In August 2000 I will once again be moving my possessions from Padmaloka to Birmingham. Although I first moved to Madhyamaloka in March 1997, I needed to return to Padmaloka in spring 1998 to help oversee the expansion of the men's ordination process and respond to the lack of experienced ordination team members there. To facilitate this expansion, at the beginning of 1999 the ordination team split into two 'kulas' - effectively two wings - complete with separate Going for Refuge Retreats, separate teams, and separate Public Preceptors for each team. This has worked extremely well, making it easier for team members to know the men who have asked for ordination by halving the numbers involved, and by replacing large retreats (up to 54 participants) with much smaller ones.
These developments are now well established and I am once again free to move back to Madhyamaloka. Surata will take over leading the Suvarnakula team from me and conduct th Úe public ordinations, whilst Padmavajra continues to lead and do the public ordinations for the Padmakula team. This in effect means I will no longer be directly involved with the European ordination process for men - apart from my involvement as part of the Preceptors' College and continuing as President of Padmaloka.These developments are now well established and I am once again free to move back to Madhyamaloka. Surata will take over leading the Suvarnakula team from me and conduct the public ordinations, whilst Padmavajra continues to lead and do the public ordinations for the Padmakula team. This in effect means I will no longer be directly involved with the European ordination process for men - apart from my involvement as part of the Preceptors' College and continuing as President of Padmaloka.
However, I will remain very directly involved with the ordination process as a whole as I have now taken over responsibility for the men's ordination process in the United States of Ame Ìrica from Subhuti; and continue to be responsible for the ordination process for men in Australia and New Zealand. My work will continue to involve a lot of travel and from next year I am planning to visit America and the Antipodes at least once a year.
My move back to Birmingham next year will hopefully mark a new phase in the development of Madhyamaloka. When I first lived there in 1997 I had no specific function other than as part of the Preceptors' College, but next year I will be working with the staff who support the College, run FWBO Central (the Charity which provides the legal basis for the College's work), and look after the properties owned by the charity. I am also hoping to establish one or more businesses to provide urgently needed funds to financially support the college and its staff. In addition to this I will be working more closely with the other College members living in Birmingham.
At present individual members of the Preceptors' College have to find their o Âwn support and rent to live at Madhyamaloka. These funds often come from other FWBO organisations, e.g. Windhorse Trading, Taraloka or Padmaloka, but the point to stress is that the College is not self-supporting. Although some money is donated to the charity and other funds come in from study seminars run by various members, the budget is tight and it is becoming increasingly difficult to make ends meet. Of course we want to continue to run seminars, but we do not want these to be financially driven and my first priority will be to set up a business that can establish a much more stable basis for the College of Public Preceptors.' At present I am entering into discussions with Windhorse Trading with regard to setting up an Evolution shop in the West Midland region. Another idea I am currently looking at is an organic whole food Cash and Carry. There are also a couple of other ideas I am exploring with the help of Robert Mason, a mitra now living in Birmingham and workin Ëg for FWBO (Central).
When I started thinking about setting up businesses I began to form a vision of making the Madhyamaloka mandala into a training situation. Mitras seeking ordination could train up, and new Order members could gain experience of a more intense situation living and working in a single-sex context. An aspect of their training would be to prepare them to move outside Britain to set up new FWBO centres or to help support existing centres around the globe. Many people also want to come to the UK from abroad to deepen their experience of the FWBO. So far this has mainly been limited to those from the English speaking world. I am hoping in future we will also be able to offer more places and a greater range of work situations to those coming from Mexico, South America as well as from Europe. I would also like us to be able to give some of our brothers and sisters in India the opportunity to live and work in FWBO Team Based Right-Livelihood businesses and commu Ònities.
Birmingham is Britain's second largest city and should offer good opportunities for establishing businesses, expanding the existing FWBO activities and creating a model of a Buddhist society in a multi-racial setting. Birmingham is a dynamic, changing city and has many things going for it e.g. the city council is trying to develop the inner city areas, removing some of the famous ugly buildings of the sixties. There are many cultural events on offer, and Birmingham is centrally located in England, giving relatively easy access to London, Manchester and areas of scenic beauty.
Much of what I wish to achieve will only be possible if I can find the managers and workers to help me set up the various projects and I have already had several men showing enthusiasm for the schemes I have been outlining. Providing I can find a team of men to run an Evolution shop, I am hoping that the first project will commence in the autumn of 2000. So, I am looking for men to work with me next year. However, if a team of women wanted to help with this work I would be delighted.
I imagine my input will mainly be promoting projects and helping to build teams working in the mandala. My vision is that we will develop activities of a specifically Buddhist nature over a number of years e.g. study, communal meditation and retreats. I also hope to provide other activities such as cultural events and outdoor pursuits. These could include such things as canoeing, sailing and hiking in places like Scandinavia. All these activities will be designed to develop self-confidence, friendship - especially Kalyana Mitrata - and confidence in the Buddha, Dharma and Sangha. Apart from the businesses I will also be developing the 'staff' side of Madhyamaloka to function in a similar way to a Team Based Right-Livelhood business.
My move back to Birmingham next year will probably stretch me as I will still continue with my other responsibilities, but I am looking forward to a new challenge.
Sona is now a member of Breath Works mindfulness strategies for living well, pain management and stress reduction, based in Manchester.