This Months Newsletter
Rangjung Yeshe UK
Gomde Lindholme Hall
Hatfield Woodhouse Doncaster DN7 6DT
Telephone: 01302 842503
Web: www.gomde.org.uk; E-mail: national@gomde.org.uk; Registered Charity No: 1132050
NEWSLETTER Number 017- January 2012
From Gomde’s new office the newsletter is prepared- all warm and cosy here despite the January wind and
rain! Hoorah for insulation and building and design volunteers!
It is a long time since our last ‘proper’ newsletter. What has caused the radio silence? As our many
volunteers and visitors will testify it is not sloth (but why can’t have a bit of sloth now and again?) This
winter, as it has been so mild, we have been busy little bees……..
So what’s new? Click the links to read more..
For Peat’s Sake!
Do you want to contribute to safeguarding England’s ‘rainforest’?
Until November 2012 Gomde, Lindholme Hall has an exclusive option to purchase 30 acres of
uncut peat land which is part of the original Lindholme estate. The land has protected status in
UK and Europe being designated a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI).
Chokyi Nyima Rinpoche has said
“It would be best if Gomde could own this special land”
Why are peatlands amazing?
- Peatlands provide us with a range of ecosystem services without which we would not be able to survive. Peatlands remove and store carbon from the atmosphere UK peatlands store 3 billion tonnes of carbon, almost four times as much as UK forests, making them a vital natural resource in the fight against climate change and could be seen as an equivalent to England’s rainforests.
- Currently, almost all peat dug out of the ground is used to make peat compost. Our use of peat composts is responsible for 630,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions every year, the equivalent of 300,000 cars!
- Due to the degradation of the UK’s peatlands a significant amount of carbon is leaking into the atmosphere. This is particularly alarming as a loss of only 5% of stored carbon equates to the UK´s total annual green house gas emissions! On the other hand, healthy peat lands and those that have been restored and enhanced can make a positive contribution to tackling climate change.
And the icing on the cake?
- Peat lands support an incredible diversity of species, including birds, insects and plants, which are not found in any other habitats on the planet
- Several species in the Humberhead peat lands are found nowhere else in Britain.
- Peatlands also act as a secret museum to our past. Locked in the peat is an irreplaceable archive dating back perhaps 10,000 years to the last ice age
BUT … Peat lands are at Risk!
- There has been a dramatic decline and extensive degradation and 94% of lowland raised bog habitat has been lost in the last 200 years. Thorne and Hatfield Moors are the largest lowland raised peatbogs in Britain. They encompass a third of all the lowland raised peat lands in England!
- Historically, the decline has occurred through agricultural changes, afforestation, and industrial peat extraction.
- At Thorne and Hatfield Moors planning permission was granted for industrial peat extraction in the 1950s and both sites have had extensive peat extraction. Thankfully, due to the sustained pressure of conservationists over many years much, but not all, of the peat land is now a national Nature Reserve and in the process of reclamation. However the 30 acre parcel we wish to purchase and conserve is privately owned with an uncertain future.
Why would a bunch of Buddhists want to own a piece of SSSI land?
- Under the umbrella of our charity, Rangjung Yeshe UK, the land will be deeded in perpetuity for conservation and be managed by a group of committed, volunteer conservationists; in short it will be responsibly and properly cared for to protect it now and for future generations. Let’s face it- if one believes in reincarnation- we are the future generations!
- Interdependence is a core teaching of Buddhism. It acknowledges that we are not isolated individuals but instead one whole made up of all life on earth. In addition karma, the law of cause and effect, teaches us that all our actions will have a corresponding result now and in the future. Caring for and protecting the environment is therefore in tune with the Buddha’s teachings.
- The land is part of the original Lindholme Estate and will ensure Gomde remains private, secluded, protected and be established as a refuge for all beings. The 30 acres, in conservationist terms, is considered to be one of the most important areas of land on the Hatfield Moor as it forms an area of uncut peat and therefore the ‘refugium’ of species for the re-colonisation of the moor.
- Chokyi Nyima Rinpoche has said “It would be best if Gomde could own this special
What can YOU do to help?
Donate to the Peat Appeal
We want ‘moor’ peat!
Amazingly £48 sponsors 100 square meters.
Click here for the donation form
Donations can be dedicated as a gift. If a donation is ‘gifted’ a ‘Certificate of
Donation’ and educational pack can be provided.
The Peat Appeal was launched on November 10th 2011 by Heather Skidmore, the widow of
Pete Skidmore, internationally renowned entomologist and conservationist. It’s all in
the name.
Heather sees the land as a fitting and lasting memorial to Pete who died in
2009. For over half his life Pete campaigned tirelessly for the conservation of Thorne and
Hatfield Moors. Now we all have the opportunity to do our bit for the environment, Gomde
and also show our appreciation for one of the people who helped make the Gomde,
Lindholme Hall estate what it is today.
A new study group at Gomde, Lindholme Hall:
March- May 2012
Cultivating Patience: Chapter 6. The Way of the Bodisattva by Shantideva
Based on, and supported by, the online learning programme at Rangjung Yeshe Institute.
For details of the programme please see www.shedra.org
In the Way of the Bodisattva, Shantideva brings to our attention the realities of egocentric
existence, in all its pain and idiocy, and places before us the vision of a wholly new alternative,
together with a practical instruction whereby that vision may become an actual experience.
Chapter 6 Cultivating Patience focuses on the quality that is the antithesis to anger.
12 weeks of study, 3 hours on line each week with fortnightly support groups at Gomde,
Lindholme Hall (the Middlesbrough group will also be following this programme). If you have any interest in joining this spring study group please contact Paulette before 21st February at
national@gomde.org.uk
Creating Sustainable Electricity - The last minute dash
One of our main practical goals at Gomde, Lindholme Hall is to produce energy
equivalent to our needs. As many of you will be aware from his many teachings, Chokyi
Nyima Rinpoche is highly supportive of the efforts of all his students to positively contribute to
the environment and reduce, as much as possible, any negative impact.
Gomde has significant and increasing running costs. Amongst its biggest current expenses are
heat and electricity. Micro Generating Systems (MGS) generate electricity from renewable
sources and the electricity produced is either used by the owner/generator themselves or is
exported to the national grid.
In 2011 the government operated a grant scheme with guaranteed payments to MGS´s for 25
years for each KW of electricity generated, whether used or exported to the grid.
Following thorough research, the estimated savings on electricity bills and government subsidy
payments were calculated to be between £3,500- £4000 per year. In the course of the 25 year
agreement the benefit to Gomde is calculated as approximately £125,000; combined energy
saving and government subsidy.
With this in mind, and with Chokyi Nyima Rinpoche´s kind permission and encouragement, we
contracted to install a 9.2 KW peak, photo- electric array on the south facing roof of the
meditation hall (44 panels in all) with a cost to Gomde of £20,900.
However, as many of you will have seen on seen in the national press, the government reviewed
the grant system, bringing forward the eligibility deadline by 4 months. At the time it seemed
impossible to achieve our goal in the timescale allowed. Due only to a short term
loan, one pointed determination and effort, a trusting solar engineer and a heap
load of blessings the MGS was installed within 5 days of the cut-off date!
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Gomde is now a government grant aided Micro Generating System!
With the hard part complete we can celebrate but we still need some help from our
kind patrons. To enable us to move swiftly and effectively we secured a short term loan; however the short term loan naturally comes at a price and therefore we hope that some generous sponsors will support Gomde in this major green endeavour.
Please help in whatever way you can.
- Good wishes
- Donations
- Interest Free Loans of £500 or more. Loans will be over 5 years paid using our savings and grant payments. Each year 20% of any loan will be repaid e.g £1,000 loan would be repaid in 5 annual instalments of £200. This option enables people to significantly help Gomde now and for many future years and have their original donation returned.
If you would like to know more, please contact one of the trustees at trustees@gomde.org.uk or
call David at Gomde on 01302 842 503 .
May all be auspicious and May countless beings benefit for many generations to come.
Update of our 2011 Projects and Activities
- A small group attended the New Year retreat which was based upon Chokyi Nyima Rinpoche’s teaching recorded at the monastery in Nepal in November. It was a very peaceful time; a perfect retreat. We hope to have a similar style retreat, small, quiet and reflective next New Year.
- The Field Maple room renovation is complete. The rooms in the attic have been insulated and an en-suite bathroom installed
- The retreat hut is now nice and snug with the wood siding which blends into the woodland is complete.
- The office move is complete! Gomde now has an insulated, warm office. The linen store and laundry room have also been completed.
- Students from Doncaster College, Princes Trust course, began clearing the old pond- long ago buried by builders’ debris. Armed with enthusiasm and hand tools ‘phase 1’ is complete and phase 2 begins 6th February!
- The new lama room/ retreat room is now cleared awaiting the miracle workers….. anyone who would like to help with this project please contact David - national@gomde.org.uk
- A new set of offering bowls and ritual articles has been sponsored for the meditation hall. The meditation hall looks better and better.
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A word to our sponsors…
There are some people who are in fortunate financial positions and who have also had the wish to
help Gomde! This is a rare and special combination and we would like to send heartfelt thanks to
all our sponsors who have helped us over the last 2 years; all your help has been invaluable.
Recruiting Resident Volunteers - Growing our Gomde community.
From our newsletters one may get the impression that we are busy here. We are! Gomde,
Lindholme Hall is a year round centre and, despite being only ‘two years in’, there are many
aspects to our activities here.
Such As?
- Maintaining practice activities- twice daily meditation sessions, puja on special practice days, supporting visitor and resident retreats
- Facilitating study- weekly study group, Gomde based online study group, hosting monthly Saturday teachings and maintaining and managing the library.
- Hosting teaching seminars- organisation and creating the infrastructure to accommodate people.
- Fundraising
- Maintaining and renovating the house and out buildings
- Managing and working the HLS land (approx. 100 acres)
- Caring for and developing the gardens (including formal garden, vegetable garden and orchard)
- Building and maintaining links with the community.
- Running the house- cooking, cleaning, laundry and management.
- Currently there are two resident volunteers at Gomde who are supported by a stalwart group of ‘off site’ volunteers- local and distant.
To make the most of all that Gomde, Lindholme Hall spontaneously offers we need
more people in the community.
YOUR GOMDE NEEDS YOU!
We need people who are able to
- Commit to 3 months or more over our ‘busy’ season March – November
- Able to work 6-8 hours per day
- Pay a minimal amount towards ‘keep’
- Have applicable skills – eg cooking, gardening, conservation/ land building and administration
In return you will receive
- Room and board- in an amazing environment
- Opportunity of 2 hours of daily practice; morning and evening
- 1 day off per week and 10 days off for supported retreat or holiday, every 6 weeks.
- Discounted rates for seminars, teachings and study groups
- For the younger applicants- extra credentials if you need to develop your CV! If you have any interest in volunteering , in the terms out lined above or any way you feel would be helpful (resident or non-resident) please contact Paulette at national@gomde.org.uk or call Gomde on 01302 842 503 for more information.
Teaching Schedule 2012
Lastly we have already announced what we know of the teaching schedule for 2012; in case
anyone missed out here is a summary. All details are posted on the web site.
22-27th June Chokyi Nyima Rinpoche
15th 18th November Phakchok Rinpoche
Lama Oser: we hope Lama Oser will again have an extended stay at Gomde, Lindholme Hall.
Among his many activities here he will lead retreats (Tara and Guru Rinpoche) and also teach
Ngondro and Introduction to Buddhism.
Dates For your Diary
As many of you will already be aware the Dalai Lama is teaching in the north of England
(Manchester) in June. We will be organising a group to travel from Gomde to the Manchester
arena on 18th June. Anyone interested please contact Gary at garybateman068@googlemail.com
Saturday teachings:
4th February
14 the April
Special practice days
We continue with our special pratice days please see web site for dates and details
We look forward to seeing you here at Gomde Lindholme Hall in the coming year!
Team Gomde 2012
