News Updates, Page 28

New Year:
There seems common agreement that we have one. The transition here at the monastery was jolly and joyous with a lovely mixture of chanting, meditation, dhamma, bonfire, mantra, meditation, marshmallows, meditation, midnight, paritta, chanting, chatting and so much more to come. We hope yours is a happy one. Should the package contents not be complete or not function according to your preferences feel free to contact one of our representatives and we will arrange a visit so the necessary corrections can be made. First line in the manual says: Breathe in. Second line: Breathe out. [photo] – of the fire and the breathing.

Days of Mindfulness:
Note: These now start at 1.00pm. They will continue through the winter retreat.

Winter Retreat:
We have started with a few days of no schedule. Monday 5th will start full days of group practice; 5.30am meditation, 7.15 breakfast, 8.30 meditation, 11.00 lunch, 2pm meditation, 5.00 tea, 7.00 meditation. This will change on Wed. night. Feel free to join with any of this. The remainder of the retreat is not so scheduled but you are most welcome to visit and join with whatever is happening.

Generator Box:
Our backup generator has a new house compliments of Janko’s handiwork.… Read the rest

Samanera #1:
Both as in ‘the first’ and as in ‘the best.’ What a wonderful occassion it was. About fifty people joined us for the day which began with a superb, shared meal in the house. Eventually we all managed to fit into the meditation sala, literally standing room only, and Ajahn Viradhammo began by outlining various aspects of the ceremony. Anagarika Laurence then navigated his way through each step; never missed a que, never messed the Pali. He is now Venerable Sumangalo. The sangha expressed their joy and delight by chanting paritta. Sadhu.! 4x [photo]

New Year’s Eve:
The sublime alternative. Let’s do a better bit a being. Starting at 7pm with chanting, meditation, dhamma talk and reflections. Cast your regrets, unwanted *mind-heart clutter* etc. into a raging bonfire. Celebrate with a marshmallow(s). Collate all your aspirations, hopes, future endeavours. See in the new year with blessings.

New DOM Format:
With less daylight, The Day of Mindfulness will start an hour earlier as of January 3rd. Start at 1pm with chanting, followed by guided meditation, a dhamma talk and a question and answer period to finish (around 4pm). These days continue to be well supported with local people beginning to join in as we get better known.… Read the rest

Portable Parthenon:
Entering into the barn this time of year can coincide with cascades of snow off the roof onto the head, to say nothing of the ice build up outside the door. Not nice. The happy and handy novices at Tisarana have provided an elegant, simple solution. All it lacks is Doric columns. [photo]

Ordination:
Anagarika Laurence will become Samanera ??? Sunday December 14th. 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.

Surprise:
Tis the season. There is an e-card waiting for you. Happiness, joy, good health, blessing, fun. Try this journey to the unknown

A Waiting Game:
The foundations of the third kuti make a snowy photo opportunity. Little concrete trees standing silently among the trees. [photo] Isn’t it nice that we have a three month winter retreat and don’t have to carry on building?

Another Mover:
The Opanayiko kuti has been empty for some months now while under repair. Finally, Anagarika Joseph has moved in for the winter retreat. Our life as forest samanas is so much enhanced by the kuti lifestyle so it nice to be able to offer this opportunity to Joseph.… Read the rest

ORDINATION:
Anagarika Laurence will be ordaining as Samanera ???. His new name is a surprise. You can get it live, along with a shared meal, chanting, ritual, dhamma, kalyanamitta and so much more on Sunday December 14th. 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.

PODCAST:
This is now up and running and a new dhamma talk by Ajahn Viradhammo will be released regularly. At the moment this will be every two weeks. You can access available talks on the web site audio page and subscribe to the feed on the podcast page

TUB:
The fire was lit with wood what was split. The chimney smoked but nobody choked. Some water was heated and the monks were treated. There’s still more to do but we got the crew – sadhu. [photo]

SURPRISE:
Laurence’s new name is certainly one but, there is another one and surprises wouldn’t be surprising if given away all at once. Don’t miss the next update. Be there or be… unsurprised. Hmmmmm. What could it be I wonder? Windfall, goofball, catchall, be-all and end-all?

NEW YEARS EVE:
We will be having an all-night vigil on new-year’s eve.… Read the rest

Car Finder:
And still, we need a small sedan. Some funds are available but, we need a qualified volunteer to find a suitable vehicle. Please contact: khema [at] tisarana.ca

Shelving:
Venerable Khemaratana has finished the second of the workshop storage units. How nice it is to have a place to tidy things to. Along with plastic around the walls it is now a both useful and cosy space to work in. [photo]

End of Vassa:
The wonderfully full moon of November shone down from a clear sky upon freshly shaven pates as they made their way to the ceremony. A small band of samanas gathered to reflect on the last three months spent together. The ritual was simple, the context very uplifting. Let’s do it again next year.

The TUB:
Almost ready to roll. Ajahn Kusalo cuts it up and Lawrence fixes it down. Finishing touches are being made but it will be a good while before it is finished. 2x[photo]

Aj.Kusalo to Peterborough:
Monday to Thursday. Talks on Tues. & Wed. evening. Morning puja. Tea & talk through the day.

Flat Line:
Like one of those beep-beep heart monitors where the sine wave goes flat when the patient dies. Someone (name by private appointment) missed the bridge.… Read the rest

Children’s Dhamma:
The November class was well attended with two new families bringing attendance up to ten children. After the usual introductory puja we looked at the five precepts. The bowing song was great fun with everyone getting due respect. We then decorated bodhi leaves. [photo]

Venerable Visit:
Bhante Jotipalo stayed with us for about two weeks. His visit was enjoyed by all and his contribution to the work around the monastery much appreciated. He returns to Arrow River, where he has been staying for the last year, and then on to New Zealand where he will be resident at Vimutti Monastery just south of Auckland. Bon voyage. [photo]

Furniture Rustique:
Our good friend Andre from Montreal has been with us again and brought us two more of his wonderful rustic craftworks. They really do suit the style of the place. Sadhu.! 2x[photo]

TUB Progress:
The (temp) utility building now has a roof and almost all that remains to be done is fitting the door. We are still not sure how to work the water element. A conveniently placed dead pine tree has provided fuel but… where does the water come from during the winter?

First Snow:
We have had our early warning with quite a change in temperature.… Read the rest

AGM:
The Annual General Meeting for Tisarana will be held on Saturday, October 25th. This will be after the meal and before the regular Day of Mindfulness. Join us for all three.

The TUB:
As in the “Temporary Utility Building.” This is progressing well [photo] and should be operational for the winter – with, among other features, a tub. So, its “Rub a dub dub we’re off to the tub.” And when it becomes permanent? It will be: “We’re of to the….” Oh well, perhaps another acronym will evolve.

Totally Floored:
Finally, one of the last things required to finish the Cetovimutti Kuti has been finalised – the floor. We have had the materials for quite a while now but… life here is like life everywhere; many things to do and ne’er enough time to do them. Still, it is done. [photo]

Hatchet Job:
In response to our request on the web-site dana list someone gave us a hatchet – through the post. Perhaps the sort of thing one might otherwise presume to have ominous implications. Not so. Generosity is a joy.

The Bleach Boys:
Never mind that it is not Monday. Any sunny day can be laundry day at this time of year and our sparkly anagarikas have taken the advantage.… Read the rest

Counting down:
The winter retreat is still a while off but we are counting down the days remaining (see: Home Page). We are considering both the work left for us to do and the opportunity for you to visit. We are not closed over the winter but we are in silent retreat mode. 74 is the current count.!

Ordination:
The Anagarika ordination for Joseph last Saturday went extremely well. Three generations of his family joined us, both for the ceremony and for the meditation Day-of-Mindfulness. He remembered all his lines and delivered them with a strong, confident voice. In counting mode… the ordained sangha now numbers four. Photo to come.

Big Crowds:
As part of the winter count down we have reinstated the end wall of the meditation module. So, if you were thinking of being a big crowd of meditators it might be a bit squeezy, nay, say not so – cosy will it be.! Come as a small crowd; come as a faithful flock, a happy horde, a mindful mob – either way, we will fit you in.

Yet another Count:
Dracula? No, the days ’till new year. We will be having a midnight meditation/dhamma vigil and have already started collecting wood for a bonfire for the ritual burning of regrets, loss, disappointments, attachments, etc.… Read the rest

Anagarika Ordination:
Joseph will officially leave the home life for homelessness on Saturday, October 11th. You are welcome to join us for the meal at 11.30 and participate in the ordination ceremony after that; about 1:00pm.

The WOM Report:
The Weekend of Mindfulness was mindfully held last weekend. The house was (mind)full, the module was likewise with several people dropping in during the day. The regular Day of Mindfulness slotted in seamlessly, the food was great and the weather was – seasonally Canadian.

Laying Foundations:
We have two building projects on the go at the moment. [photo] The utility building is a temporary (5 years?) experiment to see what services work and what else might be required. It is being built using a lot of recycled material; eg. the old pool liner as the roof. Our next kuti has a council permit but no funds. Still, using our own labour, the foundations can be laid for the cost of a few bags of cement.

Softer Sangha:
There was a time when monks confronted wild tigers, slept under trees, mixed concrete in a wheel barrow with a shovel. And now, those Tisarana monks, have an electric concrete mixer. [photo] Is it time to bring back the hair shirt?… Read the rest

Buddha rupa Blessing:
The spirit generated last Sunday was delightful and uplifting with both the morning and afternoon sessions well attended. A dhamma talk by Ajahn Chah (in Thai with English translation) was particularly moving. There was, as usual, a lovely shared meal and even the weather blessed us with sunshine. [photo]

Samanera Ordination:
Anagarika Laurence will take the going-forth as a Samanera on Sunday, December 14th, after the meal (about 1.00). You are most welcome to come to the monastery on this day. Join us for the meal, then take part in this very auspicious event. Laurence has been with us for just over a year now and it is a joy that he feels happy and confident enough to make this ongoing commitment. Huzzah.!

Anagarika Ordination:
We are also very pleased that Joseph will be taking anagarika ordination on Saturday, October 11th. After the meal, before the usual day of mindfulness. You are most welcome to participate.

Jewelled Vassa:
During one vassa, early each morning, the Buddha descended a jewelled ladder from Tavatimsa heaven, where he had been teaching his mother. Tisarana’s ladder is very long. It is kind of silvery. And the trees close by are bedecked with colour and light.… Read the rest