| _________________________________________ |
what's new
| 2007 Saranaloka Foundation. Headquarters in San Mateo, California. |
By joining us at Saranaloka
Yahoo! Groups email you will
automatically receive updates
on events:
Groups home page:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/
saranaloka
Yahoo! Groups email you will
automatically receive updates
on events:
Groups home page:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/
saranaloka
RETREATS SCHEDULED FOR THIS WINTER AND SPRING 2009:
Saranaloka is excited to announce three upcoming retreats with
the nuns in December 2008 and 2009. We will sponsor a 5-day
New Years' retreat in California, a retreat in Colorado in March
with Ajahns Thanasanti and Metta, and a third retreat next May
with Ajahn Sundara. And, the monastic retreat next March at the
Insight Meditation Society will be led by Ajahns Thanasanti,
Metta, and Santacitta. Stay tuned...details to follow.
NUNS TO SET UP TEMPORARY RESIDENCE JANUARY-FEBRUARY:
Ajahns Thanasanti, Anandabodhi, Metta and Santacitta, all senior
nuns from Amaravati Monastery in England, will spend two
months in the San Francisco Bay Area in a temporary vihara
(residence), providing many opportunities for sharing puja,
meals, Dhamma talks and tea with them all. As events and news
become clear they will be posted on the Schedules pages. As
always, everyone is very welcome to come and spend time with
the sisters!
Saranaloka is excited to announce three upcoming retreats with
the nuns in December 2008 and 2009. We will sponsor a 5-day
New Years' retreat in California, a retreat in Colorado in March
with Ajahns Thanasanti and Metta, and a third retreat next May
with Ajahn Sundara. And, the monastic retreat next March at the
Insight Meditation Society will be led by Ajahns Thanasanti,
Metta, and Santacitta. Stay tuned...details to follow.
NUNS TO SET UP TEMPORARY RESIDENCE JANUARY-FEBRUARY:
Ajahns Thanasanti, Anandabodhi, Metta and Santacitta, all senior
nuns from Amaravati Monastery in England, will spend two
months in the San Francisco Bay Area in a temporary vihara
(residence), providing many opportunities for sharing puja,
meals, Dhamma talks and tea with them all. As events and news
become clear they will be posted on the Schedules pages. As
always, everyone is very welcome to come and spend time with
the sisters!
We are currently seeking a
suitable house to rent for the
nuns to stay in during
January-February and have
posted this flyer at various
sitting groups. If you wish to
post it at your group, you can
download and print this pdf
version.
suitable house to rent for the
nuns to stay in during
January-February and have
posted this flyer at various
sitting groups. If you wish to
post it at your group, you can
download and print this pdf
version.
. Home
. About Saranaloka
. About the Nuns
. Teaching Schedules
. What's New
. Volunteering
. Hosting Nuns
. A Guide for Layfolk
. Snapshots
USA - Winter 2008
UK Monasteries
. Support Saranaloka
. Contact Saranaloka
. Dhamma Talks
. Resources and Links
. About Saranaloka
. About the Nuns
. Teaching Schedules
. What's New
. Volunteering
. Hosting Nuns
. A Guide for Layfolk
. Snapshots
USA - Winter 2008
UK Monasteries
. Support Saranaloka
. Contact Saranaloka
. Dhamma Talks
. Resources and Links
RECENT SARANALOKA LAY SUPPORTERS' GROUP MEETING:
On June 22, the Saranaloka Foundation Supporters Group met
with Ajahns Candasiri and Anandabodhi at Casa Serena. The
group was very fortunate to have the company of Luang Por
Sumedho and Ajahns Pasanno and Amaro.
The meeting began with Ajahn Candasiri leading a puja and
welcoming Luang Por Sumedho and Ajahns Pasanno and Amaro;
Ajahn Anandabodhi lead a guided meditation.
The agenda for the meeting focused on the vision for a nuns’
monastery in the United States with Ajahn Candasiri offering a
brief overview of the history of the nuns’ community in England.
Regarding plans to establish a monastery here, she noted the
support of Abhayagiri, the preferences of the nuns, and the
strength and competence of the Saranaloka Board as being
good, supporting factors. The plan is for four nuns to set up a
monastery, but that configuration could change. The process is
step by step, and she counsels patience. She explained that
there is not yet official approval from the monastic governing
body in the UK. The idea will be presented to them in October,
and, assuming that it is approved, we can then move forward
with plans to purchase a property. Ajahn Anandabodhi reflected
that we can talk about it in depth, but it will never happen the way
we think.
Ajahn Sumedho gave very insightful reflections, drawn from his
own experience of 30 years ago when he and a handful of monks
first left Thailand to set up a vihara (small residence) in London,
noting that in California there is much more interest now than
there ever was when he first went to England. He emphasized
that going to England was a risk, setting up Abhayhagiri was a big
risk (being so far from big cities), becoming a nun is a big risk. He
reflected further that life is a risk and that we are always walking
into the unknown. We need challenges and opportunities to learn.
Setting up a monastery here is not just for the benefit of lay
people, but for the nuns themselves who will adapt and learn to
flow with situations. He also said that Jill Boone (president of
Saranaloka) has a very clear vision that he agrees with and has a
positive response to.
He went on to say that the siladhara (nuns) have learned how to
live skillfully and resolve conflict within their community. Their
skill and meditation practice as applied in the community by living
cooperatively is impressive to see, and is rare in the Western
world. They would provide a good example in the United States
where people are self-assertive and have a strong sense of
individuality, which must be tempered. It is important to develop
awareness and a way of listening that sees through the “I
wants”.
The meeting closed by paying respects to the Buddha, Dhamma
and Sangha, and everyone left in good spirits.
Once a meeting time for the next Saranaloka Lay Supporters’
meeting has has been determined an announcement will be sent
out to everyone on the Saranaloka e-list and will be listed here.
On June 22, the Saranaloka Foundation Supporters Group met
with Ajahns Candasiri and Anandabodhi at Casa Serena. The
group was very fortunate to have the company of Luang Por
Sumedho and Ajahns Pasanno and Amaro.
The meeting began with Ajahn Candasiri leading a puja and
welcoming Luang Por Sumedho and Ajahns Pasanno and Amaro;
Ajahn Anandabodhi lead a guided meditation.
The agenda for the meeting focused on the vision for a nuns’
monastery in the United States with Ajahn Candasiri offering a
brief overview of the history of the nuns’ community in England.
Regarding plans to establish a monastery here, she noted the
support of Abhayagiri, the preferences of the nuns, and the
strength and competence of the Saranaloka Board as being
good, supporting factors. The plan is for four nuns to set up a
monastery, but that configuration could change. The process is
step by step, and she counsels patience. She explained that
there is not yet official approval from the monastic governing
body in the UK. The idea will be presented to them in October,
and, assuming that it is approved, we can then move forward
with plans to purchase a property. Ajahn Anandabodhi reflected
that we can talk about it in depth, but it will never happen the way
we think.
Ajahn Sumedho gave very insightful reflections, drawn from his
own experience of 30 years ago when he and a handful of monks
first left Thailand to set up a vihara (small residence) in London,
noting that in California there is much more interest now than
there ever was when he first went to England. He emphasized
that going to England was a risk, setting up Abhayhagiri was a big
risk (being so far from big cities), becoming a nun is a big risk. He
reflected further that life is a risk and that we are always walking
into the unknown. We need challenges and opportunities to learn.
Setting up a monastery here is not just for the benefit of lay
people, but for the nuns themselves who will adapt and learn to
flow with situations. He also said that Jill Boone (president of
Saranaloka) has a very clear vision that he agrees with and has a
positive response to.
He went on to say that the siladhara (nuns) have learned how to
live skillfully and resolve conflict within their community. Their
skill and meditation practice as applied in the community by living
cooperatively is impressive to see, and is rare in the Western
world. They would provide a good example in the United States
where people are self-assertive and have a strong sense of
individuality, which must be tempered. It is important to develop
awareness and a way of listening that sees through the “I
wants”.
The meeting closed by paying respects to the Buddha, Dhamma
and Sangha, and everyone left in good spirits.
Once a meeting time for the next Saranaloka Lay Supporters’
meeting has has been determined an announcement will be sent
out to everyone on the Saranaloka e-list and will be listed here.
| _________________________________________ |