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
Ajahn Viradhammo:
You may already know that Ajahn’s mother, Astrid Akers, passed away on Thursday 24th March at 6.40pm (Eastern). She was ninety five years old. The funeral was held on Monday 28th. Ajahn is now spending some time on retreat at Tisarana. There will be a three month memorial dana on Saturday 25th June. More details later.
Tweet Tweet Honk:
Ahhh, the sounds of spring. The air is filled with natures awakening. The monastery has finished the winter retreat and is joining the activity. There are several construction projects planned with the three main ones being: a new kuti, the new reception room and the barn restoration. You can follow progress via these updates and the photos on the web site and the dedicated section: NewsSite Development. There are at least two Weekends of Mindfulness planned at Tisarana and hopefully a bit more travelling and teaching further afield.
Days of Mindfulness:
These continue every Saturday at 1pm. You are most welcome to join with us for the meal at 11am. You are most welcome anytime.
Meal Offerings:
With the departure of Rob and Dilani, our amazing winter stewards, meal offerings at the monastery are no longer a certain thing.… Read the rest
Years End:
You are welcome to join with us to see in the new year on Friday night – 31st. We will have puja (in the module) at 7pm with chanting, meditation, dhamma talk, et. etc.. Bonfire and etc.
Sangha Calendar:
Limited copies are available at the monastery or you can download the PDF
Winter Retreat:
The monastery will be on retreat from Jan. 3rd until the end of March. There will be all-day, retreat schedule meditation for the first two weeks; morning puja at 5.30am with walking and sitting until 5pm and evening puja at 7pm. The Saturday afternoon meditation and talk will continue as usual.
Years End:
It has been a very good year for the monastery. The continuing, and growing support that we receive from you makes our ongoing development possible. Thank you. … Read the rest
Newsletter:
The newsletter for December has been printed. If you are not on our (postal) mail list then you can read this online or download the PDF Both online options are in modern, technical type colour for your enhanced edification.
Calendars – 2011
These have been printed to celebrate the life of Ajahn Sumedho with images and quotes from him. Not only this but there is date data; very handy. These are available at the monastery along with an array of other free dhamma material.
File Uploading:
The monastery has internet dial-up and uploading large files is not possible. To maintain our podcast of Ajahn Viradhammo’s talks we need someone who has high-speed and a bit of time and interest. Time is perhaps an hour once a month. We have good instructions on uploading to the storage site. Please contact the monastery.
December 25th:
This is a Saturday. We will be celebrating – we do a lot of that – and you are welcome to join us. The usual afternoon, 1pm meditation will vary; we are not sure exactly how but bring good footwear. There is a tree, and the lights have been lit. [photo] Tis the season to be free of suffering.… Read the rest
