New Year Greetings

by **GrahamR** » Fri Jan 02, 2009 9:23 pm

Hello Everyone,

I'm Graham from Horsham in Sussex UK.

My wife in Thai and we try to follow the forest tradition of Ajahn Chah.

We have a young family how are our main preoccupation, though I hope I can enjoy at least lurking in any discussions.

Happy New Year everybody.

Graham

by **Dhammakid** » Fri Jan 02, 2009 9:41 pm

Hello Graham

Sussex, huh? I figure you've seen the documentary entitled "The Buddha Comes to Sussex" featuring Ajahn Chah, right? (http://www.watnongpahpong.org/videobcs.php If not, give it a watch, it's quite entertaining.

Hope you enjoy the board and I look forward to many discussions with you!

Namaste,
Dhammakid

by **Ben** » Sat Jan 03, 2009 1:50 am

Welcome Graham!
I have a young family as well.
Please feel free to contribute to any discussion you please.
Kind regards

Ben

by **retrofuturist** » Sat Jan 03, 2009 1:53 am

Greetings Graham,

A little like Ben's message...

I have a four year old son myself and hope that you will be able to participate in our fledgling community.

No need to be shy! :oops:

If everyone just lurked there'd be nothing to see.

A happy 2009 to you and your family.

Metta,
Retro.

by **GrahamR** » Sun Jan 04, 2009 10:06 am

Hi Dhammakid,

That was a really old documentary from the 70s when the Wat first opened, interesting to see though. It's where we had our marriage blessing. My wife could recognise one or two of the monks, they looked too young to me though!

We usually go to Amaravati Temple in Hemel Hempstead.

Thank you all for the kind greetings.

Graham

http://www.watnongpahpong.org/videobcs.php

by **Cittasanto** » Sun Jan 04, 2009 9:52 pm

Hi GrahamR
what is Amaravati Like never been!
I go down to Forest Hermitage in Warwick myself, but have fancied a trip to there!
hope to see you about

by **GrahamR** » Thu Jan 08, 2009 6:46 pm

Hi Manapa

Amaravati is active with a lot of activities for lay people, which is why we tend to go there rather than Chithurst, which is nearer.

If you want to go, let me know and maybe we can meet up - we don't go very often though!

Graham

by **gavesako** » Thu Jan 08, 2009 7:22 pm

Hello Graham,

I spent over 4 years at Chithurst monastery as a new monk. It is a great place. But I can see why you tend to go to Amaravati instead if your wife is Thai. Not many monks at Chithurst speak Thai, although Ajahn Karuniko does a little bit. Also Thai monks rarely stay in Chithurst (it is a bit more tough there, especially now with the cold nights in the kutis in the woods). It remains one of my favourite monasteries anyway.

Gavesako

GrahamR wrote:Hello Everyone,

I'm Graham from Horsham in Sussex UK.

My wife in Thai and we try to follow the forest tradition of Ajahn Chah.

We have a young family how are our main preoccupation, though I hope I can enjoy at least lurking in any discussions.

Happy New Year everybody.

Graham

by **GrahamR** » Fri Jan 09, 2009 6:16 pm

Hi Gavesako,

Oh, when were you at Chithurst, we may have seen you there.

We used to go when we lived on the south coast, but since we moved to Sussex we have been going to Amaravati more often.

Ajahn Sucitto speaks quite good Thai as I recall, it was useful, my wife speaks good English, but my in-laws don't, so when they came for our blessing Ajahn Sucitto (I believe) was very welcoming.

I don't have any objections to Chithurst, I especiaally enjoy the setting, it's just Amaravati has more lay activities. There tends to be more of a mix of visitors too, it does get boring for me when my wife natters away for ages to Thai visitors!

Graham

by **Dhammakid** » Sun Jan 11, 2009 3:08 am

GrahamR wrote:Hi Dhammakid,

That was a really old documentary from the 70s when the Wat first opened, interesting to see though. It's where we had our marriage blessing. My wife could recognise one or two of the monks, they looked too young to me though!

We usually go to Amaravati Temple in Hemel Hempstead.

Thank you all for the kind greetings.

Graham

http://www.watnongpahpong.org/videobcs.php

Hi Graham,
Very cool that you had your marriage blessing there, and glad you liked the video. I found it entertaining and inspiring. I become happy when I hear of new temples and monasteries opening.

:namaste:

Dhammakid