News Updates, Page 21

Definition

The term upasika means “one who sits close by,” and it has come to refer to lay people who join with the monastics in the practice of the Dhamma. Following the model established at Abhayagiri Monastery in California, Tisarana would like to provide a similar structure for lay people to practice and study together.

Regular Upasika Days will be held at the monastery roughly every 4 to 6 weeks at which time upasikas renew their commitment to the Three Refuges and Five Precepts, participate in a study session focusing on a Dhamma topic, and practice meditation.

Purpose

Following are the primary purposes of the Upasika Program:

• To enhance individual practice and increase self-discipline through making a formal commitment to spiritual training.
• To deepen both the intellectual and experiential understanding of Dhamma.
• To have more supportive contact with like-minded people and the ordained Sangha.

Guidelines

The following Upasika Program guidelines are meant as an outline for spiritual training of the individual and are intended to provide a structure for those seeking support and encouragement in their practice.

• Undertake to live by the Three Refuges and the Five Precepts.
• To take the Theravada tradition as the focus of one’s Buddhist practice.
• Visit the monastery and formally take the Refuges and Precepts and attend regularly scheduled upasika meetings.

The Kathina is a tradition that has been followed for over 2500 years. It takes place during the month following Vassa (the three-month rains retreat corresponding to the rainy season in India). At that time, lay followers make a special offering of Kathina cloth as well as additional requisites to the Sangha. Kathina is a very happy, warm-hearted time for celebration. It is a time to come together, focusing on the single act of generosity of offering the Kathina robe material.

This will be the first year that a Kathina will be held for the Sangha at Tisarana Buddhist Monasteryⁱ. This year’s Kathina Robe is to be offered by Risini and Nalaka Gunawardhane family and friends. We would like to invite everyone to participate in this happy and auspicious occasion. The Kathina festival will be held on Nov. 3 at the Civitan Hall in Perth.

There will also be a ceremony to formally invite the sangha to observe the Vassa period and also to offer the requisites to the sangha for the period of this Vassa. This ceremony is known as the Vassa Aradhana. This ceremony will take place on July 28^th at the monastery. Nalaka, Risini and family and friends would like to invite you to join with them in the activities planned for this day of Vassa Aradhana.… Read the rest

Upasika Program Re-Started

Two years ago, just before his mother died, Luang Por Viradhammo initiated a program of study and practice for lay friends of Tisarana.  It was called the ‘Upasika Program’ and it was intended for those who wanted to deepen their practice and commitment to the Buddha-Dhamma-Sangha.  Luang Por has decided to re-start the program.  An e-mail will be sent out with further details.  Please take a look if you’re interested.

Gratitude to Parents Day

Gratitude to Parents day will be held on June 23, 2013 at Sati Saraniya Hermitage.  This will be the first gathering  inside the new temple that is being built at the hermitage. Please arrive at 10 am.  The potluck dana will begin with an almsround at 10:45 am followed by the meal offering, precepts, blessing chants and Dhamma reflections.

If possible, please try to: carpool, bring folding lawn chairs (to sit outside for the meal), and bring serving spoons.  Please note that there will be no facilities to heat food or wash up serving dishes

New Monastery Gardener

The monastery is very pleased to say that we now have a volunteer gardener.  Akka Jannsen has volunteered to build and oversee the flower beds and areas around the monastery. … Read the rest

Dear friends,

May this Vesāk find you in good health and at peace with the way things are.

It has been two years since my mum died and high time I composed a few words about life at Tisarana. I’m a frightfully lazy fellow when it comes to writing and would generally rather be doing something practical with my hands.

Reflecting back to the time spent with my mum in the last decade of her life, I experience a lot of joy in the memory of our time spent together. Mum lived well beyond what she expected her span would be and in the end she was very, very tired. Every now and then she would say, “Perhaps the reason I have lived so long is so that your monastery in Perth could get established.” Her words often come to mind as Tisarana grows in the early spring of its life.

This year I experienced my first winter retreat at Tisarana and now that the cold season has passed I am enjoying the unfolding beauty of spring: the return of the dawn-chorus of songbirds, the bright green of the emerging maple leaves and the smell of the earth. I finally feel that I have landed at Tisarana and it feels good.… Read the rest

Vesak

Come and join us in celebrating Vesak on Sunday, May 19th.  The schedule for the day is as follows…
10:00am- Please try to arrive by this time if you are planning on joining in the morning activities
10:30am- Five precepts
11:00am- Rice pindapat (almsround) and dana.  Please try to arrive by 10am if you are planning on participating.
1-1:30pm (approximately)- Dhamma talk by Tahn Ajahn Dtun
7:00pm- Evening puja and circumambulation of the shrine

Working Bee

Tisaraṇa will have a working bee on Sunday, May 12th to help prepare for Vesak and for Tahn Ajahn Dtun’s visit.  We’ve got plenty to do for those who’d like to come and join in the fun.  In addition to house and grounds cleaning, we’ll be working to clean up the demolition of the old tractor shed.  For those who are interested in helping with the demolition, please bring work boots.  The day will begin at 8:30am and end at 4pm, with a potluck lunch at 11am.  Just come on by if you’re interested; no need to RSVP.

Anagārika John Heads Off

Anagārika John headed off last week with plans to continue his training in Thailand.  He was very helpful to the monastery during his time here, especially with the monastery’s many carpentry projects. … Read the rest

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

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Details and reservations right after New Year’s

Winter Retreat Approaching

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