The end of the Pansa came and went as if it was just another day; and maybe it was.  But the three months we all shared together here in Cambridge will not be forgotten in our hearts.  It was a time of deeper practice and meditation.  It was a time when a new community of people came together in the Dhamma to make offerings and find a new place of tranquility and a source of teachings for their practice.  We had many visits and blessings from senior monks as well as strangers off the street with their big hearts and smiles.  Thank you all for being a part of the retreat this year and we hope to see the same faces as well as many new ones next year.

Auspicious Sangha Meeting in Cambridge

Good progress has been made on the way towards establishing the Buddha Metta charity here in the UK.  We have a group of Trustees and have held several meetings already to discuss the work that needs to be done towards realising the goal of having a charitable trust established as soon as possible.  This is the key first stage to there being permanent Buddha Metta practice centres that are owned and belong to the people.

We have had incredible support from lay and ordained people alike including a very auspicious meeting of Venerable Ajahns here in Cambridge.  Ajahn Amaro, the Abbot of Amaravati Buddhist Monastery along with Ajahn Jayanto and a young Hungarian Bhikkhu came, as did Ajahn Karuniko and Ajahn Gavasako from Chithurst Buddshist Monastery.  The two groups had not known that the other was coming.  It just happened to work out that on that particular Tuesday it was possible for them to come together.  We would love to learn (remember) the young Hungarian Bhikkhu's name.

Their intentions were to show support for Luangpoh Sudhiro's work and to get to know each other better.  A good amount of lay people also gathered and Ajahn Amaro gave a speech that meant a lot to all of us here.  Ajahn spoke of how special and important it is that there will be a Forest Sangha presence here.  He said that there are only a small amount of teachers in this world that are able to make the Dhamma accessible to people in a simple way, and even less that are able to do it in the English language.  We are fortunate to have a person in robes who is those things and has the energy and drive to share it with as many people as possible all around the world.  He also said that it is hard work to make a temple work when there are all kinds of people and money involved, but that with the right intentions it could only be a positive learning experience.  He mentioned the Mangla Sutta where the Buddha says that we should not mix with fools and instead to associate with the wise.  He shared with us experience of setting up Abhayagiri Buddhist Monastery in California and offered contacts for us to be in touch with who can help us set up our charity in a way that will be long lasting, without problems, and one that will benefit as many people as possible.

From all of us here at Buddha Metta, we would like to acknowledge our heart felt appreciation for the gesture of support from all these amazing followers of the Buddha's way, the Sangha.  That is for the ordained Sangha and lay Sangha who came from the Hemel Hempstead and West Sussex/Hampshire, and the lay Sangha from Cambridge who actively show their support every single day.  Sadhu..Sadhu..Sadhu..

Ajahn Amaro and Ajahn Sudhiro walking together in Cambridge

Amaravati Group

The local Amaravati meditation group came to join us for the evening Puja and it was wonderful to share the time together.  We discussed how special it is to finally have a place in Cambridge so that people have a place to come and practice in away from home.  It seems easy to associate the good energy of the place with a feeling of stillness.  May everyone continue to feel welcome to use this refuge freely.

There is some further good news in that the refuge may soon become a more permanent fixture in the area.  We found one location that feels just right to set up the temple in long-term.  We are just sorting out the details of the charity and trust so that property can be more easily acquired.  Your support is needed more then ever to show that if it happens, it will be possible to maintain it.

This puts both the Scotland and Cambridge temples in the same situation.  They are both close to being purchased but need the final push to convince authorities, governments, councils, and supporters that they are sustainable.

Sharing Merit

We lost count at about 70, but we estimate that about 90 people joined us on Sunday to celebrate the passing of merit that we have created to our diseased.  We couldn't help but be excited about Ajahn Kovida joining us again, and Venerable Yen from the Mahayana tradition.  We were so pleased to have a Sangha here where every member was from a different country and where many traditions were represented.

Supatra, Ajahn Kovida, and The Island

The past week has been busy here in Cambridge with meeting new friends and making connections with groups from around the area.

Sunday was especially memorable in many ways.  We had the pleasant surprise to have about 50 people here for the Dana to give their support for Supatra and her parents.  Supatra is a lovely six year old girl who is ill and her parents are taking her to the Children's Hospital in Texas in hopes of them being able to do something for her.  The hospital is well known in the world and I have known people who have received great benefit from it.  From us they have our greatest blessings.

That same evening Venerable Sister Ajahn Kovida blessed us with a visit for the evening Puja.  Her presence is always uplifting and inspiring and so there was a wonderful energy for us to abide in during that time.

Some of the lay people that come here regularly are involved in a group that meets to discuss Dhamma books and we invited them to have their meeting here with us.  So after the Puja, a lively discussion about the book, "The Island" took place.  It was wonderful to meet even more people and be part of such a discussion.  It seems they agree as they are happy to continue their meeting here with us from now on.

May this place continue to grow as a refuge for everyone.

Amazing Thailand

We were invited to come to the bi-annual Amazing Thailand festival down by Guildford and I was sent to represent!  What a wonderful event it was!  On arrival at 10am I was rushed in to go on alms round and found that the Forest Sangha of Chithurst Monastery was already there just finishing.  It was lovely to see them but they made their was back to their temple quickly to be there for their daily visitors.  I enjoyed having a meal with Tan Jao Khun Suwit and Tan Boat who are visiting from Thailand, and with monks from Wat Pah Desarangsee, the temple in Bournemouth.  

There were marquees set up for us where for the rest of the day we stayed talking with people and sharing blessings.  I had the opportunity to meet many "western" people who were interested in Buddhism in some way. They either already were interested and had questions for me or were from families of mixed Thai-Western couples and wanted to learn more.  Many Thai people were also interested in my story about how I became a monk.  Everyone appreciated sharing those moments together and some people had tears in their eyes as I gave them a blessing.  This was very moving for me and again showed how alive our tradition really is.  It may be ancient and very special because of that, but I am also learning that it is modern and as relevant in our lives today as it was in the Buddha's 2500 years ago.