SongkranWe will celebrate S.E. Asian New year this Sunday, 16th April. Starting at about 9:45 the program will include short meditation, group chanting, rice pindapat, Five Precepts, offering of requisites and – after lunch – Dhamma talk, Sangha paritta chanting and water blessing of laity and all our Buddha rupas (statues). If you have a favourite rupa do bring it along for all of us to bless. All are welcome.
Receipts + MembershipThe end of the financial year is here and the office is working on sending out annual tax receipts. A new system was started a couple of years ago and we hope that all the bugs have been ironed out. The many avenues of donation and data variables make parts of the process quite complicated. We will announce progress in the next update.
March 31st is also the time for membership renewal. You can download the application form and send that in to the: Secretary c/o Bodhinyanarama, 17 Rakau Grove, Stokes Valley.
Sacred RocksAs part of the stupa development Ajahn Kusalo is collecting rocks (stones) from monasteries around the world. These will be interred under the granite moonstone as part of its installation. If you are travelling to any holy or sacred places you could bring back a stone and pass it on to Ajahn. Not too big – airport security might class it as a weapon. There may be places in NZ. The idea is to create a physical hub that networks points of spiritual significance.
Friends of the ForestA group is forming to maintain monastery grounds and gardens with activities ranging from cultivated areas around the dhamma hall to maintaining old and cutting new walking tracks and generally caring for the land. There are many ways this could be done and if you any interest please: email Simon
Stupa ProgressWeather! It has not been very helpful in terms of being dry and quite a few days have seen nothing done. But… what has been done is a delight. The standard of workmanship is high and the (eventual) result will be well worth the wait. We have deliberately not set any deadlines on the stone work or the moonstone. It is better to get it right than just get it done. Many thanks to all those who have made donations. We are well ahead of expenditure. There are new drawings of the (Thai) west side story and even ideas on those have changed. view photos There will be a ‘paint the stupa’ working bee – once the weather clears 🙂