News Updates, Page 17

From Akka Janssen . . .

As we enter a budding spring time at Tisarana after the ending of our winter retreat, many changes have been brought to the fore.

The Saturday Afternoon Program Resumes Beginning at 1:00 pm.

The first Saturday of April brought many old friends back to the monastery and we would like to announce a small change in schedule. A request was made from lay supporters to have the Saturday program begin at 1:00 pm instead of 2:00 pm due to the long wait for the practice session to begin after the meal and to allow those from further distances to return home sooner rather than later.

The Next Work Bee on Saturday, May 9

We plan to hold a work bee to initiate planting trees at the monastery. Both Noi and Aka are offering their time to help with further landscaping and will be leading a tree planting day on Saturday, May 9. The work will begin around 9:00 am and end around 4:00 pm. After the work is finished Luang Por Viradhammo will have an early tea with anyone who is interested in speaking with him. This is in lieu of the regular Saturday sit and talk that we will forgo on May 9th.… Read the rest

During Tisarana’s Winter Retreat (January 1st to March 31st) we will not be holding our usual Saturday afternoon meditation and Dhamma talk sessions. However, for anyone who is interested in attending any of the Lunar Observance Day evening sessions, we will have our usual puja and sitting beginning at 7:00 pm and a live or recorded talk held shortly thereafter. The monks and community residents will continue practicing until midnight.

The Lunar Observance Days will be held on: January 4, 12, 19, and 27. February 3, 11, 17, and 25. March 4, 12, 19, and 27.… Read the rest

Dear friends of Tisarana,

I am drafting this New Year’s letter, flying on a 747 high over the Arctic, just having the crossed the Bering Straights and now heading south over Russia, mainland China and then on to Hong Kong. I’m on my way to Thailand for a bit of teaching and a touch of monkish vacation.

I trust your year has been edifying and your practice of the Buddha-Dhamma has deepened and broadened your understanding of life. I hope you are well. I have had a very rewarding year, filled with the ups and downs of worldly existence yet always buoyed by the lightness of knowing the way things are. Our Tisarana sangha is well, living in harmony and diligently practicing the Buddha’s way.

I am glad to report that we have now moved into the new bhikkhu vihara. I have a somewhat fatherly feeling of happiness in seeing the sangha has such good facilities for bathing, meditation, office work and all the amenities of life that are so necessary in this cold climate. Building such facilities in tropical countries like Thailand is relatively straight forward. There are many, many people to lend a helping hand and the building requirements are relatively minimal because of the warm climate and less stringent building codes.… Read the rest

On Wednesday evening, December 31st, we will have our regular puja and meditation at 7:00 pm, followed by a Dhamma talk. Around 9:00 pm the Sangha will light a large bonfire outside the new Bhikkhu Vihara to bring in the New Year. All are welcome to join.… Read the rest

Beginning at 10:30 am, the Tisarana Community will commemorate Luang Por Vīradhammo’s mother’s birthday and dedicate blessings for the King of Thailand’s birthday. Also on this day, the Lay Saṅgha will offer the Bhikkhu Vihara and the new tractor to the Monastic Saṅgha. We will have a potluck meal at 11:00 am and afterwards everyone will be invited into the Bhikkhu Vihara Dhamma Hall for blessing chants.

 … Read the rest

Luang Por Pasanno, abbot of Abhayagiri Buddhist Monastery in Northern California, will be coming to Tisarana this weekend to participate in our Kathina. On Saturday, November 1st, Luang Por Pasanno will lead the weekly 2:00 pm to 4:00 pm meditation and Dhamma Talk.

All are welcome to join us for his Dhamma Talk and for the Tisarana Kathina.

The Kathina this year will be held at Civitan Hall in Perth (6787 Lanark County Road 43) and will begin at 10:00 am on Sunday, November 2nd.

For more Information about Tisarana’s Kathina please click here.… Read the rest

This year’s Kathina will be held in Perth at the Civitan Hall:
6787, Highway 43 (Directions)

Each year since the time of the Buddha, at the end of the three-month Rains Retreat, lay people who support Buddhist monasteries have gathered to celebrate the completion of the retreat and offer the monastic community gifts of cloth and supplies that will be useful for the coming year. The cloth is cut, sewn and dyed by the monks that same day to make a robe to offer to a member of the monastic Saṅgha.

This 2,500-year-old tradition is still carried on here in the West, initiated by a lay supporter or group of supporters who request to organize the preparation and formal offerings. It’s a significant and joyful occasion that’s emblematic of the rich relationship between lay people and monastics, a relationship characterized by deep bonds of friendship and commitment to mutual support. All year round, the monastery functions solely on offerings from the lay community.

Programme for the Kathina Ceremony:

Please Note: Daylight Savings Time ends in the early morning before our Kathina. Clocks roll back one hour at 2:00 am, Nov. 2nd (very early on Sunday morning).

9:30 am: Arrival, preparation and receiving of food offerings

10:00 am: Opening Pūjā, Welcoming remarks from Ajahn Vīradhammo, Taking Five Precepts, Paritta Chanting

10:30 am: Formal offering of food to the Saṅgha

11:00 am: Chanting of Anumodanā and invitation of laity to join in the meal

1:00 pm (approximately): Opening remarks by Ambassador Pisan, Kathina Ceremony and Offering of Kathina Robes, Dhamma Talk by Ajahn Pasanno, Closing Remarks by Ajahn Vīradhammo

For more Information about Kathina offerings please go here.… Read the rest

For anyone interested in attending all or part of the non-residential retreat held at Tisarana, September 14 to 21, the following is our planned retreat schedule:

Sunday, September 14

7:00 pm to 9:00 pm Evening puja, meditation, and Dhamma talk

Monday, September 15 to Saturday, September 20

5:00 am to 6:30 am – Morning puja with the monastic community

6:30 am to 8:30 am – Monastic community and resident guests’ breakfast, chores and rest time

8:30 am to 11:00 am – Instruction, sitting and walking meditation

11:00 am to 2:00 pm – Lunch and rest time

2:00 pm to 5:30 pm – Instruction, sitting and walking meditation

5:30 pm to 7:00 pm – Tea time and rest time

7:00 pm to 9:00 pm – Evening puja, meditation, and Dhamma talk

Sunday, September 21

8:30 am to 10:30 am – Meditation and closing remarks

As this is a non-residential retreat, we are opening the schedule to anyone who might like to participate despite limited time. If you would like to participate for just part of the day, we ask that you arrive at the beginning of any instruction or meditation session: 5:00 am, 8:30 am, 2:00 pm, or 7:00 pm.

If you have any questions about the retreat, please email Marion at marion.itsgoodenough@gmail.com… Read the rest

Ajahn Vīradhammo will be teaching a week long residential retreat in Arnprior (very close to Ottawa), organized by the Ottawa Buddhist Society. Retreat Registration is now open. It will begin October 24th and end October 31st. Please note, space is limited so please register soon if you are interested.

All information and the registration form for this retreat at the Galilee Centre in Arnprior is available at: http://ottawabuddhistsociety.com/activities/retreats/

 … Read the rest