The BIG CelebrationSunday, July 5th, 9:45am. We have been in isolation for quite some time and several of our regular celebration events have been cancelled. And now, there are at least SEVEN reasons to come together to celebrate… 1: Vesak (the main one),2: Songkran (Asian New Year), 3: Khao Pansa (entering the rains retreat), 4: the Full Moon is on the 5th, 5: US Independence day is on the 4th, 6: the Dalai Lama’s birthday is on the 6th and… we are all still alive! with (yes?) 7: covid extinct. These are seven factors of liberation – in the mundane sense. Buddha, Dhamma, Sangha is always our primary focus and comming together as a community in this way to share our common commitment is always a joy.
Annual General MeetingSunday, June 28th – 12:30pm. This is a public meeting and all are welcome to attend; just note that only members can vote (see next item).
MembershipWTBA 2019/20 membership ended on March 31st. Membership is a visible sign of your continuing support of the monastery. It also allows you to vote at the annual general meeting – June 28th, 12:30pm. You can download the membership form and send it to the ‘Secretary, 17 Rakau Grove, Lower Hutt 5019’ or, email to: office@bodhinyanarama.net.nz
It is also available from the link on the news page of the website. We are working on an online form – ready next year!
Samanera OrdinationAnagarika Jet has been with us over a year now and his time with us has been very beneficial on many levels. He is very committed to his monastic life and appreciating the training he is receiving here. He has asked the sangha to give him samanera ordination. We wholeheartedly agreed. There will be a ceremony in about 4 weeks (date to be advised) and you are all welcome to attend that. It has been quite some years since there has been anyone go into the brown robe here at Bodhinyanarama so this is perhaps a sign of change. More on this later.
MonksWith the general disruption of the lockdown all the resident monks will be staying on for the vassa. We need to extend visas for both Ajahn Naen and Venerable Buddhisaro but this should be no problem. There has been interest from other monks to be here for vassa but until international travel is completely open this won’t happen. Lets see what happens as the year unfolds. And, until Ajahn Kusalo’s kuti is finished all the monks’ kutis are full, we have no room. There are thoughts to build another kuti – perhaps two; one in the monks’ zone and one in the hermitage zone.