Property Search Update

We are pleased to be able to let you know that we have had an offer accepted on a property in Chadderton Close, pictured above. It is just down the hill from where we are at the moment, and is a modern detached house with a substantial extension. It was on the market for £310,000, and the vendor has accepted an offer of £295,000. Financially, it is just within our reach.

The house is in a good quiet location, and has two large downstairs rooms (8m x 5m and 5.4m x 3.3m). It has four bedrooms, and the garage looks like it has potential to be converted to, for example, a downstairs accessible bedroom and a utility-type room. The garden is smallish: the length is not that different to what we have at the moment, but it tapers to almost a point, with a nice shed at the end.

At the moment the stairs and kitchen are accessed from the main room, which is not ideal. We can see a number of possible ways of reconfiguring things, but it also seems like it would be perfectly usable just as it is, certainly in the short term.

So we are planning to go ahead with this property. It will of course be several months before it is all arranged, but we will be starting to commit to it financially fairly soon, appointing a surveyor and solicitors. So if you have any thoughts, comments or reservations about the property do please let Rev. Aiden know.

How you can help

Although we are just about able to purchase the property with our current funds, we would need to use the maximum mortgage amount that is available to us, and would not have any funds left over for alterations etc. So any additional support would be most welcome.

If you feel able to offer any financial assistance to help us purchase the property, that would be greatly appreciated. There are a number of ways in which you could help, such as through a donation or by offering a long-term loan to the temple. Full details are on the Building Fund page of the temple website. We are very grateful for all your support.

Forthcoming Events:
Festival of Vimalakirti Bodhisattva

This coming Saturday, the 7th of October, we will be celebrating the Festival of Vimalakirti Bodhisattva. Vimalakirti, whose name means "spotless reputation", is the main figure of the Vimalakirti Sutra. He is portrayed as the ideal Buddhist lay practitioner, and is said to have lived at the time of the Buddha. In the scripture he has encounters with each of the Buddha's most senior disciples, and debates with Manjusri Bodhisattva, all of which demonstrate his great wisdom.

The festival and the Dharma talk will focus on the teaching of Vimalakirti, and in particular the first chapters of the Vimalakīrti Sutra.

The day will start at 10am with a meditation period, followed by the ceremony. After the ceremony there will be a Dharma talk, and at about 1pm there will be a bring-and-share vegetarian lunch. In the afternoon there will be two periods of meditation from 2pm, followed by a Dharma discussion and tea. You are welcome to come for any part of the day.

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Day Retreat in Nottingham

On Saturday the 28th of October, we will be having a Day Retreat in Nottingham, from 10am to 4pm. Everyone is welcome to this, whether you are from Nottingham, Leicester, or anywhere else in the East Midlands or beyond.

The retreat will be held at the Tiger Boe Centre at 7 Clarendon Street, Nottingham, NG1 5HS.

As the kitchen at Tiger Boe is small, the 'bring to share' lunch will work best if people can bring food that doesn't need to be cooked.

There won't be any events at the temple on that day.

For other events in October, please see the events calendar.

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Alms Bowl Requests

Thank you to all those who have donated items to the temple. We are very grateful for donations of any household or other items that the temple might be able to use. Please contact Rev. Aiden if you have an item to offer but are not sure whether it would be useful.

Donations of Food
Offering food is a traditional way to support a monk, and all donations of vegetarian food are most welcome. In particular:

• fresh fruit and vegetables (except garlic or peppers)
• porridge oats
• yoghurt and eggs
• peanuts or other nuts
• brown rice and pasta

Any other suitable items would also be appreciated.

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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.