April Newsbyte

April NEWSBYTE
Trust all is well!
All Past Tips
 Ayya / Noirin will continue her on-line courses - see below.
Noirin recent essay: Homeward Bound
For Calendar and assistant opportunities see below .
 
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Treasurer's Report.
April 2018
 

Welcome to the Spring financial update, which is all very uplifting!
 
Although the final cost of the Accommodation Block, including extra works, was around £250K it has been a great success with meditators. People report that the rooms are silent and warm and comfortably spacious.

The recent refurbishment of the kitchen has also delighted meditators, though the induction hob
takes a little getting used to. We have had a few dishes unintentionally brûlée.
In case you have not seen the photos: Refurbished Kitchen

One happy development has been to stone the paths that run around the meadows over the winter
retreat. This means that people don’t have to wear wellies anymore which was always a bind.
See photo below.

There is still quite a bit to do:

  • The biggest expense will be to finally install the air source heater, plus heat tank and all the plumbing involved in both the bungalow and Vihara, since the hot water can feed almost all the central heating system. This will cost somewhere around £30K.
  • There is the bathroom in the Bungalow and the toilet next to the kitchen to upgrade.
  • There is that bell Bhante brought back from Japan that needs a housing.
  • There are other smaller tasks too, such as tarmacking the car park and so on …
If you have not yet donated to the project, please do consider doing so. It’s very easy these days to make a small recurring donation through PayPal - http://www.satipanya.org.uk/donations/

However, if you prefer to offer by way of BACS (Internet Banking), please use the details below.
One pound/euro a week is a worthy gift. It’s through such small gifts that Satipanya has been
able to evolve.

Please Note: International donors may have outdated details. These have now changed since HSBC formed a new Bank for domestic purposes. Do make sure you change the BIC and IBAN numbers on your internet banking. After the 21st May, all payments with the old numbers will be returned!
 

Great gratitude to all of the donors who have made this possible.
 
Yours in the Dhamma,
 


Richard
Treasurer to the Trust.  

Account Name: Satipanya Buddhist Trust
Account Number: 91 49 81 34
Sort Code:  40 34 31
Bank Address:  HSBC, 42 Courtenay Street, Newton Abbot, Devon TQ12 2EB, UK
(IBAN)International Bank Account Number: GB32HBUK40343191498134
(BIC) Branch Identifier Code:  HBUKGB4166W

Announcements: 
Ayya / Noirin will continue her on-line courses again in 2018, open to those booking a retreat at Satipanya. The first course will begin in May and the second one in October.  This year’s course follows the guidance in the Satipatthana Sutta, considered to be the most important of all the Buddha’s teachings, the Jewel of the collection,  as it gives detailed guidance for insight meditation, including mindfulness in daily life.  The course will run for six weeks to cover each exercise in the first foundation - mindfulness of body.  For further information or to register for course, email  noirinsheahan@gmail.com
AGM: The Meeting was postponed because of the weather. We met at Maureen and Jim's house. Many thanks for their hospitality. We decided to go ahead with the Air-Source Heater which is able to feed the all the buildings.

This coming month:
A Weeklong Retreat lead by Guus:  14-22 April (see below)
Two Week Retreat by Noireen- NB You can also apply for the Weekend  May 4-6 26 April - 12 May. (See below)

See Calendar below for courses and Assistants needed. 

Karuna Book: Every morning at puja we call the names of those who are sick or dying, or are having a hard time. 
Mudita Book: Every evening at puja we call the names of those who have something to rejoice about.

Click for Bhante's Away Courses

The Complete Calendar for 2018
Assistants Needed
N.B. All the courses are serviced by assistants.
See website for up-to-date Assistant need: http://www.satipanya.org.uk/calendar/
As assistant  you have the opportunity to serve others. It can be a way of expressing gratitude for the gift of Dhamma. Although the morning is taken with cooking, the rest of day is for practice.
As an assistant, we do not expect payment of the deposit or make a donation because you have kindly offered your time.
However, your commitment is essential, for the course would be very difficult to run without an assistant and may indeed have to be cancelled.
 If you are interested, follow this link: Course Assistant
 For info. about Retreats and teachers see website www.satipanya.org.uk
See drop down menus: especially About Us, Teachings and Retreats
 
Would you like to come and assist on a course?
Scroll down to see where we need you.
 
Teachers: Click on names for bio.

 Mahasi Retreat
 Guus Went
Assistant : John MacDougall
Sat.14 – Sun. 22 April
Sayadaw U Pandita's definition of Mindfulness: Mindfulness is the observing power of the mind, which clearly and simply experiences an object, without reacting to it.
We start actively to develop this power with the body as primary object. That makes it possible not to get fully entangled in the hindrances and to come to know something about them. Sitting meditation, walking meditation and daily activities are fully equal in importance. Gradually we come to know other objects of meditation, both internally and externally.
Practical thing: It is useful to take a small notebook and a pen, to make notes of observations after a session or during the day. This will be helpful to make the interview sessions useful and relaxed. 
 
Mahasi Two Week Retreat
Noirin Sheahan
Assistant : Cherry Buckwell 
Sat. 28 Apr. – Sat.12 May
NB You can also apply for the Weekend  May 4-6
The usual schedule and format – see website.
Preference given to those who want to stay two weeks.
 Vipassana means “Seeing clearly”. When we see the world as it really is, we will be free from the distress that comes from identifying with a limited view of who and what we are.
During the retreat, we relax from all our usual busyness to give our full attention to present experience.  We learn to see the world more clearly, and to disentangle the knots of confusion that bind us to emotional turmoil.  At precious moments, the heart opens and we may sense what it means to be free.
 
Buddha Day
Bhante Bodhidhamma
Local Assistant Needed 
Saturday 19 May : Start 09.30 
Honouring Our Exemplar and Teacher
Taking Refuges and Precepts Ceremony at 15.00.

Morning Meditation
Noon Lunch
Please bring veggie food for light lunch.
Please do not not bring anything that needs heating or cooking.
Afternoon Talk : Taking Refuges and Precepts : Procession
Tea and Biscuits 16.00
. 
Vipassana : Metta : Bodycare 
Bhante Bodhidhamma
with Bryan Lester, Reiki Master
Assistant : Trevor Flaxman
Come Friday evening if you want to join in Buddha Day Celbration 
Fri 18 / Sat 19 – Weds 23 May 
Towards a Right Lifestyle 
The first day, Saturday is the celebration above.
The rest of course is devoted to Mahasi vipassana and metta /Loving-Kindness 
and exercises that heal and/or invigorate the body. 
Discussion on how to develop the spiritual life. 
 
Mahasi Weekend Retreat
Jenny Birkett
Assistant Needed 
Fri. 01 – Sun. 03 June
The usual schedule and format – see website.
 
Mahasi Weeklong Retreat
Carl Fooks
Assistant Needed 
Sat 16th – Sun 24th June
The Mahasi system can feel challenging, and its emphasis on moment-to-moment mindfulness can prove to feel particularly difficult.
Carl teaches a gentle approach to the practice encouraging a skilful and effective orientation that helps practitioners to commit themselves fully to the practice and the schedule, and thereby get the most out of the course.
 
Summer Mahasi Retreat
Bhante Bodhidhamma
Assistant Needed 
Eleven week roll-on, roll-off Retreat.
Minimum stay eight nights.
Start dates: Saturdays:-
30 June & 14 & 28 July; 11 & 25 Aug. 08 Sept.
Finishing Sun. 16  Sept
Celebration Sat 15th Sept. See below
N.B. Start restricted to listed Saturdays.
Alternate Sun. possible for Mahasi devotees.
A challenging Retreat easily modified for beginners.
See Beginner’s Testimonials on website.
You are encouraged to stay for more than one week.
Assistants : Needed
Starting and ending on following Saturday.
30 June – 14 July : Ignacio Duque Sanchez
14 July – 28 July : Assistant : Sita Brand
28 July – 11 August : Assistant Needed 
11 – 25 August: Assistant : David Fernandes
25 August – 08 September: Assistant :Jim Tibby
08 – 16 (Sunday) September: Assistant : Dea Paradisos
 
Sangha Day : Ninth Anniversary
Bhante Bodhidhamma
Local Assistant Needed 
Saturday 15 September
Please bring veggie food to join us for communal lunch at noon.
Ceremony starts 13.30
Talk: To be announced.

Weekend Retreat 
Fri. 28 Sept.– Sun. 30 Sept. (Finishes  13.00)
Carl Fooks
Assistant Needed 
See usual weekend Schedules
 
Mahasi  Two Week Retreat
Sat. 06 Oct.  – Sun. 21 October
Noirin Sheahan
Assistant Needed 
See above for Noirin’s description.
Preference given to those who want to stay two weeks.
The usual schedule and format – see website.
 
Day Retreat
Saturday 27 October
Jenny Birkett
Local Assistant Needed 
 Kick Start/Top
Arrive 09.30. Finish 17.00
Please bring veggie food to share.
 
Autumn Mahasi Retreat
 Sat. 03 – Sun. 25 Nov.
Noirin Sheahan
See above for Noirin’s description.
Assistants Needed 
Preference is given to those who wish to stay for the full three weeks.
The usual schedule and format – see website. www.satipanya.org.uk

If you fail to receive a monthly NEWSBYTE, please, look in spam or re-establish the email by filling in the form in MAILING LIST at the bottom of the front page of the website.
Many thanks.

Finally, please forward this email if you know someone who may be interested. Thanks.

                                              Metta
                                                 Onward 
                                                            Bodhidhamma

 
 
SATIPANYA  BUDDHIST TRUST
www.satipanya.org.uk   
Directors - Jim Tibby    Richard Benjamin   Maureen Tibby   Mike Regan
Limited Company Number 05924965 Registered Charity Number 1116668
Satipanya, White Grit, Minsterley, Shropshire  SY5 0JN
T: 0044 (0)1588 650752  
email: bodhidhamma@satipanya.org.uk  info: info@satipanya.org.uk
 
 

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