February 2026 Newsletter
Visit to Throssel Hole Buddhist Abbey
by Rev. Aiden
Throssel Hole Buddhist Abbey in Northumberland is our order’s main monastery in the UK, and it was very nice to have the opportunity to visit for just over a week during January.
I gave Rev. Master Leandra a lift there, and we arrived on the afternoon of Saturday the 3rd after a nice drive in the sun. It continued cold and bright for most of the time that we were there, with a few nights getting down to about -6C to -8C. We did get some snow eventually, but only a light covering, and the temperature by then was hovering around zero, so it didn’t freeze hard and was gradually melting.
The day before we were due to travel back there was forecast to be snow much of the day, gradually turning to rain, but in the event it started to warm up earlier than forecast and rained for much of the day, accompanied by nearly 50mph winds. By the end of the day most of the snow and ice had gone, and when we left the following morning the temperature was 5C. It gradually rose throughout the day, and by the time we got back to Cambridge, where Rev. Master Leandra is based, it was up to 11C, and was about the same when I got back to Leicester.
New lights on the lane
As well as the main Throssel property, the monastery also owns the neighbouring property, which is called Myrtle Bank. The distance between the two properties is only about 70m, but the lane that connects them is quite steep in places, and can get very icy in the winter. Although some lighting has been added along the lane at different times, parts of it were still unlit, and a recent project has added lights along the whole length of it, which is a big improvement. The first photo below shows the new lights along the side of the lane, and the one below is from the previous January, showing the lane after a heavy snowfall.
It was good to spend some time at Throssel, and to see members of the community again. It was also lovely to see Rev. Master Daishin, who was staying at Throssel for December and early January. During December Rev. Master had offered some Dharma Talks to the community, which I was able to join via zoom, and whilst I was there he met with the whole community, which was an opportunity for monks to ask him questions related to the Dharma Talks.
The Festival of Maitreya Bodhisattva
on New Year’s Day
On New Year’s Day we celebrated the Festival of Maitreya Bodhisattva, who is known as “the Buddha who is yet to come”, who will appear when the teaching of Shakyamuni Buddha has completely disappeared and been forgotten.
It is always lovely to have people here in person for the Maitreya festival on New Year’s Day, as well as people joining us on zoom, and the Dharma Talk from the festival day is available on the temple website.
The photo below shows the statue of Maitreya in the traditional pose of having one foot lowered, ready to step into the world.
Forthcoming Events:
The Festival of Avalokiteshwara Bodhisattva
On Saturday the 7th of February we will be celebrating the Festival of Avalokiteshwara, the Bodhisattva of Compassion. The name Avalokiteshwara is Sanskrit (Japanese: Kanzeon, Chinese: Kwan Yin, Tibetan: Chenrezig), and means “The one who hears the cries of the world”. To live with compassion is to hear the cries of suffering within ourselves and within all beings, and to be willing to respond, and the festival will focus on this centrally important aspect of Buddhist practice.
During the festival a wide variety of different images of Avalokiteshwara are placed around the walls of the meditation hall, and we circumambulate the hall and bow to each image as we pass it. This symbolises the fact that compassion can appear in many different forms, sometimes in a way that we least expect, and that if we want to know stability and contentment in our lives we must accept, and bow to, all these different appearances of the nature of reality. This is one way in which we ourselves express compassion for all living things.
In addition to welcoming visitors to the temple for the festival (please book in advance), we will also be holding the festival over zoom so that Lay Sangha members can join in from where they are. This festival day will run from 10am to 12.30pm, and full details of the festival will be sent out by email to Lay Sangha members prior to the festival.
The Jukai retreat at Throssel
For anyone who feels committed to Buddhist practice, an important way to deepen that commitment is to formally take the Buddhist Precepts. Within our tradition this is done in the ceremony of Lay Ordination, which is part of a week of meditation and ceremonial held each Spring at Throssel Hole Buddhist Abbey. Rev. Master Berwyn, the abbot of Throssel, has recently posted an article about this retreat, which is called Jukai (“receiving the precepts”), on the Throssel Blog, and the photo below shows him leading a procession during one of the ceremonies at a recent Jukai retreat.
The retreat will run from Saturday the 18th of April to Saturday the 25th of April, and Rev. Master Berwyn’s post includes an invitation ‘to join us in April to study and practice the Precepts for yourselves in the context of a meditation retreat. As part of the week retreat there is the ceremony of lay ordination: to make the commitment to learn, and practice the Precepts as part of your life.’
Rev. Aiden adds, “If any of you are considering taking the precepts I would wholeheartedly recommend this retreat. For anyone who has already taken the precepts, it is also an excellent opportunity to renew your commitment, and to support the monastic community in running the retreat. This year I will also be travelling up to Throssel for Jukai, and I hope to see some of you there.”
Some winter colour in the garden
Even at the beginning of January this year the snowdrops were starting to open in our front border, and are now in full bloom, bringing a very welcome splash of brightness.
We have also planted some colourful primroses in the tubs by the temple front door, which help to brighten up these dark winter days.
Alms Bowl Requests
Donations of Food
Offering food is a traditional way to support a monk, and all donations of vegetarian food are most welcome. In particular:
- porridge oats
- peanuts or other nuts
- peanut butter
- fresh fruit and vegetables (except garlic or peppers)
- dried herbs
- cheese, eggs and yoghurt
Any other suitable items would also be appreciated.
Donations
The temple is dependent on donations for its continued existence, and any financial support you are able to offer is greatly appreciated. Details of how to offer support can be found on the Donations page of the website.
All donations are received with gratitude