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In My Teacher’s Footsteps

The podcast, Where Are You Going, has a new audio Buddhist pilgrimage book which you can listen to in weekly instalments. Over this winter Nick Scott will be reading In My Teacher’s Footsteps, the account of how Ajahn Amaro, he and four others followed Luang Poh Sumedho to Mount Kailash in Tibet.

You can start listening here: https://whereareyougoing.podbean.com/

No pilgrimage is harder or more ancient than the journey up and over the Himalayan defile to circle Mount Kailash in Tibet. Ajahn Sumedho wanted to do it as a young American in 1950’s California, but only got the opportunity when he was a famous Buddhist monk, aged 60. Nick Scott trained him in European mountains and here recounts his teacher’s attempts, the dire results, and Nick’s own subsequent pilgrimage to the Holy Mountain, with Ajahn Amaro, which nearly killed him. This is a book about adversity, how to face it and what can be gained. But it’s more than that. It’s about the whole journey: life and how to use it, and its difficulties, to find freedom from suffering.… Read the rest

2021 Kathina Announcement

This year’s monastic Rains Retreat, marking another ‘year in the robes’ for Bhikkhus at Tisarana Buddhist Monastery, will end on October 21st. Traditionally, what follows is a month-long period during which a ‘Kathina cloth’ may be offered by lay supporters. This has long been a beloved event in Buddhist cultures, one arranged in advance by the donors. On the day it is offered, some of this cloth is dyed and sewn by the resident Sangha, and presented to one of the monks before the following dawn.

For many reasons – both ancient and altogether contemporary – Kathina is a truly auspicious day of the annual monastic calendar, and one in which gratitude and blessings abound.

This year’s Kathina is being offered by the Royal Thai Embassy, Ottawa, on October 31st.

Covid protocols currently in place for outdoor public gatherings are restricted to 25 people. Therefore our formal Kathina ceremony on the 31st  will be restricted to the Embassy staff and their families. 

However, in what remains of the Kathina month (until Nov 21, 2021), groups of 25 people or less are invited to join the Tisarana community for the meal and to make offerings if they wish. Those seeking to do so are requested to please email the Tisarana Office in advance, to ensure that groups don’t exceed the maximum number.… Read the rest

OBS Retreat 2021 | day 04 Session 01 | Luang Por Viradhammo

The session begins with a reflection on how to bring spirituality into the mundane. Luang Por reflects on Ajahn Chah’s teachings. Which somehow brought the spiritual into the mundane.
This is followed by a guided meditation.
For more teachings, please visit : https://tisarana.ca/teachings-audio/

… Read the rest

OBS Retreat 2021 | Day 03 Session 01 | Luang Por Viradhammo

The session begins with a reflection followed by a guided meditation. Luang Por reflects on Dukkha or suffering. He makes the distinction between the unavoidable Dukkha that comes from existing in a conditioned realm, and the dukkha that comes from mental proliferation. He references the 2nd noble truth, or to know Dukkha. The crux of the teaching is to go beyond Dukkha, to go beyond the conditioned. To the unconditioned or the end of Dukkha.

For more teachings, please visit : https://tisarana.ca/teachings-audio/

… Read the rest

Zoom Pa Bah Ceremony | Luang Por Viradhammo | 08 Oct 21

This session covers a zoom Pa-Bah ceremony, or the offering of cloth ceremony.
The session begins with the Pa Bah. This is followed by a Dharma talk, where Luang Por speaks of “Paths”. As we develop our practice we cultivate paths, through positive and negative outcomes, the path becomes refined through a process of discernment. One important factor on the path, is that of the spiritual friend. Or Kalyanamitta.
Luang Por references the Sigalovada Sutta (https://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/dn/dn.31.0.nara.html).
as a guide to becoming and recognising the Spiritual friend (Kalayanmitta).

For more teachings, please visit : https://tisarana.ca/teachings-audio/

… Read the rest

OBS Retreat 2021 | Day 02 Session 04 | Luang Por Viradhammo

In this Dhamma talk, Luang Por speaks of Bhakti or devotion. Devotion as a practice that is about the opening of the heart. Practising Metta, as acceptance rather than as a “prayer”. Each may have its place. But in this instance, Metta as open acceptance of the pleasant and the unpleasant without resistance, or craving. Meditation practice that is centred around the heart.

For more teachings, please visit : https://tisarana.ca/teachings-audio/

… Read the rest

OBS Retreat 2021 | Day 02 Session 03 | Luang Por Viradhammo

In this session Luang Por speaks of approaching the practice with curiosity. Seeing which technique worked best at the time, and for the individual. The key is not to take any technique as dogma. But to see what helps the mind settle into awareness best.
The session is followed by a guided meditation.
For more teachings, please visit : https://tisarana.ca/teachings-audio/

… Read the rest