News Updates, Page 11

On August 18, 2018, Steve Saslav, the former Ajahn Santacitto, passed away. The Tisarana community would like to extends its thoughts and good wishes to everybody that knew him, including his family, friends and fellow practitioners.

From Ajahn Amaro and the Amaravati Community:

On the morning of Saturday the 18th of August, 2018, Steve Saslav, the former Ajahn Santacitto, passed away peacefully in his home in Chichester. He was one of the very first Western monks to train with Ajahn Chah, having first taken robes in 1971. He was part of the founding monastic group of Amaravati in the ‘80s and was the very first Amaravati Librarian. The last years of his monastic life were spent as the abbot of Hartridge Buddhist Monastery, in Devon.

He was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in May of last year and dealt with its relentless progress with great patience and good-heartedness right until the very end, attending at least three retreats at Amaravati during these final months, including a 10-day one in June of this year.

– https://www.amaravati.org/funeral-at-amaravati-for-stephen-santacitto-saslav/… Read the rest

Tisarana Monastery is happy to announce that the purchasing of the new property at 548 Pike Lake Rt. 17A is complete. The agreement was finalized on June 15, 2018. As we shared last February, the bordering property includes 59 acres of forest similar to Tisarana and has a small stretch of access to Pike Lake.

The costs of the property were donated by disciples of Luang Por Ganhah of Wat Pah Subthawee Dhammaram in Thailand, as well as disciples of Ajahn Ñānadhammo of Wat Pah Rattanawan in Thailand. Several others also made generous donations to make this purchase possible. From the Saṅgha and the extended lay community at Tisarana, we offer our sincere gratitude for this maha-dāna.

The following photos were taken during a blessing ceremony with the Tisarana community in early July 2018, shortly following Luang Por Viradhammo’s return from his travels to the west coast.

Anumodana for all those who helped in this acquisition of this beautiful property.… Read the rest

Ajahn Punnadhammo, abbot of Arrow River Monastery near Thunder Bay, is in need of a new steward.

From Ajahn Punna:

On April 28 we are going to ordain a young man, James Koskela, as a samenera. While this is a joyous occasion, it does raise a practical issue. James has been serving long term as our steward (driver and cook) and after taking the samenera vows he won’t be able to fulfill those duties (especially shopping). This leaves us in need of a steward. We did have someone lined up for the position, but it didn’t work out. So we are suddenly short handed.

If you know anyone who might be interested, or can spread the word, please point them in this direction. More information about Arrow River and stewardship can be found here – http://arrowriver.ca/visit/visitPage.html

The person acting as steward should have a valid driver’s license and be willing to make at least a two month commitment, preferably longer.

Thanks.

Ajahn Amaro, abbot of the Amaravati Buddhist Monastery in southern England, is coming on May 10-20, 2018 to reside at Tisarana and during that time he will be offering several teachings.

Scheduled events:

12 May, Sat: Meditaion and public talk by Ajahn Amaro at Tisarana, 1:30 – 3:00PM
13 May, Sun: Afternoon meditation and Dhamma Talk with Ajahn Amaro at Sati Saraniya

• • 1:30 – 4:30 pm – meditation, Dhamma talk and Q&A.

19 May, Sat: Vesak Day-long with Ajahn Amaro at Tisarana

• • 9:30 – 11:00 meditation & reflections
    11:15 – 12:30 – Meal / dana (Please contribute)
    1:30 – 5:00 Meditation & teachings
    5:00 – Tea in the Sala with Ajahn Amaro

20 May, Sun: Vesak Celebration. Special guest: Ajahn Amaro

• • • 10:30 Precepts:
      11:00 Rice pindapat /dana /meal
      1:30-ish: Dhamma talk from Ajahn Amaro

About Ajahn Amaro:

One of the direct Western disciples of Ajahn Chah and currently the abbot of Amaravati monastery in the UK. Ajahn Amaro founded Abhayagiri monastery in California and was co-abbot there with Ajahn Pasanno for 14 years, is author of several books on Buddhism, and is a wonderful teacher and friend of Tisarana. Read a more complete biography for Ajahn Amaro here.… Read the rest

An Invitation to Gratitude to Parents Day (From Sati Saraniya)

– April 22, 2018, co-led by monastics from Tisarana Buddhist Monastery & Sati Saraniya Hermitage Time & Venue: 10-2:30 Sati Saraniya Hermitage

Please save a special date in your calendar: April 22, 2018. We are planning to host a Gratitude to Parents Day at Sati Saraniya Hermitage. In honouring our parents on this day, we will be joined by Ajahn Viradhammo and members of the Tisarana community, sharing together in chanting, a traditional dana meal and spiritual food in the form of a Dhamma talk. The programme will be something like this:

10:15 am Rice pindapat & Blessing Chants

11:00 Shared Meal and cleanup

1:00 pm Precepts & Meditation

1:15 Dhamma Talk

2:oo Circumambulation of stupa & Dedications to our Parents

2:30 Closing

We invite you to bring a small photo of your parent/s to place on a shrine for the occasion.… Read the rest

Spring Events

We’ve just emerged from our Winter Retreat and want to let you know about upcoming events to be held at Tisarana, or involving the Tisarana community. See also our public calendar
20 April, Fri: Ajahn Viradhammo teaching at the Quaker House in Ottawa,
sponsored by the Ottawa Buddhist Society.
21 April, Sat: Day of Mindfulness with Ajahn Viradhammo at the Tu-An Pagoda,
sponsored by the Ottawa Buddhist Society
22 April, Sun: Gratitude to Parents Day with Ajahn Viradhammo and Ayyā Medhānandī at Sati Saraniya:

• • 10:15 am Rice pindapat & Blessing Chants
    11:00 Shared Potluck Meal
    1:00 pm Precepts & Meditation
    1:15 Dhamma Talk
    2:00 Circumambulation of Stupa & Dedications to our Parents
    2:30 Closing

27 – 29 April, Fri-Sun: Non-residential retreat with Ajahn Viradhammo in Toronto.
Sponsored by Sati Panna and Theravada Buddhist Community of Toronto

04 May, Fri: Ajahn Viradhammo teaching at the Quaker House in Ottawa,
sponsored by the Ottawa Buddhist Society.

10 -20 May: Ajahn Amaro visits Tisarana

12 May, Sat: Special public talk by Ajahn Amaro at Tisarana, 1:30 – 3:00PM
13 May, Sun: Afternoon meditation and Dhamma Talk with Ajahn Amaro at Sati Saraniya

• • 1:30 – 4:30 pm – meditation, Dhamma talk and Q&A.

“Stillness Flowing – The Life and Teachings of Ajahn Chah” by Ajahn Jayasaro, the long-awaited biography of Ajahn Chah in English, with an introduction by Luong Por Sumedho.

850 pgs, Panyaprateep Foundation, 2017.

From Ajahn Jayasaro’s preface:

“Although it has been my intention that this book should be, as far as possible, a biography as opposed to a hagiography, I am not sure that I have been completely successful. My love for Luang Por and my belief in his enlightenment inevitably colour the text. What I have not done is suppress any scandalous or embarrassing information out of concern for his good name. Hard as it may be to accept nowadays when there is so much – and often well-founded – cynicism about the integrity of religious figures, Luang Por Chah had absolutely nothing to hide. The only skeleton in a cupboard at Wat Pah Pong was the one hanging on public display in the Dhamma Hall. In fact, that is one of the strongest reasons for my belief that the life of Luang Por Chah is so worthy of study.”

Available as PDF

Bound copies available by pick-up at our free distribution table at the monastery, or by following these instructions.… Read the rest