Stupa anniversary Mitra ceremony
On Saturday 15th february we gathered at the top retreat centre for our annual Stupa Day Anniversary, the event including a mitra ceremony for Tessa Herkt attended by 50 people over the day, Tessa being a member of the Sudarshanaloka community. By way of practice we enjoyed morning and afternoon meditation, an evening ritual and a midday puja during which Tessa became a mitra. A joyful and celebratory occasion followed by lunch, providing the opportunity for a good old social and catch up among friends and new faces. The recently refurbed top retreat centre lending itself well to such an occasion.
With regard to the actual Stupa celebration it was a bit of a damp squib as the rain gods decided to turn it on, so that the main stupa celebration was re-homed to the shrine room, a beautiful space held in the embrace of the silent forest beneath the ancient Puriri tree, there in the still dusk, candles and mantra.
