Whatever You Say, Say Nothing

…places beginning with "I".

In my case, India, Ireland, Ipswich and Italy - quite a broad range, culturally speaking!  In February I travelled to Bodhgaya to attend the WBO International convention - what an experience.  I’ve been to India before, but not to any Buddhist pilgrimage sites.  It was quite something to process in silence (mostly!) in the early mornings to the Mahabodhi temple, along with 400 or so other members of the WBO/TBMSG and to spend time with Indian members of the Order, hearing about their lives and work.  They are very inspired by the idea of the Dhammakranti or "Dharma Revolution" envisioned by Dr B K Ambedkar. Something that I brought back with me is a strong enthusiasm for seeing the potential for our practice of the Dharma - of Buddhism - to create a sort of revolution in the West, in terms of enabling people to get in touch with what is of real value in their lives and to live in accordance with that.  I also brought back giardia but fortunately that didn’t last too long.  At the end of March I was back in Dublin for a weekend and then up in Derry - a very enjoyable visit.  At the start of April I was on a short but intense ordination retreat in Ipswich, very much enjoying the lovely countryside there and what a great public ordination at the Ipswich centre!  And then in April back to Tuscany - not such good weather as 2 years ago, but still breathtakingly beautiful scenery, lots of quiet and plenty of interesting spots to visit.  I particularly enjoyed the Etruscan museum in Volterra which contains a huge number of funerary urns, each carved with pictures or symbols of the journey to the afterlife and topped with a carving of the deceased reclining as if at a feast. Now I’m back in Wales and enjoying studying and hanging out with the community here.  We’re fortunate to have Tejananda coming to stay for a few days to do some meditation teaching with us later in the week.