Autumn 2023 Newsletter
Greetings from the Mikyo Dorje Institute Team!
We hope you had a wonderful summer and are enjoying the lovely warm September weather.
In August many people in Dechen met His Holiness Karmapa at Dhagpo Kagyu Ling, in France, where His Holiness talked about how being able to receive the dharma is a great feature of being human, and through having an awareness and appreciation of the tradition of dharma, or transmission of knowledge and wisdom from teacher to student, will allow it to continue into the future.
Lama Jampa was asked, on camera, how the Mikyo Dorje Institute aligns with the activities of His Holiness Karmapa, please watch this short film for the answer.
Click here or on the image to watch Lama Jampa talk about how the Mikyo Dorje Institute aligns with H.H. Karmapa's activities.
The project team has been busy over the summer, exploring the beautiful county of Shropshire as the search for a suitable site for the Mikyo Dorje Institute continues.
On our first visit in July, we visited two potential sites: one north of Shrewsbury and another in the south, Shropshire's 'Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty'. Although neither of these sites was entirely suitable for our needs, the excursions deepened our understanding of the local area and its potential as a home for the Institute.
We were particularly pleased that our trip was covered by the Shropshire Star and BBC Radio Shropshire, which raised the profile of the project throughout the region. This helpful media coverage led to several local people writing to us to offer their time and support, and even offering us the use of facilities for retreat purposes, as well as a property to view.
A second trip in August connected us to two land agents, one of which is the largest trader of properties in the Shrewsbury area. We also visited another property, which had potential but was ultimately unsuitable due to its listed status and somewhat dilapidated state.
Here are pictures of three sites that we have visited, to give you an idea of what we are looking for.
The Team recently became aware of the Monastery of St. Anthony and St. Cuthbert, which is located near Shrewsbury and is the highest monastery in England at over 1,500 feet. This is an inspiring example, from another tradition, of the successful establishment, in England, of a religious community in a peaceful rural setting, dedicated to prayer and contemplation. This can be done!
We are now planning to return to Shropshire in October, to meet with more land agents, developers and builders. The intention is to find land which can be purchased 'off-market' via a conditional sale agreement, secured with an initial deposit but with completion contingent upon a successful planning application and fund raising process.
The target completion date would depend upon several factors, but is likely to be 9 – 12 months after payment of the deposit.
Engagement of people in the Dechen community is increasing as more people get involved in the project and train in the Tarnside fundraising approach. They have been reaching out to friends, family and other people in Dechen to share their inspiration and to give others the opportunity to get involved according to their skills, motivation and capacity.
Do let us know if you would like to know more about the project or get involved!
With best wishes,
The Trustees
Kagyu Dechen Buddhism
info@mikyodorje.institute