Realising the Vision
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This document has been prepared by the Enactment Team of the UK Practice Centre project. Its aim is to outline the key aspects of the proposal to establish a practice centre for the Community of Interbeing UK.
We hope this document will be used by those with an interested in finding out more about the centre project, who are thinking of supporting the project through donations and offers of help. The content presents firstly a flavour of the vision based on talks by Thich Nhat Hanh. There follows a series of answers to frequently asked questions that have arisen to help clarify key points. A number of appendices offer more detail in relation to specific areas of interest. This document is dated and has been given a version number (top right of page) to allow for refinements and additions over time.
Throughout, we have aimed to keep the text simple and accessible to as wide a range of readers as possible. The use of Buddhist and technical language has been kept to a minimum. A short glossary is given below for the benefit of readers unfamiliar with these terms.
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Thich Nhat Hanh often emphasises the need for Sangha building and the importance of being physically as well as spiritually close to one another.
When I was a young monk I had that dream also - to build a lovely Sangha. A Sangha where there is brotherhood, sisterhood, joy and so on. So it's true that one of my deepest desires is to build a Sangha. The Sangha can be protecting, nourishing. A Sangha can be the masterpiece of your life. So for those of you who are trying to build a Sangha you may look again and see that that may be the most noble task of your life.
The original idea of Sangha is based on the Six Harmonies, six kind of concords; and the first element is Living together. Living together in one place and that's why many of our lay friends have been thinking about lay residential Sanghas. Living together' is the first element of concord, of harmony; because if we live together it is very easy. We can be in permanent communication; we can communicate not only with words but our way of looking, listening, working together. Sangha is community.
- Thich Nhat Hanh : Short excerpt from a recent talk given at Plum Village
In this context the value of residential communities and retreat centre is readily apparent. The following is a section from Thich Nhat Hanh's book- Joyful Path :
You are my Sangha
We need to establish retreat centres where we can go from time to time to renew ourselves. The features of the landscape, the buildings, even the sound of the bell can be designed to remind us to return to awareness. The residential community there does not need to be large. (Four to eight) people who emanate freshness and peace, the fruits of living in awareness, are enough. When we are there, they care for us, console us, support us, and help us heal our wounds. Even when we cannot actually go there, just thinking of the centre makes us smile and feel more at peace.
The residents can organise larger retreats occasionally to teach the art of enjoying life and taking care of each other. Mindful living is an art, and a retreat centre can be a place where joy and happiness are authentic. The community can also offer Days of Mindfulness for people to come and live happily together for one day, and they can organise study courses on mindfulness, conscious breathing, Buddhist psychology, and transformation. We must work together with everyone in peace and harmony. Using each person's talents and ideas, we can organise retreats and Days of Mindfulness that children and adults love and want to practice more.
Most of the retreats can be -for preventative practice, developing the habit of practising mindfulness before things get too bad. But some retreats should be for those who are undergoing extreme suffering, although even then two-thirds of the retreatants should he healthy and stable for the practice to succeed. The depth and substance of the practice are the most important. The forms can be adapted.
At the retreat centre, we can enjoy doing everything in mindfulness, and our friends will see the value of the practice through us - not through what we say, but through our being. We can also enjoy the practice at home, at work, or at school. For the practice to succeed, we have to find ways to incorporate it into our daily lives. Going to a retreat centre from time to time can help a lot. Forming a Sangha at home is crucial.
Two thousand five hundred years ago, the Buddha Shakyamuni predicted that the next Buddha will be named Maitreya, the "Buddha of Love". I think the Buddha of Love may be born as a community and not just as an individual. Communities of mindful living are crucial for our survival and the survival of our planet. A good Sangha can help us resist the speed, violence, and unwholesome ways of our time. Mindfulness protects us and keeps us going in the direction of harmony and awareness. We need the support of friends in the practice. You are my Sangha.
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WHAT IS THE COMMUNITY OF INTERBEING UK ?
The Community of Interbeing UK ( shortened to CoI ) is the name given to the network of people in the United Kingdom who practise Buddhism according to the teachings of Zen master Thich Nhat Hanh ( Thây as we call him, meaning teacher in Vietnamese). The UK Community of Interbeing is part of the wider international Sangha of many thousands of practitioners worldwide, all of whom follow Thây's mindfulness practice and teachings.
The CoI was established in the late 1980s. In 1994, it was granted charitable status and adopted a formal structure and constitution. In 2003, the organisation became a company limited by guarantee (registered charity number 1096680 and company limited by guarantee number 4623280).
As Thây's teachings have become better known in the UK , so the community of practitioners the Sangha has grown, with more activities taking place locally and at a national level. Many people from the UK have visited Thây's residential and monastic retreat centre, Plum Village , near Bergerac in South-west France . Many mindfulness retreats have been organised here in the UK , some of which have been led by Thây and other Dharma teachers. These retreats, and other mindfulness practices around the country, have introduced Thây's distinctive form of Buddhist practice to increasing numbers of people, many of whom have joined a local Sangha and continued to practise. In addition, Thây's books have grown in number and circulation, encouraging many newcomers to become involved.
Several hundred people in the UK have received the Five Mindfulness Trainings from Thây and other Dharma teachers in this tradition. A smaller number have also received the Fourteen Mindfulness Trainings and joined the Core Community, created by Thây in 1964. Sister Annabel Laity, an English nun, is one of the most senior Dharma teachers and scholars in the Order and regularly runs retreats in this country. Four UK Order members Martin Pitt, Mai Nguyen, Jane Coatesworth and Murray Corke have received Dharma-teacher initiation from Thich Nhat Hanh in France , and become Dharmacharyas.
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WHY DOES COMMUNITY OF INTERBEING UK NEED A CENTRE?
For many years members of the Community of Interbeing have recognised that it would be wonderful if a national retreat centre could be established as a resource to support national activities and provide a home to a residential community.
In 1997 Thich Nhat Hanh encouraged the UK Sangha to move towards establishing a national practice centre which would be used as a resource for the develpment of mindfulness activities.
Listed here are some of the benefits of a National Practice Centre in the UK :
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The centre will be called The Being Peace Centre' in accordance with the proposal made by Thich Nhat Hanh when he first encouraged the UK Community of Interbeing to establish such a centre. |
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Whilst it is important to remain open to the many possibilities that could emerge, it is envisaged that a large period property or converted farmhouse with holiday letting ancillary buildings would be the most suitable type. It would probably be a going concern, which could help in obtaining change of use planning consent. It might comprise a main building, having a sufficient number of large rooms to provide sleeping accommodation for up to 24 persons plus three single-bedroom holiday cottages for up to 6 residents. The kitchen and other rooms in the main building would need the capacity to cater for and seat up to 30 at mealtimes so that visitors and residents could eat together. Outbuildings, one of which might be needed as a Dharma hall, would be beneficial. Land of between 2 and 3 acres would probably be the optimum size in terms of activity and manageability.
See Appendix D for examples of properties currently on the market and which broadly fit the criteria described.
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Although much will depend on how quickly we raise funds, we plan to be in a position to buy a suitable property before the end of 2008.
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The centre will be wholly owned by the Community of Interbeing UK.
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WHERE WILL THE CENTRE BE LOCATED?
Although ultimately we are open to all possibilities in terms of the centre location, we are currently actively looking to find a suitable property in the Somerset/Dorset/Wiltshire area of the UK .
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The current UK Practice Centre project was developed from a proposal originally made by the Westcountry Sangha in 2005 at a national meeting of the CoI Trustees. For almost a year, this Westcountry proposal was publicised (via the national newsletter Here&Now) to see if any other regional Sangha in the UK were interested in putting forward alternative proposals. None came forward and therefore the Westcountry proposal was accepted by the CoI Trustees in Nov 2006 and became the National UK Practice Centre Proposal.
Hence we envisage that the National Centre will be located in the south-west of England . However, we are concentrating on the counties of Somerset, Dorset and Wiltshire rather than further west in order to increase ease of access to other areas of the UK . Ideally the Centre will be situated close to rail stations and other public transport.
A key aspect of our choice of location is that we have received initial offers from Core Community members who are willing to live in the Centre in this region and that there are strong local Sanghas surrounding this area who will be able to support its development and maintenance.
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The Community of Interbeing UK has for many years aspired to create a centre however it is only recently that all the necessary causes and conditions have arisen to support this ideal fully. In particular it is only recently that a really coherent proposal for a community with experienced practitioners willing to become residential members of the community has arisen. Now that the conditions for realising this vision seem ripe many in the UK Sangha feel it is important that we grasp the opportunity with energy and determination.
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A small team of people called - The Being Peace Enactment Team' has been established. This group maintains constant liaison both within the team and with a wider circle of practitioners The Advisory Circle' which includes all the UK Dharma Teachers, the Trustees, monastic and other members of Plum Village . In addition the wider community of practice is kept aware of developments through use of web based information sources and the CoI newsletter Here&Now.
This structure was adopted after consultation and advice from practitioners in other countries who have experience in setting up practice centres. We were strongly advised to establish a small focused group of practitioners to co-ordinate the project whilst ensuring that support and agreement for the project is maintained at all levels and at all stages of the project.
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WHAT SUPPORT IS THERE FOR THE PROJECT?
Since the vision for the UK Practice Centre became focussed and the proposal for a centre in the Westcountry was endorsed by the trustees of the CoI, it has been important to gather support from across the whole UK Sangha.
Thich Nhat Hanh has been informed of the project and has written a letter of support (see Appendix A). In addition, he spent some time creating a set of thirty-two calligraphies for us to use to generate funds for the Centre project (some of which are shown in this document).
The Core Community of the Community of Interbeing has also been kept informed of the developments of the project at its annual gatherings and has given its support. The wider Sangha has been kept informed via the national newsletter Here&Now as well as through the web site and via presentations at the Annual Assembly of the Community held in London (March 2007).
In general, our experience is that the whole Sangha has shown that it is enthusiastic about this project as presented and we are now confident that there is wide spread support from those actively involved in the UK Sangha.
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Our target for fundraising is £800,000. Preliminary investigation suggests that suitable properties can be found at that price in the region we are looking (see Appendix D).
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We have already raised a substantial sum towards the Centre (an update on the current fundraising status is given on the website), however much more money is required. For this we have identified several ways in which people and organisations can support the project. These include donations, interest-free or low-interest loans, and standing orders. In addition a number of Sangha members are embarking on a range of creative fundraising initiatives to help raise funds for the realisation of the Centre.
More details about fundraising are available on the website and there is also an internet discussion group which you can join for news and ideas about latest fundraising ideas (see Further information and Contact section below).
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Renting rather than buying a property has been extensively considered as an option but there are enormous advantages to owning our own centre. Foremost of these is the financial aspect of sustaining a centre. Rental payments can be a constant drain on resources. In addition there are likely to be major constraints on adaptation of a rented property.
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The proposed Being Peace Centre will become the first residential centre owned by The Community of Interbeing UK. However, given sufficient support, we hope that it may become a model and inspiration for the establishment of further centres in the UK which can help spread the practice and teachings of our tradition.
In particular it would be wonderful if other centres could be established in other regions (eg. North of England or Scotland ) to facilitate access to people throughout the country. We might also wish to envisage a centre where a permanent monastic community could be resident.
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Initially the centre will be hosted by a small number of resident community members. Already some senior Core Community from the Westcountry have agreed to be host residents at the Centre and it is believed that other Sangha members will join them once the building has been purchased.
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Once a Centre has been established there will be many potential activities that can be organised. Although it is impossible to be completely certain how these activities will develop over time it is clear that there are already many events that would be held at the centre. Appendix B gives a possible schedule of one year's activities at the Centre to give a flavour for the kind of events we would envisage.
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Thay's words give us cause for optimism when he says: Our lay communities can always welcome the visit of monastics. It is hoped that monks and/or nuns from Plum Village would be allowed to lend their support and guidance from an early stage by visiting for significant lengths of time and at regular intervals eg. for 6-8 weeks two or three times a year.
Residential facilities will be available for visiting dharma teachers including monastics. Monks and nuns will be encouraged to stay at the Centre and offer teachings.
Over time, longer periods (eg several months) could be envisaged during which there is a monk or nun in residence' to support the practice in the Centre. In the longer term, there is the potential to consider establishing a more permanent presence of the monastic community in the UK (eg through expansion of the Centre or purchase of other properties).
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Currently the UK Sangha has organized national family retreats each year and we envisage that the UK Practice Centre will be ideally placed to host such retreats once it is established.
In addition we hope over time the Centre will develop innovative ways to engage with younger people both within the family and other contexts. In short, we will aim to actively develop activities for families and young people as part of the Centre's purpose.
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The Being Peace Centre will be owned by the Community of Interbeing UK who will be responsible for its running.. Day to day operations of the centre will be the responsibility of the residential community overseen by the Trustees of the Charity.
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A summary financial plan is given in Appendix C. This shows that main sources of income will be generated from residential rent and from the income generated from retreats. From our calculations we estimate that for the type of Centre envisage in this proposal it will be possible to financially break with realistic levels of retreat nights. The Trustees of the CoI will only approve the purchase of premises if financial viability can be realistically foreseen.
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One of the most useful sources of information about the centre project is the Interbeing web site: www.interbeing.org.uk . In addition there is a supporters web group which can be joined by going to the yahoo. etc. A range of contact telephone numbers and contact points are given in the Information and Contacts section below.
There will be many possible ways in which the Centre could develop in the future and once established the potentials become apparent. We hope that the centre will expand its capacity and activities over time. It can help us to learn the lessons and inspire a growing number of people, so planting the seeds of other centres to be established around the country.
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There are many different ways in which you can support this project; organise fund-raising activities; make your own donation (or loan or standing order); offer skills, contacts, times and ideas; suggest a suitable property that meets our needs/resources; suggest and/or offer activities to happen at the Centre.
Community members are already engaged in fundraising activities. Others have volunteered to help in other ways. Once the Centre is established there is likely to many ways in which support will be required.
Below are listed a number of ways to find out more about the project. If you would like to help then please follow up some of these sources of information.
Visit the Interbeing web site: www.interbeing.org.uk Here there are constant updates about the progress of the centre project, how the fundraising is progressing as well as information about how the centre will operate. There is also a link to make credit card donations.
Speak directly to one of our regional contacts to discuss aspects of the project:
Email the Enactment team on beingpeaceceg@yahoo.co.uk
Join the Community of Interbeing supporters forum at : http://groups.yahoo.com/group/coi_practicecentre_supporters
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(In this letter Thich Nhat Hanh refers to himself in the third person as Thay' meaning teacher)
Plum Village Practice Centre
Le Pey, 24240 Thenac,
France.
9 Jan. 2007
Dear Sangha,
Thay is very happy to know that the UK Community is finding a place to make a spiritual home.
To have a residential community is one of the basic aspects of helping Buddhism flourish here in the West. To create an environment where the wholesome qualities in each of us can be nourished is one of the most important things we need to offer to the world today. To have a regular practice schedule, sangha members meeting each other in an atmosphere of harmony, to have brothers and sisters, couples, families, children, practicing together brings us deep happiness and joy and the realization of how important it is in the world to have places where people can find refuge; where the sangha, through the practice of mindfulness, can generate love and compassion; where young people can find and learn the values of living in mindfulness.
We can all participate in the creation of a Pure Land , our contribution can be large or small, but this contribution can generate a wonderful energy of transformation that can heal countless people that can bring to our Nation and the world much healing and create the basis for a better future.
Please bring your love and support to this project, not just for your self but for the countless generations that will come after us.
We hope this center can become a beautiful example for many other sangha's in many countries to follow.
Thay hopes everybody will give a hand to make this centre a reality.
Love and trust
Thich Nhat Hanh
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JANUARY
A Retreat for Care Workers
Local Sangha retreat booking
FEBRUARY
5 Day Dharma Training Retreat
MARCH
Core Community and aspirants - Weekend Gathering
A Retreat for Care Workers
APRIL
Local Sangha Weekend retreat booking
5 Day Sangha Gardening Retreatl
MAY
5 Day Dharma Training Retreat
Monastic in Resident (open retreat over 2 weeks)
JUNE
A Retreat for Prison Workers
Local Sangha Weekend retreat booking
JULY
5 Day Family Retreat with visiting Monastics
AUGUST
5 Day Dharma Training Retreat
SEPTEMBER
A Retreat for Young People
5 Day Retreat Vegetarian Nutrition/Cooking
OCTOBER
Meditation in Work Special retreat from professional police
Local Sangha Weekend retreat booking
NOVEMBER
5 Day Dharma Training Retreat
5 Day Sangha Gardening Retreat
DECEMBER
Local Sangha Weekend retreat booking
Christmas and New year Retreat
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Although it is not possible to know in advance of buying a property the precise levels of overheads and incomes, the following estimates are based on the approximate size of centre and the envisaged scenarios of use.
The basic running costs are assumed to fall in the following categories:
Summary Estimates of Expenditure (based on more detail breakdown)
Total baseline overheads £56,810 p.a. .
The basic sources of income for the Centre fall into the following categories
The following estimates are based on an assumed average charge for board and lodging of £30 per person per night. The total number of retreatant nights is estimated at 1060 based on the analysis below. The estimates show a small surplus on year which could be used for improvements etc. Levels of use are deliberately modestly set (greater usage would generate more income as would a higher board charge).
TOTAL INCOME £60,520 p.a
Analysis of Retreat Participation (based on Centre used for retreats: 60 nights a year)
TOTAL RETREATANT NIGHTS 1060 nights
^contents _________________________________________________________________Here are some key criteria for choosing a suitable property for a centre:
Below are some examples of potentially suitable properties which have recently been advertised in the region in which we are actively looking for our centre.
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£850K Seven bedroom farmhouse/three bedroom wing/ one bedroom annexe/ six holiday letting bungalows/barn for conversion/outbuildings/ 3 acres with paddocks
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£715K Farmhouse divided into two x two bedroom cottages/three holiday letting cottages/ stone outbuildings/ other outbuildings/ 1 acre with paddock.
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£600K Barn conversion with four bedrooms/ one bedroom annexe/ two holiday letting cottages/ agricultural dutch barn/ 2.3 acres with two paddocks and duckpond |
