Last Tuesday night I returned home from our meditation at the croquet club to find an email saying my teacher Urgyen Sangharakshita had been re-diagnosed by the specialist as having sepsis and that antibiotics (for pneumonia) would be discontinued as the sepsis (infection of the blood) would be fatal. 
I set up a simple shrine in my front room with a photo of him and candles and did metta for him. 

When I checked my emails again before going to bed I received the news he had died. 

It feels ordinary and profoundly significant, a little sad but overwhelmingly I experience gratitude. At 93 years of age he has achieved and given so much and on a personal level helped me more than anyone else. He has been a very true emissary of the Buddha's message and practices and for that I will be forever grateful.

Tonight I invite you to join us at the croquet club for a special evening - we'll do a metta practice and a three fold puja directing our appreciation to Sangharakshita but also anyone (including ourselves) who has helped and supported us in putting into practice the Buddha's teachings of wisdom and kindness. 

The three fold puja is a very simple ritual done in call and response and will include an opportunity to light a candle and share your gratitude collectively by placing the candle into a sand-filled container along with those of others.

I'm going to bake and bring one of my cacao and raspberry cakes in honour of my precious teacher

Regular time     6 - 7.30 pm tonight


Sunday regular meditation   8 - 9 am

Much metta

Dharmalata and Padmadakini