| Caretaker's Report AGM May 2005 Wangapeka Program 2010 Wangapeka Notices || Caretakers Wanted | Caretakers Report AGM May 2005 | Caretaker's Report September 2005 | Caretaker's Report February 2006 | Newsphere Teachings in Aotearoa || Visiting Teachers in Auckland | Lama Mark Webber in NZ 2010 Tarchin's Teaching Schedule || Leander Kane's Schedule  AGM, May 2005by Sue Wiley, Caretaker This and other articles also available in the June 2005 issue of the Newsphere So much has been happening here at the Centre, the last AGM seems more than a lifetime ago. This is in part because the Buddhadharma Study and Meditation program, or as it shall always be known in my mind, the School of Living Dharma, has been in full swing for some three and a half months now, "full" - in every sense of the word. It seems that there have never been less than 20 people on property since the beginning of February, with constant comings and goings as people have joined us from all over for shorter or longer periods. And the centre has hummed with diverse activity, so much to do and try and explore in a day, how to fit it all in -
Holding it all together, the glue that binds it all, so to speak, two things really. The incredible dedication and energy of Tarchin as each day new teaching and new explorations to pursue are added to the mix. And the strong sense of community, of sangha, here, widely different notes melded into a harmony of activity and purpose into which new people entering the program are easily enfolded. In some ways it is hard to think back to before this program began, but of course, back then, there were many other activities. Leading into the current program, Sonia Moriceau taught for a week on Mindfulness and Shiatsu, before which the New Zealand Diamond Sangha (formerly known as the Maitai Zen Group) held their summer sesshin here. In January there was also Medicine Buddha with Lindsay Reid. The Garden of Mindfulness was again a huge success, with a full house, and The GOM Committee has kindly donated $1000 towards the purchase of a dishwasher for the Centre kitchen. Back in December, a wonderful three weeks was had with Cecilie Kwiat. And before that, Liberation Through the Body with Leander ... and so it goes. The centre continues to be hired by groups such as the Mountains and Rivers Zen Group, the Sai Baba group and the Diamond Sangha. Following the 3 month retreat last year, Phil Dyer and Tarchin led a Buddhist-Christian dialogue over a weekend, which was well attended, and Phil, together with Dominique, followed that up later on in October with a weekend focusing on the remarkable Hildegard of Bingen. August and September were the only really quiet months at the centre, with no courses happening at that time, causing Centre finances to become somewhat diminished for a short time. Since the last AGM, the Centre's office has been moved from Bellbird to the Chook House, a location which, in my view, allows a much greater integration into Centre activities for both office work and the office caretaker. I have happily inhabited the new hut, now given the name Pema Ling, or Place of Flowering, since that time as well, and am pleased to report that it is a wonderful space to spend time in. Also on the office front, the centre has a new computer, thanks to a very kind donation from one of our members. We have been having some ongoing problems with our email and internet connection since its installation, though, and it is questionable whether they can be resolved, given our isolation and the fact that electric fences interfere with internet accessibility. We have also begun to keep daily figures on the numbers of people using the Centre so as to help us have a good basis for working appropriate charges in the future. On a personal level, there have been immense challenges, as well as joys, discoveries and wonderful friendships made. I am planning to leave not too long after this current program ends, though I will be back again as participant in the future. I am hopeful that as I move on from Wangapeka, I might find myself, and my practice of buddhadharma, strengthened in ways I might not presently imagine. Not so long ago, I read an article by a good friend of mine in Tasmania, who had spent some time in Tibet, and had a truly wonderful experience there teaching English. Her article, in a newsletter for friends, ended by thanking all of her teachers for their blessings and teachings for in some way bringing her to the point where such a rich and happy experience became manifest in her life. I found myself wondering at that, at the time, not at the expression of heartfelt gratitude, which was so very appropriate, but how so often, we reserve such expressions for the so-called good and easy times, while you don't often see such expressions of gratitude to our teachers and others for the difficult, the challenging, times. In fact, it seems kind of strange to do so. And yet, I have a feeling that an even greater gratitude may be due. I have a prayer at home, Crying to the Gurus from Afar, I think it is called, in which, among many other aspects, there is a request for the blessing of having difficulties and challenges placed in one's path. I think it is possibly only in meeting with difficulty that the gaps in our practice become really apparent and we are challenged to work harder so as to truly be of benefit to others. Sarva Mangalam Sue Click here for the printfriendly version of this page About Us / Program / Teachers / Treasury / Buddings / Images / Links / Books / Stay / Contact Us / Members
Sarva Mangalam - All is Blessing
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