From Motown to monks

By Laura Joint
BBC Devon

Roger Upright (back row) with the monks he stayed with for two weeks in India

Roger Upright's life changed forever the day he wandered - purely out of interest - into a monastery near his home at the time in Bedfordshire.

Roger, who lives in Seaton in East Devon, says his conversion to Buddhism was a far cry from the flash of lighting feeling experienced by others.

"It happened by accident," he told BBC Devon. "I used to drive past this Japanese monastery and was intrigued.

"So I wandered in one day and felt completely at home.

"It was in Milton Keynes, of all places. It changed my life and I have never looked back."

That was 30 years ago, and the former manager at Motown Records now harbours hope of establishing a Tibetan Buddhist monastery in Devon.

Roger had to get used to 5am starts while at the monastery

In autumn 2009, Roger spent two weeks living and working with the monks at a Tibetan Buddhist monastery in Dhera Dun, Northern India.

It followed a visit to Devon earlier in 2009 from leading members of the monastery.

"I hosted a visit from some of the monks in May," said Roger. "We had the Abbot and Ceremonial Master over here. They stayed with us for a few days, giving teachings, and then at the end of their visit they invited us over."

There is a remarkable story behind the Gongkar Choede monastery in Dhera Dun.

It was established in 2003 by a group who had fled Tibet via the Himalayas. It was a treacherous journey for some, who were caught in snow storms but managed to make it into India.

"The monastery is only about 40 miles from the border," said Roger. "But it wasn't an easy journey."

During his fortnight at the monastery, Roger lived just like the monks there: "I was getting up at 5 o'clock to the sound of a bell. We'd have breakfast and then prayer time was 6-7.30 in the morning and also 6-7.30 in the evening.

"The monks would start their studying at 9am and wouldn't finish until 9pm. There are about 40 to 45 monks aged from six-years-old to 40-years-old. They're learning to read and write Tibetan, learning English and Hindi, and as they get older they learn philosophy."

Some of the younger monks taking time off from their studies

For Roger, being a practising Tibetan Buddhist is an attitude of mind: "It's about me being aware and alive to what's happening around me. It's about caring. The central core of Tibetan Buddhism is trying to cultivate a good heart and live well, and to be understanding of other people.

"We all make mistakes, but those are the ethics I try to live by - I try to help people where I can."

Another kind of soul

Roger, 66, is now retired but his final job was at the charity, Aid Foundation.

But for much of his career he was a manager at the London office of Motown Records: "I met The Jacksons, Diana Ross, Lionel Richie, Four Tops, Temptations, Commodores.

"I met all the big names," said Roger.

Establishing a monastery seems a million miles away from that world but it's the next thing on Roger's agenda.

"I'd be delighted to go back to Dhera Dun, and they would also be delighted to come back here and set up a Tibetan Buddhist monastery in the South West.

"What has happened elsewhere is that people have donated a building which can be used and that's what we're looking for. It could be an old barn or building or even a part of a building.

"If we could find such a place in Devon, that would be great."