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Spring News

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Warm greetings from the monastery,

The blooming has arrived, along with black flies and ticks, the pleasant and the unpleasant together in life as always. After the winter retreat, which was white and cold and beautifully still, the cycles of the monastic year continue; there is again more movement and activity amid the greening at the monastery.

News

Karunasom, the name of the new dormitory building, has been in use since its completion last December. Occupied by the support team for the winter retreat, the kinks have been ironed out (it’s an exquisitely energy efficient building, soon to run entirely on solar, and therefore technologically equipped) and it is now serving as the women’s guest accommodation building; male guests stay in the old “Triplex”. Karunasom will sometimes serve other functions – it will need to house the visiting monks coming for the Pa Bah week in July – yet ordinarily the new building will be available for women who wish to practice alongside the sangha for a limited time in the usual way. Some time in the future, the master plan envisions the construction of an identical building for men.

Other changes to the monastery landscape and surrounds are expected soon, some uplifting, some depressing, the pleasant and the unpleasant together in life as always. Bad news first: the beautiful forested vista over which both Karunasom and the Sala look out to the east, and the tall forest on the south side of Converse Rd as you drive in, have been inherited by people who apparently plan to log all the trees and wish to develop the property into houses. All of our neighbors have joined together to see what can be done to make an alternative offer in order to preserve the natural landscape; however, so far to no avail. So it is possible that the next time you visit there may be big changes to the surrounding environment, suddenly clear-cut where once towered trees.

The uplifting changes expected this summer are the result of generous special donations, the first of which will allow us to complete the solar infrastructure project, making the monastery electricity-self-sufficient – hopefully before the cold weather sets in. In anticipation of making use of this “free electricity”, we have been able to replace two of the monastery vehicles with two (used) electric ones. So there will be numerous solar panels erected on the hill behind the Buddha and the Meeting House, and more trenching done this summer.

The other donation will likewise change the landscape of the same hill where the solar panels will go, by making possible the building of a small cottage, or double kuti, where aging or injured monks can more easily stay on our hilly property. It will be close and fairly level to the Sala and have electricity (from the panels) and wheelchair-accessible bathrooms. On the master plan it is called Aroga Cottage, and, structure-wise on the property, it will essentially replace the old rotting cottage at the end of the drive, behind the storage building. That cottage was unsafe and needed to be demolished, so we invited the Temple Volunteer Fire Department to use it for their training, which they did throughout the past year, before burning it to the ground on April 18. The firefighters were delighted and grateful to the monastery for providing a rare opportunity to practice their life-saving skills.

That very morning was also when we celebrated the Thai New Year, or Songkran, when the Thai Consul-General was able to visit from New York for the traditional hand-washing ceremony – an interesting combination of disparate activities happening at the same time. This year’s Vesak Day (Visakha Puja) falls on May 31 (this weekend) – for those planning to join the sangha for the traditional evening circumambulation, please note that will take place the night before: after the Evening Puja and Dhamma Talk on Saturday, May 30 (tonight, that is). The Vassa begins on July 30, with Asalha Puja on the 29th.

Events

The big events this year at the monastery will be the Kathina, on Sunday, November 1, and an Offering Ceremony, or Pa Bah, on July 5. The latter event will be part of a special week of visits by a group of senior disciples of Ajahn Chah from Thailand and Abhayagiri, who will be visiting Temple from July 2–8. It will include Luang Por Dumrong Sucitto (abbot of Wat Pleum Pathana in Buriram), Luang Por Dumrong Siribhaddo (abbot of Wat Pa Kam Geng in Ubon Rachathani), Luang Por Pasanno (Guiding Elder of Abhayagiri), and Luang Por Jundee Kantasaro (abbot of Wat Pah Ampawan in Chonburi); also Ajahn Seksan, Ajahn Moshe, and Ajahn Kai Chandadhammo. Please do visit at that time if you wish to take part or meet the visiting monks. More details will be announced closer to the time, but the big day will be Sunday, July 5.

Luang Por Pasanno will be staying on a few more days in order to act as preceptor for Samanera Bodhi, who plans to take upasampada as a bhikkhu on Friday, July 10. That ceremony will also include three novice ordinations (samanera pabbajja) for anagarikas Ryan, Simon, and Eddie.

Community

We have been full with sangha members this past year, and have sixteen in residence now. That includes two new anagarikas who took the Precepts earlier this month – Ben and Jake – who were part of the Winter Retreat support team. Recent sangha visitors have included Ajahn Jaras (pronounced “ja-rat”), a senior Thai monk, abbot of Wat Mettagiri in Chaiyaphum Province, and an old friend of both Ajahn Jayanto and Ajahn Anando from nearly thirty years ago when he was secretary at Wat Pah Nanachat, and Ajahn Ariyo, an American/British monk and likewise an old friend, who will soon be moving back to Aruna Ratanagiri (Harnham), the UK monastery where he first trained, where the plan is that he will assume the duties of abbot from long-serving abbot Luang Por Munindo.

As ever, you are most welcome to join us for a visit or a stay, and practice alongside the sangha in this beautiful place in these not always beautiful times, and bring to light the beauty of the Dhamma which is unaffected by the pleasant and the unpleasant, unobstructed by selfishness and free to care for all.

With all blessings,
Jayanto Bhikkhu

Fire Training at the Monastery

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Temple and other local Volunteer Fire Departments complete their training at the Cottage

The small cottage the monastery had inherited as part of the property, which was situated at the end of the driveway that loops down from Derbyshire Ln, had become unsafe over the years with mold, rot, and animal damage, and needed to be demolished. Initially some monks had used it as a kuti, but not for the last few years. The building was anyway slated to be replaced in the Master Plan by a double-kuti with accessible bathrooms for older monks (this will happen this summer: called Aroga Cottage, the replacement building will be situated behind it at the end of the back field). Therefore, last year we invited the Temple Volunteer Fire Department to use the old cottage for their training, which they did throughout 2025. Their grand finale and main training day took place on April 18, when they and other local volunteer fire and emergency services all descended upon the cottage to send in team after team to practice while they burned it to the ground.

By coincidence, that morning was also when we celebrated the Thai New Year, or Songkran, and the Thai Consul-General had come up from New York for the traditional hand-washing ceremony. This was, needless to say, an interesting combination of activities, and the visiting diplomat was quite pleased to see that the monastery could help the local community in this unusual way.

The firefighters expressed much gratitude to the monastery for providing a rare opportunity to practice their life-saving skills. And we are delighted to have been able to do so for our brave volunteers, the neighbors who look after the community in this vital way. Hopefully we’ll never need their services (smile-emoji).

 
 

Kathina Day – Sunday, November 1, 2026

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This year’s Kathina will take place on Sunday, November 1. As always, everyone is welcome to attend and join 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, 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. This year we do also have a main sponsor. 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 begin work on the New Barn. This is the third major undertaking – after completion of the lodgings building and solar infrastructure – as we move 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
1:30 p.m. Close; chance to meet Sangha
2:00 p.m. End

‘Pa Bah’ Offering Ceremony – Sunday, July 5

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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 5, 2026, 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 Thai-American friends have asked to offer a Pa Bah to honor the visit of senior Thai disciples of Ajahn Chah. The occasion includes informal opportunities to meet the sangha and others in the wider lay community. One or more Dhamma Talks will be offered by the visiting elders, 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.

When: 

Sunday, July 5, 2026, 10:15 a.m.–2.30 p.m.

Where:

Jetavana | 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 one or more of the visiting senior monks  

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

Visit of Senior Disciples of Ajahn Chah – July 2–8, 2026

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Luang Por Dumrong Siribaddho & Luang Por Dumrong Sucitto

Luang Por Jundee Kantasaro

Luang Por Pasanno

This July the monastery will be honored by a special week of visits by a group of senior disciples of Ajahn Chah from Thailand and Abhayagiri, who will be visiting Temple from July 2–8. It will include Luang Por Dumrong Sucitto (abbot of Wat Pleum Pathana in Buriram), Luang Por Dumrong Siribhaddo (abbot of Wat Pa Kam Geng in Ubon Rachathani), Luang Por Pasanno (Guiding Elder of Abhayagiri), and Luang Por Jundee Kantasaro (abbot of Wat Pah Ampawan in Chonburi); also Ajahn Seksan, Ajahn Moshe, and Ajahn Kai Chandadhammo. Please do visit at that time if you wish to take part or meet the visiting monks. More details will be announced closer to the time, but the big day will be an Offering Ceremony, or “Pa Bah”, on Sunday, July 5.

Upasampada & Pabbajja Ordinations – Friday, July 10, 2026

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On Friday, July 10, 2026 Luang Por Pasanno will be here to preside over a monk’s ordination (bhikkhu upasampada) for Samanera Bodhi. And Anagarikas Ryan, Simon, and Eddie will likewise be requesting the Going Forth (samanera pabbajja) into the sangha as novices.

Please feel welcome to attend this auspicious event. Proceedings begin at 10:45 a.m. with a traditional alms-round and shared meal, or come simply for the ceremony itself which should begin at 1 p.m.

Kathina Day – Sunday, October 12, 2025

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This year’s Kathina will take place on Sunday, October 12. As always, everyone is welcome to attend and join 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 continue to develop the solar-electrical infrastructure. This is the second major undertaking – after completion of the lodgings building – as we move 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
1:30 p.m. Close; chance to meet Sangha
2:00 p.m. End

Vassa & Kathina 2025/2568

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This year the Vassa (the annual three-month ‘Rains Retreat’) began on July 11 and will end on October 6. The resident sangha members are Ajahn Jayanto, Ajahn Anando, Ajahn Pasadiko, Ajahn Chaganando, Ajahn Pesalo, Tan Parimutto, Tan Arano, Tan Narado, Samanera Mettananda, Samanera Bodhi, Samanera Nirodho, Anagarika Simon, Anagarika Ryan, and Anagarika Jude.

Kathina Day – Sunday October 12, 2025

This year the date for the Kathina Ceremony will be Sunday, October 12. As usual, we expect the event to take place from roughly 10am–2pm, with the ceremony itself held from 12:30–2.

Visits from Respected Elders

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Luang Por Liem

Luang Por Jundee

Luang Por Sucitto

Luang Por Viradhammo

From May 15 we are honored to host visits from several very respected Thai and Western senior monks.

Luang Por Liem will be visiting the three official branch monasteries of Wat Pah Pong (Ajahn Chah’s monastery in Thailand) in North America upon our collective invitation, first to Abhayagiri in California, then here to Jetavana in Temple, then to Tisarana in Canada. Ajahn Liem is the abbot of Wat Pah Pong, who succeeded Ajahn Chah, and many will remember his visits to Temple in 2015 and 2018.

As was the case for his previous visits, with Luang Por will be traveling Luang Por Jundee, who is likewise highly respected and was a monk with Ajahn Chah having grown up in the same village; he is the abbot of Wat Pah Ampahwan in Chonburi Province, Thailand.

With these two senior monks will be three others, two who’ve been here before in a similar supporting role, Ajahn Sek and Ajahn Moshe, and one who is coming for the first time: Ajahn Sawaeng. Ajahn Sawaeng is the vice abbot of an important Ajahn Chah branch in Thailand (Wat Pah Sai Ngam) and has spent several years living with our sangha in the UK. In addition, Ajahn Nyaniko, abbot of Abhayagiri, will be traveling with the group to help with translations.

The Thai group will be staying at Temple from May 23–28.

From May 15–30, Luang Por Sucitto will be with us too. Over the past few days he has been generous with his time already, giving Dhamma Talks and meeting with visitors.

And along with Luang Por Sucitto, Luang Por Viradhammo will be visiting for our monastery’s 10th anniversary celebrations and the Pa Bah (Offering Ceremony) to mark this occasion on Sunday. Many of you are familiar with Luang Por V, as he is known, as he is our neighbor of sorts, and as abbot of Tisarana he has been supporting us since our inception (including our first Pa Bah in Boston in 2013). Luang Por V will be here from May 23–26.

More visiting sangha include Tan Sihanado and Tan Dhirabodhi, and from May 28–31 we will be joined by the abbot of Hartridge Buddhist Monastery in England, Ajahn Jutindharo.

Many blessings indeed.

Public Welcome Gathering – Saturday, May 24, 4–5:30 p.m.

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Next weekend at the monastery we will be marking our 10th anniversary, with a traditional Buddhist ceremony on Sunday, May 25 (10 a.m.–2 p.m.) and a few other events, including a “Public Welcome Gathering” on Saturday, May 24 (4 p.m.–5:30 p.m.)*. As always, all are welcome to come to any of these events, though the Welcome Gathering on Saturday will be focused on introducing the monastery to our neighbors and any other members of the public who may be interested in seeing the monastery and hearing about what we do. 
Please feel very welcome to come for this:

4 p.m. – Introductions and Q & A

5 p.m. – Tour of some buildings and grounds

5:30 p.m. – Finish

* This time has been changed from the previously published 2–4 p.m. We apologize for any inconvenience! If you arrive at 2 because you’ve already planned it that way, there will be someone to meet you.

~ All welcome ~

Hope to see you here.

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 4–5:30* 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.

* Please note that the times have changed for the Welcome Gathering, which will now be held from 4–5:30 p.m. on Saturday.

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 4 p.m. to 5:30 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.

* Please note that the times have changed for the Welcome Gathering, which will now be held from 4–5:30 p.m. on Saturday.

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 by Luang Por Jundee (in Thai & English)

Saturday, May 24:
11 a.m. – Meal Offering
After meal – Thai language Dhamma Q & A with the Thai ajahns
4–5:30 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