Nearing Completion

Bojjhanga Buddha arrives at Kusala House

Things have been busy, preparing Kusala House for Ajahn Candasiri's retreat which starts today, and the community is ready for a few days of quiet practice over the weekend. The meditation room only needs the floor laid to be completed (ready for Luang Por Sumedho's forthcoming retreat), and Bojjhanga Garden was made similarly complete with the arrival of it's Buddha rupa on Sunday. Made by Ajahn Vimalo at Amaravati and offered by Clive Criper, Myintsu and family, it was brought up by our friends Mame, Maureen and Visakha who drove there and back especially.
Finally, Sebastian has been preparing for his Sāmanera ordination on the 4th October (see current announcements for more details).

Geoff's Doors

Installing the doors

The weather has been a little more clement this week, and the meditation room is looking similarly brighter. The community has been clearing everything out, and cleaning up in preparation for the final two coats of paint, which begin in earnest today. Starting with the beautiful new sliding doors designed by our friend Geoff Jackson, and crafted and installed by his team of workers (to whom we're all very grateful), we will get the place looking crisp and fresh in time for Ajahn Candasiri's women's retreat on the 26^th.

Ajahn Abhinando has returned from leading the walking retreat at the Sneep (without too much walking) which, he reports, went very well; and we have a new addition to the community since Michael Knabe took the Anāgarika precepts on Sunday evening.

Over the next few days Ajahn Munindo will travel to meet with the Leeds meditation groupand Alex-of-Edinburgh will be here exercising his skills as the monastery's IT co-ordinator.

Last, but by no means least, our friend and supporter Abramina is back with us from Holland on a brief visit and is, as usual, taking care of the monastery in general and practising metta on all our plants.

After the rain

Rainbow over Kusala House

The recent heavy storms and subsequent flooding may have caused problems for people in the area, but it didn't seem to dampen anybody's spirits; we still had people braving the elements to come and offer food and other helpful items, and to make use of our Dhamma Hall. It is good to see that even torrential rain and strong winds can't keep people from practicing generosity and meditation, and we hope that none of our friends and supporters were too badly affected by the weather.
The skies are now a little brighter, and work on Kusala House continues, with the plastering and Electrics finished this week. Ajahn Munindo is back from teaching in Italy, and Ajahn Abhinando is leaving for the Sneep (home of our friends Micky and Trudy Macgregor) to lead a 6- day retreat. Sunday night and Michael Knabe will become Anagairka Michael.