The Adhisthana communities took advantage of the spring sunshine while it lasted, with everyone coming together to enjoy a barbecue, complete with games and a treasure hunt or ‘Jewel mandala quest’. A single gold jewel is still yet to be located, so points to anyone who manages to complete the hunt by finding the last jewel that is lost somewhere in the grounds…
Yashodeva and Lalitanaga have been busy refurbishing the Women’s toilets outside the library, while Vilasamuni has presided over the installation of a new sound system in the shrine room. New speakers have been installed in the ceiling, so expect to hear Bhante’s voice more distinctly than ever before, as well as any softly-spoken leaders of meditation. We have had another great crew of volunteers with us over the last month, with Sarah, Rush and Crystina from Essen.
Saddhanandi has recently returned from her stay at Akashavana, where she privately ordained Mokshagita (formerly An). The Sangharakshita Study Course has been continuing, with the most recent area of study being Bhante’s poetry and ‘The Eternal Legacy’. The latter is a ground-breaking book, providing an introduction to the huge breadth of the Buddhist Canon in a way that we are unaware of having been done before.
We also celebrated two birthdays over the last month, with Lalitanaga celebrating his milestone 50th birthday. For Kerianna’s birthday we celebrated beneath the oak tree in the swales field, with a carrot cake adorned with marzipan bunnies collectively made by the men’s community. Perhaps it’s best not to mention the marzipan worm which was seen crawling out of it.
We were also able to dine out on the generosity of our lovely retreatants. Those who came on Vessantara’s retreat exploring ‘The Greater Mandala of Aesthetic Appreciation’ allowed us to do just that, as their donations went towards a delicious meal and a lovely afternoon that we enjoyed together in Malvern.
