News Updates, Page 27

Season’s Greetings:
The year is nearly ended and the monastery will be on retreat from Jan 4th until March 29th. These updates may not arrive during this time. Ajahn Kusalo will be in Thailand and Oz. during most of February and there may be some news after that trip. This update is really to wish you a trouble free and joyous new year. May the blessings of all your goodness and generosity bring you much happiness in times to come. Tisarana is only able to continue as a result of your ongoing support and for this we are all truely grateful. Thank you.
Here are a few newsy reminders.

New Years Eve:
You are most welcome to join us for the evening.

New Year’s Day after DOM:
Jan. 2nd – cancelled.

Winter Retreat Stewards:
Still space in February & March.

Kitchen Steward:
Long term person needed.

Ajahn Sumedho:
Booking forms for the in-city retreat are almost ready. There will be an announcement, probably mid_Jan.

VESAK 2010:
May 28th. EVERYONE, including Ajahn Sumedho, will be at Tisarana.

Don’t Worry:
Be Happy. … Read the rest

New Years Eve:
Greet the new year at the monastery with auspicious blessings and delicious marshmallows. We begin the evening with judicious Puja at 7:00pm and the night will be a mixture of religious chanting, propitious meditation and nutritious dhamma talk, reflections and more advantageous meditation. There will be an ambitious bonfire. If you are planning to stay the night please bring some extra bedding and a floor mat. We have some but best play safe. Do join us.

New Year’s Day DOM:
New year’s eve is on Friday night so we imagine there may not be many coming for the Day of Mindfulness on Saturday – new years day. You are most welcome to visit but there will be no organised program on Saturday the 1st 2010.

Newsletter:
The year-end newsletter has been printed and posted. If you haven’t received a copy you can download a PDF off the web site: NewsNewsletter. To be included in or removed from the postal mailing list, please contact Tina: with your mailing details. Note: the newsletter mailing list is not the same list used for these email updates.

VESAK 2010:
The full moon of May is on the 28th of August [just checking you are awake :] and it is a Friday.… Read the rest

Winter Retreat:
The winter retreat will start on Monday, January 4th. There will be a week of all-day group meditation with dhamma reflections and guidance. Morning and evening pujas will continue over the retreat but there will be periods of ‘no meetings’ so people can spend more time on their own. You are more than welcome to visit the monastery and join with whatever is going on. We will be observing Noble Silence. Feel free to come to the monastery at any time for meditation or perhaps just go for a walk. You could join us for the daily meal at 11.00.

Winter Stewards:
If you are interested in staying at Tisarana (minimum a week) during any during any part of the winter retreat please contact Samanera Atulo: . January is pretty full but there is space in February and March.

Samanera Ordination:
Just over a week ago Anagarika Joe took the samanera precepts and his new name is Atulo which means ‘incomparable or immeasurable.’ Practice it now: ‘A’ as in hut, ‘u’ as in put, ‘o’ as in hello Atulo. The ceremony was very well attended with his mother and other family members offering the alms bowl and robes. There were also a large number of friends to witness this going-forth which was held in the new barn space – The Grand Hall.… Read the rest

Anagarika Joe’s Ordination:
Anagarika Joe will take the going-forth as Samanera ??? His new name is a surprise. The white to the brown. You can get it live, along with a shared meal, chanting, ritual, dhamma, kalyanamitta and so much more on Saturday November 21st. The ceremony will begin after lunch, about 1.00pm. Car pooling will not only save gas but make parking here a lot easier. We hope you can come.

New Year’s Eve:
It is a good way off but a few people have been enquiring about staying at the monastery overnight. This is not a problem although there may be only floor space available (beds for the elderly and infirm). Please fill out the ‘guest booking form’ (participatevisiting). We will start at 7pm with chanting then meditation, a dhamma talk, a walk, a fire, some reflections mixed in with various etc.

Your Winter Retreat:
January, February and March are a time of retreat at Tisarana. We reserve space in the house for lay friends to come and join us for a week or more. If you are interested in staying at Tisarana during any of this time please contact Joe:

Ajahn Sumedho Visit 2010:
Thanks to those who filled out the participation survey.… Read the rest

Ordination #1:
Samanera Sumangalo will take the going-forth on Saturday 31st October. You are all invited to come and share the meal at 11.00 then take part in this historic event. We will have four visiting monks (all Canadian!) supporting proceedings as well as the resident sangha. The barn is looking just great and we are optimistic that the rented furnace will be sufficient to supplement the warmth of our joyous assembly. Bring a cushion or stool/chair.

Ordination #2:
Anagarika Joe will take samanera ordination on Saturday 21st November. This will bring the brown-robe count up to four. Gladness and delight. We hope to use the new barn space, depending on how well the heating works next Saturday. This will be after the meal around 1.00pm and you are most welcome to join with us for both.

Winter Retreat:
As you probably know the monastery spends January, February and March on silent retreat. In previous years we have had lay friends join with us for a week or more to meditate and help out in the kitchen. If you are interested taking part in this retreat period please contact Joe:

Ajahn Sumedho:
Yes, he will be at Tisarana from 25th May … Read the rest

Lotsa News:
It has been several weeks since news was updated but it has been pretty much a case of being too busy doing it to have the time to report it. A very fruitful time with much happening. Here are the headlines.

Bhikkhu Ordination:
October 31st is the big day – both for Samanera Sumangalo and for Tisarana; and, of course, his parents, family, friends and the whole four-fold sangha. That’s a big percentage of the planet 🙂 The first bhikkhu ordination for a monastery is a historic milestone requiring a large number of wholesome factors to be in place. Our three North American monasteries will be joining us in the form of Ajahn Pasanno from California, Ajahn Sona from B.C. and Ajahn Punnadhammo from Thunder Bay. Ajahn Viradhammo will be the preceptor, his first ordination as an ‘official’ upajjhaya. You are all invited. More details later.

Newsletter Online:
In case you didn’t get our latest (printed) newsletter posted to you a copy is available online: newsnewsletter. There is a PDF version available at the bottom of the page. To be included in or removed from the postal mailing list, please contact Tina: with your mailing details.

Canoe Retreat:
Awesome!… Read the rest

Wildflowers:
We are generally looking to reduce the amount of lawn we mow and one strategy is to plant wildflowers down the side of the front lawn. There are several species (basically weeds) that grow quite prolifically around us so it should be no problem. Watch that space.

High Speed Help:
A volunteer is needed, approx. bi-monthly, to upload large podcast files to the internet. Qualifications: have high speed, have experience using upload interfaces, and preferably comes to the monastery to pick up talks. E-mail podcast@tisarana.ca if you are able to help.

Floor Reno:
The sittting room floor has been patiently waiting for a drink since we lifted the carpet not long after buying the house. Olli has generously, courageously taken on the task of sanding and varnishing the lovely oak. The difference in colour is a joy to behold. [photo]

Barn Update:
The first replacement beam has been fitted and it will be only a matter of days before the floor joists are back in place. Then, before you can say “well that was quick and hang on a minute while we just plane a few floor boards and pound a few nails in” the first section of the floor will be walkable – even bowable.… Read the rest

Family Camp:
5th – 7th September (Labour Weekend). An opportunity to spend time at the monastery with a range of activities for both parents and children. Tents, campfire, chanting, meditation, craft, long walks, food, friendship and sunshine. If you are interested in taking part contact the monastery or contact Vivienne Bartlett – (613 567 8308).

Canoe Retreat:
Led by Ajahn Kusalo. August, Wed 12th – Tues 18th. The plan is for a small group (max. 6 canoes) to paddle in to a base for five days of quiet dhamma; meditation, talks, discussion, silence. A relaxed retreat schedule with group and personal time through the day. Food will be organised but you will need your own gear; tent, canoe, etc. Interested? Contact Tina Stephenson:

Kuti Progress:
The roof is on, the walls are clad, one window is in, the porch is down. There is still a lot to do but it looks like we are on target for winter habitation. 2x[photo]

Barn:
There are quite a few little (and not so little) bits to be repaired before the new floor actually goes down. One of the basement posts, as well as being a bit rotten, had punched a hole in the concrete floor.… Read the rest

Mistaken:
For those who didn’t spot the error – the correct URL for the Satisaraniya web site is: www.satisaraniya.ca

Floored:
So far the plan for the new barn floor has been flawless. The logs and lumber arrived yesterday, all the way from Pembroke, and look well up to the job. 4x[photo]. Trees seem less part of the equation when they arrive as nice, clean machined sticks as when they land as logs. Those trees are paid about 50 cents a year to grow. Thank you. We have stripped the bark off them and work on machining them will start in a few days. Watch that space.

Enshrined:
After two weeks of work by Prasert and the community of 8-12 hours a day the lobby shrine is (almost) complete. The only thing remaining to do is the painting of the two devas that flank the main Buddha image – three coats. This would be a good job for someone over the next… whenever. It all looks rather stunning. There is a separate photo album showing the progress of this work.

Appeared:
Wildflowers, bees, bugs, buds, birds, nests, leaves, grass, warmth, sun, summer. You too are welcome to put in an appearance and enjoy all these seasonal arisings.… Read the rest

AGM:
The Annual General Meeting for Tisarana will be held this coming Saturday after the usual day of mindfulness (approx. 3pm). All are welcome.

Satisariniya:
The nuns’ monastery is becoming more real than the previous reality that it really was before!? The major change is the purchase of a property. Fourty-seven acres in the Perth area and not so far from Tisarana. There is a very nice house [photo] and a good number of very serviceable outbuildings. The land is a lovely mix of pasture and forest with a lovely spring fed pond. You can follow developments on the web site: www.satisaraniya.ca

Beautiful Barn:
As if the wonderful wood and space and light was not enough. We have a Thai artist friend staying with us and he is transforming the barn lobby into… into — something different (words are not enough). There are several pictures on the website but even they don’t give a clear indication of the scale and beauty of the whole. Come to the day of mindfulness and AGM on Saturday and see the (hopefully) finished product. 6x[photo]

Holey Barn:
The lobby is almost done but the floor in the main area is breached, bereft, sundered, rent, gashed and probably needs more work than it needs a thesaurus.… Read the rest