Happy New YearIt has been a while since the last update and now we are well into a new year. We hope that all is going well for you, current weather excepted, and that it is indeed proving to be a happy year. The first part of the year will be very busy at Bodhinyanarama with an unprecedented number of monks visiting and even a few staying – details below. The New Year retreat went very well with thanks to Ajahn Pasada.
Ajahns Sucitto & JutindharoSome of you have likely already met Ajahn Jutindharo, the abbot of Devon monastery, UK. He has been here for about a month now and we are very much enjoying his presence and contribution to our daily life. We include Ajahn Sucitto in this notice, not just because they are both English, but because they are both here at the same time.
Ajahn Sucitto has been staying at Vimutti monastery in Auckland since January and will arrive at Bodhinyanarama on the 27th of February – staying until the 7th of March when both he an Ajahn Jutindharo will head back to Auckland.
- Ajahn Sucitto will give a public talk at the monastery on Sunday the 5th starting at 6pm.
- He will also give a talk on Wednesday evening.
- Ajahn will also be available after the meal on most days for questions and dhamma discussion.Both Ajahns will depart on the 7th March.
BruceWe will have a ceremony to mark Bruce’s 100 day anniversary on Sunday the 5th of March. This will be in conjunction with the monastery meal offering with the scattering of his ashes around the kuti that he built and lived in at about 12:30. All are welcome.
Luang Por LiemWe are very happy to announce the visit of Luang Por Liem to Bodhinyanarama along with two other monks from Thailand. He will be staying here from the 19th to the 24th of March. The 19th is a Sunday and he arrives, from Auckland, at 09:05
We are planning that he will be able to join us for the meal (about 10:30) and to give a dhamma reflection after the meal (about 12:30). We also aim that he will join us for our usual Sunday evening programme; starting at 6pm. Sunday 19th March.
Ajahn Nyandipo, a senior (Kiwi) monk from Adelaide, will also be staying with us as Luang Por’s translator. There is nothing in line for the rest of the week at this stage but we can send a news snippet as details evolve. We imagine most meals will be here at the monastery and this is always a good time to come; to pay respects and possibly join any dhamma discussions. Luang Por, a long term disciple and successor of Ajahn Chah, has been a monk for over 60 years and has led the community at Wat Pah Pong for many of those years. His dhamma teachings and influence has spread throughout the world and we are very grateful that he is taking the time to visit us in New Zealand.
We encourage you to come (especially Sunday 19th March) and benefit from his time here at Bodhinyanarama.
VW VanFinally, at long last… our ‘wunderbares wagen ist angekommen’. Yes, for our non-German reading readers, our wonderful van has arrived. A hybrid with enough buttons and touch screen features to confuse anyone over 25 years old. So far it is indeed ‘wunderbares.’ Its arrival is quite timely in relation to Luang Por Liem’s visit.
City MeditationAjahn Kusalacitto has survived India and returned safely. He leads these meetings on the third Thursday of every month. Short chanting, meditation instruction, meditation, dhamma talk, discussion. Business Center, Ground floor, Block 6, Clyde Quay Wharf, Te Aro – 6-8pm.
Sangha MovesAs well as the visits of Ajahns Sucitto, Jutindharo and Liem we will have Luang Por Pasanno with us in April (more on that later). We have had Ajahn Sudhammo here for a couple of weeks renewing his Oz visa. Venerable Kavidhaja arrives tomorrow. He is on a 90 day visa and we will be considering extending this. We now have a confirmed date for Ajahn Nandiyo’s arrival; May 1st. Ajahn Pasada is on tudong in the South Island and is expected back in a few days. There are other monks working toward coming but details are still quite variable. The heart of a monastery is its sangha and our seems to be very alive. Sadhu.
VesakIt is quite some time off but we have set a date so thought to let you know.
Vesak this year at Bodhinyanarama will be on Sunday the 28th of May. It is a ‘moon leap year’ so the actual full moon of Vesak is even later. Don’t be confused by the astronomical, Western calendar. 28th of May is our day for celebrating Vesak.