As we celebrate Lhabab Duchen, we invite you to join us in an opportunity for generosity and merit-making that will benefit yourself and countless others.

Lhabab Duchen celebrates Guru Shakyamuni Buddha’s return to Earth from the God Realm of the Thirty-Three after teaching Dharma for three months to the gods, including his mother, Mayadevi, who had died a week after Buddha’s birth and been reborn there. As a merit multiplying day, the karmic results of actions done on this day are multiplied 100 million times. This amazing result is taught in the vinaya text Treasure of Quotations and Logic.

Restoring the East Wing: Creating Space for Practice

As you wind down the tree-lined drive to Land of Joy, two windows catch the light at the top of the house—welcoming beacons that mark the East Wing. With views down the drive and out toward the expansive Northumberland landscape, this wing serves as a peaceful sanctuary for both volunteers and retreatants.

The East Wing houses three bedrooms—a single room, a flexible single/twin room, and a dormitory—along with a bathroom. These rooms provide essential accommodation for the dedicated volunteers who keep the centre running and the practitioners who come to deepen their practice and study.

By renovating the East Wing, we’re not just improving walls and floors. We’re creating conditions for countless hours of practice, study, and service. We’re ensuring that Land of Joy can continue to welcome and nurture practitioners and volunteers for the decade ahead.

Over the past two years, we’ve been steadily renewing our accommodation: the volunteer quarters were refreshed last year and the dining room and some rooms above were completed this year. We’ve now started turning our attention to the east wing which will be renovated in three stages.

Stage 1: Complete – The bathroom has been beautifully renovated, with the old bath transformed into a spacious, accessible shower.

Stage 2: Current Focus – We’re now ready to remove the lining paper, repair plaster, apply new paper and paint the walls, in fresh warming colours. The old, moth eaten carpets will then be replaced by new, soft and comforting carpets, creating warmer, more welcoming spaces for those who live and practice here.

Stage 3: Future Vision – The final stage will replace the aging windows, ensuring the rooms stay warm, dry, and energy-efficient through Northumberland’s winters.

The Power of Lhabab Duchen – How You can Help

Your donation on this auspicious day doesn’t just help renovate rooms—it multiplies merit beyond measure while directly supporting the conditions for awakening.

We’re seeking £2,400 to complete the decorating and carpets for all three East Wing bedrooms. Every contribution, large or small, brings us closer to our goal:

• £10 can purchase a roll of lining paper for the walls

• £15 can buy a pack of Dado moulding to add a traditional look to the dormitory bedroom

• £20 can buy a tin of paint

• £30 can buy a square metre of carpet

• £108 can paint a room

Interested in providing ongoing support?

Practicing generosity creates a transformative ripple effect that touches both giver and receiver. Through acts of giving – whether sharing material resources, time, knowledge, or simple kindness – we cultivate deep compassion, loosen our grip on material attachments, and forge meaningful connections with others. This practice of generosity doesn’t just create positive karma; it opens our hearts, bringing inner peace while actively contributing to the well-being of all beings.

Our Branches of Joy are the monthly donors who help our work flourish and grow. Through their steady commitment, this support helps us cultivate a sanctuary where wisdom and compassion can blossom. By supporting Branches of Joy, you embrace this timeless wisdom, joining a community dedicated to alleviating suffering and spreading compassion in our interconnected world.