Samanera OrdinationSunday, July 19th, 1:00pm. After over a year with us as an anagarika Jet will take pappaja (going forth as a samanera); transitioning from white into the brown robe. This is a very auspicious event and of significance for the monastery as, while there have been a few anagarikas coming and going over the last few years, there has not been the interest or commitment to take the next step. Jet will become Samanera Appamado – the earnest, diligent one.The name is both descriptive – he is very diligent with his duties – and aspirative – in that he needs to direct and maintain that energy in relation to dhamma. He will spend at least a year as a samanera and then, all things being in balance, will take higher ordination as a bhikkkhu. One step at a time! You are all welcome to join us for the ceremony.
The BIG GatheringWhat joyful and inspiring day it was. With 4 other dhamma centers having celebrations on the same day the planned ‘BIG’ was not quite so big. Even so there were at least a couple of hundred people. We all agreed, just as we started, that is was jolly cold and that we could all probably fit inside. It was a quick and nimble matter of “many hands make doors drop” and then a matter of getting everyone squeezed into the hall. It was very cosy – and WaRm..! Even allowing for the other centers having an event we had two visiting monastics; Bhante Jinalankara (from Dhamma Gavesi) and Bhikkhuni Abhisamma (from Thien Thai). Many thanks to you all for your support. And thanks to those who helped with setting up and especially to those who stayed behind to help clean up. There are a few photos of that day.
KathinaHopefully we can avoid a similar overlap with the other centers for our respective kathinas? We are looking at Sunday, 11th October. Mark it in your diary. We are fortunate again to have a formal sangha (4 or more monks) so this will be an official kathina with the traditional offering of forest cloth to the community. You are all welcome.
VassaWe have just finished a week of group meditation and are having a few days of unscheduled practice. We will then begin a rotation of self-retreats with all residents having the opportunity to spend time in solitude. This means that you may not see us all together when you come. Generally the monks prefer to eat alone and don’t join us for the anumodana but offer their blessings individually. The hermitage will get regular use and there will be further investigation and refinement of plans to build *something more* up there. Pujas generally and Sunday evenings will continue as usual as will the monthly meditation workshop. The vassa is a very special time for the monastery but, as through the lockdown, we try to keep everything as open and available as we can. Feel free to come by anytime; meditate in the hall, just sit quietly with a cup of tea, go for a walk, worship at the stupa… there are many possibilities to incline the heart and mind to peace.