Supporting Braeview
Supporting Braeview
What is Braeview?
Braeview is located on a stunning remote peninsula in the northwest of Shetland – the Scottish islands famous for their ponies, seabirds and stunning seascapes. It has two residences on its land, Braeview Cottage and Braeview Retreat Hut, a place for individual and small group retreats.
This modest, yet spectacular, space was chosen for its remarkable spiritual energy, which provides powerfully conducive conditions for people to actualise their inner potential for enlightenment– or a place to take a really restful rejuvenating holiday.
What is Braeview?
Braeview is located on a stunning remote peninsula in the northwest of Shetland – the Scottish islands famous for their ponies, seabirds and stunning seascapes. It has two residences on its land, Braeview Cottage and Braeview Retreat Hut, a place for individual and small group retreats.
This modest, yet spectacular, space was chosen for its remarkable spiritual energy, which provides powerfully conducive conditions for people to actualise their inner potential for enlightenment– or a place to take a really restful rejuvenating holiday.
What Does it Provide?
Established in December of 2017 by Geoff Jukes and Paula Chichester, Braeview is a two bedroom cottage on the Atlantic Ocean in Eshaness, Shetland. 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 us 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. It is a private retreat space for experienced Buddhist meditators to deepen their practice individually (in strict solitary retreat if they wish) for a few weeks up to several months. For small group retreats, we will use both dwellings. For persons wanting strict retreat, we can arrange for their shopping weekly. There is also a garden and greenhouse for growing greens, hardy vegetables and raspberries. Paula is usually on-site and is happy to coach people in retreat, if asked for.
When friends arrive for a retreat, the first thing they say upon arriving is, “Ahh, this is perfect! You have thought of everything!”
What Does it Provide?
Established in December of 2017 by Geoff Jukes and Paula Chichester, Braeview is a two bedroom cottage on the Atlantic Ocean in Eshaness, Shetland. 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 us 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. It is a private retreat space for experienced Buddhist meditators to deepen their paractice individually (in strict solitary retreat if they wish) for a few weeks up to several months. For small group retreats, we will use both dwellings. For persons wanting strict retreat, we can arrange for their shopping weekly. There is also a garden and greenhouse for growing greens, hardy vegetables and raspberries. Paula is usually on-site and is happy to coach people in retreat, if asked for.
When friends arrive for a retreat, the first thing they say upon arriving is, “Ahh, this is perfect! You have thought of everything!”
Why is it Important?
Braeview will provide a space for seasoned practitioners to develop the brave view in their heart, soul, body and mind. Then, they can inspire us with a taste of what we can accomplish, by sharing how the words in the texts and the advice from the mouths of our teachers can become a living experience. What makes our teachers unique is just this. They embody what they teach. For Buddhism to endure into the future, it cannot just exist in books!
The environment where this inner work is done makes a big difference. Like Tibet, the vast, unbridled beauty and atmosphere of Braeview provides a sense of space that opens the heart; a space where pureness outside can be mirrored within; a place where Mahamudra seems possible. It is easier to create the inner space when the outer space reflects what we wish to become.
Why is it Important?
Braeview will provide a space for seasoned practitioners to develop the brave view in their heart, soul, body and mind. Then, they can inspire us with a taste of what we can accomplish, when the words in the texts and the advices from the mouths of our teachers become a living experience. What makes our teachers unique is just this. They embody what they teach. For Buddhism to endure into the future, it cannot just exist in the books!
The environment where this inner work is done makes a big difference. Like Tibet, the vast, unbridled beauty and atmosphere of Braeview provides the sense of space that opens the heart; a space where pureness outside can be mirrored within; place where Mahamudra seems possible. It is easier to create the inner space when the outer space reflects what we wish to become.
The Importance of Supporting Meditators
ALL THE GREAT MASTERS PROCLAIM THE REQUIREMENT OF PRACTICE IN SOLITUDE.
“… the teaching of Longchen Nyingthik that came forth from the power of his (Jigme Lingpa) awareness brings incomparable benefit to beings. This is because of the power of his aspiration to maintain the non-conceptual ultimate thought of enlightenment in solitary places.
Without confidence in the view and meditation, even if one has the intention to help others, one will be fettered by distraction, stuck in the sphere of the eight worldly concerns and enslaved by passion and aggression.”
— Dilgo Kyentse Rinpoche’s commentary on Patrul Rinpoche’s: Three Words that Shake the Vital Point.
How wonderful if we can create a culture that readily sponsors those rare people who have the capacity for solitary retreat by providing them with sustenance and the remote hermitages suitable for that training. Meditators work 24 hours a day for all sentient beings; there is no way they can have a normal job. Without meditators, the lineages will die; dharma will only exist on paper and in empty spoken words.
The Importance of Supporting Meditators
ALL THE GREAT MASTERS PROCLAIM THE REQUIREMENT OF PRACTICE IN SOLITUDE.
“… the teaching of Longchen Nyingthik that came forth from the power of his (Jigme Lingpa) awareness brings incomparable benefit to beings. This is because of the power of his aspiration to maintain the non-conceptual ultimate thought of enlightenment in solitary places.
Without confidence in the view and meditation, even if one has the intention to help others, one will be fettered by distraction, stuck in the sphere of the eight worldly concerns and enslaved by passion and aggression.”
— Dilgo Kyentse Rinpoche’s commentary on Patrul Rinpoche’s: Three Words that Shake the Vital Point.
How wonderful if we can create a culture that readily sponsors those rare people who have the capacity for solitary retreat by providing them with sustenance and the remote hermitages suitable for that training. Meditators work 24 hours a day for all sentient beings; there is no way they can have a normal job. Without meditators, the lineages will die; dharma will only exist on paper and in empty spoken words.
What does it cost?
The cottage and hermitage have modest overheads during summer months due to solar panels and passive solar heating from a conservatory during the long days. However, the long, cold winters (good for retreat) require fuel (coal & peat) plus electricity for heating as well as extra electricity for light which can be costly.
The monthly costs are £500 – 600 a month which includes:
Council tax
Insurance
Coal & peat for heating
Electricity
Running a car for emergencies and food shopping
If you would like to make a contribution to help Braeview continue to offer a space for practitioners to do retreat please use the donation form at the bottom of the page.
What does it cost?
The cottage and hermitage have modest overheads during summer months due to solar panels and passive solar heating from a conservatory during the long days. However, the long, cold winters (good for retreat) require fuel (coal & peat) plus electricity for heating as well as extra electricity for light which can be costly.
The monthly costs are £500 – 600 a month which includes:
- Council tax
- Insurance
- Coal & peat for heating
- Electricity
- Running a car for emergencies and food shopping
In addition to this we are also raising funds for the one time costs for creating the hermitage so people can do retreat while Paula is staying in the cottage. There is hope for this to be completed by the end of 2019 if enough funds can be raised.
