It is several years now since I proposed that the casual retreat arrangements at the Maenllwyd might be of greater value to people if we created a charitable institution. Soon the WCF was in being and is now safely established and supported by small affiliated groups in a number of British cities. We have important European contacts and, thanks to Simon Child, a site on the web appreciated by many world-wide. We conduct retreats that almost always run. May be it is time to consider a further development.
I am making a proposal here for discussion among Fellows and all readers of this journal. What exactly do I mean by a "lay monastic centre" or lay monastery? First of all, it is clear that for the foreseeable future most Chan practitioners in the West will be lay people. We do have some models of actual monasteries - for example Throssel Hole Abbey, Tassajara and Green Gulch Farm etc, but even these places are sustained primarily by laity. From such lay practitioners I have received requests or questions about some kind of residential arrangement that would be rather more permanent and enduring than our current system of retreats allows and which would focus on longer term, personal retreats within a community practising silence and mindfulness but without the restrictions of a permanent commitment to training for a religious profession.
Perhaps here we may take Gaia House or the Sharpham Trust experiments as examples of the type of community that may be initial models for consideration. Gaia House runs many short term retreats but also sustains a system allowing long term private practice within a loose set of communal rules. Sharpham House has experimented with a community, a residential college and now a looser educational system with short-term residence.
I envisage a property with at least five or six rooms for personal occupancy, a meditation hall, a library-cum-office, accommodation for a Director, a sizeable garden or land and set in a suitable environment. Residency would not be permanent. Individuals would contract to stay for perhaps a two to three month minimal residential period open to renewal. The community would thus refresh itself regularly and be less likely to suffer from internal social problems than institutions of more fixed residency. Practitioners would all be lay persons of considerable retreat experience and personal dedication, supported by letters of recommendation and subject to interview. The centre would not be a place for teaching but for practice. Residents should therefore be capable of individual practice. The Director, especially if the first one was myself, would not be permanently in residence. Supervision through dokusan interview would however be more or less regularly provided. Each member would have a personal, agreed upon, practice and daily schedule set within a communal structure involving meals in common, a liturgy, two to three group meditation practices, group discussion and two hours work in the property. Individuals would take turns in certain essential roles such as cooking, obtaining supplies, office work, housework and gardening etc. One member would be a manager for whom some financial benefit may accrue.
Individuals might also be encouraged to do some creative work on their own during residency. This could be study, research or thesis writing, preparing a book or articles, a programme of reading, local field work or service or the continuation of a career through computer or other practicable means such as e-mail. Possibly some relationship with local Buddhists of a mutually beneficial nature may be established in time. While the main orientation would be Chan Buddhism as viewed by the WCF, persons of other Buddhist persuasions may, after appropriate discussion, also make use of such facilities.
The key question is who would be interested in such a project? Clearly a sustained occupancy would be essential for financial reasons. Who would like to come? People who have contacted me so far are mostly individuals who wish to deepen their spiritual lives but who do not envisage monkhood as a professional undertaking. They have had some deep experiences on retreat or otherwise in their lives and seek to explore the Buddhist way of being. Other individuals may have just emerged from some trauma in marriage, illness, through accidents or bereavements or war, terrorism etc and seek a period of sustained quiet under some supervision. Others may be approaching retirement and wish to reconsider how their lives may best be fulfilled. The intention to reside permanently at the institution would not be appropriate, although return visits may be encouraged at least in some cases.
The "Director" would be responsible for the Chan Buddhist orientation of the view and practice sustained in the "Monastic Centre" and act as spiritual guide to the community. The prime orientation would be that of the WCF as constitutionally established. Master Sheng Yen in conversation has approved the project. The manager would literally 'manage' the day to day arrangements. Various committees, advisory board etc would be established and the exact relationship with the WCF clarified.
Where could this be? Of course, were it possible to secure land and funding it would be good to develop Maenllwyd along these lines. Alternatively other properties might be considered. I may be able to supply some initial finance but any development would be dependent upon considerable fund raising. A major effort to raise sufficient funds would be required and this involves financial management at many levels.
In the short term, a property owned by my sister and I may be a suitable site for an initial one-year experiment. We own a beautiful house set in a large wooded garden in central Southampton. Although obviously urban, the property is secluded, surprisingly peaceful and has a happy atmosphere conducive to reflection and meditation. It is fully equipped and certified by the city council for multiple occupancy and is currently leased to students. While a considerable loss of rental might be sustained by such an experiment, should sufficient enthusiasm be shown this is a matter we are very willing to consider seriously. The advantage of this property is that no additional fund raising is required to set the project going.
The house currently comprises six bed-sitting rooms equipped as student studies, enough to accommodate one director and five "yogins", one large room suitable as a meditation hall, another as a social room or lounge for meetings, a library-cum-office, a kitchen dining room and a large entrance hall way. There are two bathrooms and three toilets. In the approximately one and a half acre wooded garden full of bluebells in spring is a hut which, after renovation, could be used as additional summer accommodation. The driveway could accommodate three to four cars. Southampton is a pleasant city, currently booming, with easy access to the sea, the Isle of Wight and the New Forest.
Preliminary study of the economics suggest that a number of scenarios for residency are possible. A calculated price for residency of say £15 per head per day (i.e. £450 per month), exclusive of catering but inclusive of council tax and insurance as well as basic house maintenance, is only slightly above current student rates and below most holiday rentals. (Prices might be lowered with a full house sustained as such over a period.) This would allow either:
- 3-5 people in residence each for single months throughout the year thus allowing thirty-six "yogins" to experience retreats.
- or 3-5 people in residence for three months each thus allowing twelve different people to experience longer retreats.
- or various combinations of such periods or longer.
The exact relation between this project and the WCF would need careful consideration due to the nature of the financing. It may initially have to be a separate project running in close relationship to the Fellowship.
Turnover times would be on an individual basis so that the community would have a fluctuating membership and hence a number of people would participate in management roles to provide a varying meditative environment. On the whole I believe retreats of this kind would be best when of at least three months duration.
This experiment could be set up quite soon depending upon the interest and enthusiasm shown. Obviously such a project is a dead duck without a committed and positive input from participants. Vague, half-hearted interest would not be sufficient.
So there it is -- I look forward to hearing from Fellows and readers of this journal in order to assess the nature of interest that the proposal arouses -- questions, alternative ideas, offers of financial help, or direct expressions of interest that might lead to an application to participate will all be welcome. Do contact me as soon as possible. None of us is getting any younger and the time is now.
