Forthcoming events
Our next sesshin will take place from 25th to 29th June. The revised schedule can be found on our calendar. Each day will start at 7.00am and there will be eight meditation periods throughout the day, finishing at 8.30pm. Lunch will be eaten formally in the meditation room. Please contact the Priory if you would like to attend in person for any part of the retreat. It’s fine to join for a day or part of a day. The meditation periods will be shared online and you’re welcome to join for any of those.
This year’s Summer Party will be on Sunday 13th July. It will be held at our usual venue in Erpingham and we’ll be having our traditional bring-and-share vegetarian lunch. The event is scheduled to start at midday and lifts will be offered from the Priory at 11.30am. Please contact the Priory if you’d like to come along – partners (and pets!) are very welcome to join us. Rev. Alicia, from Sitting Buddha Hermitage in Derbyshire, will again be with us for the party, as she’ll be making a short visit to the Priory from 11th to 14th July.
Recent events
We had a lovely celebration of Wesak, the Festival of the Buddha’s Birth, in early May. Several Sangha members came along in person for meditation and to take part in the ceremony, while quite a few people also joined us online. While we enjoyed coffee and cookies afterwards, the Dharma talk and discussion focussed on ‘Equanimity’. The photo below was taken after the ceremony.
Garden work
The garden group has been meeting regularly on Tuesday afternoons. Much of their effort this spring has been focussed on maintenance: watering (much needed in the dry weather), weeding and mowing, as well as planting pansies and geraniums. The group provides an opportunity to socialise with other Sangha members, while doing some work that is of great help to the Priory, and it has been nice to have a couple more people come along recently.
Meanwhile, the front garden project reached the end of a significant phase, when the work of installing wooden boards to shore up the soil of the bank was completed. The approach to the front of the Priory now looks much smarter and the planting of several plants on the bank will further enhance it. The two trainees who have been working on this project are now turning their attention to improving the steps, pathway and porch, which will benefit the safety, as well as the appearance, of the route to the front door.
Thanks
I am very grateful to everybody who offers help with keeping the Priory and its gardens well-maintained. I would also like to thank the people who assist with administrative and office tasks, especially the bookkeeping and accounts. In addition, my gratitude goes to those who enabled me to have a week away in North Norfolk in April, especially the Sangha member who offered me the use of their cottage.
With best wishes and in gassho,
Reverend Leoma