News from the monastery – Autumn 2022
/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