Akasamati writes from Triratna’s Naganaga Vihara, a women’s’ retreat centre in New South Wales, Australia, with news of the celebrations of their tenth anniversary - and a little history! She says -
“It’s been an unusually wet start to the summer here in the Macleay Valley, in the north-east of Australia’s New South Wales, but that didn’t dampen the spirit of celebration as community members and supporters gathered on the weekend of 11/12 December, to mark 10 years since the founding of Naganaga Vihara.
Naganaga was established in 2001 by Satyagandhi and Megha as a place where a commitment to environmentally sustainable living and care for the land and its inhabitants would provide the context for a community of women Order Members to live and work together, offering small group retreats and solitary retreat facilities.
Soon after the 150 acre property was purchased, a devastating fire swept through and all but destroyed the place. Although water tanks and caravans were reduced to pools of molten plastic and aluminium, and most of the gardens were charred beyond recovery, miraculously the small dwelling somehow survived, even though veranda poles and nearby trees caught alight.
This purification by fire was the beginning of a long phase of development – of fruitful gardens, of a beautiful meditation space (a Mongolian yurt), of solitary retreat facilities, of a retreat programe that caters for the needs of small group retreats, and a community of Dharmacharinis to live and work here.
So much has been achieved, but in this tenth anniversary year, we are approaching the completion of the most ambitious development project yet – the building of a large new multi-purpose living room; living spaces for Vajrasuri (who currently divides her time between Naganaga and her work for the movement in India) and Viryadana (a community member of four years). An ablution block incorporating laundry, bathroom and composting toilets will be added to complete the development, along with landscaping and a re-organisation of the garden areas.
That’s quite a lot to celebrate, and we were joined for this delightful occasion by sangha members from Sydney and Brisbane, and for part of the weekend by some of our local friends. The highlight was an afternoon tea and the telling of the story of Naganaga, which included much rejoicing in all who have contributed over the years.
As we listened and participated we were encircled by a huge Rainbow Serpent, the totemic creature of the original guardians of this land, that snaked it’s way around the walls of the room. Dotted along its body were the names of landmark events, retreats and the many, many people who have been here as retreatants, visitors, workers, community members or volunteers.
Out in the workshop another creature of significance to this land was taking shape – a Water Dragon, coming together out of jewels and stones that people had brought along or sent, and pieces of tile. This mosaic lizard, with its ten-coloured body, ten-striped tail, and spine of precious things, will eventually hang as a commemorative art work to remind us of the first ten years of Naganaga and to watch over us in the decades to come.”
There’s more photos of NagaNaga on their Flickr set. Besides being a Buddhist retreat centre, NagaNaga actively promotes wildlife conservation - they’re actively involved in the rehabilitation and care of orphaned wallabies, and wildlife species known to be present on the property include brush-tailed possums, red-necked wallabies, wallaroos, bandicoots, flying foxes, sugar gliders, echidnas, dingos, quolls, long-necked tortoises, goannas, micro bats, pademelons and a wide variety of frogs, snakes and birds including sea eagles, wedge-tailed eagles, tawny frogmouths, black cockatoos and rainbow lorikeets!