Dana RosterAunty Suan is preparing the meal-dana roster for next year. If you would like to offer dana at any specific time please contact her. This could be just for one day of the year, or twice a year, or monthly or weekly… there are any number of options available. Please make your interest known to Aunty. You can see plans and more detail for both these projects on the future page
Monk RetreatsFour monks are on self-retreat – two weeks each – and the remainging three sangha will swap with them this coming uposatha. This is part of the long-term hermitage plan where the thought is that monks can be on retreat for extended periods – a month or more… The solitude is valued and is both peaceful and fruitful. But people ask “where are the monks?” They come and go and keeping the website up to date often lags behind the movement. The current community is now fully visible here – and… as all things do, this too will change 🙂 We are working on a community display board in the dana sala and that will generally be better maintained so you can see who is resident.
Monastery PopulationMany thanks to those who have shared their thoughts on supporting a larger monastery population. The general feeling seems to be fine with more people living here at Bodhinyanarama. NZ borders are still closed so planned incoming is still uncertain. Ajahns Sudhiro and Thitasippo will leave at the end of January. There is definite interest from several people to move here to live but… we will see.
Abhisama BhikkuniAyya Abhisama ordained as a bhikkuni in Sri Lanka about four years ago having spent much of her earlier life developing her spiritual practices in various contexts. She will move to Bodhinyanarama early next month.
New Year RetreatSaturday December 26th to Sunday January 3rd. Accommodation is full but there are always cancellations so we have a waiting list. Feel free to put you name on that list using the guest booking form – put ‘NY Retreat’ in the comments box.
Work ProjectsNew Kuti:
The site is now quite clear with the access track well formed and graveled. Now it is mostly a matter of getting building material on site – and building it. photos
Vihara:
The concrete retaining wall and floor slab of the basement are done. Ajahn Kusalo now has a small, temporary office there. Work is well underway on the new kuti and library on the mid-level with the side-entrance deck done and the front wall removed and ready for rebuilding. New, double-glazed windows are on site. photos
Monks S.Is. TudongAjahns Sudhiro and Thitasippo spent a couple of weeks in the South Island travelling a large part of the Way with three lay friends in a camper van. A full report would be quite long (and in Thai 🙂 so here are a few photos
Kuti ToursThere have been several enquiries about all the renovations and extensions at the monastery so we thought that after the new year’s day dana there could be a a tour of some of the kutis and the vihara.