monk, a novice, a Kusala House Manager or a visitor can be seen walking from one place to another, but mostly residents have retreated to the milder indoor-climate of their rooms; on Monday and Thursday some good friends came to silently offer the meal; on Tuesday Rolf appeared silently to help cooking and to silently work on our workshop.

What else? The sheep sit or stand or walk silently on the paddock, sometimes munching grass, sometimes not; the jackdaws look down at us from their chimney-nest, breaking the silence occasionally with cryptic comments; at the bottom of the hill, on the A696, cars keep passing, we hear the distant noise; clouds come, hover for varying lengths of time, or pass quickly, to make room for more clouds, shedding or not shedding some rain on their way; (one morning the sky was blue, for a little while); the temperatures seem adequate for the time of the year (true!); the moon has been waxing until it was full, now it is waning again…

No news is good news in a Silent Week!

days getting colder

days getting colder
and me still fishing for clouds
in the ancient pond

After Men’s Retreat, Kathina and Elder’s Council Meeting which all brought many visitors and much activity to the monastery, this week at Harnham has been relatively quiet. We still have a steady flow of overnight guests though, giving us friendly company, and joining us for pujas, discussions and work, which this week seems to focus on preparing the place for winter. Conservatories have been frost-protected, benches brought inside, boilers serviced and every day there is a new load of leaves to be swept up and cleaned out of the gutters. On Sunday we were pleased to welcome a large number of visitors again, both for the discussion at tea time as well as for the evening puja and Dhamma talk.

On Thursday Ajahn Munindo returned from his kathina-visit to Amaravati Monastery in Hertfordshire, just an hour before Ajahn Abhinando took the next train north, visiting the meditation groups in Edinburgh and Glasgow. By Saturday evening our community should be complete again, except for Samanera Visuddhi, who is helping with the forest work at Chithurst Monastery in Sussex. And thus reunited, we are looking forward to have a Silent Week together, starting after Sunday evening puja. Ajahn Abhinando will still visit the Carlisle group on Tuesday – and he promises he won’t give a ‘Silent Talk’ on that occasion.

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