News Updates, Page 19

Our working bee has been scheduled for June 7th and 8th, instead of the 6th as previously reported. This will be two days in a row, so please feel free to come for either day or for both. You can also come for part of the time if you don’t wish to stay for the full day; we will be grateful for any amount of time you would like to contribute. As usual, there will be a potluck lunch at 11am which you are welcome to join.

Please bring work gloves and, if possible, a sturdy soil-rake (see this image for an example) for spreading gravel.… Read the rest

In  preparation for Luang Por Sumedho’s visit later in June, we are giving Tisarana a good spring cleaning. We have also purchased a marquee (a large tent) that needs to be erected. Lots to do so please do join us.

Pot luck lunch

What to bring: work gloves, a sturdy rake.… Read the rest

More Construction Photos

• The construction of our new Bhikkhu Vihara is progressing rapidly.  Our new building now has electrical and hydro.  A well has been dug, and a new septic field is in the process of being dug.
• Photos here

Workshop Improvements

• A new Table Saw has been generously donated and installed.  It has advanced safety features to help prevent injuries.
• A new Dust Collection System has been donated and installed, so that sawdust generated by various power tools will be automatically vaccuumed into a collection bin.  Sophisticated ducting has been installed to collect the sawdust from the Chopsaw, Table Saw, Electric Planer, and Belt Sander.  The Dust Collection is switched on and off, as needed, by remote control.
• Gratitude is expressed to Peter Pauls and Crawford Woodman, who invested considerable time and energy into making these wonderful new additions to our workshop a reality.

Basement Flooded

• The snow melted rapidly this year, resulting in our basement being flooded.  It’s abated now, and the basement is mostly-dry.
• As a first line of defence, drainage is being improved (in various ways) around the house, to try to prevent water from entering the basement in the first place
• A new sump pump was purchased, and plumbing is being installed for it

A New Tick Season Begins

• Gravel is being added around kutis
• Pruning of trees
• Raking of leaves
• A special tool for keeping paths free of long grasses has been ordered

Comings and Goings

• Ven.

Nothing is permanent – and this applies just as much within the monastery as outside of it.  As the year progresses a few changes are taking place here at Tisarana Buddhist Monastery…

Farewell to Our Beloved Peter

Peter Pauls is a lay resident who has been living here at Tisarana for about one year.  He has been in charge of maintaining and improving the physical condition of the monastery; such tasks as carpentry, mechanical, earthworks, trailwork and a wide range of other valuable activities.  He has been instrumental in keeping the monastery operating well, and we are all very grateful for the assistance he’s provided.  In early May he will be resuming normal lay life outside the monastery; we wish him well and hope he returns often.  A great “Sādhu Sādhu Sādhu!” for his invaluable support and his inspiring community spirit.

Saturday Day of Mindfulness at 2pm

After discussion with the community, we have decided to hold our weekly Day of Mindfulness every Saturday at 2:00pm.  This event is always open to the public, and includes a small amount of chanting, a period of silent group meditation (which may be guided), and a Dhamma talk given by an experienced monastic.… Read the rest

There was an error in our previous progress update.  Venerable Ajahn Vīradhammo’s birthday is on April 27th, not the 22nd as was erroneously reported.

In related news, he will he away from the monastery from the 17th to the 26th, as he will be leading an annual retreat in Hockley Valley.… Read the rest

Another winter retreat has been successfully completed at Tisarana, thanks to the invaluable support of our beloved lay stewards.  As well as reestablishing our usual routines, there are a number of upcoming events that bear mention:

• April 13: Upāsika Day
• April 27: Ajahn Vīradhammo’s Birthday
• May 11: Annual General Meeting
• May 18: Upāsika Day
• June 14-23: Ajahn Sumedho at Tisarana
• June 21: Gratitude to Parents Day

Gratitude for support during the Winter Retreat

The Winter Retreat was a very peaceful and rewarding time.  This is only made possible by the dedication of the lay stewards who support the monastery by staying here during that time.  We would like to extend our heartfelt gratitude to those who offered their support by staying with us this year:

• Tim Wainwright
• Jay Gordon
• Jane Forrington
• Anne Janssen
• Tina Prudhomme
• Nissanka Pussegoda
• Anoma de Silva

We would also like to express our appreciation for the the many families who came to practice dāna by offering food to the resident Sangha.

Annual General Meeting

The Annual General Meeting of Tisarana Buddhist Monastery will be held at Tisarana on May 11 from 1-2pm. This is a yearly gathering required by charity law. The meeting consists of:

• a President’s report given by Ajahn Vīradhammo reviewing the events of 2013
• the financial statement from the Tisarana Treasurer for the year 2013
• the election of a new Audit Committee

All are welcome to attend.… Read the rest

Our new monastic building is underway, with several photographs of the initial stages available in our photo gallery.… Read the rest

Photo Gallery of Kathina 2013

A gallery of photographs from our recent Kathina celebration has been posted by Nalaka:  Kathina Photos

Many thanks to Aruna and Narada for photographing the event.… Read the rest

Building Contract Signed for New Bhikkhu Vihara

At long last, we have a builder for the Bhikkhu’s Vihara. Yesterday we signed a contract with “The Lanark Design/Build Group”, for the entire construction of our new monk facility.  They’ll probably start digging the soil within the next two weeks.  The estimated time of completion is 28 weeks.  They are local builders, so they are accustomed to working through the winter.

As for funding, 3/4 of the funds for this project have been raised, thanks to generous donations from many friends, including a very substantial donation from one family.  We also have an offer of an interest-free loan for the remainder, but hopefully we’ll have enough to cover the full costs by next year.

Architectural Drawings of the new Bhikkhu Vihara can be viewed here.

Kathina – Great Success

Oceans of gratitude to Nalaka and Risini Gunawardhane, and all the organizers of this year’s Kathina, our first.  Many thanks to the Sangha, Diplomatic Corps, and many good friends, for their generosity, and enthusiasm.  We look forward to many more such celebrations in the future.

Residential Retreat 2012 Dhamma Talks posted

The 30 Dhamma Talks given at our October 2012 Residential were recorded, and they are now posted and available for download.… Read the rest

We are fortunate to have two Ajahns visiting from the west coast for our Kathina on November 3. They will be teaching at the monastery, at the Quaker meeting in Ottawa, and at our Kathina celebration in Perth.

Teaching schedule:

Ajahn Sudanto – Abbot, Pacific Hermitage, (www.pacifichermitage.org)

Saturday, Oct. 26,  1pm:     Tisarana Monastery – Meditation and Dhamma talk

Friday, Nov. 1st, 7:30pm:    Quaker House, 4th Avenue, Glebe, Ottawa – Meditation and Dhamma talk

Sunday Nov. 3rd, 1pm:        Civitan Hall, Perth – Dhamma talk after offering of Kathina robe

Ajahn Karunadhammo  – Vice-abbot, Abhayagiri Monastery (www.abhayagiri.org)

Saturday Nov. 1st, 1pm: Tisarana Monastery – Meditation and Dhamma talk.

Kathina is almost here!

Please remember that the Kathina is not being held at the monastery, but at the Civitan Hall in Perth.

See map to Civitan Hall here: http://www.perthcivitan.org/#!contact-us… Read the rest