Arriving at the centre was a delight, freshly painted & beautifully maintained. Naturally the retreat had a focus on the opportunities NBFC offered the UK Sangha as a possible focus for retreats & more. Much wisdom & heart was shared during feedback sessions from smaller dharma discussions. Issues raised were comprehensive ranging from the practicalities, longer-term visions, the importance of having a centre, to acknowledging the needs of local Sanghas & individuals being reserved to access available bursary funds. Formal practice was skilfully co-ordinated & facilitated by Martin & Murray. Murray leading a morning meditation including the Fourteen Wonderful Mindfulness Trainings & Martin complimenting a talk from Thay on the Six Harmonies.

From early on the Sangha richly contributed individually regarding their aspirations for the retreat requesting practices to facilitate this. It was a teaching in itself on inclusiveness by addressing the needs of all present.

We were encouraged to reflect on the meaning of Sangha & what having a practice centre meant on a personal level. Feedback ranged from the spiritual to the ordinary, the specific to the abstract & including the expression of one's heart to the physical environment for the latter.

Retreatants practiced with bugs and hugs as viruses colonised & the weekend brought the transition of new input. This was acknowledged & offered more opportunity to practice our energies diligently, embracing and allowing reconnection as a whole. The energy of grace transformed a temporary home gently, shyly, playfully, yielding to giving and receiving.

Opening, people shared passions ranging from Russian Literature to printmaking and a visit to Lesley and Russel's house one Sweet Heart's passion for cake. We made a quiet acknowledgement for Martin Luther King Day with napkins for lunch inspired by Paul from our Cardiff Sangha.

Theresa managed to navigate through the organisation & retreat itself with a wrist in plaster. John from Sheffield sharply commenting she was now able to practice the sound of one hand clapping.

Thay offered a teaching on mindful consumption and ecology with monastics sharing their work involved with No Car Day (22 nd September) and running Deer Park on solar power.

Our last meal Angie invited centre staff to join us for lunch after demonstrating nothing but kindness and respect of our practice and presence.

Thank you retreatants and New Barn Field Centre for helping to create a heavenly realm for our hearts to come home.