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H i l l t o p
N e w s l e t t e r
Spring 2008
Harnham Buddhist Monastery, 2 Harnham Hall Cottages, Harnham, Belsay,
Northumberland NE20 0HF UK
AJAHN’S COMMENT
It has been more than three months now since our last communication and I hope
you have enjoyed an agreeable winter — or at least equanimously endured a not
too difficult one. There is always something at this time of year that tests us.
I can happily report though, that here at the monastery conditions have been
easily endured (Ajahn Abhinando was perhaps slightly tested when he had to climb
on the roof of the Dhamma Hall at one stage to replace tiles that had
disappeared during the storms). Certainly all the support needed for the Sangha
to be getting on with what we are supposed to be doing was generously offered
and we are most grateful.
The annual Winter Retreat time has been a good opportunity for practicing what
we preach; that is, more consistently exercising mindful listening. Maybe you
recall my comment in the previous Hilltop Newsletter where I was encouraging
cultivating conscious listening. The stillness and silence that manifest with
reduced activity during retreat time enhances this practice. And it is indeed a
skill to develop. On one occasion, many years ago now, I was sitting with Ajahn
Chah, listening to him speak informally with a gathering of monks, nuns and lay
visitors. I remember someone placed a tape recorder in front of him. And before
he started to speak more formally, he took time to instruct us how to cultivate
the skill of listening to Dhamma. He told us that the wise way to attend to
Dhamma talks was to listen from our hearts, If we are relaxed in our listening,
he said, and allowed the heart to simply receive the words, just as the tape
machine records the sound, then the Dhamma will ‘go in’ and be available to
replay when it is needed. This way we won’t worry that the teachings will be
lost — they will be stored in our hearts. If we put too much effort into
remembering what was said, we might miss the message.
This was one of many occasions when Ajahn Chah spoke directly of the manner in
which we approach our practice. We can study about the teachings but when
it comes to truly delving into them, our approach, our attitude, is all
important. Picking up the teachings in the wrong manner means we may well miss
the point and instead of being freed from suffering, we suffer more. Training
our attitude is not only fundamental to practice in the Forest Tradition of
Theravada Buddhism; it is at the very core of all Buddhist teachings. In Pali,
the language in which Theravada teachings are recorded, the original word for
disciple is savaka. Looking into the etymology of this word reveals that
the source meaning of this word is ‘one who listens’. If you have ever seen a
Burmese Buddhist shrine you may have noticed that besides the Buddha image in
the centre there are placed to the left and right smaller images; the one on the
left represents Sariputta and on the right Moggallana. At the time of the
Buddha, Sariputta and Moggallana were very close friends and were amongst the
first seekers of Truth to become his followers. The Buddha referred to them as
his chief disciples. The way the Burmese style their images, these disciples are
seen making a most beautiful gesture; with legs tucked to one side and with
their ears cocked slightly, they symbolise the attitude of one listening — one
who has come to learn. A disciple, who, with all their heart wishes to be free,
is open, alert, ready, and available to receive. A disciple knows they don’t
know and is ready to learn. Next time you visit the monastery, look at the image
sitting to the right of the shrine in our Reception Room.
We can learn from everything if we have a suitable attitude; from silent retreat
routine or from busy daily-life activity. If we are able to relax our grasp on
fixed views, let go of craving for understanding, and open with respect, with
willingness, in the face of the unknown, every situation, every relationship,
every moment is Dhamma practice. Sometimes our listening is directed inwards,
maybe to echoes from the past that have never really been heard; to the voices
of the myriad characters who play in the drama we call our personality; or to
the silence that is always there, even if not heard. Sometimes our listening is
directed outwards to companions, intimate or distant; to the voices of those who
advise us, instruct us, order us, intimidate, support or obstruct us. Whether we
learn or not from what we attend to, depends on how we listen. As we
develop the skill of right listening, we are less disturbed by what we hear. The
tendencies to go out after the sounds are tamed and we start to find confidence
in abiding as that which hears. Contemplations that began as inner
dialogue, deepen, and we discover a way of enquiry that takes place in silence.
I hope you are nourished by the silence in your life. And any time you are able
do come and enjoy the silence of the monastery with us here.
With warm wishes,
Bhikkhu Munindo
RESIDENT COMMUNITY & NEWS
Current residents at Aruna Ratanagiri are:
Ajahn Munindo
Ajahn Abhinando
Ajahn Puñño
Bhikkhu Hiriko
Bhikkhu Nyanamoli
Shramanera Do Gat
Anagarika Sebastian
With the end of the Winter Retreat the community is shrinking a little: Ajahn
Puñño will go back to Thailand at the end of May for another six months, to join
us again in November. Anagarika David has already returned to lay life and
Anagarika Trevor will return to Chithurst by the end of April. Ajahn Sawaeng,
whose return from Thailand we had erroneously announced in the last Hilltop,
actually never arrived; he now hopes to join us later in the year.
Kusala House and Sewage Update
At Harnham the busy bees arrived early this year, contributing further
attractive developments to Kusala House: Geoff Jackson & company installed the
kitchen and a new delegation of builders from Farad Maftoon’s large pool of
contacts undertook to flag the patio and build an access-path through the Kusala
House garden. Martin Reilly then returned to help constructing a plinth for a
Buddha image and a water feature for the same area. And Rolf, winter-hardy
specimen of the building-bee family, actually never went into hibernation, but
instead, throughout the winter, steadily advanced the fitting out of our new
workshop at the back of the car park. Now, with spring at the doorstep, we feel
ready to bring the garden into shape and to clear out the old workshop,
preparing it for its future use as meditation room and accommodation.
If you would like to give us a hand with the outstanding work, short or long
term, please contact the monastery. If you would like to assist us in emptying
the workshop, please join us for one of our next Volunteer Days on Saturday 19th
and Saturday 26th of April. It would be lovely to see as many of you as possible
on either or both of the days. For more information contact Caroline Dower on
01670 774404 or the monastery.
NEW NOTICES
Meditation Retreats at Harnham 2008
Women's Retreat: 2nd until 5th of May. Led by Ajahn Anandabodhi. Fully
booked.
Men's Retreat: 25th until 31st of May. Led by Ajahn Munindo and Ajahn
Abhinando. Fully booked.
Weekend Retreat: 4th until 6th of July. Led by Ajahn Jayanto.
Summer Retreat: 3rd until 9th of August. Led by Ajahn Munindo and Ajahn
Abhinando. Fully booked.
Women's Retreat: 26th until 30th of September. Led by Ajahn Chandasiri.
For more information and booking please contact Kath Ann Jones at
contact
page or by phone on 0120 7283361.
Walking Retreat at The Sneep, Tarset, Northumbria
14 – 20th September 2008. Led by Ajahn Abhinando. The format will consist of 3
full days silent meditation alternating with 3 full days walking in the
Northumberland
hills. For information and booking please contact:
Micky Macgregor at
contact page
or by post: The Sneep, Tarset, Hexham, Northumberland NE48 1RN.
Magga Bhavaka Trust Reforming
The trustees are currently looking at reformulating the trust deed so it fits
more accurately the circumstances we live with. Anyone interested in being
involved please
contact us.
Auditor
The Trustees of Harnham Monastery are looking for a volunteer chartered
accountant to audit the trusts accounts annually. If you are interested, please
contact the monastery on 01661 881612 or by
email
For our dynamic calendar please click
here.
COMMITTEE NOTICES
Cooking Volunteers wanted!
It would be very helpful if the lay community could
cover the cooking of the meal on at least one day a week, preferably on a
Friday.
“Monks… householders are very helpful to you. They provide you with the
requisites of robes, almsfood, lodgings and medicines… And you, monks, are very
helpful to… householders, as you teach them the Dhamma… and you proclaim the
spiritual life in its fulfilment and complete purity.
Thus… this spiritual life is lived with mutual support for the purpose of
crossing the flood and making a complete end of suffering.” (Anguttara Nikaya)
If you are interested in offering help, either by providing cooked dishes or
coming to the monastery to cook, then please contact one of us:
Caroline Dower 01670 774 404
Kath Jones 01207 283 361
Monastery 01661 881 612
Sunday Evening Food Offerings
This offerings rota has been organized so that the wider lay community can bring
vegetarian cooked dishes on Sunday evenings, in order to be reheated during the
week.
Anyone who may be interested in adding their name to this rota could contact
Caroline Dower on 01670 774404 or use our contact
page. Alternatively please fill your name in on the sheet
provided on Sunday nights.
Committee contacts
Should you need any information or advice about visiting the monastery, or ways
of supporting the monastic community through offerings of practical help, food
or funds please do not hesitate to get in touch. We are also always very
interested in receiving your comments or any new ideas. Our names and contacts
are:
Email: click
here
Phone numbers:
|
Caroline Dower | |
01670 774 404 |
|
Nick Pearce | |
01670 788 596 |
| Anna Potaro | |
01875
320 581 |
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