The Vision for Gomde, Lindholme Hall

The Garland of Sustainability

ChokyiNyima Rinpoche´s vision for Gomde, Lindholme Hall is that it becomes a place of refuge for authentic study, reflection and meditation of the Buddha Dharma and, which has at its heart, a monastic and lay community. Given our resources here and the implications of the core teachings of Buddhism, Rinpoche has encouraged us to commit to an environmental strategy that is practical, aspirational and sustainable; in shorta living example of environmental Buddhism.

Much has happened since we moved here including the refurbishment and adornment of our meditation hall which accommodates up to 150 people.

All has been accomplished through Rinpoche´s wisdom, kindness and blessing linked to the efforts of committed volunteers, generous sponsorship and essential private loans.

Principals to guide our endeavours have unfolded over the last two years:

Being ´in tune´ with the vision and spiritual direction of ChokyiNyima Rinpoche.
Creating a rhythm of life, work and practice that sustains people and has at its core authentic Buddha Dharma.
Producing energy equivalent to our needs from renewable resources.
To thoughtfully manage the estate to enhance the landscape and the biodiversity of this rare habitat. To make Gomde a refuge for all beings.
Sustainably harvest the natural resources available on the estate in line with conservation policy.
For all building and development undertaken at Gomde to be energy efficient to minimise energy load now and in the future; reducing costs and caring for the environment
Utilise some of the land to produce our own food.
Create an open management structure with commitment to thoughtful action; essentially a dynamic ´can do´ approach building upon the strengths of people. This facilitates inclusivity as well as assimilating new initiatives and making them a reality.

Progress to Date

Dharma
We seek to have the Dharma at the heart of all we do. To support this we host seminars by Buddhist masters (3 major seminars scheduled for 2012), host visits by experienced monks from the tradition who guide retreat and practice, have twice daily meditation sessions, twice monthly special practice days, facilitate study/practice groups andsupport individual retreat both in the retreat hut and the Hall.

Energy needs
In December 2011 Gomde, became a micro generator with the installation of a 9.9 KW peak, photo- electric array on the south facing roof of the meditation hall. We anticipate the array will produce approximately 70% of our electricity using the national grid as our ‘battery’.

The woodland at Gomde is sustainably managed to provide all our own fuel for our wood burning stoves.

Land management

In April 2011 Gomde entered into a Higher Level, Environmental Stewardship Agreement which is designed to protect and enhance the environment and biodiversity of the estate.

Development
The meditation hall (completed 2010) and retreat hut (completed 2011) are both highly energy efficient by design.

Our foundation plan needs be achievable, sustainable and aspirational, with flexibility to grow and incorporate ideas. An image which brings this together is a garland, a garland which surrounds, protects and inspires. New pearls of projects, and ideas, can be

strung when causes and conditions are ripe - in short a Garland of Sustainability.