Visit from a Buddhist

Faith

This term, Year 12 students listened to Joyce Miller, who shared her beliefs in Buddhism. Joyce is connected to Aruna Ratanagiri, a Theravada Buddhist monastery in Northumberland, influenced by traditions from Burma, Sri Lanka, and Thailand. The monastery emphasises community practice balanced with solitude, focusing on mutual support along spiritual paths. Joyce described daily life at the monastery, where monks meditate, study, and work quietly, living simply and relying on lay people for food and essentials. Lay people offer generosity, while monks provide spiritual guidance. Students asked questions about the afterlife, Joyce’s choice of Buddhism, and meditation’s impact on the ego. Joyce’s visit inspired students, offering new perspectives on living and thinking, and encouraging reflection on her experiences and Buddhist teachings.