News Updates, Page 18

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

This years week long non-residential Tisarana retreat will be lead again by Ajahn Vīradhammo.

The retreat will begin at 7:00 pm on Sunday, September 14th and end at 11:30 am on Sunday, September 21st.

At this time all spaces available in the house have now been taken and we have no further accommodation left.

Rather than using the Dhamma Hall connected to the house, we plan to have the group sittings and Dhamma talks under the large tent that has been erected for this years rains retreat. This is an experiment to see if we can accommodate more non-residential retreatants. If you are planning to attend, please prepare for what might be cool mornings and fairly warm afternoons.

To keep the kitchen quieter and more simple, we are asking all non-residents attending the retreat to bring their own breakfasts, lunches and afternoon drinks, etc.

If you are interested in coming for all of the retreat, part of the retreat, or part of a single day, please email Marion at: marion.itsgoodenough@gmail.com to let her know about your plans.… Read the rest

For the summer months we have decided to move the meal up half an hour to be offered at 11:30 am.… Read the rest

Invitation for the Tisarana Saṅgha to Stay for the Traditional Rains Retreat

On July 12th, Ambassador Pisan Manawapat, the Thai Ambassador to Canada, along with the lay community of Tisarana, will be inviting the Tisarana Monastic Community to reside at Tisarana for the traditional rains retreat and receive the necessary requisites during this period (July 12th to October 8th). Over 2500 years ago, the Buddha asked that Bhikkhus stay in one place during the vassa period, only allowing short trips for specific occasions during this time. Without the generosity of our lay friends this would of course not be possible.

The Vassa Āraddhana Ceremony will be held at Tisarana on Saturday, July 12 beginning at 10:00am. All are welcome to partake in this traditional ceremony.

Please note that the Tisarana Kathina will be held on SUNDAY, November 2nd in the town of Perth at the Civitan Hall (6787 County Rd 43, Perth, ON). We will post more information on the Kathina later in the summer.… Read the rest

Now that five years of seniority as a monk have accrued, my Majjhima (Middle) years as a monk have now come. I’ve been released from Nissaya (Dependence) upon my ācariya (teacher), and traditionally, this is now the time to seek out other training opportunities at other monasteries, and hermitages, with a variety of teachers. This is a chance for me to “round out” my training, as well as deepen my practice in situations of increased seclusion. I’ve been offered to spend the vassa (Rains Retreat) at Dhammagiri Forest Hermitage. Dhammagiri is located a 40-minute drive west of Brisbane, Australia. More info is available at Dhammagiri

I’d especially like to voice my gratitude to LP Vīradhammo for his tremendous kindness and warmth, in letting me train at Tisarana for the last year and a half. My troubled knees (and psoriasis) have healed substantially in this time. This gift of healing is a huge boon to me.

The Tisarana community has been great to train with, and the lay community has been very kind and supportive. I’ll always look back upon my time at Tisarana with fondness and appreciation. To all those I’ve had the chance to meet, I want to wish you all the best in your practice, and life in general, and perhaps our paths will cross again in the future.… Read the rest

Please note that Ajahn Sumedho and Ajahn Vīradhammo will not be at the monastery June 17th-19th, as they will be travelling to meet with lay Buddhists in Ottawa, Montreal, and Quebec. They will return the evening of the 19th, and will be offering Dhamma teachings here at Tisarana on the 21st for the “Gratitude to Parents Day.” If you wish to participate in that event you are encouraged to arrive between 10:00 and 10:30 in the morning.… Read the rest

Gratitude to Parents Day at 10:30am on June 21st

June 21st is “Gratitude to Parents Day” at Tisarana Buddhist Monastery.  It is an occasion for us to recollect our parents and dedicate merit for the sake of their well-being.  It is also an opportunity to express respect and gratitude to Venerable Ajahn Sumedho during his 80th year.  As usual, there will be a potluck meal at 11:00am. 

Please try to arrive between 10:00am and 10:30am. The day will include an opportunity to take the five precepts. There will be a rice piṇḍapāta (offering food into the monastics’ bowls) before the meal. After the meal, Luang Por Sumedho will offer some Dhamma reflections. We will finish with a dedication of the day’s goodness to our parents and loved ones.

Saṅgha Gathering

Ajahn Vīradhammo has returned from a large gathering of monks at Amarāvati Buddhist Monastery in the UK. This was an assembly of senior monks and nuns from branch monasteries throughout the world, including Luang Por Liem, Luang Por Sumedho, and many abbots from our far-flung community. During this time the Saṅgha participated in a Pātimokkha recitation that included 82 bhikkhus of over 20 nationalities. This kind of gathering takes place once every 4-5 years.… Read the rest

Ajahn Kusalo’s mother passed away on May 8th, 2014. Ajahn Kusalo lived at Tisarana monastery from its inception until 2012, and was of enormous benefit to the monastery and its extended community. In 2012 he moved to New Zealand to be the abbot of Bodhiñāṇārāma Monastery. We offer our sincere condolences to him. We wish him well in his development of the Buddha’s way and his work in spreading the Dhamma.

If you wish to send your condolences, you may address them to the monastery email.… Read the rest