Newsletter January 2004 from Sonia

I wish you a very happy and peaceful New Year. May all your good wishes be fulfilled.

2003 has been a very full and eventful year with rapid and fundamental changes.
My commitment to studying with my Teacher, the late Ven. Namgyal Rinpoche, took me to Canada 5 times this year! My body and mind are still returning to balance after all these movements.
On the 22nd of October Namgyal Rinpoche passed away in Switzerland. He had just completed his Teaching in Europe, first at The Orchard, then in Germany and finally in Switzerland. This has been a shock, yet I had a premonition of his passing.
The extraordinary nature of this event is that the feeling of peace, richness and lightness are more powerful than that of sorrow.
I was fortunate to go to Switzerland and the house where he died and meditated close to the body before his cremation. After that I travelled to Canada for a week of special meditation practices at the Dharma Centre with many of his students.
All his students continue to meditate for the swift and auspicious rebirth of this very special being so that he may continue to help so many beings with boundless compassion and wisdom.

The Orchard is as always “a good environment for practice”, the very words Ven. Namgyal Rinpoche spoke when he first taught here in May 1997. It is only more strongly so now, after his visits and all the good work that students have done here.
Maitreya House (alias Rose Cottage) was blessed by Rinpoche in September and is feeling so welcoming and light that it is a privilege to be able to use it.

I have planned my teaching programme only till October as I intend to take a 3-month leave at the end of the year for retreat to deepen my practice. Most certainly I will add a few more events/retreats in the summer. Do check my web site or ring us to find out more about these additions.

2004 will see me regularly away from The Orchard as I have now quite a full commitment from students in Germany and Switzerland.

As I mentioned in my last Newsletter the commitment from students to the Practice and its home, The Orchard, continues to grow. A student is now investigating buying a house nearby for further support to The Orchard.

So, no-thing is permanent, that is quite clear, the changes are swift and I am reminded of what Rinpoche told me once: “Be careful what you wish for it may happen”. So,...

I look forward to seeing you or hearing from you in 2004.

Be well and happy, Sonia