News Updates, Page 21

Winter Retreat Schedule

Tisarana will start it’s winter retreat on January 5th.  During this time we won’t be accepting any guests.  We will also only check the monastery e-mail infrequently and will respond only to urgent e-mails.

Days of Mindfulness will continue as usual on Saturdays at 1pm.  Luang Por Viradhammo will be away until February 6th.  Hope that you have a great winter if we don’t see you at a Day of Mindfulness.  All the best until April.

Happy New Year

We had a nice new year here at Tisarana.  We had a meditation at 7pm and Luang Por Viradhammo gave a Dhamma talk.  Following this we had a pretty big bonfire (see photos).  We meditated from 11:30pm until 12am.  Philippe rang the monastery bell at 12am and the bhikkhus chanted parittas to usher in 2013.  Happy new year to all!… Read the rest

A new year’s message from Venerable Pamutto:

In July when I arrived the monastery was eerily quiet.  The community was on an open schedule.  A single kitchen steward woke every morning and prepared meals for two bhikkhus, while a single summer guest dragged a sprinkler across the newly-seeded lawn.  It seemed the monastery was waiting for something, and when asked about puja or work projects the residents would smile and say, “Soon enough.  The abbot is coming back, and abbots have a way of finding things to do.”

Ajahn Viradhammo returned one evening with little fanfare, having finally reached the end of a long tour of traveling and teaching.  He sank into his office chair, glowing with his soft and calm aura, looking as though he had never left.  It was my first time meeting him, and he was exactly the warm, friendly ‘luang por’ of his reputation.  It was this reputation, and the possibility of expanding opportunities for bhikkhus in North America, that had brought me here for a year of training.  And, though easy-going, there was an energy about the Ajahn that foreshadowed a new beginning for the small monastery.  The sense of change was palpable — ‘Ajahn V’ had arrived at last.… Read the rest

New Year’s Eve Gathering

Come join us for a New Year’s Eve gathering.  We’ll begin with a group meditation at 7pm followed by a Dhamma Talk.  After that, there will be a bonfire for those who are interested.   Bring your own marshmallows!  After the bonfire, we’ll gather together in the hall to ring in the New Year.

Bhikkhu Vihara Planning Coming Along

As some of you may know, we’re planning a new large building it the big field next to the road.  It is called the ‘Bhikkhu Vihara’ and will be used as a general purpose building for the monks.  It will have showers, a shrine room, a library, etc.  The concept design is finished.  The architect is now doing the final building drawings and  we hope that we will have the building permits and shovels on the ground by May.  Check out the drawings on the website.

Luang Por Viradhammo Retreat

Luang Por Viradhammo will hold a ten day retreat organized by the Theravada Buddhist Community of Toronto.  Information is below…

10 day Buddhist Meditation Retreat With Ajahn Viradhammo
Friday, March 29, 2013 to Sunday, April 7, 2013
At: The Ecology Retreat Centre, Hockley Valley, Ontario
http://ecologyretreatcentre.com/retreatcontact.htm
Cost (non-profit): $695
Organized By: The Theravada Buddhist Community

Home Page

Details and reservations right after New Year’s

Winter Retreat Approaching

We’re looking forward to our annual winter retreat. … Read the rest

Bhante Subharo Has Arrived

A warm welcome to Bhante Subharo.  He arrived from Birken Forest Monastery on November 27th.  A short bio has been put up on the resident community page.  Be sure to say hello next time you stop by the monastery.

Bhante Vijita Visiting

We are pleased to welcome Bhante Vijita for a visit.  Bhante is from Hilda Jayawardana (Heron Road) Temple in Ottawa.  He arrived on December ninth and will be staying with us until the 14th.

Workshop Coming Along

Our new workshop is coming along.  The wood stove has been installed and the outside cladding has been put on.  Next, the insulation will be put in and benches and shelves will be built.  Take a peek next time you stop by.

New Year’s Bonfire

New Year’s eve is coming up.  We’ll be ringing in the New Year at Tisarana in the traditional way.  We’ll have a puja followed by a Dhamma talk at 7pm.  After the talk, there will be a bonfire (which is pretty big this year!).  Finally, we’ll have some meditation and paritta chanting around midnight.  Please join us if you have the time.

Public Meditation Still On

Luang Por Viradhammo is enjoying a week of solitary retreat, but he will still give the Public Meditation on Saturday, December 15th.… Read the rest

Dec 4, 2012 – The Ottawa Buddhist Society “Day of Mindfulness” event with Ajahn Viradhammo, scheduled for Saturday, Dec 8th, has been cancelled.… Read the rest

Another New Community Member

We are happy to welcome Bhante Subharo to Tisarana.  Bhante is originally from Sitavana (Birken) Forest Monastery in British Columbia.  Bhante will be joining us on the 27th of November.  He plans to stay indefinitely.  Tisarana is growing!

Workshop Renovation

The workshop is coming along.  Our excellent builders, Lorrie and Kyle, have put siding around half of the building.  We’ll post some photos shortly.

Ajahn Kusalo’s Latest News

We heard from Ajahn Kusalo recently.  He is doing very well in New Zealand.  Everything seems to be running smoothly at Bodhinyanarama.  Sadhu Ajahn Kusalo!

New Year’s Celebration

As is our custom, there will be a new year’s eve celebration on the 31st of December.  Join us at 7pm for meditation and a Dhamma talk.  After the talk, there will be a bonfire — bring your own marshmallows!  If you can stay until 12pm, we’ll ring in the new year with meditation and some chanting.

Winter Retreat Approaches

We’re looking forward to our annual winter retreat.  The retreat will run from early January until late March.  The monks typically devote themselves to meditation and study during this time.

Luang Por Viradhammo will leave in January to visit Thailand.  He will return in February to finish the retreat with the community.… Read the rest

New Resident

We have a new a resident at Tisarana.  A warm welcome to Anagarika John, who has joined us from Birken monastery in B.C.  His intention is to stay on to continue his training at Tisarana.  You can find out more about Anagarika John on the Resident Community page on the website.  Be sure to say hello the next time you stop by.

New Website

Our new website up and running!  The layout is basically the same as the old one, so you should be able to find your way around pretty easily.  The biggest differences are on the administrative side.  The website is easier to keep maintained.  It is also easier for the relatively computer illiterate add photos, edit pages, etc.  We’ve also added many books to the ‘Books’ page.  Take a look if you haven’t already.

There may very well still be some kinks in the site that we haven’t noticed.  If you see anything that’s not working, or if you have any suggestions, please send us an e-mail.

Sincere thanks to Tavaro in England for his help.  Without his impetus, the website we have would not have been built.

Accounting Database

More computer news!  Tina and Geoff Karlson have spent quite a bit of time bringing our accounting system up to date. … Read the rest

Luang Por Viradhammo Away Teaching Retreat

Luang Por Viradhammo will be away teaching a ten day retreat in Aylmer, Quebec. The retreat runs from the seventh to the 17th of September. Days of mindfulness will continue with a recorded talk being played. Have a good retreat Luang Por!

Gratitude to Parents Day

Gratitude to Parents Day is coming up soon. It will take place on September 22nd. It is a great opportunity to express appreciation and gratitude for the goodness we have received from our parents. Participants are encouraged to arrive around 10:30am. The day will begin with a potluck dana at 11:00am. Following lunch, there will be some Dhamma reflections. Dedication chanting will occur either before or after lunch. All are welcome.

Ten Day Retreat at Tisarana

We will be holding a ten-day, non-residential retreat held at the monastery. It runs from October 1st to October 11th. Because of our small shrine room, space is very limited. This is an experiment to see if we can do a longer retreat at Tisarana without providing residential facilities. For further information or booking, contact Marion Foot at marion.itsgoodenough@gmail.com

Sati Saraniya Foundation Pouring

We chanted blessings before the pouring of cement for the foundations of the new Dhamma Hall at Sati Saraniya.… Read the rest

Gratitude to Parents Day

Gratitude to Parents Day is a chance to express appreciation and gratitude for the goodness we have received from our parents. It will take place on September 22nd. Participants are encouraged to arrive around 10:30am. The day will begin with a potluck dana at 11:00am. Following lunch, there will be some Dhamma reflections. Dedication chanting will occur either before or after lunch. All are welcome.

Ten Day Retreat at Tisarana

There will be a non-residential retreat held at the monastery from October 1st to October 11th. Because of our small shrine room, space is very limited. This is an experiment to see if we can do a longer retreat at Tisarana without providing residential facilities. For further information or booking, contact Marion Foot at marion.itsgoodenough@gmail.com.

Monastery Building Projects

Thanks to the hard work of our builders, Lori and Kyle, the new kuti is basically finished and should be ready for habitation within a week. The next major construction project will be a re-modeling of the workshop. The floor will be re-done and the building will be sealed to provide protection from the elements. We also have a new road into the kuti sites, which allows small trucks and vehicles such as ambulances access to the area where the monks live.… Read the rest

Luang Por Viradhammo Returns

Luang Por Viradhammo has returned from England. His trip seems to have been very successful. He visited Chithurst and Aruna Ratanagiri. He also visited Amaravati and led a ten day retreat. Welcome back Luang Por!

New Photos Uploaded

We have uploaded over 700 new photos. There are over 600 photos of Luang Por’s trip to Laos, China, and Thailand in Early 2012. It is a slideshow that’s worth seeing. There are images of great natural beauty. The images from Thailand are very inspiring. Looking at them gives an idea of the scope of Buddhism in Asia. It also gives an idea of the larger tradition that Tisarana is connected to. Have a look here.
There are also over 80 photos of Luang Por Sopa and Luang Por Kampong’s visit in late June. As well as sightseeing, they also gave encouragement and teaching to the Sangha. On the last day of their visit, they officiated at an almsgiving ceremony where friends from the Thai embassy offered a substantial donation to our building fund and other requisites for the use of the Sangha. Have a look here.

Podcast Back Again

The Tisarana podcast is up and running again. The latest talk uploaded is called ‘With This as Condition, That Comes to Be’.… Read the rest