In 2016, Geoff Jukes asked Paula Chichester to help him create a small hermitage in the Shetland Islands. In 2017, they established Braeview Cottage for this purpose. It is a two bedroom house with views of a bay to the south and the Atlantic Ocean to the west. In 2019, the cottage was renovated into a more comfortable and ecologically friendly property by installing solar panels on the roof, extra insulation and a conservatory made from recycled oil rig pylons that warms the house and allows those staying there to enjoy the inspiring views no matter what the weather!

In 2020, a woodworking shop next to the house was converted into a small, 2 room, very beautiful gompa  with kitchen and bath. When friends arrive for a retreat, the first thing they say upon arriving is, “Ahh, this is perfect! You have thought of everything!”

The stunning landscape, the sea, the hills, the song of the seals, and the insignificant human presence will help visitors relax into the mind’s natural state where they can feel their open, creative heart. If just a few taste that inner satisfied state, if a few can maintain awareness of emptiness and love while creating virtue, a step will be taken in the evolution of humankind. Finding inner peace and simple, contented love will nourish people for the rest of their lives, no matter what they do. Tiny baby steps towards Buddhahood influence the whole world. What if one person actually does attain the union of illusory and clear light in one lifetime?….Even such a thought dashes samsara to bits.

If individuals truly devote themselves to practice, this wisdom will survive the next 100 years when the over-population and greed of unchecked human delusions transforms what is now known as mother earth. If Buddhadharma is to survive, it can’t just be in books or in intellectual knowledge, it has to be a living experience. Braeview is here to support that endeavor. This is a pivotal time in human history. Preserving cultures of sanity is of utmost importance as people strive to preserve the causes of life.

And beyond buddhism, just having a sacred place, where time can be taken to restore a sense of wonder and beauty, to re-examine the myths by which lives are lived, to discard those that disempower, (even if they are buddhist) and rekindle the inner means to maintain the power of love and integrity in the face of the changing institutions of this age.

The first retreat was a 7 day Chöd retreat with Vajrayogini friends from Land of joy. Other friends have also stayed in the cottage while doing retreats in the gompa. If you would like to support the creation of the hermitage or the ongoing project as a whole, please click here for more information and to donate.