News Updates, Page 14

Almsround is a great way to strengthen community spirit – an opportunity for monks and supporters to participate in an act of sharing, generosity and mutual appreciation.

Keeping with this tradition, the monks at Tisarana walk on almsround once a week in Perth.

As we strive to make this as convenient, flexible and stress-free as possible, we may occasionally tweak our plans with adequate notice.

Your feedback and suggestions are important,  please let us know if you have any ideas that may make this work better…

• The walk commences at Scotch line and Gore St. around 9:00 AM proceeding to Herriott St. via Gore St.
• The monks will wait for a couple of minutes at Stewart Park next to the Big Ben statue
• They will then walk up Wilson St. to the Metro Grocery Store
• Then retrace and return to Gore St. via Foster St.
• They will continue walking on Gore st till 10.30 AM
• They will be driven back to the monastery with the offerings received to share with the rest of the community and partake in the regular dana offering for the day. So they will not be solely dependent on the alms received in Perth for their meal that day.

This years Asalha Puja falls on Saturday July 8th. The scheduled events for the day include the dana offering at 11.15 AM followed by a Meditation Sit at 1.30 PM.

After the sit, Anagarika David takes on the Ten Precepts and joins the Sangha as a Samanera (novice). Luang Por Viradhammo will conduct An. David’s Pabbhajja Ceremony immediately after the meditation sit.

The Sangha at Tisarana begin this years Rains Retreat (Vassa) on Sunday the 9th of July. The commencement ceremony for the Rains Retreat (Vassa Aradhana) is scheduled for 1.30 PM after the dana offering at 11.15 AM.… Read the rest

As I’m writing this, I’m coming to the end of my (near) three-months’ stay at Tisarana. The time here has been idyllic, a very special occasion in this ongoing opportunity for simplicity, for discipline as a craft of the heart rather than blind conformity, and for meditation that is grounded rather than pie-in-the-sky. The elements that I appreciate in many monasteries of this lineage are all in place; brevity requires me to merely mention the fullness of the support from the lay people and their eagerness for Dhamma, apparent in those on site, but including those near and far who keep this place going. I hope I will never take this amazing heartfulness for granted. Also I only have space to make brief mention of the direct and down-to-earth warmth and helpfulness of all those in training here. It is gladdening to reflect that, as these virtues are manifesting in Canada as they are in Australia, Thailand, USA and Britain, they are universal and timeless. In the face of the corruptions and brutality that we read about in the news, we do need to remind ourselves of this beauty in others as in ourselves. Tisarana certainly provides an opportunity to witness and participate in that.… Read the rest

Beginning Saturday, April 1st, we will resume our regular schedule. Therefore, our first Saturday meditation & Dhamma talk will be on April 1st at 1:30 PM. Please check the dates on the calendar for the regular weekly teachings on the Lunar Observance days. Luang Por Viradhammo will also be teaching in Ottawa (OBS – Quaker House) on Friday, April 7th.… Read the rest

Dear Friends,

For our 2017 Winter Retreat (January 1st to March 31st) the Tisarana community will not hold its regular Saturday afternoon meditation and Dhamma Talk sessions.

The last Saturday afternoon talk this year will be held on December 31st, New Years Eve. We will resume these sessions on Saturday, April 1st.

During the winter time, you are welcome to come here any time you wish and use the Dhamma Hall for sittings or the library for reading.

On our Observance Day we will continue to hold the 7:00 pm sitting and 8:00 pm Dhamma talk throughout the retreat.

These will fall on:

January 5, 12, 20, 27

February 4, 11, 19, 25

March 5, 12, 20, 27

—The Tisarana Sangha… Read the rest

Ajahn Sucitto is visiting us this winter (arriving on December 23) and will be offering the Saturday, December 24 Dhamma Talk this week. The meditation sitting will begin at 1:30 pm and Ajahn Sucitto will offer a Dhamma reflection around 2:30 pm (assuming all goes according to plan).… Read the rest

Dear Friends,

We’d like to let you know that the subscription form on the website has been updated to include a Volunteer Requests subscription option.

We are planning to use this list to ask those who sign up to volunteer for jobs we might need, such as audio work or getting a ride to the airport, or picking an item up from Toronto.

Right now, we are looking for anyone with intermediate to advanced audio editing skills who can help us edit Dhamma talks using Audacity or a similar audio editing program.

If you are an existing subscriber to our podcasts or news updates and wish to be on the volunteer list, you can update your subscription preferences by clicking update subscription preferences at the bottom of this email.

If you are viewing this as a post, or if you are a new subscriber and wish to to be on the volunteer list, you can instead fill out the subscription form on the website and we will update your preferences accordingly.

Be well and happy,

-The Tisarana Sangha… Read the rest

Now that the Kathina and Ten Year Anniversary are over we are breathing out long . . . Over the next two weeks, the Tisarana resident community will be taking a break from pujas and formal work until November 24th.

Feel free to come by for a visit, but please note that most of the monks will not be around, practicing diligently in our kutis. Our email will also be on hold until then, but do call and leave a message if there is an urgent need you have and we’ll try to get back to you within couple days. We will continue to hold our regular Saturday afternoon practice sessions/Dhamma talks (1:30 pm – 3:30 pm) as well as our weekly Lunar Observance sits and talks (beginning at 7:00 pm). As day light savings time ended, our meals are now being offered at 11:00 am instead of 11:30 am.

Many blessings for all who helped to support our Kathina and Ten Year Anniversary. It was a truly heart warming and memorable event.

Be well and happy,

-The Tisarana Sangha… Read the rest