November 2021 Newsletter
Rev. Master Daishin’s new book
Rev. Master Daishin’s new book Delving is now available (see the announcement on the Throssel website).
Throssel are not going to be selling the book themselves via mail order, but you can buy it direct from Lulu.com:
https://www.lulu.com/en/us/shop/daishin-morgan/delving/paperback/product-9v8kz8.html
When you visit their website you will see that prices are initially shown in US Dollars, but if you scroll down to the dark section at the bottom of the page you’ll see it has ‘USD’ written in the middle with a small arrow beside it. Click on the arrow and choose GBP to change to prices in Pounds Sterling.
Lulu.com don’t specifically say where the books are printed and sent from, but in their shipping information they say, “We produce books at our print facilities across the world including… the United Kingdom…”, so it seems likely that they are printed here in the UK.
For a single copy the cost is £11.84 including tax and shipping.
Delving is not an introductory book, but is certainly recommended for anyone who is serious about deepening their practice. Like many Buddhist scriptures, and like the works of Great Master Dōgen that many of you may be familiar with, it is best read in short sections, so that we allow the teaching to sink in and be digested. Rev. Master Daishin’s writing style is very direct and straightforward, but their is a lot of teaching in each sentence and each paragraph, and it is well worth taking the time to sit with this teaching and allow it to permeate.
Forthcoming Events: The Festival of Founders Day
On Saturday the 6th of November we will be celebrating the Festival of Founders Day. This festival is an opportunity to offer our gratitude for the life and practice of all those who have practised Buddhism, from the far distant past to the present day. In particular we celebrate those in our own lineage who have passed on the teaching from generation to generation for over 2,500 years, and are the founders of this temple. These include Rev. Master Jiyu (the founder of our order), her master Koho Zenji, Great Master Dōgen(1200-1253) and Great Master Keizan (1268-1325).
In addition to welcoming a small number of visitors to the temple for the festival, we will also be holding the festival over zoom so that Lay Sangha members can join in from where they are. We hope you will be able to join us, and full details will be sent out by email prior to the festival.
An update on the temple’s finances
Thank you to all those who responded to last month’s financial update, either by setting up standing orders or increasing existing ones, or through donations in our alms bowl or gifts in kind.
The information presented last month went up to the end of August, and during September, which was the first month that we were open to guests again, Guest Donations were over 50% higher than in August, which was very much appreciated. Although in October Guest Donation went back to a similar level to previous months, the recent increase in standing order donations means that our overall core income in both months was much improved, and similar to the level that it was before the lockdowns. We are particularly grateful for this as costs are increasing at the moment, including of course energy costs.
Thank you to all those who so kindly support the temple.
Autumn leaves
The change of the seasons is very visible on the temple’s front driveway at the moment, with large quantities of leaves being blown off the trees by overnight winds. The area had just been cleared the day before, and there are still plenty of leaves on the trees in the park beyond the fence, which are yet to fall. Unfortunately the direction of the prevailing wind means that most of them will probably come to us.
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