News Updates, Page 23

Hello, here’s the latest news from Tisarana.

Days of Mindfulness
Ajahn Kusalo and Ajahn Viradhammo will be away from the monastery from October 21st to November 17th. Days of Mindfulness will continue during this time. Venerable Atulo will time the meditations and play a recorded talk.

Ajahn Viradhammo in India
Ajahn Viradhammo has touched down in Delhi to start his India pilgrimage. He currently staying at a friend’s house. He will be there for a couple of days before setting out for the holy sites.

Reception Room
Lots of progress is being made on the new reception room. Drywall is up, and most of the siding is on the outside. Have a look when you come by.

Winter Steward
Come and stay at the monastery during the winter retreat. We are currently looking for kitchen stewards. Potential stewards must have stayed at Tisarana before, be willing to help with the cooking. Please contact Venerable Atulo for details. … Read the rest

Kathina:
This is the first year we will celebrate the end of the Vassa, the Asian monsoon season. Here in Canada it is a time when the sangha prepares to enter a new seasonal phase; winter. Kathina is a time of making offerings to the monastery with the traditional focus on the offering of cloth. For our first Kathina the cloth will take the form of a robe for each of the monastic residents. We hope to make this event a regular part of our annual calendar. WHERE: Maberly Community Hall WHEN: 15th October – For more details: www.tisarana.ca/includes/server.php?act=kathina

Reception Room:
Work on this building continues well with the roof going on as these words are written. Windows should arrive next week and this will have the building closed. The plan is still to be using this for winter. The exciting news is that a very generous donation has spurred us to try and get the covered walkway between the house and the reception room built as well.!

Aj Kusalo to DC:
Following on from a visit last year the interest has expanded into two childrens groups and two adult groups. There will also be time this trip to meet with various politicians – although there have so far been no invitations.… Read the rest

Hot on the Heels:
of our last working bee we have a working wasp – only in as much as it will have more sting than a bee. Am I on the edge of a ramble here? Nay, forsooth… COME THIS SUNDAY 28TH many good souls will be gathered as one at Tisarana, gloves on hands and heads on shoulders ready to sally forth. To go where no righteous body, or even unrighteous for that matter, has ever gone before. The future. Now I really am rambling. Needless to say, without further verbage, circumlocution, pleonasm, or even repetition, the next item will announce the details. Oh yay!

Working Day:
A.K.A working bee. All day. This Sunday – 28th August. We have enough work so that the weather is not an issue. Come rain or shine we will glow and effuse. There is work outdoors for the outdoorsy types; indoors for those with legal legs. Come at any time of the day. We will supply gloves of various sizes. Lunch of divers delights will manifest at 11.00. You will be most welcome; head on or off shoulders.

Many Other Works:
Much has been happening at Tisarana with documenting of it a work in progress (watch this space).… Read the rest

Diaries:
I am sure yours is up-to-date and has the following item firmly inked in.

Working Bee:
This Sunday – 24th July. The barn will be the main focus and work is NOT weather dependent. Come rain or shine we will smile and delight. There is also outdoors work for the outdoorsy types. Feel free to come at any time of the day. You will be most welcome. … Read the rest

Asalha Puja:
The full moon of the month of Asalha, which marks the beginning of the three month vassa (rains retreat), is this Friday 15th. We will be celebrating this with a puja starting at 7pm with chanting, meditation, a dhamma talk, circumambulation and futher meditation until midnight. You are most welcome to join with us.

Working Bees:
There are two planned – 24 July and 28 Aug. Both on Sunday. One of the main projects is starting work on the next phase of barn restoration. See the Site Development page for progress details. This is very exciting and it would be great for you to be a part of this. There are many other things to be done with ‘something for everyone.’ Come for all or part of either or both days or do or should or will be there. All in and out breaths provided. [photo] Lunch extra. [no photo]

Memorial Day:
This was held last Saturday and was both a fitting tribute to Mrs. Akers and a support to Ajahn Viradhammo. The day offered up many beautiful opportunities and it was agreed by all that this be the inauguration of an annual ‘Gratitude to Parents’ day. [photo]

Family Camp:
This will be held over Labour Day Weekend; September 2-5.… Read the rest

Memorial Day:
A memorial ceremony for Mrs. Akers and the inauguration of ‘Gratitude to Parents Day’ will be held on Saturday the 9th of July. The program…
10:00 Arrive
10:30 Introduction, precepts, paritta chanting
11:00 Dana and sharing of merit
1:00 Dhamma reflections
2:30 Concluding Thank you

AK Away:
Ajhan Kusalo is currently at IMS helping with the family week. A compressed mixture of many marvellous things with generosity as the overall theme. Back to Tisarana on Thursday.

Life:
We all have one. And while we do let’s give it the best. The gift of dhamma. The gift of love. The gift of life. … Read the rest

Many Monks:
We are delighted to be able to have two monks visiting with us at the moment. Ajahn Anando, a senior monk from Amaravati, will be with us until almost the end of June and Venerable Pavaro, currently living in Thailand, will be here until the 12th. We don’t have a steward so meals and transport are a challenge. Their presence brings a deeper sense of Sangha and spiritual friendship. It is nice to have news of fellow samanas from afar and to share their dhamma. Very refreshing and uplifting.

Buddha Moving:
The slab that was the doorstep of the old gazebo has been moved to the front lawn and will be the base for the standing Buddha. Having extra monks made the job of mixing concrete and positioning the slab easier and more pleasant. The little red tractor made it even easier still. [photo]

Reception Room:
Plans have been finalised and a builder has been engaged. He is hoping to start work in 3-4 weeks and construction should take 4-6 weeks. Realistically we can expect to be using this space by mid to late fall. It has been a long while in the planning and will positively affect the logistics of activities at Tisarana enormously.… Read the rest

Bees and Honey:
There weren’t many bees for the working bee but we made a lot of sweet honey. The whole north-west corner of the forest was cleared. And then we got the tractor stuck. It was a very happy day for all. A big “thank you” to everyone who was able to join in. [photo]

AGM:
Tisarana’s 2010 ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING will be held on Saturday, May 7, 2011 at 1:00 pm. Agenda items include the 2010 Financial Report, Development Plans for 2011 and the Election of Officers. All are welcome.

Raccoon Refugees:
The scene: The Barn. The scenario: The smelly stink. We are going more for relocation than extinction. The most recent action has been sawing the boards out from under the workshop floor. Enter ‘GarbageBag Man.’ Ta da… Chainsaw in hand, compassion in heart. [photo]

Bees, Refugees:
To round up the rhyme we have ‘knees.’ Well, just one actually, Ajahn Kusalo’s left. Surgery this afternoon. It’s an old joke but we are after ni-dukkho (knee-dukkh ‘o) – no dukkha. Groan….

Reception Room:
The plans are almost finished and ready for getting a permit. The old gazebo is nearly half way to the carpark where it is planned to use it as a garage for the monastery car.… Read the rest

WORKING BEE:
Sunday 24th April. All day. All the sunny day long. Sun day – yes? As well as the forest there will also be the moving of the standing Buddha in the barn out to the front yard as preparation for Ajahn Viradhammo’s birthday on the 27th (shhh. it’s a secret! No, I mean he knows its his birthday but not who will be there.) The working bee has something for everyone. Come any time through the day. Bring gloves and work clothes.

AGM:
Tisarana’s 2010 ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING will be held on Saturday, May 7, 2011 at 1:00 pm. Agenda items include the 2010 Financial Report, Development Plans for 2011 and the Election of Officers. All are welcome.

Birthday:
We have a celebratory dana planned for Ajahn Viradhammo on Saturday 30th and you are all welcome to join with us to add value to the occasion.

Vesak at Tisarana:
The full moon is on Tuesday the 17th May and we will be celebrating the birth, enlightenment and parinibanna of the Buddha. A relatively quiet evening of meditation and dhamma. … Read the rest

AGM:
Tisarana’s 2010 ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING will be held on Saturday, May 7, 2011 at 1:00 pm. Agenda items include the 2010 Financial Report, Development Plans for 2011 and the Election of Officers. All are welcome.

Working Bee:
Sunday 24th April. Blessed are those who visit the Tisarana forest before the bugs arrive and help clean up the trees that have been felled and generally tidy the forest. Light and heavy work, something for all. Make a day of it. Come on Friday evening for an early start? Feel free to come any time through the day. Bring gloves and work clothes.

Memorial Dana:
This will be the three month remembrance of Mrs Akers passing. It has been shifted to Saturday the 9th of July. Not the 25th June as earlier noted.

Birthday:
Ajahn Viradhammo will turn another year on the 27th of April. We have a celebratory dana planned on Saturday 30th and you are all welcome to join with us to mark the occasion.

Levitation:
Rumour is that the old pool house has been developing powers over the winter retreat and is now levitating. [photo] Seeing is believing. It is showing signs of rolling away and we think it might transform into a car kuti.… Read the rest