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This Page details any new courses, changes to dates of courses or to themes.  We also provide  travel news etc. and and give information relating to visits and other events

Dear Friends,

This year La Ville Davy has been less busy than usual in terms of visits and events. We think that the recession has had it's effect. Nevertheless it has given us the opportunity to catch up on some much needed work in the buildings and garden.

Thanks to Matthew for all his hard work in the garden pruning, cutting hedges and general clearing and to Derek and Veronique for the many hours they spent weeding and hedge trimming. Thanks also to the Zen International group who have once again collectively offered days of working meditation (Samu).  Thanks to all who continue to support us in so many ways.

Peter has fitted a woodburner in the meditation hall so this winter will be warmer than the last and we may not have to have so much clothing under our meditation clothes. We have made some enquiries regarding the old barn needing renovation and it's possible it could become a habitation. We are debating what to do with the building and it presently needs some securing as the structure is becoming unstable. We are open to ideas and suggestions.

The vegetable garden has provided good crops of leaks, lettuce, pumpkins, butternut squash, courgettes and tomatoes this year and the old walnut tree has given plentiful walnuts.

Sadly one of our cats Ziggy has died and Rev Master Hakuun gave her an animal funeral, she was named Courageous Friend. Ziggy was 14 years old and despite being very small and having no tail, she was always very brave when she needed to be with our other three cats Ming, Bebe and Prince. Our three dogs Bru, Poppy and Freddie are doing well. Freddie still pulls very strongly on his lead and is quite a handful when taking him for a walk. Peter thinks in his next life he wants to be a human.

We are planning mindfulness courses for 2010 and for this year there will be a greater therapeutic content. The opportunity for those teaching or using mindfulness as a framework for their work, to meet together is offered over one weekend in May next year. Individual therapeutic help continues to be offered if needed, both on an appointment or residential basis on a low cost donation basis.

There will be more Yoga & Qi Gong courses over next year led by Katia Marynower.

The Buddhist retreats have been well attended in 2009 and it is planned to hold six weekend retreats in 2010 with one 5 day retreat in April. We are grateful that senior monks in the Serene Reflection Meditation Tradition have offered to lead many of the retreats. Once again we are hosting the retreat day for the Zen International Fougeres group led by Zen monk Guy Mokuho Mercier.

The local Serene Reflection Meditation Group have changed their weekly meeting from Monday evening to Sunday mornings 10.00-11.30. People thought this time was easier for their regular attendance over the winter months as last winter we had many frosty evenings and it was difficult driving on dark icy country roads. For those interested from Jersey who have attended retreats, there is now a Jersey Serene Reflection Meditation Group who meet at the Quaker Meeting House in St Helier (see publicity).

We would like to encourage sangha members and friends to visit La Ville Davy for quiet rest and renewal times or for groups to arrange their own retreats on French soil.

Wishing you all a good autumn & winter season,

Peter & Mo Henderson

 

Throssel Hole Buddhist Abbey

Is open all year except for pre-published periods. Here men and women have equal status and train together in the Buddhist priesthood. A lay programme is available in which all may participate. A variety of lay services is available, including naming ceremonies for children, marriage ceremonies, cemetery plot and memorial services and spiritual counselling by letter and phone. A special session is held each year for those lay trainees who wish to take Buddhist lay ordination. This is called Jukai and offers the opportunity to formally express wishes to keep the Buddhist Precepts as they have been traditionally handed down over the centuries in this tradition. It includes formal Dharma talks and a variety of beautiful ceremonies. Jukai is the largest event on the yearly calendar and a deeply moving week for both monastic and lay trainees. For further information please contact:

The Guestmaster Throssel Hole Buddhist Abbey
Carrshield, Hexham, Northumberland, NE47 8AL
Tel. +44(0) 1434 345 204 Phone between 9.30-11.30am & 2.30-4.30pm
e-mail: gd@throssel.org.uk

Association Zen International
The Association Zen de Bretagne a Buddhist group following the Teachings of Maitre Deshimaru meet on Wednesdays 19.00-21.00 hrs and on Saturday mornings at La Ville Davy 9.00-11.00. We thank this group for their support in offering working meditation in the garden. Their next working meditation (Samu) is to be held on Saturday 4th April. The group are led by Buddhist monk
Valérie Gyo Ko. Contact e-mail is dojozendinan@yahoo.fr

Daniel Guillaume who leads the Association Zen de Fougeres has booked a day retreat at La Ville Davy to be led by Maitre Guy Mercier on Saturday 15th May 2010, his contact e-mail is dan.guillaume@free.fr
 

Click here for Information about Travel to La Ville Davy

Useful Links

The Spiral Tree
For further information and registration please contact Sarah through their website www.thespiraltree.com

The Good Retreat Guide

For those searching for good retreat centres to take a quiet renewal and rest The Good Retreat Guide edited by Stafford Whiteaker, now in it's fifth volume lists over 4OO places to find Peace and Spiritual Renewal in Britain, Ireland, France and Spain. The website for the internet listings is www.thegoodretreatguide.com

Yoga and Gi-Gong
Katia Marynower has many years of training and experience in both Yoga and Gi-Gong and runs various courses at La Ville Davy and elsewhere in France. Katia can be contacted for further information and registration on

Tel Paris 01 43 28 41 04 or e-mail katia.marynower@free.fr

The Organic Shop Jersey
For those who visit or live in Jersey and are looking for nutritional help and good organic food Celina Sochaczewska will be happy to send you her monthly newsletter which offers news including nutrition, recipes, alternative treatments and therapies. To receive it contact her by e-mail theorganicshopjersey@gmail.com

Meditation Group Jersey
This group started in 1993 with the purpose of teaching people about meditation.
www.jerseymeditationgroup.org