Community

This spring began with an atmosphere of change and flow. Long-standing resident Tan Phasuko travelled to Thailand in early April, with the aim of spending a few years there, and possibly visiting his native Laos as well. Since then we have heard he has settled well into Wat Pah Nanachat, the International Forest Monastery in Ubon, and is enjoying the change of scenery.We will miss his warmth and buoyant presence here, and we wish him well for the next phase of his
bhikkhu life.

The mood of change was also marked by a temporary move out of the house and kitchen, to accommodate the beginning of the year’s building projects. While the kitchen was being remodeled and expanded, the Sangha made their way over to Casa Serena for the midday meal, and set up a makeshift refectory in the main shrine room there. Many remarked on what a refreshing change this was, even if only for a few weeks, and how much they enjoyed both the walk over and the general atmosphere. This was also a time to receive visits from two bhikkhus—Ven. Khemaratana from Bhavana Society in West Virginia, and Ven. Khemavaro from Bodhinyana Monastery in Perth, Australia. Ven. Khemaratana had met Tan Karunadhammo when he visited Bhavana Society in 2004 and was interested in coming to stay at Abhayagiri for a while. His visit was very fruitful and it was a pleasure to have him in our midst. Ven. Khemavaro arrived after Ven. Khemaratana’s departure, and although his stay was short, he was able to participate in a number of events and spend some time with the bhikkhus here. He coincidentally arrived on the day of Pa Auk Sayadaw’s visit, and was also able to attend the California Institute of Integral Studies Asian Art Museum event in San Francisco. It was remarked how well he fit in to the routine and spirit of the community here, and delight was expressed at how monastics in the Ajahn Chah Sangha share a common feeling for the practice.

Having just finished teaching a two-month retreat in Lake County (only ninety minutes from Abhayagiri), renowned Burmese meditation master Pa Auk Sayadaw graciously took the time to visit the monastery before heading to San Francisco. The community of Abhayagiri had been fortunate in being able to visit his retreat and pay respects to him on March 31, and at that time he readily accepted an invitation to come here before leaving the U.S. Having arrived at Abhayagiri accompanied by two attendant monks, two nuns, and many carloads of people from his retreat, he took a seat in the Dhamma hall while we paid our respects in the traditional way. Ajahn Pasanno then invited him to take a tour of the monastery with the community. Although the plan was to drive to the end of the road, have a look at some of the kutis and then drive back down, Sayadaw insisted that the group take the 2.5-mile loop trail back to the house and delighted at the opportunity to go on a walk through the forest. It was a pleasure to have him with us for this brief time, and a rare honor to be able to come into contact with such an accomplished elder bhikkhu.

On May 7 Abhayagiri conducted a special novice ordination for nine-year-old Todd Tansuhaj. The son of Chusak and Patriya Tansuhaj, Todd has a rare blood disorder and will be having a bone marrow transplant later this year. The ordination was intended to generate blessings and good feelings for his upcoming ordeal, and it certainly did so—for both Todd and the community here. Having been given the Pali name Piyasalo, Todd stayed with us for about a week; his time was well spent by learning a few of the essential chants, meditating with the community, and on one occasion going on almsround down Tomki Road with Tan Ahimsako. He also enjoyed creating comics in the monks’ room and scanning the ground around the new duplex construction site in the early evening with a large magnet for picking up used nails. His open and joyous nature added much lightness to the routine (which included the thrice daily event of several bhikkhus helping him put on his robe with straps and safety pins), and our hearts go out to him for the upcoming challenges he will face with the transplant and the year of recovery following it. In his own words, “I will remember everyone at the monastery always.” Needless to say, the feeling is mutual.

Ajahn Thanasanti, a senior nun in our tradition, came to visit for a few days in mid-May. Originally from Santa Cruz, California, she was in the country visiting family and friends and offering Dhamma teachings. Having spent three months in India last year and most recently a long spell in Australia,where she had once lived for three years, she will be spending the Vassa (rains retreat) in England with the community at Chithurst Monastery.

In mid-June, the community was privileged to have a rare visit from Luang Por Sumedho, the most senior Western disciple of Luang Por Chah and founder of Wat Pah Nanchat in Thailand and Chithurst and Amaravati Buddhist monasteries in the U.K. Accompanied by his long-time attendant, Ajahn Panyasaro, Luang Por stayed with us for just over a week. It was his first visit here since 2001, and it was a treat to have him with us giving teachings and spending time with the community. Many nights we would forgo our usual evening puja for an impromptu question-and-answer session with Luang Por, who spoke about his own practice and shared stories from his life.Many long-time supporters of the monastery came to pay respects and ask questions on Dhamma, and Luang Por Sumedho’s energy and generosity were an inspiration. One notable evening was the Saturday night talk, which was attended by an unusually large crowd that spilled out of the Dhamma hall into the courtyard area.

A few days after Luang Por Sumedho’s arrival, we also had the great pleasure of welcoming Ajahn Amaro back to the monastery after his year-long pilgrimage in India. Adding to the already festive atmosphere were Ajahn’s tales of his treks through the holy sites and his accounts of some of the characters (dogs included) he had met along the way (see also page 4). To be able to spend time with all three ajahns together in this way was quite special. Ajahn Amaro, however, was only here a few days until he headed off to accompany Luang Por with his retreat at Spirit Rock. His settling into the community began to happen a few weeks later as he rejoined Ajahn Pasanno in the abbots’ seat with remarkable ease.

Around this time, Tan Ñaniko left to spend some time at another monastery—a custom for bhikkhus training at Abhayagiri as they approach their third rains retreat. Tan Ñaniko felt that it would be a good opportunity to travel to Thailand and experience the practice and training environment in Wat Pah Nanachat. In a recent fax we received from him, he expressed his gladness at being in the new setting, as well as his encounters with some of the many interesting creatures one meets in Thailand such as “giant biting geckos, poisonous toads, and stinging ants.” Despite these, he assures us he is sabai (Thai for “well” or “at ease”). His departure draws attention to the many ways he has benefited the community here over the last four years—both in terms of his wide range of skills and also his good friendship. We wish him a fruitful and enjoyable year away.

From June 27 to July 5 Ajahn Sucitto visited Abhayagiri, his first visit here since Spring 2002. He is currently on a yearlong sabbatical from Cittaviveka Buddhist Monastery in Chithurst, England, where he is abbot. During this year he will be offering teachings, visiting branch monasteries in the Ajahn Chah tradition, and undertaking personal retreat time. While at Abhayagiri,Ajahn Sucitto had plenty of time to be on retreat, delighting in the forest around the strawbale kuti in which he was staying. When asked if there was anything he needed, he replied that just being in the forest was enough, a feast in itself. Ajahn Sucitto also spent some valuable time with the community and gave a much-appreciated talk on the Saturday night, as well as the talk at Berkeley Buddhist Monastery on the first Tuesday of the month.We extend our gratitude to Ajahn Sucitto for sharing his presence and teachings with us for this time.

During his stay, Ajahn Sucitto was present for Minh An Ly’s anagarika ordination as well. For the reflection on this occasion, Ajahn Pasanno gave a talk based upon pasada (one of the Pali words for “faith”) and refuge, and Ajahn Sucitto used those themes to provide an accompanying encouragement. The peaceful atmosphere of the evening was a fitting mood for Minh An’s entry into the monastic community here. Having served the winter retreat as a layman and lived at the monastery for the three months following it, Minh An has been very patient in waiting for the opportunity to take on the anagarika training, and we rejoice in his commitment and enthusiasm for practice. In May, Anagarika Darren returned to lay life to continue with his studies at U.C Berkeley. Darren has done much for the community in his ten months here, and his friendly presence will be missed. Since his departure he has been a frequent visitor to the monastery and anticipates coming to visit on a regular basis.Anagarika Lee has also returned to lay life. Lee’s goodness and sincerity have been a gift to the community, and we wish him all the best for the future.

Samanera Sampajano arrived from Chithurst Monastery in June and has been settling in well. Soon afterwards Venerable Satimanto arrived from Bodhinyana monastery in Perth to stay with us for an indefinite period. Despite some difficulties with health, he is in good spirits and has been enjoying his time here. It is good to have two new kalyana mitta (spiritual friends) in our midst. In a similar vein, good friend of the monastery Jo Kulkajornpan came to stay with us for a week, having taken a temporary ordination at Wat Buddhanusorn in July. Jo has been going through many difficulties with his health, yet is recovering very well after having had a kidney transplant last year.He was named Dhammarato (One who loves the Dhamma), an appropriate name for Jo, whose faith and support has touched the community over the last few years. Despite the challenges of being in robes with his health condition, he determined to stay a bhikkhu until Ajahn Pasanno’s birthday in late July—which he did.

Teachings

On Saturday, April 23, Ajahn Maha Prasert, abbot of Wat Buddhanusorn in Fremont, and Ajahn Pasanno were joined by seven other bhikkhus both from temples and monasteries around the Bay Area and from Abhayagiri, to lead a daylong workshop at the Asian Art Museum of San Francisco. The theme of this event was “Thai Buddhism in Art, Spirit, and Community.” The day began in the main hall of the museum with Paritta (blessing) chanting, followed by a traditional almsround, which took place through the United Nations Plaza. It was remarked what a poignant scene it was to see the bhikkhus walking mindfully against the inner city backdrop. The afternoon began with presentations from Ajahn Maha Prasert and Ajahn Pasanno, during which two films on the monastery and the Ajahn Chah tradition were shown. During the afternoon, participants were given the chance to experience short periods of meditation and ask questions arising from the various talks, and the day ended with Ajahn Maha Prasert and Ajahn Pasanno leading the assembly of monks in a closing chant.

On May 30, Ajahn Pasanno and a group of monks and lay practitioners went down to Spirit Rock Center to pay respects to the well-known and revered Thai Forest master Ajahn Jumnien. Upon arrival Ajahn Jumnien received us with warmth and remarked that he had seen most of us before on different occasions. He then began a lively and humorous Dhamma teaching beginning with a few stories and leading up to an outline of the various levels of being and the main purpose of Buddhist practice. “I feel compassion for all those beings who suffer just because of their mental formations,” he said, and went on to give teachings based upon the themes of liberation and emptiness. Ajahn Pasanno was asked to translate for the weekly Monday night talk, in which Ajahn Jumnien used the night of the Buddha’s enlightenment as the theme—using a variety of rich images and similes to shed light upon the internal processes involved in the Buddha’s mind. It was great to be an audience for Ajahn Jumnien’s energetic and compassionate presence once again, and to support Spirit Rock in their efforts to bring his teachings to Western practitioners.

Several members of the community attended the Ajahn Jumnien retreat at the Angela Center in Santa Rosa in June. Having just left his role as anagarika, Darren Noy was asked to help with the retreat and also to look after Ajahn Jumnien’s needs during this time. Former bhikkhu and disciple of Luang Por Chah, Joseph Kappel offered his translation skills once again, as did Am Wongthongsri, who had also been translating at Spirit Rock for over a week beforehand. Lay practitioner Ginger Vathanasombat also offered to help out with trans-lating the teachings, and although it was her first time, it was reported that she did so with clarity and skill.

The West Coast was blessed this year with a retreat held by Luang Por Sumedho at Spirit Rock Meditation Center. The ten-day monastic retreat was held from June 24 to July 3. Luang Por led the retreat with the help of Ajahn Amaro. The daily schedule began with morning chanting and meditation at 5:30. Next was breakfast followed by sitting and walking meditation until the last meal of the day at 10:30 am. The afternoon was alternating sitting and walking meditation until tea at 5:30. At 7:30 there was evening chanting and meditation followed by a Dhamma talk by either Luang Por Sumedho or Ajahn Amaro to finish the day. Luang Por used the Four Noble Truths and applying them to the present moment as the main theme of the retreat.

From July 27 to 31 Spirit Rock held their annual Family Retreat. Ajahn Amaro, one of four teachers on the retreat (joined by Betsy Rose, Heather Sundberg, and Julie Wester), returned to this event for the first time in three years, accompanied by Tan Ahimsako. Thirty-five families attended the retreat, totaling more than one hundred people. Add to this some twenty volunteers, another ten counselors, and a team of cooks, and it was a full house! The atmosphere was joyous, and with this year’s theme being the Four Brahma Viharas—Metta, Karuna, Mudita, and Upekkha (Loving Kindness, Compassion, Gladness, and Equanimity)—there was an inspiring sense of goodwill. The retreat was incredibly well organized with activities for people of all ages in attendance, from silent meditation to Dhamma games, music-making, and a trip to the beach. The final evening saw the traditional last-night campfire, with Rev. Heng Sure of Berkeley Buddhist Monastery joining in with his guitar with Dhamma songs in both English and Chinese, and Ajahn Amaro telling stories that were both amusing and inspiring. The retreat ended with a blessing ceremony before everyone dispersed back to their homes far and near.

Development

This year the monastery began its longawaited construction of new buildings belonging to Phase One of a four-phase building plan. A fair amount of the funds needed for these buildings has already been provided, and we are hoping to be in a situation to finish the buildings this year to complete Phase One of the building plan. The first of the buildings to go up was the Cloister Duplex. There was a great deal of work put into moving earth and preparing the foundation, but it has paid off and the building is now nearly complete. There were many monks and lay supporters who gave their time and effort to make the construction of this building go smoothly.

We have also begun construction of two new buildings that will form the part of the new cloister—the cloister restrooms and the monks’ office building. The latter contains offices for the two co-abbots, the junior monks, and Sanghapala Foundation. The restroom building also has a disabled-access bedroom. These buildings, as of this writing, are framed and looking in outline most beautiful and impressive. Construction is slated for completion in early January.

Kathy Lewis, with the help of the community and several lay people, is in the process of building the first of a few wonderful meditation platforms for day use in the forest at Casa Serena. The community is also working on a new water-conditioning shed so that eventually we will be able to soften the water here at the monastery.

Last, but not least, the community is in the beginning phase of designing three new elders’ cabins. Two of these cabins will be built for our two abbots, Ajahn Pasanno and Ajahn Amaro. The third will be built for visiting elder monks. We have designated the sites for these cabins and have begun preparing the locations so that we will hopefully be able to begin construction next year.