Last weekend at Adhisthana, Urgyen House was opened to visitors with a moving dedication led by Saddhanandi. Two new Order Members, Āryaniśa and Vilāsamuni, cut the ribbon to open the house officially.

The place is significant, as it was Urgyen Sangharakshita’s home for the last 5 years of his life. His bedroom and living room have been left exactly as they were the day he died. His living room was where he met hundreds (if not thousands) of visitors in his last years, and still retains an atmosphere that is quite indescribable.

On entering the house, one transitions from Adhisthana into Bhante’s home, into is a beautiful a space to sit and read Sangharakshita’s written words. This central space used to contain a bathroom and utility room, but has been opened up to provide a comfortable space to sit and reflect.

There is also a small shrine room where people can come to meditate. The room itself is adorned with two rather beautiful old Tibetan thangkas. The central image on the shrine is of Manjugosha, a rupa that Sangharakshita himself had bought in India in the mid-1960s. This room has already been used for private ordinations this Summer.

The dining room has been transformed into an exhibition space, with the first temporary exhibition open now: Precious Teachers - an exploration of the connection between Sangharakshita and his teachers from his time in India.

This exhibition displays treasures given to Sangharakshita by his teachers, each one shining new light on the spiritual friendship he had with these incredible leading figures of 20th Century Buddhism: Jamyang Khyentse Rinpoche, Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche, Dudjom Rinpoche, Dhardo Rinpoche, Kachu Rinpoche, Yogi Chen, Jagdish Kashyap, and Chatral Sangye Dorje.

The exhibition is also online at https://www.urgyenhouse.org/precious-teachers-exhibition. Visit online to come into contact with it.

You can also visit Urgyen House in person. If you’re going to be visiting Adhisthana, talk to your retreat organiser or host. If you’d like to make a special visit, you can make a request.
 

Watch a video about the opening of Urgyen House.

See other posts about Urgyen House

Urgyen House is a project of the Urgyen Sangharakshita Trust.