News from the Monastery – Autumn 2023
/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