Green Tara Empowerment - 3rd October 2009

We had about 40 people and we were all really surprised at how comfortably everyone fitted into our small but perfectly formed Heart Jewel Centre.

A team of busy bees worked the day before to set up the offerings and beautify the café. You might have seen the outside of the centre looking spick and span after a new coat of paint and a good sweep round, with a lovely cyclamen display in the window and the back of the centre rendering also newly painted too.

Kind volunteers provided a lovely pick and mix packed lunch for the unbelievable price of a pound! A host of help flooded into the café to make drinks and help with distributing food.

And then the Empowerment itself – a lovely intimate occasion in our own meditation room and extending into the café with a super sound system kindly lent to us by Tara Centre. (one of many things!)

Our Resident Teacher Kelsang Osung gave a lovely step by step practical and clear explanation of each stage of the empowerment which helped us all to get an idea of what was happening and how we can all benefit both ourself and those we love and many other beings by opening our heart to Tara and receiving her blessings so we can transform our mind and experience purity and clarity.

It was great to see the centre so vibrant and alive – the fruits of the last 12 months hard work and dedication. Thank you so much to all who helped this event to manifest – either physically or through good wishes and prayers.

View the photo gallery here

The Life Of Buddha Film Night - 23rd October 2009

The other event is the Film Night Fundraiser. This was our first attempt at a film night – absolutely amazing! – Really – so lovely – 25 people all in the Meditation room – all ages - children, teenagers, grown ups too – all enjoying the moving and powerful story which links the life of Buddha with our own present experiences of receiving and applying his teachings.

Lots of goodies thrown in too – home made popcorn, delicious veggie hot dogs, nachos with all the trimmings and scrummy pizza – not to mention a truly chocolicious home made ice cream! – A lively quiz, and our very successful raffle continuing to attract those who have their eye on the superb prize of a sizeable and beautiful statue of Green Tara.

All that for only £8 and half price for kids – no wonder it was so much fun – and yet so meaningful too. A relaxing and pleasant way to spend time with spiritual friends and lots of people said how much they learnt about Buddha and his life.

The special appearance of Geshe-la at the end of the film, explaining the relevance of Buddha’s teachings in our modern world was really appreciated – particularly by those who have not had the opportunity to hear him teach.

View the photo gallery here

Why do we need to do these fundraisers?

Well of course the Centre is a very special place, completely run by very kind volunteers, but we still have a mortgage and bills, plus many other running costs.

All these costs without exception are met through class income and donations and of course through fundraising.

As many of you already know – our big Buddha is currently undergoing some essential restoration work, the full cost of which will amount to around £700. We have already raised about £500 of this sum so we are doing really well – nearly there. Hopefully Buddha will be back again fairly soon looking even more perfect, so thank you all once more.

We try very hard to spend the money donated to the Centre carefully by asking for unwanted items as we need them.

Right now we are in urgent need of a tumble drier or a tumble drier repair man - as our old one has just stopped working today, and with 5 residents and no other means of drying clothes, winter coming fast – its going to be missed!

So any offers of help would be greatly appreciated.
Please email ad@heartjewel.org.uk