News Updates, Page 33

Vassa 2007:
It was delightful to have so many people join us on Saturday for the meal and the days dhamma activities. Ajahn Viradhammo gave a fine talk and the community meditated until midnight. The vassa was formally established on Monday.

Site Plan:
The next step, following on from the zoning approval, is submitting a site plan of intended works. Initially this will be three kutis. We need to establish their precise location on site. Our consultants have kindly agreed to show Ajahn Kusalo how this is done so that for our next submission we can be somewhat more independent. The short of this is that we now have a (cheap) GPS unit.

Being here Now:
Where here is 44 degrees, 47.029N — 076 degrees 19.060W — 523 feet above the sea, and now is, well, now.

Fading Pool:
Slowly, by degrees (N, S, E & W) the swimming pool is not-being. We are fortunate to have a neighbour (Doug) with a big digger. Yes, that’s Dougs Digger doing the deed. [photo]

Adorable:
Anagarika Alan has been, and is, as well as his monastic duties, doing some great work around the place. A set of doors for the workshop being one of them.… Read the rest

Vassa:
Sunday 29th is the full moon of July – Asahla Puja. This heralds the beginning of the vassa (the three month rainy season in Asia). We will be marking this occassion on Saturday. There will be a pot-luck dana, the usual ‘Day of Mindfulness’ and some reflections in the evening. You are most welcome to join with us.

Newspaper Article:
A reporter from the Perth Courier recently came round to interview us. The article was well written and presented with a photo of Ajahn Viradhammo. We have a copy at the monastery should you wish to see that.

Gardener:
Denny is overseeing much of our ground work and would like to meet with anyone who has a sense of garden layout, suitable plants etc. Write to the monastery.

Sutta:
Our Wednesday sutta study has evolved into a daily (evening tea time) study of the Four Noble Truths. We are using the text by Venerable Nyanatiloka – ‘Word of the Buddha.’ There are copies of this available on-line.

Batty:
A bat somehow found its way into the shrine room – a Buddhist Bat? Ever tried herding bats? Cats are a doddle by comparison. Marion and Alan danced a merry jig, blocking and guiding, steering and directing.… Read the rest

Council Approval:
Our zoning application was unanimously approved by council and there is now a 20 day appeal period. All going well our building permit for kutis should arrive not long after this. Yeee hahhhh ! !

Kuti Builder:
Met with John the builder and agreed that he would oversee construction of our first two kutis. He is happy to work with us (whoever ‘us’ might turn out to be at the time) and there is no real reason why we shouldn’t have these finished – at least usable – for the winter retreat.

Defensive:
A screen door has been fitted to the Opanayiko kuti. So, that’s a bug net, a regular door, a screen door, a storm door… Where is the faith in the protection of the Dhamma? I admit that I don’t know of any sutta covering the vagaries of Canadian bugs and weather.

Cat Liberation:
Young Fred the cat has broken down the barriers. Cast off the shackles of bondage. Exited the door of the house. Walked on the lawn of liberation. And, returned to share his adventures – beautiful in the beginning, marvelous in the middle and easeful in the end.

Meditation:
Yes, there has been a lot about.… Read the rest

Zoning Meeting:
Our zoning application was presented to the Tay Valley Council last night (July 10th) and all went very well. Full council approval is pending and this (assuming a ‘thumbs up’) is followed by a 20 day appeal period. It has been quite a protracted process but good to know that we are ‘doing it right’ from the outset.

Days of Mindfulness:
Tisarana DOMs are on Sunday for: 15th July AND 12th August. This is because OBS have their DOMs on the Saturday (14th & 11th respectively). So… you can have a full weekend of mindfulness. A full week. A full life.!

Swimming Pool:
The long, drawn out demise continues. Anagarika Alan and Ajahn Kusalo have been doggedly doing the deed. [photos]

Direct Credit/Debit:
We have switched banks and it is now possible to make a direct credit to our account. Contact the office for details.

The Law:
Old age, sickness and death. One of the very old apple trees on the property has lost a couple of arms. It was a still and quiet night – until, cRaSh… and there you go. [photo]

Freed Frog:
Marion has been maintaining the balcony garden, assiduously watering. [photo] But…? The watering can is full, but why won’t the water come out?… Read the rest

DOM changes:
Saturday “Days of Mindfulness” will be on Sunday on…… 15th July AND 12th August. Mark those days on your calendar.

Big truck – Small car:
We have the one, and it is great around the property and local runs but, its a big steamer. We need a small, economical, reliable sedan for trips to Ottawa and the like. Any suggestions?

Gutted:
First the working bee clean-up shifted the clutter in the workshop basement. Then, Samanera Paramitto let loose swinging a big hammer and yielding a monster pry bar. What was there is no longer – just empty space. It looks just great and will probably be construction storage – lumber, plumbing, electrical. [photo]

Exits:
We don’t let them all escape so easily. Ajahn Sucitto was weatherbound overnight in Chicago taking nearly 30 hours to get back to Chithurst. Venerable Pavaro only just made it to the airport. Gashed his head on the car door in the scramble, just squeaked through check-in security, only to have to wait for remaining passengers. As far as we know Ven. Khemmaratana made it back to Bhavana without mishap.

Land Co-op:
The meeting last Saturday was extremely well attended and the interest is high.… Read the rest

Land Co-op:
There is a meeting at Tisarana on Saturday 30th, 5pm, to discuss various options around living on a common property as well as other forms of co-operative living . There are many possibilities. There are currently 12 people intending to attend. Ajahn Viradhammo will chair the meeting. If you would like to join, just turn up. To follow the results, contact Bill & Lorraine: heartland@tallships.ca

Changing Faces:
Sure, why not? A little silicon, a sharp knife… No, not that silly. Merely face relocation(s). Ajahn Sucitto to Chicago/UK, Ven. Pavaro back to Birken and Bhante Khemmaratana back to Bhavana on Tuesday. The exit line will be balanced by the return of Ajahn Punnadhammo and Samanera Paramitto on Friday. They will be staying for about a week. Such is the nature of a monastery at this time of year. Things will quiet down for the vassa – in about a month.

Garden Grows:
With all the rain and warm weather we have been having the garden is looking superb. There is such a wonder of beautiful flowers and grasses around the house and beyond. Much of this, of course, is our inheritance from the previous owners. Thanks for that. [photo]

Tiny Kuti:
General zoning allows us to freely errect a building of up to 100 square feet.… Read the rest

Monastic Visitors:
There are several. The biggest the Tisarana sangha has been with seven ordained samanas. A while ago we welcomed Bhante Khemmaratana. Friday saw Venerable Pavaro from Birken Monastery in B.C. join us and yesterday evening we were delighted to welcome Ajahn Sucitto. He is on a short tour of U.S. and Ca. and will be with us for a few days. Today was a bit of ‘R&R’ for Aj. Sucitto – a bit of kayaking on Pike lake – ooops, tippy, tippy. The hat managed to stay afloat. [no photo]

Working Bees:
On Saturday about 20 people came to join for the working bee. We started about nine in the morning and broke around 11 for a shared meal. The weather was brilliant – sunny, with enough breeze to keep the bugs away – and several people ate outside. A tremendous amount was achieved: both barn basements cleared, swimming pool ‘modified’, trees trimmed, kuti materials delivered, etc.. Many thanks to all those who could come. [photos]

Happy Bees:
There was a lot of work done but the pace was pretty relaxed. There was time during the day to stop for a drink and a chat. Time for a mid-afternoon group meditation in the sala.… Read the rest

Working Bee:
This Saturday – Tisarana. Come anytime through the day, stay the night if you wish. There are lots of non-technical projects: swimming pool, barn clearance, firewood, tree trimming, etc. If you think you might come can you contact Dianne: diannelande@yahoo.ca – 613 264 9661

On the Path:
Several accessways have been made – the way is easier. To the office, across the stream, to the beaver pond and to the second kuti site. To freedom? Always a work in progress. [photos]

Canoe:
Does anyone have an old canoe? We only have a small (with sticks and rocks) lake so old, ‘bashable’ is ideal. We could even repair. Get out on the water and sit about, watch the birds, meditate, chant.

Ouch.!!:
The swimming pool has had its cerebral membrane punctured and is on the way to non-being. The plan is to restore the ground to more or less original contours and return to grass. There is a big pile of rock adjacent so with luck we may not have to import fill. [photo]

Monastery History:
Lorne came around on Sunday to set headstones in memory of his wife Vivian’s, mother and father. It is lovely to include these aspects in the monastery, our heritage, extended community.… Read the rest

Welcome Bhante:
Bhante Khemmaratana has been with us for about a week now visiting from Bhavana monastery, West Virginia. He is planning on staying for about a month. It is very nice having him here. An enthusiastic nature lover he was keen to spend some time in a tent. We have several, so no reason at all why not… well, the weather? No sooner was he tented than “the rains came down and the floods came up.” Several serious liquid deliveries. But these tough forest monks are… waterproof. [photo]

Monastic Law:
A rough translation from a Pali commentary… “If materials and/or tradespeople can possibly arrange to arrive at lunch time, then they will.” Our new fridge has been long awaited. Yes, the meal was ready. It was being offered. The door bell rings. Three large men proceed to remove the old fridge. It was a graceful ballet of monks and men, bowls, bowing and beg-pardon. We managed to fit the anumodana chanting in – between the exit of the old and entry of the new. A little more shuffling and shunting, exuse us, sorry and it was in. Glorious – the meal – AND the new fridge.

Sutta Studies:
We seem to have gotten these rolling again.… Read the rest

Vesak:
What a great day we had. The weather was not too hot, not too cold. Not too many bugs. Two extra portaloos. Could this be heaven? Ajahn Viradhammo introduced the morning and offered several readings from the Buddha’s life story, focussing on birth and enlightenment. The children then presented a splendid rendition of the enlightenment [view video: www.tisarana.ca/news_detail/vesak_kids]. A joyous rice pindapad followed by a shared lunch. Tea and chat. Death (of the Buddha). The natural order of things. What a joy it is to gather in these simple ways; celebration, reflection, meditation. The monastery is working well.

The Monastic Month:
June will see quite a few monastics visiting Tisarana. Sister Mon has been here for a few days already and Bhante Khemaratana arrives today. Both are staying for about a month. We will also have Ajahns Sucitto & Punnadhammo and Venerable Pavaro, although not all at the same time.

Floods:
Some of you may have entered the basement door and stepped into a large puddle inches deep. No more.! Several water outlets were feeding into a very old non-soaking, soak pit. A bit of plastic magic and these are now exiting via the main soakage field. Your best socks can once again be worn with impunity – and trousers, or skirts please.… Read the rest