THE EARLY DAYS

By Harvey Horrocks, director of Manjushri Institute 1975-81

The meditation courses at Kopan in Nepal, which began in 1969 and were led by both Lama Zopa Rinpoche and Lama Yeshe were the source of extraordinary inspiration. After these courses many students tried to stay as long as they could at this monastery or in retreat in the Himalayas, some even taking ordination as monks or nuns. However, because of family, money or visas they all in time had to return to their homes and this inevitable returning was the beginning of the FPMT.

It was as early as September 1975 that Lama Yeshe and Lama Zopa Rinpoche arrived in England in response to the heartfelt request of Peter Kedge and myself shortly after our return from Kopan. Any doubts about how palatable and effective the presentation of the teachings by these two Lamas would be to an English audience evaporated like the morning dew. A residential course, arranged with key support from Ani Tsultim, Dennis Heslop, Jim Belither amongst others, was attended by 120 people. The success of this event created the firm conviction that a substantial centre would be of immeasurable benefit in the U.K.

Lama Yeshe had given the name of the Manjushri Institute to the idea and already appointed myself as the first director long before their first visit to the U.K. These labels now began to have a purpose.

During this first visit Lama Yeshe and Lama Zopa met with Geshe Tsultim Gyeltsen who had been resident in the U.K. for more than 10 years and requested him to start teaching for the Centre then based in London. Lama Yeshe also instructed that Manjushri should invite Geshe Rabten to give a course. To our delight Geshe Rabten agreed to come and 50 students signed up for a course held in the most beautiful surroundings at Pangbourne College, the naval institution in Berkshire. At this time I showed pictures of Conishead Priory in Cumbria and it was agreed that shortly after the course a group of students would go to see the Priory together.

We sent a brochure outlining a proposal for the purchase of the Conishead Priory to Lama Yeshe and Lama Zopa Rinpoche seeking their approval of the plans. Lama’s response you can see here; this gave the direction we were seeking.

20^th June 1976

Dear Manjushri Family,

Thank you very much for your work improving the development of the Manjushri Institute, order to benefit for all mother sentient beings. Specially when the somebody is hungry and needs show giving yourself and dedicating yourself it is highly Bodhicitta meditation which carries you into Enlightenment. When we saw your work we can see your sincerity and professional work. Therefore I never doubtful financial difficult if you approach immediately to buy.

Professional 10 workers in one year, how much salary they get? We do puja for you, send you power of energy and we thank you for your work continuously and see you soon. Thank you very much you printing this publication. Very nice and also lecture book. Pretty soon the book of all the lectures from the previous world tour will be printed and distributed. The books are coming from Hawaii and so next time you have opportunity, you can let people know that it will be available.

With love,

Lama Yeshe

As a result, 10 days before the Lamas’ second visit to the U.K. in 1976 to give a 23 day course, Conishead Priory was purchased by the Manjushri Institute. Seventy people attended the course – and after it 12 people remained to form the first community. Such familiar names as Sigrid Kremzow, Roy Tyson, Dennis Heslop, Malcolm Logan and Jon Maddison were also in that pioneering group. Lama instructed Ani Chodron (Nicole Kedge), a French Canandian nun to become resident at Manjushri and to take responsibility for the development of the teaching programme. Lama Yeshe and Rinpoche were officially requested and accepted to take full responsibility for the Spiritual Direction of the Institute.

Rinpoche and Lama Yeshe then invited the first resident teacher to come to Manjushri, Geshe Kelsang Gyatso, and the full teaching programme began. Later Lama Yeshe set up the Geshe Studies programme – Lama gained acceptance from the Gelugpa Society in India in order to have successful students of the programme recognized according to the standards that they were responsible for in the Tibetan Monasteries. Lama asked also Geshe Jampa Tegchok to come to develop the whole programme. Several of the international students within the Foundation were sent to Manjushri Institute to join these studies.

Because of the extensive facilities of the Conishead Priory and the need for people Lama Yeshe arranged for Wisdom Publications to go there and because of the size of the western Sangha community there, the administration of the International Mahayana Institute was also brought there.

Each year both Lamas came to spend time and teach at Manjushri Institute. Time was given to the running and development of the institute, meeting with the director, the committee and the community.

Lama Yeshe checked every detail of the Centre from the equipping of the Gompa, the care of the thankas, the quality of the water, the problems of treating “dry rot”, the financial health of the Centre, the location and design of the coffee shop, the supporting and re-energising of the staff, the care of the woods, the development of the flower and vegetable gardens, initiating business ventures, etc, etc, etc. In this way the plans of the Institute were formed and gradually the Institute began to take shape.

The image of a new civilization could now be glimpsed.