Greetings from Akashavana

Writing with sun shining high in the sky over mountain landscapes into the first floor lounge of Akashavana’s community house.  Outdoors from window edges to mountain ridges oaks and pines stand silently still - whilst indoors the smells  of breakfast coffee and sounds of crockery accompanied by intermittent tones of Mumukshu, Bodhipaksini .and Maitreyi vibrate through the air. 

Akashavana community welcomed Maitreyi’s return for a 2 - week ‘presidential’ visit early in September.   We (and our chapter sister  Karunavapi) delighted in...

Goodbye and Thank You

“Every new beginning comes from some other beginning’s end.”

I​ came across this quote from Seneca recently and it resonated as I prepare to leave Akashavana after two years. Originally I was only coming for a year, but very quickly knew that wasn’t going to be long enough, as being in this quiet and beautiful land made me feel at home and supported by nature’s brilliance. One of my constant delights has particularly been sharing the land with the ibex, although there is...

Day 53 in the Big Buddha House!

It’s day 53 of lockdown, I think! After some days of torrential rain last week and an amazing storm with sheet lightening that illuminated the house one evening we are today basking in the sunshine. Bodhipakshini has gone to Valderrobres to do the shop, Mumukshu is on the phone with our president Maitreyi and Satyamuni is cooking lunch. I’ve just attempted to make ciabatta for the first time, but it’s looking more like a simple loaf of bread rather than...

another year

Our year began with the preparations for the 3 month ordination retreat, and we thought all was ready when we discovered the lower water tank was completely empty, an animal had broken a pipe and all the water 20,000 litres had flowed down the hill ! Fortunately we were able to have it fixed pretty quickly and begin filling it again and also fortunately, we had another full tank ! That was enough of a heart stopper one may have thought – but Mara had...