Splitting Ignorance Asunder

our contemplative artist in residence

On Monday, this week’s quiet day, the Sangha went to Holy Island, the historical home of Saint Cuthbert. Dana was offered by Mame, Maureen, Daeng, Kath and Penny. After the picnic the community went exploring, fortunately all managed to return to the mainland before the tide came swooping in.

Kusala house is host to an abundance of guests this week, including Tan Nyanamoli’s mother, Mrs Molnar, who has come from Serbia and KH manager Myke’s big sister, Helena, who has come from Wales. Also Ben (of Friday 7th August blog entry) is back with us after spending time at a School of Mystics just north of the border. Our old friend Martin Reilly is arriving on Thursday (he will come from Amulree) to consult on Dhamma and dry stone walling. We are hoping he will be pleased to see the work we have performed on his Kusala House sign (with text now highlighted by Skipper) and the ‘splitting ignorance asunder while I sit on the mountaintop’ inscription, which is now visible to the left of the Dhamma Hall. The inscription is taken from the Theragatha (v. 544) and is attributed to King Asoka's nephew Kaludayin, post-enlightenment, in reference to his determination in pursuing the goal.

Ajahn Abhinando left on Tuesday with Cesare for the airport, where he heads south for Spain to lead a retreat. Cesare returned to his homeland of Italy and we eagerly look forward to his next visit. Ajahn Punnyo has returned to Yorkshire to visit his parents and will be meeting with the Leeds group, Dhammapala, on Friday.

The future is holding many auspicious events for Harnham. On Sunday the sixth of September Anagarikas Michael and Skipper will go forth as novice monks in a double pabbajja. They are working hard to put the finishing touches on their robes with the help of Ajahn Sawaeng. The date for Kathina has also been decided and we are delighted to confirm that Luang Por Sumedho (Tan Chao Khun Raja Sumedhajahn) and the Thai Ambassador (His Excellency Mr.Kitti Wasinondh) will be attending. All are welcome and we hope to see many new friends as well as old.

Silent Week

Quietude pervades Harnham

At Harnham for the week ending 22nd August we are taking part in what we call our silent practice week where work projects and group gatherings are reduced allowing community members the space and time to attend responsibly to their own personal practice, whether it be meditation or study or whatever else calls them (the two applicants for Samanera pabbajja are sewing robes, quietly).

The kitchen still remains a busy part of the monastery, where Anagarika Michael has temporarily returned to his post as kitchen manager with the help of Gabor while Tomas is at home following the passing away of his grandfather. These two cooks also had some quiet time as several danas were offered this week, the first by the Sri Lankan community on Monday. Mame arrived with full dana on Tuesday and Cesare, our long term guest and friend, prepared many Italian dishes on Wednesday. With such an abundance of guests the kitchen has certainly not been empty but everyone has done their best to maintain the peaceful atmosphere that silent week brings.

We are also delighted to report that Ajahn Jayanto's retreat was greatly appreciated by the 19 male retreatants who participated. He made his way back to Amaravati on Sunday and arrived safely. He kindly accepted an invitation to return next year; and while talking about such matters, we have had confirmation that Ajahn Tiradhammo (April), Ajahn Sucitto (May), and Ajahn Amaro (October) will also be leading retreats here next year.

Ajahn Jayanto's Retreat

Tan Nyanamoli and the new porch

This week Harnham has been hosting a silent meditation retreat, led by Ajahn Jayanto, who has travelled from Amaravati to offer his guidance to twenty committed meditators who have filled our retreat house. For Myke this is the first retreat as Kusala House Caretaker and so far he is doing a wonderful job in caring for the house and its silent guests.

Our front porch has finally come to completion thanks to the diligent and tireless efforts of Tan Nyanamoli. The hefty Northumberland weather had slowly worn down areas of the porch which have since been replaced and painted. The new work compliments Jeff Jackson’s new door resulting in a completely renovated porch ready to welcome all to the main house of Harnham.

Meanwhile the mysterious midnight screeching puzzle has been solved. A few weeks ago it was mentioned in the blog that it was a pair of barn owls that were providing nocturnal accompaniment to our midnight sittings, but the barn owls were wrongly blamed and it was in fact a pair of tawny owls – somewhat smaller, more common and considerably more elusive.

Ajahn Abhinando and Ajahn Punnyo engaged in the noble tradition of alms-round this Tuesday and trekked to Morpeth, a whole twelve miles away. They received offerings from six different people, some old friends and some who were completely new to Buddhism. Sadly the walk back was sullied by Northumbrian rain, but spirits were not dampened.

Saturday will mark the end of the retreat, where we will bring the week to a close with the sharing of blessings. The community at Harnham would like to express its gratitude and appreciation to Ajahn Jayanto for his time and effort in leading this retreat, and we would also like to thank the wider monastic and lay community who have all helped to make this retreat possible.

Pilgrims

Ben and Bill on Pilgrimage

Jeff Jackson has been helping the monastery recently with repairing the two main front doors, which over the years have suffered in the Northumberland weather. At the weekend Robert and Tina came up from the warmer South to experience some Northumbrian quiet and Kim returned to Denmark.

Tun Hiriko's parents Marjan and Marina returned to Slovenia after having been introduced to the sights of the North east and after a week with us Patrick headed back down South.

Having set off on a Pilgrimage around Britain in May, Ben and Bill came to stay with us for four days. They had trekked down from Lindisfarne and after Kusala House they would be walking into Throssel Hole Priory to try out the rigours of a Zen retreat. On Wednesday Ajahn Sawaeng returned from the Tort Pah Bah at Santacittarama in Italy and Bernd arrived to help celebrate Anagarika Micheal's birthday on Thursday.

On Friday Maria Isabel is returning to Spain after having taught many of us some Spanish language and shown the Anagarikas Catalan dishes. Her lively presence has been appreciated by many over these last three weeks. In the afternoon a large interfaith group of ladies coming with the Bishop of Newcastle's adviser will be talking with Ajahn Punnyo.

European takeover

Tan Hiriko with his parents

Strange unearthly screeching noises have been heard behind the monastery most nights this week. After some uncertainty it was decided that it was a pair of Barn Owls calling to each other as they hunt together. Vlad confirmed that they live amongst the trees and crags up beyond Harnham Hall.

Ajahn Abhinando visited the Leeds Meditation Group at the end of last week and on Saturday a dozen senior citizens from St.Hugh's Church in Gosforth came to talk with Ajahn Punnyo and were very impressed with the simplicity and beauty of the monastery and its gardens. After the committee meeting on Sunday Anna Portaro stayed over for the night and Kim Parfitt from Denmark came to stay for a week. Early in the week the two Peters left: Peter Kraszna returned to Hungary and Peter Dolan returned to Gateshead.

Many of you will remember Vlad from the Czech Republic who has joined us for a couple of weeks. On Tuesday Tun Hiriko's parents, Marijan and Marina arrived after a long journey from Slovenia to visit for a week. Mame, Maureen and Kath are helping to guide them round the many sights & holy sites of Northumbria. Also a regular from Chithurst, Patrick Butler came for a week of Northumbrian spirituality. On Wednesday, whilst the Slovenians where on Lindisfarne, Ajahn Punnyo and Myke headed over to Carlisle to spread the Dhamma amongst the Cumbrians.

On Friday Ajahn Sawaeng flew over to Italy to take part in a Tort Pah Bah with Luang Por Sumedho, which Nam Tip has been helping to organise. To compensate for Ajahn Sawaeng's absence Cesare flew over from Italy to be with us for much of August. In the evening Gabor took the eight precepts to become an anagarika and Ajahn Munindo delivered a rousing exhortation on renunciation and practice to welcome Anagarika Gabor into the Community. His themes were focus, consistency, renunciation, intensity and kindness.

Also on Friday Ajahn Abhinando and Tun Nyanavisuddhi attended the recommended daylong course on first aid. And on Saturday Ajahn Abhinando will be hosting a Renga Afternoon in Kusala House from 1pm to 7pm.