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Wheel Keeps Turning

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Warm greetings everyone,

As the snow melts and April cycles between warm and cool, the monastic community has restarted our usual routines and activities now that the Winter Retreat has finished. Another winter, another retreat, and it’s hard to believe but that’s now ten since we officially opened the monastery in June 2015.

10th Anniversary Celebration

Ajahn Anando and I arrived in July 2014, and the property was purchased the following March, a few months before a visit that previously had been scheduled by the abbot of Ajahn Chah’s main monastery in Thailand, Luang Por Liem. We made the occasion into an official monastery opening ceremony – and were joined by many visiting monks, the Thai Ambassador to the U.S. and his family and staff, and numerous Buddhist and local people. It was a joyous day, filled with smiles despite the hurricane-like winds, horizontal rain, and inside-out umbrellas. We haven’t had weather quite like that since.

Hopefully the heavens will be kinder on May 25 this year, since, coincidentally, we have another visit planned by Luang Por Liem almost exactly ten years later and have decided to mark the occasion by celebrating the monastery’s 10th anniversary. This time we will be joined by Luang Por Viradhammo and Luang Por Sucitto, as well as Ajahn Nyaniko, in addition to the group from Thailand which will include Luang Por Liem, Luang Por Jundee, Ajahn Sawaeng, Ajahn Sek, and Ajahn Moshe.

The Thai ajahns will be with us from May 23–28, and the weekend of 24–25 will be the focus. The main event will be an offering ceremony (“Pa Bah”) and anniversary celebration on Sunday, May 25. There may also be other events that arise; we’ll post these on the website as and when we know, probably much closer the time. One additional event that we do plan on is for Saturday May 24th, from 2–4 p.m.: a “Public Welcome Gathering” (for want of a suitable term) which will focus on introducing the monastery and its aims and activities to local people as well as anyone else who may be interested, including a Q&A with the abbots and some of the visiting senior western monks, and a tour of some of the buildings, grounds, and forest. Details for the weekend’s events can currently be found here >.

Everyone is very welcome to attend any part of these events – we hope to see you here.

Community

The sangha has been healthy this winter, though a few of us have had unreliable joints and have hobbled about accordingly; yet as we head into a more active period most of us are on the mend. Last year two of our monks decided to return to lay life: Tan Virajo and Tan Katanyu, and of course we added two in Tan Narado and Tan Arano. Anagarika Andrew has asked to continue the training and will have a pabbajja (novice ordination) on July 6, and we currently have two other anagarikas, Simon who’s been with us since last summer and now Ned, who took the Precepts this past weekend.

Visiting monks have included Tan Cagadhammo, who spent the Winter Retreat with us and is now at Tisarana; as it’s become traditional for our group, he is spending his third year of training away from his home monastery of Cittaviveka in the UK. Another visitor will be Tan Dhirabodhi, normally also at Cittaviveka, though for the past year he’s been residing at a hermitage in Thailand near Tan Ajahn Jayasaro. He’ll arrive in a day or two and will be with us until early June.

Monastery Development

As a result of the generosity of many supporters last year and particularly one local donor, work has now progressed on the lodgings building and we hope to have it finished soon. Next is solar/electric infrastructure. You can read more about all this here >.

In addition to this, the huge ash trees that enfold many areas of the monastery grounds are succumbing to the emerald ash borer, an invasive beetle that is wiping out the ash trees in North America, much like Dutch Elm disease did to the elms. It’s sad to see, and while providing plenty of firewood, it will be a long while before any replacement trees offer the same feeling of century-old gravitas. There will continue to be much clearing work throughout the year, no doubt.

Otherwise, we have a few wooden walking meditation paths to build, at the remaining kutis that don’t yet have them. And a forest road to work on, trails to clear, and more meditation platforms in the woods to build.

Vassa & Kathina

This year Asalha Puja is on July 10 and the Vassa will begin on the 11th. It looks like we will hold a novice ordination ceremony on July 6. The date for this year’s kathina is Sunday, October 12.

As always, please feel free to visit and use the facilities to further your Dhamma practice, coming for the meal offerings, meditation workshops, morning and evening pujas and weekly Dhamma Talks, or just practicing meditation quietly in the provided spaces. Overnight stays are available throughout the April–December period if you wish to follow the Precepts and live alongside the sangha practicing in a communal setting as we do. The Overnight Stays page on the website provides details.

We wish you all the best in this time of change and renewal – may you keep your heart and mind in a space of love and receptive to blessings.

With metta,
Jayanto Bhikkhu

Work Continues

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Work goes on in the background

Lodgings Building

We are happy to report that, due to generous donations towards the end of last year, work on the new lodgings building recommenced during the winter and is nearing completion. This work has gone on in the background for most of the resident community, with the exception of Ajahn Chaganando who has kept in daily contact with the contractors, effectively acting as project manager. Simple as it appears from the outside, it’s not a simple building because of the need for fire and other safety regulations to be met, etc., requiring a sprinkler system to be installed alongside the HVAC system. Eventually it will all be powered by solar panels installed in the field behind the Buddha pavilion.

We are very grateful to Ajahn Chaganando, and to the generous supporters who have made this possible. We hope there will be enough funds to finish within the next couple of months.

Solar/Electrical Infrastructure

The solar/electrical infrastructure project is next in line and we hope to get going on that this summer. It will involve the installation of new electric lines, a lot of trenching, two new ground-mounted transformers, inverters, and batteries, in addition to the solar panels themselves. With the prospect of the end of rebates and introduction of tariffs, we are hoping we might be able to begin acquiring the panels soon.

All this is in preparation for the eventual development of buildings as laid out in the monastery’s master plan, to power the new sala and temple as well as the lodgings buildings and new barn/utility building. So, much of the infrastructure for all that needs to be installed beforehand – which is where we are now.

10th Anniversary – Sunday, May 25, 2025

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Please join us for the weekend of May 24–25 to celebrate the passage of ten years since the monastery was formally established in June 2015. Everyone’s welcome to any part of the weekend. The main event will include a traditional offering ceremony (“Pa Bah”), Dhamma Talk in Thai and translated into English offered by Luang Por Liem (the abbot of Ajahn Chah’s monastery in Thailand), and a few presentations by others, and meeting the resident and visiting monks. This will constitute the main anniversary celebration and will take place from about 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Sunday, May 25.

In addition, we plan to provide an opportunity on the afternoon of Saturday, May 24 from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m., which will focus on introducing the monastery and its aims and activities to local people as well as anyone else who may be interested, including a Q&A with the abbots and some of the visiting senior western monks, and a tour of some of the buildings, grounds, and forest.

Details are still being confirmed, but we expect senior monastic visitors including Luang Por Liem, Luang Por Jundee, Ajahn Sawaeng, Ajahn Seksan, and Ajahn Moshe from Thailand, Luang Por Viradhammo and Luang Por Sucitto from Canada and the UK, and Ajahn Nyaniko from Abhayagiri. Everyone’s welcome – we hope to see you here if you can make it.

Temple Forest Monastery 10th Anniversary Weekend:

Friday, May 23:
7 p.m. Meditation & Dhamma Talk

Saturday, May 24:
11 a.m. – Meal Offering
2–4 p.m. – Public Welcome Gathering
5 p.m. – Tea with the monks
7 p.m. – Meditation & Dhamma Talk

Sunday, May 25:
10 a.m. – 3 p.m. – 10th Anniversary Celebration:
10:30–11 a.m. – Meal Offering & Almsround
12:30 p.m. – Presentations
12:45 p.m. – Offering Ceremony (“Pa Bah”)
1:15 p.m. – Dhamma Talk Offered by Luang Por Liem (in Thai and English)
2:15 p.m. – Meet some of the resident and visiting monks
3 p.m. – End

Songkran (Thai New Year): Sunday, April 13

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This year Songkran falls on a Sunday, and some Thai supporters have asked to celebrate by gathering to perform the ‘hand washing ceremony’ with the monks and receive a blessing in the traditional way. Please feel free to join us for the meal and afterwards on Sunday, April 13, when we will hold a small ceremony from 12–12:45 p.m. – before the Sunday Meditation Workshop.

Kathina Day – Sunday, October 20

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This year’s Kathina will take place on Sunday, October 20. As always, everyone is welcome to attend and join in the occasion. The Kathina is a ceremony established by the Buddha and observed in Theravada Buddhist countries to the present day. The hallmark of this ceremony is an unsolicited offering of cloth with which the Sangha will sew a finished robe before the next dawn; that finished robe is then bestowed upon a senior monk chosen by the sangha to be a worthy recipient. Organized by members of the lay community who wish to offer requisites and support to the monastery*, this traditional ceremony also serves as an annual coming together for the lay and monastic communities and anyone who wishes to attend, whether or not you’ve been here before.

Please feel welcome to join us for any part of the day: an alms-round and shared meal, the Kathina Offering, a Dhamma Talk offered by Ajahn Jayanto, and a chance to meet with the Sangha. Hope to see you there.

*The offering ceremony will be what’s called in Thai a “Kathina Samagee”, which implies “everyone in harmony offering together”. Therefore anyone who wishes to offer a traditional Kathina cloth to the Sangha can do so formally, one-by-one during the official ceremony: please let us know beforehand if you wish do so. Anyone wishing to offer requisites can find a list of current needs on the Contribute page. This year, the greatest need is in fact financial support to allow us to finish the Lodgings Building which is now about halfway done, and construction has been paused until there are funds to continue. This is the first major undertaking in moving ahead with the monastery’s master plan.

Schedule:

10:20 a.m. Introductory Remarks

10:30 a.m. Prepare Food Offering

10:45 a.m. Alms-round

11 a.m. Shared Meal
 (potluck)
12:30 p.m. Kathina Offering Ceremony

1:00 p.m. Dhamma Talk by Ajahn Jayanto
2:00 p.m. Close; chance to meet Sangha
2:30 p.m. End

Entering Vassa

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Last week we were honored to host a gathering of abbots and senior monks from the seven Ajahn Chah associated monasteries in the Americas (we used to refer to the six in North America, but Ajahn Mudito has joined us from a relatively new monastery in Brazil). Our monastic guests for the week included Luang Por Pasanno, Ajahn Karunadhammo, Ajahn Nyaniko, and Ajahn Cunda from Abhayagiri, Ajahn Sona from Birken, Ajahn Sudanto from Pacific Hermitage, Ajahn Punnadhammo from Arrow River, Ajahn Pavaro and Tan Sirimedho from Tisarana, and Ajahn Mudito and Tan Khemi from Suddhavari. Together with the resident community, that made 23 sangha members staying at the monastery.

That number has now reduced to include just those here for the Vassa, with twelve bhikkhus and Anagarika Andrew, and Joti having returned from Florida. This year Ajahn Narindo has joined us for this period, from Amaravati.

Summer Update

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Warm greetings from the monastery,

Members of the resident sangha have now returned from various spring travels: including journeys to several European monasteries for Ajahn Jayanto, Ajahn Anando, and Ajahn Chaganando, mainly in order to attend the celebration of Luang Por Sumedho’s 90th birthday at Amaravati, as well as to participate in abbots’ meetings; some family visits; and, for one of the monks, a five-week tudong in New England and New York (walking and wandering while sleeping outside and depending on spontaneously offered alms food).

The Vassa (the traditional monastic “Rains Retreat”) will begin on the 21st, which as always comes the day after the Buddhist full moon day known as Asalha Puja, which this year falls on Saturday, July 20. Please feel free to join us for Evening Puja and a Dhamma Talk, and afterwards a candlelit circumambulation of the Buddha on the Sima Hill, beginning at the usual time of 7 p.m.

This Vassa we should have 12 monks plus Anagarika Andrew, and Joti should be back in her kuti next door after spending time taking care of her mother in Florida. One of the monks will be visiting from Amaravati: Ajahn Narindo, a Dutch monk who has been to Temple once before, for about a month in 2017; and another, Tan Cittapalo, has joined us from Abhayagiri. Two of the monks – Arano and Narado – will be newly minted, with their ordinations scheduled for tomorrow, July 13, as has been posted on the website. Luang Por Pasanno and Ajahn Karunadhammo, as well as Ajahn Cunda, are here for that occasion.

And during the week between the ordination and Asalha Puja, we are honored to host a gathering of abbots and senior monks from the seven Ajahn Chah associated monasteries in the Americas (we used to refer to the six in North America, but Ajahn Mudito has joined us from a relatively new monastery in Brazil). Our monastic guests for the week will include Luang Por Pasanno, Ajahn Karunadhammo, Ajahn Nyaniko, and Ajahn Cunda from Abhayagiri, Ajahn Sona from Birken, Ajahn Sudanto from Pacific Hermitage, Ajahn Punnadhammo from Arrow River, Ajahn Pavaro and Tan Sirimedho from Tisarana, and Ajahn Mudito and Tan Khemi from Suddhavari. Together with the resident community, that should make 23 sangha members who will be here next week.

There will be no publicly scheduled events during this time; however, most if not all of our visitors should be present each day for the meal offering at 11 a.m., in case you’d like to see any of them. That will be Monday July 15–Thursday July 18.

We wish you all blessings, as always.

Ordination Ceremony – Saturday, July 13

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Upasampada – Monks' Ordination – Saturday, July 13

We are happy to announce that our two novices, Samanera Arano and Samanera Narado, will be taking upasampada (full bhikkhu ordination) on Saturday, July 13. Luang Por Pasanno will act as preceptor in the ceremony, and, as usual, all are welcome to witness and attend.

Please also join us for the daily meal offering at 11 a.m. if you wish, which will include an almsround which will likely begin just before 11. The ordination ceremony itself will begin at 1 p.m.

Spring updates

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Ajahn Jayasaro Dhamma Talk & Ceremony – Sunday, May 12

This weekend we are happy to host a visit from Tan Ajahn Jayasaro, who will be giving Dhamma Talks on Saturday evening at the usual time (7 p.m.) and especially on Sunday, at a ceremony organized by Thai supporters to help with the New Sala Project. Ajahn Jayasaro’s public talk will take place as part of the ceremony, and everyone is welcome for that and for any part of the day.

10:45 a.m. – Gather in tent
11 a.m. – Almsround & shared meal
12:30 p.m. – Offering Ceremony & Dhamma Talk
2 p.m. – Finish

News

After the Winter Retreat ended the community moved into our regular routines once again. This includes Sunday Meditation Workshops from 1–3 p.m. each week. We have been fortunate in having senior monastic visitors during April too, including Ajahn Jotipalo for ten days, and Ajahn Abhinando, the abbot of Dhammapala monastery in Switzerland and an old Dhamma friend of Ajahn Anando and myself, staying for one month. And as it happened, the day after he left, Ajahn Amaro (abbot of Amaravati in the UK) and Ajahn Khemaka (leading nun at Amaravati) visited us for a few days before the retreat they are currently leading at the Insight Meditation Society.

The resident monastic community has been fairly steady, which is usual for the winter period, with Tan Jino returning from Thailand in March, and Ajahn Bhuripanyo moving on this week. We have been joined by a new anagarika, Andrew, who took the Precepts on April 27.

The main projects this year are the usual upkeep tasks, building walking meditation paths and clearing forest tracks, and guiding the process as we move forward with phase one of the new sala project.

We hope you are well, and have chances to visit and share in the peaceful conditions here at the monastery, to support the cultivation of peace within the heart, and in the world.

With metta,
Jayanto Bhikkhu

News from the Monastery – Autumn 2023

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Warm greetings to everyone,

Another year has gone by, and once again we will have our annual Kathina Ceremony this weekend – tomorrow, in fact – to which you are all, as always, very welcome.

All is well at the monastery, and despite the sad passing of our dear brother Tan Candapanyo in February, there has been plenty of metta and good cheer, and committed meditation practice by the resident sangha, visitors, and guests during the ensuing months. Now once again winter approaches and we look to wrap things up in preparation for the quiet cold and the sangha’s annual three-month Winter Retreat (January, February, March).

The death of Ven. Candapanyo was unexpected and powerful for the community, and no doubt for all who knew him. He was by any measure an exceptional person. Despite normally living in pain as a result of his congenital condition (osteogenesis imperfecta, or “brittle bone disease”) and the resulting injuries and surgeries, he was always full of kindness, joy, and gratitude and left an uplifting impression each time you’d meet him. He gave all of us many gifts during his life and through his being, not least the gift of his own passing away, which helped to teach us how to care for a deceased member of our sangha.

Community

As far as the rest of the monastic community goes, as usual there have been and will be movement. This year the sangha included myself and Ajahn Anando as always, and of course Ajahn Caganando, and Ajahn Pesalo, and Ajahn Pasadiko returned after a six-month stay in Thailand where he had spent the first twenty or so years of his monastic life. Ajahn Nyanasanti, an American monk ordained in Thailand, has been with us since last December and will soon head on to Amaravati. And we have recently been joined at least for a time by Tan Bhuripanyo (also known as Tan Wade), originally from the Boston area and who has come from Wat Marp Jan. Tan Jino and Tan Virajo, each one a homegrown monastery stalwart, will be moving too: Tan Virajo temporarily for a year of training at Cittaviveka in the UK, and Tan Jino for an indefinite period to continue his training in Thailand (and of course he knows he is always welcome to rejoin us here at Temple at any time).

In July we held an upasampada and two pabbajjas, that is, ordination ceremonies for one monk and two novices: Samanera Katanyu (Barnes) became Katanyu Bhikkhu and anagarikas Forest and Nathan became Samanera Arano and Samanera Narado, respectively. We were honored to once again host Luang Por Pasanno who acted as preceptor for the ceremonies.

This year saw the departure of three of our five anagarikas, with Elijah, Jeremy, and Justin returning to lay life for now. With Forest and Nathan becoming samaneras, this left us with a single new anagarika, Derek, who as it happened had to leave earlier than expected. This left (and continues to leave) the monastery in a position we haven’t been in before: with no anagarika. Both the resident community (particularly Samanera Arano, as well as Samanera Narado, in areas where it’s appropriate) and especially the lay community have really stepped up to help cover the things anagarikas usually help to handle: managing the kitchen, cooking, driving, and money. Many of our Thai supporters in particular have been making an extra effort to bring cooked meals. We are all so grateful for the committed support.

Monastery

The change in the postulant population this year has not prevented the monastery from continuing to develop. Last year, funds for four kutis were offered and these were built during the summer. That should do it as far as kutis go, the monastery now has enough for the time being: seventeen built since the first one in 2015. There were also a number of walking meditation paths built, as well as two major repairs to the old farmhouses that comprise the Sala and the Vihara, tearing out walls, adding new ceilings, plumbing, siding, and windows.

And the largest project on which we have embarked so far will begin within the next few weeks. The master plan for the monastery’s future development includes a number of buildings that can be initiated without having first to knock others down. These include the “Utility Building” (barn replacement, workshop, storage, garage, solar battery system, etc.), and the two identical accommodation buildings for female and male overnight guests. Because of the need to move overhead electricity/phone lines before we can begin the former, and how long that has proven to take, we have changed course and decided instead to go ahead with one of the latter.

This is due to some very generous donations received over the past two years which means there should be enough funds for about 45% of estimated costs. That’s enough hopefully that, if there aren’t any more funds to allow us to continue at the point those run out, we can close up the unfinished building well enough to protect it from the weather, with a roof, windows, doors, etc., until such time when we can return to the work. Therefore, for those asking, the Lodgings Building is the monastery project most in need of support. More details can be seen on the Plans & Projects page of the website >.

As always we wish you, and all beings everywhere, all the best.

With metta and blessings from the sangha,

Jayanto Bhikkhu

Kathina Day – Sunday, November 5, 2023

/ Temple Forest Monastery/

Kathina Ceremony – November 5

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This year’s Kathina will take place on Sunday, November 5. As usual, it will be held outdoors in a big tent. This year we will be joined by Ajahn Nyaniko, the new abbot of Abhayagiri now that Luang Por Pasanno has stepped back, and by Ajahn Sek, who some of you may remember spent a few months with us in 2021. They will be with us for about a week including the Kathina ceremony and will return to Abhayagiri in time for their own shortly thereafter.

As always, everyone is welcome to attend and join in the occasion. The Kathina is a ceremony established by the Buddha and observed in Theravada Buddhist countries to the present day. The hallmark of this ceremony is an unsolicited offering of cloth with which the Sangha will sew a finished robe before the next dawn; that finished robe is then bestowed upon a senior monk chosen by the Sangha to be a worthy recipient. Organized by members of the lay community who wish to offer requisites and support to the monastery, this traditional ceremony also serves as an annual coming together for the lay and monastic communities and anyone who wishes to attend.

This year, for the first time, there has been no “main sponsor” of the Kathina who’s come forth wishing specially to facilitate the offerings and financial support usually offered to the monastery at this time. Instead various monastery supporters have asked for the occasion to take place, and so we have a date – November 5 – and they are inviting anyone interested to join them in making offerings*.

In fact this is usual too; that is, everyone is welcome to join us for any part of the day: an alms-round and shared meal, the Kathina Offering, a Dhamma Talk offered by Ajahn Nyaniko, and a chance to meet with the Sangha. Hope to see you there.

* The offering ceremony will be what’s called in Thai a “Kathina Samagee”, which implies “everyone in harmony offering together”. Therefore anyone who wishes to offer a traditional Kathina cloth to the Sangha can do so formally, one-by-one during the official ceremony: please let us know beforehand if you wish do so. Anyone wishing to offer requisites can find a list of current needs on the Contribute page. For those wishing to know what’s most needed: currently it is in fact financial support to allow us to finish the Lodgings Building we are soon to break ground on, which is the first major undertaking in moving ahead with the monastery’s master plan. We already have enough for about half the construction cost and plan to begin building during the next month nevertheless, with an option of stopping for an indefinite pause half way through if adequate funds aren’t yet there.

Schedule:

10:15 a.m. Introductory Remarks

10:30 a.m. Prepare Food Offering

10:45 a.m. Alms-round

11 a.m. Shared Meal

12:30 p.m. Kathina Offering Ceremony

1:00 p.m. Dhamma Talk by Ajahn Nyaniko
2:00 p.m. Close; chance to meet Sangha
2:30 p.m. End

Upasampada & Pabbajja Ordinations – Sunday, July 2

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Luang Por Pasanno on alms-round at Temple Forest Monastery

On Sunday, July 2 Luang Por Pasanno will be here to preside over a monk’s ordination (bhikkhu upasampada) for Samanera Katañño (a.k.a. Barnes Peterson). And Anagarikas Forest and Nathan will likewise be requesting the Going Forth (samanera pabbajja) into the sangha as novices.

The Sunday Meditation Workshop will therefore be cancelled on July 2. Please feel welcome to attend this auspicious event, and thereby help to welcome the three samanas into their next stage of monastic life. Proceedings begin at 10:45 a.m. with a traditional alms-round and shared meal, or come for the ceremony which should begin at 1 p.m.

News from the monastery – Autumn 2022

/ Temple Forest Monastery/

Warm greetings to everyone,

It’s been a good while since we’ve posted a more comprehensive news-from-the-monastery update, and with the Kathina coming up this weekend, and Luang Por Sumedho’s stay with us entering its final month, I thought to share some of the happenings here over the past year, the comings and goings, the projects and plans, as well as a look forward.

Community

After the Kathina last year the sangha all stayed pretty much in place, in keeping with the ongoing pandemic situation, and we moved into our Winter Retreat with two cases of Covid in the sangha but otherwise everyone remained – as we have done since – virus free. A peaceful retreat was had by all. Afterwards four of the five retreat support team members requested entry to the community as anagarikas, were accepted, and have since gone forth in batches from April through July. So while we said goodbye to Anagarika Eddie – and welcomed into brown robes Barnes and Lasse as Samaneras Katanyo and Khemako respectively – we have welcomed in Anagarikas Elijah, Jeremy, Forest, and Justin, as well as Nathan who you may remember was an anagarika here some years ago and has returned for another go.

April saw a lovely visit by Ayya Anandabodhi and Ayya Santacitta for a few days after their IMS retreat, long planned but pandemic delayed. Ajahn Kumaro departed in order to accept an invitation to practice indefinitely in Asheville, North Carolina; we are all grateful for his many contributions and presence during the five years he has been with us at Temple. And Tan Jino returned after his year-and-a-half stint at Abhayagiri. In June we were joined by Ven. Parimutto, a five-vassa monk from Wat Pah Nanachat who is British and American; and in July by Ajahn Nandiyo, a sixteen-vassa German monk most recently at Amaravati who came for a three-month visit. In August, in time to enter the “Second Vassa” after having first visited Abhayagiri and Tisarana, we were of course joined by Luang Por Sumedho and Ajahn Asoko – who have been suitably and comfortably ensconced in Nirodha House ever since.

With twenty samanas (sangha members) and often about a dozen overnight guests, as well as a number of regular day visitors, this Vassa the monastery has been full. Though bursting at the seams a bit, the atmosphere has remained cheerful and loving, and committed when it comes to each person using their time wisely to further their practice.

As we move into another winter Ajahn Anando will be leaving for seven weeks to visit our monasteries in the UK and Switzerland, and just before his return to Temple I will be leaving also, for seven weeks to Thailand. Ajahn Pasadiko will be coming with me and staying on there at least for a time, after having spent the past four years or so here at Temple. And Ajahn Jivako will be leaving us too: he has accepted an invitation to help guide an emerging hermitage project in India which will be linked to Wat Pah Nanachat, by residing there as the senior incumbent for at least an exploratory initial period. Both ajahns know that they are always welcome back.

Monastery

Since March it’s been pretty much back to normal functioning in all areas at the monastery in contrast to the past two years of pandemic limitations of various kinds. While there has been no building of kutis or anything other than finishing the entrance and grounds at Nirodha House in preparation for Luang Por Sumedho’s visit, the sangha and our generous guests and helpers have been beavering away at continuing projects such as making trails and building walking meditation paths, cutting and stacking wood and caring for the grounds, and fixing the inevitable breaking bits of our repurposed old farm buildings.

In July a number of supporters held a “Pa Bah” (Offering Ceremony) and funds to build a new kuti were generously offered. Despite having already built thirteen we haven’t had enough kutis this summer for all our sangha members, and three of the anagarikas have had to live in tents. We plan to build two more kutis next year. Since Luang Por’s arrival he has been offering weekly public Dhamma Talks, which we’ve held as best we can in the Sala – the 250-year-old farmhouse that can barely fit us all. So far so good. Just. (Let’s hope the floor doesn’t collapse.)

Plans

With the accommodation and gathering places getting tight for space, we are pleased to have moved ahead in creating a “master plan” for the future development of the monastery. In fact, we were able to implement one part of this plan already this summer as a result of a generous donation that covered the installation of a solar array on the Jessen Lane side of the property. This is now providing more than enough power for both the Vihara and Nirodha House, and includes a battery backup system which acts as an emergency generator – needed because of frequent power cuts which would also stop the supply of water from the well. Now there are no interruptions, and heating and water should be steady no matter the weather and wind.

Having worked together with an architect and landscape engineer to arrive at an adequate preliminary outline, the plans are at the stage where we have brought them to the town planning board to see what may be necessary for approval. That process has just begun but should be fairly straightforward since permission in principle for everything we’ve asked for in the master plan was already given by the zoning and planning boards back when the property was purchased in 2015. If you are interested in the plans as they stand now (they will no doubt be tweaked and changed somewhat over time) they are described here.

Kathina

Please do consider coming to the Kathina on Sunday if you can. It will be a special occasion with Luang Por Sumedho giving a talk and likely being available afterwards, and with Luang Por Viradhammo visiting also for the first time in a few years.

As always we wish you and your loved ones good health, wisdom, and happiness.

With metta and blessings from the sangha,

Jayanto Bhikkhu

Kathina Day – Sunday, October 16, 2022

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Kathina Ceremony – October 16

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This year’s Kathina will take place on Sunday, October 16. It will be held outdoors, in a big tent on the field. It is special this year as we have Luang Por Sumedho staying with us for the Vassa, and, for this ceremony, Luang Por Viradhammo will come down from Tisarana to take part as well.

As always, everyone is welcome to attend and join in the occasion. The Kathina is a ceremony established by the Buddha and observed in Theravada Buddhist countries to the present day. The hallmark of this ceremony is an unsolicited offering of cloth with which the Sangha will sew and dye a finished robe before the next dawn; that finished robe is then bestowed upon a senior monk chosen by the Sangha to be a worthy recipient. Organized by members of the lay community who wish to offer requisites and support to the monastery, this traditional ceremony serves also as an annual gathering for the lay and monastic communities and anyone who wishes to attend.

Everyone is welcome to join us for any part of the day: an alms-round and shared meal, the Kathina Offering, a Dhamma Talk offered by Luang Por Sumedho, and a chance to meet with the visiting Luang Por Viradhammo and the resident sangha.

Schedule:

10:15 a.m. Introductory Remarks

10:30 a.m. Prepare Food Offering

10:45 a.m. Alms-round

11 a.m. Shared Meal

12:30 p.m. Kathina Offering Ceremony

1:00 p.m. Dhamma Talk by Ajahn Sumedho
2:00 p.m. Close; chance to meet Sangha
2:30 p.m. End

Dhamma Talks by Ajahn Sumedho

/ Temple Foest Monastery/

We have been honored this year with a visit by Ajahn (Luang Por) Sumedho, who is spending the Vassa with us here at Temple. Luang Por is now 88 years old yet still offering regular teachings, and has graciously offered to give a Dhamma Talk each Sunday afternoon at 3 p.m. while he is resident at the monastery from now until early November.

Check the website each Saturday to see if his Sunday Talk is still scheduled (depending on events and energy levels we may cancel them from time to time); unless otherwise noted the talk will go ahead. But all going well – and presuming we can all fit in the Sala – there will be a public Dhamma Talk here at the monastery at 3 p.m. which everyone is welcome to attend.

It may be crowded. During the warm weather we may move the event outdoors. In addition, we plan to post the Dhamma Talks promptly after they are given (within a few days) both as audio and as video – check the Audio and Video pages if you are interested to hear them in these ways.

‘Pa Bah’ Offering Ceremony – Sunday, July 3

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Alms-round during the 2014 Pa Bah at Temple

A “Pa Bah” almsgiving ceremony will be held at the monastery on Sunday, July 3, 2022, from 10.15 a.m.–2.30 p.m. This is a traditional occasion in Theravada Buddhist countries when members of the lay community ask to come together at the monastery in a formal way in order to offer material support to the monastic community. This July some of our local Thai-American friends have asked to offer a Pa Bah and they invite anyone else who may be interested to join with them (just come along). The occasion includes informal opportunities to meet the sangha and others in the wider lay community. A Dhamma Talk will be offered after an alms-round and shared meal and the ceremony for the offering of requisites.

Everyone is most welcome to come for all or any part of the day, whether bringing offerings or just wishing to hear a Dhamma Talk or visit with the sangha and others.

When: 

Sunday, July 3, 2022, 10 a.m.–2.30 p.m.

Where:

Temple Forest Monastery     

32 Derbyshire Ln,

Temple, NH, 03084

Schedule:

10.30 a.m.    Prepare Food Offering  

10.45 a.m.    Alms-round

11 a.m.    Shared Meal

12.30 p.m.    Precepts, Paritta Chanting & Offering Ceremony  

1 p.m.    Dhamma Talk by Ajahn Jayanto  

2 p.m.    Close of Ceremony & Chance to Meet Sangha

Novices Go Forth on Wesak

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Sunday May 15 was this year’s full moon of the month of Visakha (known as Wesak Day or Visakha Puja) when it is traditional to celebrate the Buddha’s birth, enlightenment, and passing. This year we did this by holding a novice ordination (samanera pabbajja) for two of our postulants: Anagarika Barnes and Anagarika Lasse, who formally requested the Going Forth from the “home life” into “homelessness”, and donned the ochre robes of the samana (renunciant) in the ancient, traditional way. They are now known as Samanera Katañño and Samanera Khemako, respectively.

Many people came to witness the event, and wish the two new novices well in their auspicious undertaking. May their training bear the highest fruit.

October News

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Warm greetings to everyone,

I hope this finds you and your loved ones well; the sangha at Temple continues to send our metta to you all, and we are grateful for the well-wishing we too have received.

Here we are now at the end of another Vassa, approaching the end of another year, a strange one like the last with the continuing need for particular care and the uncertainties involved in managing our lives during these extraordinary times. The pandemic precautions necessary for much of the past eighteen months have eased substantially, and, for the past number of months routines at the monastery have been back to nearly normal: at the moment we ask day-visitors to wear masks when indoors, and keep the windows open to aid with ventilation.

Today is the last day of the Vassa, the traditional Rains Retreat which has helped structure the lives of Theravada Buddhists for thousands of years. It is known as Pavarana Day and, for the monastic community, is the one lunar observance day of the year the sangha does not need to recite the rules of discipline they keep, but instead each individual ceremonially invites admonishment and advice from their companions regarding the training.

Kathina Day – Sunday, October 24

This week preparations are underway for the first potentially big event for … two years, I guess: Kathina 2019. In a few days – Sunday, October 24, beginning at 10:15 a.m. – we will hold this year’s Kathina Ceremony in a big tent on the hill, as in past years. As usual, everyone is welcome to attend or join in. Activities will be held outdoors, so if you come do please dress warmly enough for the occasion. Details and a schedule have been posted on the website. We will be honored to receive a visit for the occasion from the Thai ambassador and colleagues from the embassy in Washington for the day, though unfortunately, because of the continuing land border closure into the country, Luang Por Viradhammo and the monks from Tisarana monastery in Canada whom we had hoped to welcome will not be able to attend. Therefore it will be simply the resident sangha who spent the three-month Rains Retreat here at Temple present on the day.

That community has been healthy, and engaged in the usual summer combination of activity and personal retreats. It includes myself, Ajahn Anando, Ajahn Pasadiko, Ajahn Caganando, Ajahn Kumaro, Tan Pesalo, Tan Mangalo (visiting from Chuang Yen Monastery in NY), Tan Candapañño, Tan Paladhammika (an American monk visiting from Malaysia), Tan Virajo, Anagarika Barnes, Anagarika Lasse, and Anagarika Eddie. Ajahn Jivako is spending the Vassa at Tisarana and plans to return next month. Joti is also well and engaged in monastery life as usual, living in her kuti next door. Anagarikas Zackaria and Rusty completed their year-long commitments in May and returned to lay life, and Tan Santi left the community to pursue his monastic life elsewhere late last year.

The “activity” this year has included continuing work on the grounds and in the forest, creating trails and further developing the site for use as a contemplative sanctuary, and the required maintenance tasks that come with the stewardship of land (clearing brush, mowing, etc.). In July we held a “working bee” (as it’s called in the UK) where volunteers came all at once on a Saturday to help complete some of these tasks. Otherwise we’ve built four more kutis, repaired a bunch of broken or breaking things that old buildings require, split and chopped many piles of firewood, and continued the finishing work on Nirodha House, the farmhouse we completely renovated last year. That work is nearly done, though the outside entrance and driveway area still need to be completed; nevertheless, Luang Por Pasanno was able to become its first visiting dignitary when he stayed there during his two-week visit to Temple in May. That visit was a joy for all, although unfortunately due to inclement weather his planned public Dhamma Talk had to be canceled. Yet the following week he was able to fulfill the main purpose of his visit to Temple which was to act as preceptor to Tan Virajo in an ordination ceremony here on the Sima Hill.

Pavilion delay

Other activity has involved planning for the monastery’s potential future development, which has contributed to a delay in the construction of the pavilion we announced last year. Three factors have contributed to our decision to shelve that project for the time being: the high quote received when materials costs skyrocketed in combination with the engineering needs for the proposed plan becoming clear; the fact that in the meantime we had obtained a used tent which could be used during the pandemic; and the assumption of the aforementioned planning meaning we’d be better off deciding where the pavilion should go as part of that process. For those who contributed to the pavilion funds, please see the Plans & Projects page on the website for more details.

Once again we continue to wish everyone well: may you have health, happiness and wisdom, and we hope to see you here at some point whenever suitable conditions come together. Sending all blessings,

With metta,
Jayanto Bhikkhu 

Kathina Day – Sunday, October 24, 2021

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Jetavana Kathina – October 24

2021/2564

This year’s Kathina will take place on Sunday, October 24. As always, everyone is welcome to attend and take part in the occasion. The Kathina is a ceremony established by the Buddha and observed in Theravada Buddhist countries to the present day. The hallmark of this ceremony is an unsolicited offering of cloth with which the Sangha will sew and dye a finished robe before the next dawn; that finished robe is then bestowed upon a senior monk chosen by the Sangha to be a worthy recipient. Organized by members of the lay community who wish to offer requisites and support to the monastery, this traditional ceremony serves also as an annual gathering for the lay and monastic communities and anyone who wishes to attend.

Everyone is welcome to join us for any part of the day: an alms-round and shared meal, the Kathina Offering, a Dhamma Talk offered by Luang Por Viradhammo, [UPDATE: due to the continuing land border closure into the country, Luang Por Viradhammo will not be able to attend; a Dhamma Talk will instead be offered by Ajahn Jayanto] and a chance to meet the sangha.

Schedule:

10:15 a.m. Introductory Remarks

10:30 a.m. Prepare Food Offering

10:45 a.m. Alms-round

11 a.m. Shared Meal

12:30 p.m. Kathina Offering Ceremony

1:00 p.m. Dhamma Talk by Ajahn Jayanto

2:00 p.m. Close; chance to meet Sangha
2:30 p.m. End

Saturday, July 17 – Community Work Day

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The sangha invites any able-bodied volunteers to help us with some outdoor work on the grounds of the monastery, mainly with trail clearing in the forest. If you are interested to help with a group working session with the monks in the morning and/or afternoon of Saturday July 17, do mark it in your calendar and plan to come. There will be two sessions, 8–11am and 1–4pm, with a shared meal from 11–12:30pm and tea and Dhamma discussion with the abbots at 5pm for whoever would like to stay on – as well as a Dhamma Talk offered as usual that evening after the evening puja if you would like to stay through until around 9.

The work will involve pruning, raking, and moving brush, and laying woodchips along the cleared trails. Hope to see you here!