I hope you’re surviving the various heatwaves OK. It’s relatively cool at the Millbridge Rooms, so it’s a very pleasant place to spend an evening whatever the weather’s doing.
Last Tuesday Ruchi led a thought-provoking evening exploring different ways of speaking, and how they affect both ourselves and the people around us. She drew on the five kinds of speech the Buddha praised — truthful, kindly, harmonious, helpful and timely — and it was fascinating to notice how rarely all five line up at once, and what a difference it makes when they do. The week before, Mangala visited and gave wonderfully off-the-cuff responses to a whole range of questions.
Coming up:
7 July — Keith: “My Journey to Ordination”
14 July — Amber and Katey
21 July — Adrian and Srigarbha
28 July — Bodhivandana
4 August — Samudraghosha
11 August — Mark (Meet the Mitras series)
18 August — New six-week course: “Vision and Transformation”
On a personal note, I’m very excited to be heading off on retreat to Padmaloka in Norfolk on 10 July for a couple of weeks — to be ordained. I’ll be ordained alongside Nigel from our own Hertford Sangha, my good friend John from the Mid Essex Sangha, and five others. Samudraghosha, Rob and Simon from Hertford will be on the retreat too, as will Nandaketu and many others.
I asked for ordination back in 2012, so it will be quite something to step into this next phase of my spiritual journey — and all the more meaningful to do it in the company of good friends. It’s hard to know exactly what to expect, and I’m simply trying to stay open rather than hem myself in with too many preconceptions. I’ll tell you all about it when I’m back.
Whatever’s going on in your life, you’d be very welcome to join us on a Tuesday evening — especially if it’s your first time, or if it’s been a while. There’s no need to book and nothing to prepare or bring. We always give full meditation instructions, so you can simply turn up, settle in, and enjoy a calm and friendly evening. Newcomers are the beating heart of what we do, and we love meeting them.
Have a wonderful July, and I hope to see you soon.
Very warm wishes,
Keith