Lama Shenpen has kindly written a newsletter on what's been going on at the Hermtiage, but due to the storm and various other issues, we've only just been able to get this to you all. Please read on to see how the storm has affected the Hermitage and Tyn Y Gors.- Mebar
Dear all
Here is wishing every one the seasons greatings as we approach the solstice and the new year. I also like to join in with the spirit of Christmas as part of that whole celebration of the returning of the light as the old year ends with a sense of a new start – I find it all inspiring somehow. Lama Tara and I will be celebrating Christmas over lunch with Lama Tamsin, Jenny and Julian and Hildagard who will be here on retreat together over the Christmas period. Julian is doing well in retreat in Lama Dashon’s retreat cabin at the moment.
He began his retreat just as we began the two Sadhana retreats after which I spent two weeks in retreat at Tyn y Gors and I have just come back from a weeks retreat at Ty Pren down on the coast opposite Bardsey Island. So this has been a very nurturing period for me after all the excitement of the consecration and so on.
Next week Mike will be putting the final touches on the pagoda at Tyn y Gors. I am really looking forward to seeing it finished. Sarah and I planted lots of daffodils on the island a couple of weeks ago so I am looking forward to seeing them bloom at the beginning of spring.
My sister in law Lindsay died after a long illness in October and I went up to Warrington for a couple of days for the funeral. It was lovely to meet up with my brother Simon and his family even though it was such a sad occasion. My cousin Tina joined us and so we had the opportunity to meet up, a rare family occasion. Simon has three children and a number of grandchildren and great grandchildren whom I rarely see – so it was great to see how they have all grown up or are growing up. There were lots of photos taken of the whole family and some people had seen the Pilgrimage programme and were clearly impressed, making me somewhat of a minor celebrity myself!
There have been various MYG and SMG meetings that I have been able to attend, and enjoyed the contact with my students very much and being a kind of background part of the processes that are going on in the Sangha. I talk with Lama Dashon, Lama Tara and Jonathan quite a lot about the direction we are taking and the various issues around a vision for Tyn y Gors and plans for the new Meditation hall and so on. The main topic at the moment is a vision for the Hermitage. I am curious about what will emerge over the coming weeks and months. Of course the whole of January will be taken up with retreat so we will only start in earnest in February. We miss Eli who has moved out to a house in Llan Gybi halfway between the Hermitage and Tyn y Gors so next time there is a pilgrimage between the two retreat centres pilgrims can stop of for a cup of tea at Eli’s place. She was sad to leave but I think she is settling in OK now. We performed as fire puja there shortly after she moved in. We have yet to perform one at Dashon and Pati’s new place. Lots of changes happening here including Lama Tamsin as manager at the Hermitage and Mebar coming here on a regular basis to help me among other things.
Incidentally for those who remember the days at the Priory in Edgeware, we still get a Christmas calander and news up date from the Abbess. They enjoyed seeing us on the Pilgrimage programme!
I am starting to concentrate on the Mandala Principle book again and Liz (who helped me with the Keeping the Dalai Lama Waiting book) is coming on Monday for a five day intensive work on it. It is actually not an easy book to knock into shape, how to draw the reader in and keep up their interest. I am having lots of new ideas for it so we will see how it all works out. My eyes have got quite bad now so I cant work so easily on the screen. I send her recorded messages by email which seems to be working at the moment.
So with much love and good wishes again for the solstice, Christmas and New Year!
Shenpen
Additionial up-to-date news!
No sooner had i sent off this, storm Darragh demolished masses of trees around here and the Hermitage and Tyn Y Gors lost power, phone and internet access. Tara and I were wandering around in the cold and dark going to bed with all our clothes on for days. The massive pine tree next door fell over our drive blocking cars from getting in and out for nearly a week. Luckily i could move out to stay with John Roberts, a new DHB student, in order to work with Liz on the mandala book.
Ten trees had fallen in our nextdoor neighbours garden and seven along the road. Twenty or so fell at Tyn y Gors and are still blocking the drive . Others fell against the house but not too badly damaging it. A tree fell quite near Sudhanas yurt and another nearly on his car! But, the Stupa held firm as a vajra and came to no harm at all. Sarah was in retreat there and she and Sudhana ended up having to fetch water from the well because the cable to the pump got severed. All that is going take a lot of work to tidy up and we dont know yet what the insurance is going to cover or not. Big drama!
The good news is we are all safe and well though. I am returning to the Hermitage today friday 13th as soon as Liz leaves. At least the power is back even though we are likely to not have phone or internet access for quite a while yet.
Before the storm Mike had planned to do the final touches on the pagoda and set it up on Guru Rinpoche day but thats going to have to wait now of course., he cant even get down the drive now, well you can but only by clambering over an obstackle course of fallen trees!
So its likely we wont be on line for pujas for some days yet. Sorry about that I miss practising with you all.