The Gyuto Monks are well known and well loved across Australia and to some it might appear that there is a huge infrastructure backing them. There is but it comprises a loose assortment of people who meet the maxim – just do it! There is no place for theorizing or complaining – the task is completely self inflicted and there is no pressure on anyone of us to do it if we don’t want to. On this basis, we now have a wonderful cast of solid supporters who work out what’s needed and get on with it.

To complete 10 years of endless touring around the country without a budget has been a precarious but worthwhile challenge. We have incurred no debts and have introduced many many people to the Gyuto Monks and to Gyuto Monastery. We know there are many different types of assistance offered to the monastery and we only hear about some of the hundreds of people who have been inspired to visit India and Tibet and support the Tibetan cause. Gyuto House has acted as a conduit in a relationship between the Gyuto Monks and the Australian people that is quite magical.

Our hope is that this support will continue regardless of us – the monastery will always need help and high on the immediate agenda is solar power, heating, a medical centre and school for the young monks. It is also vital that the traditional rituals, teachings and chanting textual harmonies be preserved in an oral and visual way through film records – there are very few years left to accomplish this as the original masters are now all over 70 years of age.

The Gyuto Tours of Australia will be taking on a new look in the future. It is time to end the relentless touring schedule of the past few years – the mules are wearing out! It now seems time to establish a base where all those who have met the monks across Australia can come and take teachings, have healing pujas done or participate in retreats. Until now we have been reluctant to put energy into permanent bricks and mortar and we are justly proud of our ‘centre without walls’. But the time has come. We envisage a beautiful place from where we may embark on periodic short tours but primarily concentrate on writing and publishing the teachings of the wonderful masters of the past 10 years and most importantly host resident monks from time to time.

We have considered our modest place at Second Valley in South Australia for expansion, this year saw a wonderful waterfront property in Tasmania which was inspiring and as if it was just waiting for us, we are currently trying to work out how to acquire an amazing place in Byron Bay with which the Gyuto Monks have a deep spiritual connection and history – all that is missing is the resources to match the $2million price tag. This is not to say we ‘re attached to having anything but if this work is to continue we are going to have to invest seriously in some lottery tickets!

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