Newsletter Winter, 2004
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Winter 2004 • 2547 Newsletter of the Abhayagiri Buddhist Monastery Volume 9, Number 1 FEARLESS MOUNTAIN Inside: The Benefits of Retreat From Monastery the by Taraniya PAGE: 2 rom time to time we may find that Fpractice in daily life is not very inspir- ing. It’s not that the teachings and practices Boundaries Fade aren’t innately inspiring. They are. It’s just in a that so much of our time in daily life is Sea of focused on other things—chores, work, relationships—that spiritual practice can Blue Jeans become just one more thing we have to do. PAGE: 4 It may take many years (or many life- times!) before we become so imbued with Photo courtesy of Taraniya our love of Dhamma that we see it every- sider what’s going on when we make the Dana in Action: where and that practice both on and off decision to go on retreat. For most people the cushion becomes qualitatively indis- vacation time is in short supply. We may Offering tinct. Ajahn Chah said that it gets to the want to use the time to go to the beach or the Meal point where we see Dhamma everywhere, the mountains, and that’s understandable. PAGE: 6 and everything we see is Dhamma. The fact that we choose retreat over such In the meantime, we often need peri- options is a strong indication of quite odic jolts and reminders of what we’re mature wisdom. Our decision says that, Calendar doing and why, of how much we love fundamentally, we recognize that our spir- PAGE: 8 Dhamma and how deeply we want to be itual practice is a worthwhile undertaking free. We can get that kind of inspiration and that we wish to pursue it. This is right from time on retreat. understanding and right intention—the Time on How does that happen? What are the first two steps on the eightfold path. components of retreat that facilitate such I like to remind people to reflect upon Retreat PAGE: 10 inspiration? the wisdom of such a choice, to make it Soaking in Our Good Intention fully conscious, to let it into one’s heart. There can be an amazing reluctance to do abhayagiri.org Retreats provide a wonderful opportunity this. Our minds seem to have a propensity to notice, contemplate, and actually soak in for seeing what’s wrong with ourselves and PAGE: 15 our right understanding and intention. We ignoring what’s right. Our tendency is to may not think about it that way, but con- (continued on page 10) FROM THE MONASTERY COMMUNITY Among other surprises were Matthieu Ricard’s reflections on mental imagery. According to scientific study a mental he full moon of July to the full moon of October is image can be sustained in the mind for only a few seconds at Tobserved as the traditional “rains” retreat, which, in a most. According to the experience of some Tibetan lamas, Southeast Asian country, would normally be time for more however, a mental image can be sustained for hours or even intensive meditation practice. Even though July through days. On a certain level the conference demonstrated an October is the dry season in California, here at Abhayagiri we important shift in American academia: the top scientists were observed these months by studying the rules of training starting to look to Buddhist meditators for answers to their (Vinaya), and each community member took a two-week deepest questions relating to the nature of reality, suffering, solitary retreat, giving up all duties and heading to the forest. and happiness. The Vinaya classes were held a few times a week and headed During two very hot days in early September, the second by Tan Jotipalo. Because there isn’t enough time to go over all Buddhist Bicycle Pilgrimage took place. Nearly 80 bike pil- 227 training rules, he took those most important to our prac- grims rode the 150 miles from Spirit Rock Meditation Center tice and initiated fruitful group discussions. These discussions to Abhayagiri Monastery, with temperatures on the road were very useful for finding ways to practice the Buddhist dis- reaching 106 degrees. The bike pilgrims pushed on despite the cipline in America in a way that fits in with social norms, but heat, using courage and spiritual resources to complete the also in a way that doesn’t compromise the training rules. journey. Upon accomplishing their mission, the cyclists In September the community was happy to welcome the enjoyed refreshments and sprays of cold water, then partook Spirit Rock teens for their annual visit. Fifteen teens and seven in a closing ceremony at the monastery. (For photos and more adult helpers camped out in the forest for two days and information, visit www.dharmawheels.org.) nights. The weekend kicked off with everybody gathering and On October 19 the Kathina Ceremony, an annual celebra- setting up tents on Friday night, then attending morning puja tion of giving, took place. Many people gathered throughout on Saturday. The morning meditation was divided into two the day to make offerings of requisites for the monastery. parts: sitting for half an hour then walking for half an hour. At Traditionally, the kathina cloth is a length of material which 6:30am the group had a guided meditation. After breakfast, will be sewn into a full robe for a chosen Sangha member that they took part in the work period, including painting, trail very day. At Abhayagiri, the cloth-offering ceremony takes work, staining the new ordination platform, and job-site place according to ancient tradition and was offered by Regan cleanup at the new kuti. After the meal, the teens were led into Urbanick, along with a group from Denver and another from the forest to spend two hours in solitary contemplation. For Thailand. After the offering ceremony the cloth was whisked such young and active minds, this can be an interesting and away and the Sangha began the robe-making process. The insightful endeavor. Later in the afternoon the teens got back bhikkhus took turns drawing the robe pattern, sewing parts of together and shared their experiences. Their sincerity and the robe, and finally dying the robe. This year the completed enthusiasm each year are notable, including a full turnout robe was present- during our early morning puja on both days! ed to Venerable In September, Ajahn Amaro attended the eleventh Mind Sudanto. and Life conference, held this year at M.I.T. in Cambridge, Elder bhikkhu Massachusetts. These conferences were initiated by Adam Monastery photo Ajahn Bankau, a Engle seventeen years ago as a result of His Holiness the Dalai Laotian monk of Lama’s interest in science and psychology. A panel of scientists 36 years and a dis- and a few Buddhist practitioners and scholars gathered ciple of Ajahn together with His Holiness to discuss the relationships Chah, arrived from between Buddhist practice and behavioral science. Top behav- France to partake ioral scientists discussed their findings on topics such as atten- in the Kathina tion and cognitive control, mental imagery, emotion, and Ceremony and neurophenomenology. These discussions also included the spend the subse- Buddhist perspective on each subject. For example, scientists quent week at reported on the use of MRI scanners to monitor the brains of Abhayagiri. He Tibetan lamas as they practiced different types of meditation. stayed in the newly The findings were astounding; during a compassion medita- finished kuti as tion the section of the brain corresponding to happiness was its first resident. far more active than the scientists had ever seen. Marking the Kathina cloth for a robe 2 Fearless Mountain Ajahn Bankau’s presence and teachings had a very penetrating DEVELOPMENT and direct energy and were much appreciated by the community. Ajahn Pasanno and Ajahn Bankau have known each other since n October 12 the their early days of training with Ajahn Chah. We hope to accom- Onew kuti was modate Ajahn Bankau again sometime in the future. completed. It turned In December, Ajahn Pasanno headed to Birken Monastery out to be a wonderful Photo by Ajahn Amaro in British Columbia to act as preceptor for Samanera Pavaro exhibition of “monas- and Samanera Nanda, who wished to go forth as bhikkhus. tic craftsmanship.”Tan Ajahn Pasanno was accompanied on this road trip by Tan Sudanto, Tan Phasuko, Sudanto, Tan Jotipalo, Tan Phasuko, Debbie Stamp, and Larry and Tan Nyaniko Restel. Tan Sudanto will stay on at Birken for the winter assisted Mark Newell retreat and plans to return to Abhayagiri in the spring. This in building this beau- was the first ordination to take place in Canada, with a tifully finished and Canadian preceptor and Canadian quorom. It featured the well-insulated struc- coming together of Ajahn Viradhammo, Ajahn Punna- ture. All other mem- dhammo, Abbot Ajahn Sona, and Ajahn Pasanno, all of bers of the communi- Canadian heritage. Though there was heavy snow a week ty gave a hand at vari- Interior of the newest kuti before the ordinations, the weather cleared up during the ous times. We were very grateful to Mark for his assistance and ordination day. Ajahn Pasanno’s mother offered the bhikkhu’s generosity, and to Tan Sudanto for his thorough planning and almsbowl to one of the ordinees. Also worthy of note is the skillful finishing work. The entire cost of the structure ended up amount of work Ajahn Sona and the residents of Birken at under $10,000. Monastery have put into the new property. It is turning out to In November, Tan Jotipalo headed up the construction of be a very beautiful and spacious monastery.