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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A visit to Lady's Well

picnic at Lady's Well

The Wesak Celebration last Sunday went very well and was a great Success. The weather was very kind to us. Sunshine and blue skies greeted everyone who arrived for the day and there was plenty of interest in the newly completed Kusala Retreat House from old faces and new.

On the following day the community welcomed a new member, Ven. Tejananda, a Frenchman from the west of Paris. Having spent the last year as a monk in Burma he has come to look at the training offered here in Northumberland.

On Wednesday the community was invited by Kath to a picnic at Lady's Well, near Elsdon. Again the community was favoured with fair weather, but tempered with a cool breeze. On the Hill it is obvious that Summer is only weeks away as over six dozen lambs are getting bigger, louder and more adventuresome.

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Vesakha Puja

Garden devas

As the weather starts warming up, the gardens are starting to grow more prolifically and so Mame, Chan, Lisa, Daeng and Maureen have been labouring in the front garden and have done a wonderful job tidying the place up. Windows have been cleaned, signs painted and weeds extirpated in preparation for the coming Wesak celebration.

Please join us if you can this Sunday 10th May for Vesakha Puja, our annual celebration of the Buddha's birth, enlightenment and passing away. Events are planned to begin with the shared meal at 10.30am. For full details of all of the day's program are on the website.

On this day we will also mark the completion of Kusala House. Restoring and extending this 200 year old cottage has involved many of our friends and supporters. We invite you to come and view the beautiful results of all the good effort that has gone into it. We look forward to seeing you there.

It will also be a chance to wish Samanera Sunnyato a safe journey as on Monday he heads over to stay in our monastery in Switzerland for 6 months.

Vesak Preparations...

Anagarika Michael mowing the meadow

This week saw the return of Ajahn Abhinando on Tuesday in time for his Birthday on Friday. His time in Hartridge, Devon and Le Refuge in France seem to have been beneficial. Also Samanera Sunnyato has returned from visiting Germany, and the day after our Wesak Ceremony he will be heading to Dhammapala, the Swiss Monastery to stay there. Abramina has been helping us in the garden and has just returned to Holland. One knows for sure that Spring has really sprung and summer is just weeks away when the scent and sound of grass being mown starts to become more regular and frequent. The bluebells are out now on the front of the hill and lambs are playing in groups and loudly out-numbering and out-bleating their mothers.

Please join us if you can on Sunday 10th May for Vesakha Puja, our annual celebration of the Buddha's birth, enlightenment and passing away. Events are planned to begin with the shared meal at 10.30am. For full details of all of the day's program are on the website.

On this day we will also mark the completion of Kusala House. Restoring and extending this 200 year old cottage has involved many of our friends and supporters. We invite you to come and view the beautiful results of all the good effort that has gone into it. We look forward to seeing you there.