I am very pleased that the ‘Robert matters’ have finally been resolved. From what we have been experiencing here at Nan Hua Temple in recent months I am also very glad that Emoyeni is at least practicing some of that generosity, and caring and kindness that Buddhism always alludes to.

Hopefully Robert will from here on make every effort to maintain a clean slate. Having also just recently assisted somebody who has been using crack, among other things, for a lengthy period, and who was also engaged on a more self-destructive escapade than by necessarily harming others, I know how frustrating it is when they become consumed by their habit.

But then again, having been a substance abuser myself, I know how difficult it is to “stay away” from the “easy way out”. In this particular instance the person was also in an extremely abusive (physically, mentally, psychologically, emotionally) relationship, where they were basically being ‘kept’ by a Nigerian, and consequently there is also that ‘attachment’ that needs to be broken. But so far, second time round, they are now almost four weeks ‘clean’, and more importantly alive and safe.

Keep up the good work that Emoyeni is doing, and may you have many more generous sponsors supporting a very worthy retreat centre.