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Ajahn Viradhammo – Ottawa Buddhist Society Retreat (2018)

As the Tisarana community begins its Winter Retreat for 2019, we aware of others in the wider lay community that have the time and interest to devote themselves to more formal meditation practice.

In light of this, we would like to share the following recordings that were recently given during a retreat at the Ottawa Buddhist Society. The retreat was lead by Ajahn Viradhammo and was held on September 21-28, 2018 at the Galilee Centre.

  1. 21 Sep. – Introduction and Precepts
  2. 22 Sep. 6:00 AM – Guided Meditation
  3. 22 Sep. 8:30 AM – Reflections
  4. 22 Sep. 1:30 PM – Reflections
  5. 22 Sep. 7:00 PM – Dhamma Talk
  6. 23 Sep. 6:00 AM – Guided Meditation
  7. 23 Sep. 8:30 AM – Reflections
  8. 23 Sep. 9:00 AM – Guided Meditation
  9. 23 Sep. 1:30 PM – Reflections
  10. 23 Sep. 2:00 PM – Guided Meditation
  11. 23 Sep. 7:00 PM – Dhamma Talk
  12. 24 Sep. 8:30 AM – Reflections
  13. 24 Sep. 1:30 PM – Reflections
  14. 24 Sep. 7:00 PM – Dhamma Talk
  15. 25 Sep. 8:30 AM – Reflections
  16. 25 Sep. 1:30 PM – Reflections
  17. 25 Sep. 7:45 PM – Dhamma Talk
  18. 26 Sep. 8:30 AM – Reflections
  19. 26 Sep. 1:30 PM – Reflections
  20. 26 Sep. 7:45 PM – Dhamma Talk
  21. 27 Sep.
… Read the rest

Dhamma Orientation

In response to a large gathering following the Saturday afternoon program, Ajahn Sucitto discusses the characteristic of not self, the connection of mind and body, and the the ability to recollect your own virtues in order to calm the mind. He encourages us to be alert and reposed, restful but alert. (Q&A recorded at Tisarana on 15 September 2018. Duration 28:29)… Read the rest

You’re on Death Row, You Know

Ajahn Sucitto reflects on the fragility of life, and encourages a Saturday afternoon gathering at Tisarana to cultivate the only real refuge, awareness. He leads a guided meditation of body-based mindfulness using the sitting, standing and walking postures. He also responds to questions about the inner tyrant and on how to develop kindness to oneself. (Guided meditation recorded at Tisarana on 15 September 2018. Duration 2:04:53)… Read the rest

Entering Winter Retreat for 2019…

Starting on 1 January 2019, The Tisarana community will enter the three-month Winter Retreat. Please be aware that the community will be practicing noble silence. As such, talking and conversations with the monastics and retreat crew will be limited.

In addition, until 31 March, Tisarana monastery will not be hosting overnight guests. However, the monastery will continue to be open to day-visitors.

Also, our usual Saturday afternoon program will be suspended and will resume in the spring when the retreat is over. We will continue to offer a Dhamma talk as usual on Lunar Observance evenings starting at 7:00PM. Please consult our calendar for specific dates.

We wish thank all of our supporters for this wonderful opportunity to deeply cultivate formal practice.… Read the rest

Tisarana Welcomes the New Year (2019)

Come celebrate New Year’s Eve at Tisarana.

On Monday, December 31st, we will be holding a special puja starting at 7:00pm, which will include chanting, meditation and a Dhamma talk. Following the evening puja, there will be a relaxed get-together on our new property to greet the New Year.… Read the rest

The Eight Worldly Winds

Tan Khemako explains how suffering as a result of praise and blame, pleasure and pain, fame and obscurity, and wealth and poverty, the Eight Worldly Winds, is entirely optional. He shows that the key is learning to let go of the mind’s tendency for grasping by developing wise reflection in order to see things as they really are. (Talk recorded at Tisarana on 30 November 2018. Duration 33:38)… Read the rest

New Year’s message from Ajahn Viradhammo

Dear friends,
It is the 22nd of December and I am at a monastery near the city of Mae Hong Son in Northern Thailand. At breakfast this morning the temperature was 19C, that’s plus, and the birds were singing their hearts out. I’m here at this forest monastery, 50km from Burma, at the invitation of Ajahn Cagino, the Dhammagiri foundation and Dhamma friends from Singapore who support this monastery and often come to visit. This evening we shall begin a 7-day retreat. 


Among our forest monasteries, Ajahn Cagino has created a unique space for the practice of wisdom and compassion. It is a forest monastery, an orphanage and retreat centre set among rural villages and extensive forests. Some 12 years ago Ajahn Cagino was walking tudong in this area and came across an orphaned boy. Must do something. He contacted his sister in Malaysia  who organised funds for this boy to be cared for. On subsequent visits Ajahn Cagino came across more kids in need so supporters bought a house, people were employed, volunteers gave their time and so it grew.

The lower part of the monastery has 60 children in residence, the upper part for monks has 20 bhikkhus, many visiting from Wat Pah Pong who have just returned from tudong.… Read the rest

You Sit in the Fire

Ajahn Viradhammo explores the difference between awakening to the various emotions that arise and in seeing them from a perspective of idealism. By letting go of idealism and simply being with any type of mind state, even states like anger and self-criticism can be known with compassion and a sense that they all belong. (Talk recorded at Tisarana on 17 October 2018. Duration 37:37)… Read the rest

Stop

Ajahn Viradhammo expounds the benefit of learning how to stop when we come to a difficult experience, and just be with the full knowing of that reality, instead of looking for some kind of distraction. By repeatedly practising this way, he shows that this is the path to liberation. (Talk recorded at Tisarana on 9 October 2018. Duration 31:43)… Read the rest

Renewal

In one of the many topics talked about during a discussion with lay guests, Ajahn Viradhammo gives some history on how the Ajahn Chah tradition came into existence and developed into one of the most successful traditions from Thailand. He mentions some of the problems of how Buddhism was being practiced, namely being mixed with other beliefs. This led to a necessary renewal which meant going against the way people practiced Buddhism. (Q&A recorded at Tisarana on 20 August 2018. Duration 1:07:56)… Read the rest