Tan Khemako answers questions from the lay community at Tisarana on the subject of dependent origination. He contrasts the three lifetime and single lifetime versions from the commentary, and explains how to develop awareness so as to break this cycle of dependence.
(Q&A recorded at Tisarana on 6 December 2017. Duration 59:23)… Read the rest
We are pleased to announce that Ajahn Sucitto will be invited to offer the Dhamma talk during our afternoon meditation session this Saturday, September 15 starting at 1:30pm. All are welcome.
(Photo from Wikimedia Commons)
Ajahn Sucitto ordained as a Buddhist monk in Thailand in 1976 and later trained under Luang Por Sumedho in Britain starting in 1978. He helped establish many of the western Ajahn Chah branch monasteries in Europe including Cittaviveka (Chithurst) Buddhist Monastery, Harnham Buddhist Monastery and Amaravati Buddhist Monastery. Ajahn Sucitto was the abbot of Cittaviveka Buddhist Monastery from 1992 through 2014. He is well-known throughout the Buddhist world for his teachings and writings.
To learn more Ajahn Sucitto, please visit the following links:
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Tisarana Buddhist Monastery is looking for sincere, mature Dhamma practitioners to volunteer as staff for part or all of our upcoming Winter Retreat (Jan 01 – Mar 31).
The crew for the retreat usually consists of 5-6 people who run the critical functions of the monastery on a shared rotating basis of daily chores interspersed with regular time off. Crew members should expect to work between 2-4 hours daily, with occasional longer work days as circumstances require.
Potential candidates should be willing and able to perform all duties of the retreat. These include –
Responsibilities will also include attending all morning and evening pujas and upholding the Eight Precepts.
In return the Winter Retreat staffers will receive an opportunity to practise the Dhamma in a quiet, beautiful and inspiring monastic setting and gain the satisfaction and merit of providing support for monastics and fellow crew members undertaking this period of more intense practise.… Read the rest
Tan Khemako has tea with the community and begins by talking about his recent trip to Israel that he went on with some of his family members to tour some of the holy sights in that area. He describes how the people living in that area of the world have very little knowledge of Buddhism or what a Buddhist monk is; so the sight of a bald man walking around in orange robes is an unusual thing to see. But people were none the less very curious and would occasionally approach him and ask him who he was and why he dressed the way he did, which he would kindly explain.
Later on in the discussion, Venerable Khemako was asked to talk a little about his background and how he got interested in Buddhism and the monastic life. He goes into detail about some of the places he traveled to, the people he met, and teachers that inspired him along the way.
(Q&A recorded at Tisarana on 18 May 2018. Duration 1:13:14)… Read the rest
Ajahn Viradhammo shares some reflections on going beyond pleasure and pain, the past and the future. The usual course of existence is manipulating phenomena in order maximize pleasure and minimize pain. Ajahn Viradhammo encourages us to apply our energies to put our attention on the simple reality, to dwell in non-preoccupation, to free our selves from suffering. (Talk recorded at Tisarana on 4 August 2018. Duration 29:14)… Read the rest
Tan Khemako shares a guided meditation on scanning through the parts of the body.
(Guided meditation recorded at Tisarana on 9 December 2017. Duration 27:54)… Read the rest
Two weeks ago, the monks from Tisarana Buddhist Monastery have started alms rounds in the Barrhaven suburban neighbourhood of Ottawa, Ontario.
The above photos were from Sunday, August 12, 2018.
For over 2,600 years, Buddhist monastics have traditionally went on daily alms round (piṇḍapāta) to collect food. The Buddha established this practice to allow his monastic disciples to obtain their daily sustenance through the generosity of lay people. The tradition continues in many traditional Buddhist countries such as Thailand, Burma and Sri Lanka. The forest masters of Thailand, include Ajahn Chah, made alms round a centerpiece of the daily monastic schedule.
Since the late ’70s, as monasteries in the Ajahn Chah tradition became established in the west. There was strong interest in keeping the alms round tradition alive. In many ways, maintaining this alms round tradition in new cultures has been successful. For example, the monks at the Pacific Hermitage, located in southern Washington, go on alms every day to the nearby town of White Salmon. The monks at Temple Forest Monastery, located in New Hampshire, go on alms round twice per week and the monks at Abhayagiri, located in northern California, go on alms round once per week.… Read the rest
After retiring from an academic career, beginning in 2001, Ajahn Pavaro’s early, formative monastic training took place with Ajahn Sona at Sitavana Forest Monastery in BC. He spent his 7th year as a Bhikkhu with his preceptor, Luang Por Pasanno, and the Sangha at Abhayagiri. Late in 2010 he moved to Thailand, where the majority of the next 9 years were spent with Ajahn Achalo at Anandagiri Monastery in Petchabun. During this time he benefitted from periods of practice at Wat Pah Nanachat and from opportunities to receive teachings from leading elders of the Wat Nong Pah Pong Sangha, including Luang Por Liam and Tan Ajahn Anan. In June 2020 he was welcomed by Luang Por Viradhammo to Tisarana, where he now resides.
At 12:30pm on Sunday, September 16, 2018, Sāmaṇeras Amarasiri and Sirimedho will take full ordination (Upasampadā) and become bhikkhus under the preceptorship of Luang Por Vīradhammo. All are welcome to attend.
There will be a meal offering that day at 11:00 am. Shortly after the meal offering and cleanup, the ordination ceremony will start. Therefore, please plan to be at the monastery by 12:30pm.
The ceremony will be followed by a Dhamma talk given by Ajahn Vīradhammo. This will all take place in our large outdoor tent at the monastery. In addition to the tent, canopies will be available in case there is a large attendance.
For questions and other inquiries, please contact us by using our contact form.… Read the rest
Mindfulness is now a ubiquitous buzzword that is often used to just refer to being aware. In truth, when cultivated intensively, it becomes a real power and it is present in any wholesome state. He also answers some questions and at the end of the talk. (Talk recorded at Tisarana on 28 July 2018. Duration 41:04)… Read the rest
