Category: United Kingdom

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Manchester hermit back to “real” life

Ansuman Biswas, who spent 40 days in the Manchester Museum tower as a hermit, is interviewed by BBC News upon his exit (August 5 was his last day there ) and return to “real” life. Excerpt:

A hermit is re-entering society after spending 40 days and 40 nights in Manchester Museum’s Gothic tower.

Ansuman Biswas, 43, from London, chose 40 objects from the museum collection during his isolation, where he contemplated “loss and extinction”.

He posted his thoughts on the items on a blog, as well as practising yoga and meditation for up to five hours a day.

Mr Biswas, an artist, told the BBC it had been a wonderful experience which he hoped to repeat in the future.

“It’s flown by really. I wish I could have another 40 days and 40 nights,” said the hermit.

“There’s so much to do still and I’ve got lots of ideas that I’ve run out of time now to realise.

“Except I could continue to do them in real life, or whatever real life is.”

Includes a one-and-a-half minute video.

URL: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/manchester/8187909.stm
Blog: http://manchesterhermit.wordpress.com

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Liverpool garden hermit

Tatton Gardens, a Liverpool estate, is soliciting for an ornamental hermit for its garden show from July 22-26, 2009, according to an article in the Liverpool Daily. The head gardener, Sam Youd, who holds an uncompromisingly Gothic view of what a hermit should be — but consistent with the 18th- and 19th- century estate holder’s view of eremitism — has indicated his criteria for a garden hermit, along with living in a “grotesque” place and with a skull: “It will take a certain type of person to do justice to the hermits of  the 18th and 19th century,” said Mr Youd. “The Hermit’s Grotto is pretty grotesque, but that reflects the reality of a hermit’s environment.”

Additionally, Mr. Youd insists that the hermit must have:

  • an unkempt natural appearance;
  • love of solitude;
  • vow of silence;
  • facial hair (male or female);
  • overgrown toenails.

The article is entered under “Golf News.” No mention of any of this on the Royal Horticultural Society Tatton Gardens web site (http://www.rhs.org.uk/whatson/shows/tattonpark2009/).

URL: http://www.liverpooldailypost.co.uk/golf/golf-news/2009/07/01/wanted-hairy-hermit-for-tatton-flower-show-cave-92534-24038802/

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40-day museum hermit

Ansuman Biswas has been selected by the Manchester (UK) Museum as its “hermit” in residence for a 40-day period, June 27 to August 5. Buswas will be alone and in silence in the Museum’s tower, functioning as “living art” among the 4+ million pieces in the collection of the Museum.

A museum spokeswoman said: “By documenting his existence in isolation through blogging and webcam we hope that he will become the museum’s ultimate exhibit.”

URLs:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/manchester/8069915.stm
http://www.artdaily.org/index.asp?int_sec=2&int_new=31096

URL of the Manchester Museum hermit’s blog: http://manchesterhermit.wordpress.com/

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Tenzin Palmo today

A Guardian interview of Tenzin Palmo, the English-born Buddhist nun in Tibetan tradition. The colorful title is “I Spent Twelve Years in a Cave.” Her story is an enduring (and endearing) one, made familiar in the biography Path in the Snow, by Vicki Mackenzie. Tenzin Palmo founded the Dongyo Datsal Ling Nunnery, which is the focus of her website.

URL: http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/2009/may/15/buddhist-retreat-religion-first-person

Brought to our attention by a friend of Hermitary.

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Appeal of silence

An article in the Independent titled “Holidays: the Appeal of Silence” summarizes the growing interest in retreat settings:

Monasteries and convents are reporting a surge in enquiries for their “tester” long weekends, where spiritually-hungry visitors can sample a life of silence. Secular retreat centres are also booming. And on the internet, would-be hermits can now book solitude by the week.

Mentions Father Cyril, novice master of the Carthusian St. Hugh’s Charterhouse in England and Canadian Anglican priest Cynthia Bourgeault.

URL: http://www.independent.co.uk/travel/uk/holidays-the-appeal-of-silence-1631232.html