“When you are a Spiritual Program Coordinator (SPC), you don’t have much time to yourself. It’s hard even to do a retreat – instead you have to organize it, make sure it runs smoothly. On the other hand”, says Claire over a delicious almond croissant, “the merit you create by working for a Dharma centre is fantastic. It’s a credit card to future lives.

I’ve just come back from Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s teachings in Singapore (he was radiant by the way!). He emphasized very strongly the value of working for a Dharma centre.”

Claire has just completed her two-year term as SPC at Hayagriva Buddhist Centre but it’s not the first time she has helped in this critical role. Lama Zopa asked her to be SPC at Hayagriva way back in 1995 and she continued till 2001 – an amazing stint in this demanding job. Nowadays, the SPC is invited by the Resident Teacher and the Director, but the names are still sent to Lama Zopa for checking. “Now there’s even a 14-point list of the qualities an SPC is supposed to have. I had one of them: how to run a puja! But with people like Cindy Armstrong around, the admin and computing skills could be handled by others.”

“I was really happy that Ven Dondrub asked me to be SPC as I have great respect for him. I know he is 100% behind the Centre and that he gives authentic teachings from a western point of view with relevance and humour. We are so lucky at Hayagriva. Of course as SPC, you have to meet with the teacher and nut out the program. This was a pleasure for me. My glass is more half empty than Ven Dondrub’s! Ah, we had some good laughs.”

Claire says that probably the highlight of her term as SPC was the visit of Lama Zopa to our Centre. “It went so well, we had good attendances, and thanks to the efforts of many people, not least Jarka Kubalcik and Pat Moss, who were a great help to me, the gompa looked beautiful. You know, it’s so important that the Centre is closely linked to Lama Zopa. The fact that Ven Dondrub is one of his students really helps. Centres without that close connection can fall apart.” Claire says that she feels really happy when she hears students at the teachings ask searching questions. “It’s good to see them moving forward in the Dharma.”

Our morning tea in Claire and Peter’s fine old 1890’s North Fremantle “guest house” is drawing to a close. What next, Claire, I ask? “ I will set up the two Guru Pujas and the Yamantaka Self-initiation each month. Lama Zopa says these are very important. And my wish is that Hayagriva gets the opportunity to do Highest Yoga Tantra with Rinpoche or one of his teachers.”