Fearless Mountain Newsletter
Fall 2007 Articles
Sīladhāras Coming to America Māra’s Desk Spirit Rock Family Retreat From the Monastery Tales From Varapañño The True Nature of the Body Calendar View Archive
Ruth and Debbie practicing the Dhammacakka Mudra
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The year is passing into the realm of memories as the present consumes the future at an alarming rate. Fall leaves blaze with color prior to their brief flight from twig’s end to forest floor. Be it the arising and passing of a single breath, a colorful crowd amassing and dispersing on a festival day or the waxing and waning of our monastic timekeeper, the moon, it’s all taking place in the ever evolving present moment—it’s all teaching us.
In attempting to summarize these past several months, it is this aspect of things arising and passing through the monastery that seems most relevant. Being that the community has agreed to have the year to recuperate from the rather intense development schedule of the past couple of years it’s been very spacious and quiet in the forest. However, that is not to say that nothing has been happening...
Teachings and Events
Ajahn Amaro, together with Joe Bobrow Roshi, led a daylong retreat on “Non-Duality” at the Sati Center in Redwood City in late June. Ajahn then headed to Oregon to lead a six day retreat at Great Vow Zen Monastery.
This year’s Rains Retreat began at the end of July, with the observance of Āsālha Pūjā. This ceremony commemorates the anniversary of the Buddha’s “setting rolling the wheel of Dhamma” with his teaching of the Four Noble Truths in the Dhammacakkapavattana Sutta. The community paid homage by chanting the Sutta and doing a circumambulation holding candles, flowers and incense.
The next day the resident community formally entered the vassa, determining to stay within the boundaries of this monastery for three months. The vassa began with a two week period of group practice. The monastery schedule then functioned as normal, except every two weeks, by rotation, four people would enter solitary retreat. Some people fasted, whereas others took their meal in a solitary place and used the rest of the time to focus on meditation practice.
Every vassa the community studies the Vinaya, the code of monastic discipline that governs our lifestyle as alms mendicants. This year’s Page 2 of 7
classes were led by Tan Jotipālo, who taught using case studies and real life scenarios that called for everyone’s interaction. It’s good to reflect on how the rules can actually be lived out as opposed to listening to the Vinaya being simply read aloud (which can be painstakingly dry). “Vinayo sasanassa ayu’ti—The Vinaya is the life of the Religion.” As a gesture of gratitude, this year’s Kathina robe was offered to Tan Jotipālo.
There is a beautiful custom, particularly emphasized by Luang Por Chah, to pay respects to local senior monks at the start of the vassa. Ajahn Mahā Prasert, abbot of Wat Buddhanusorn in Fremont, CA, has been a long time friend and patron of Abhayagiri and in August most of the Abhayagiri monks visited as a group to bow to him and make offerings.
Venerable Khemaratana, a bhikkhu who ordained at Bhævana Society in West Virginia, joined us for the vassa this year, and it’s worth noting that there were ten bhikkhus, two sæmaneras, two anagārikas, and two laywomen in long term residence—the numbers attest to the slowly growing community.
Ajahn Amaro, accompanied by Tan Ahimsako, journeyed to Spirit Rock to help lead the annual Family Retreat in August. (See page 13 for details.)
Reverend Master Seikai of Pine Mountain Buddhist Temple (a branch of Shasta Abbey) joined us on August third for a two week stay. This was a unique opportunity to learn more about the ways of practice of the Shasta Abbey monks, as well as spend time with a wise Dhamma companion.
The annual Spirit Rock Teen Weekend took place at the end of August. Fifteen teens and six adults camped out, took part in the monastic routine, listened to teachings and practiced meditation in the deep forest solitude. It is inspiring to see teens motivated to cultivate ethical conduct, meditation and wisdom in daily life.
The Sangha was fortunate to receive Ajahn Thanissaro (more commonly known as Ajahn Geoff), the abbot of Mettā Forest Monastery in San Diego County, for a six day visit. Ajahn Geoff is one of Page 3 of 7
the most prolific translators of Pali texts into English, and has offered translations of large sections of the Pali Nikāyas over the years. He is one of the leading authorities on the practice of the monastic rules as they are lived, and a skilled meditation teacher. The residents and visitors at Abhayagiri engaged in question and answer sessions and listened to Dhamma teachings and stories.
A contingent of Thai lay supporters, headed by Khun Ting, gathered at the monastery for a Sanghadāna in mid-September. The group offered monks’ requisites, tools, and office supplies. The community of Abhayagiri would like to extend our gratitude for this generous support.
The sixth annual Buddhist Bicycle Pilgrimage took place at the end of September. Riders, who peddled 140 miles from Spirit Rock to Abhayagiri, expressed appreciation at the cool weather this year. The event organizers reported that this year had the most riders yet—about 90. And, a new stop was added: Sae Taw Wynn Dhamma Center in Petaluma, where Dr. Thynn Thynn teaches.
Our good friend and senior Sīladhāra Ajahn Sundara paid us a visit one evening. She was only here for a couple of hours, yet that was enough to check in and reconnect. Ajahn Sundara was on her way to Cloud Mountain Meditation Center in Washington, where she has been spending the vassa.
A special guest, Ruth Denison, had a brief stay here on October fourth and fifth. Ruth, an early Dhamma pioneer in the U.S., has been a supporter and friend of Abhayagiri for many years. She gave a Dhamma talk to the community on the weekly lunar observance night, and when informed that there would be an all night meditation vigil to follow, the 85 year old Ruth gleefully said “Really? That’s great! I’ve come on the right day!” The following morning Ruth, the ajahns, and several of the community members went into the forest to inter the ashes of Ruth’s husband, Henry, in a majestic old oak tree. Ruth continued to share Dhamma reflections for all to enjoy. In fact, if one paid attention, one saw that Page 4 of 7
all Ruth speaks about is Dhamma. Ruth ended her visit with a tour of the land at Casa Serena, the women’s residence, and to see the newly finished day use meditation platform for women that she herself had sponsored. Following a short ceremony, she named the platform “Truth.”
Six of the monastics attended a four day “welding retreat,” hosted by Richard Yaskey, in mid-October. On the first evening, Ajahn Amaro gave teachings to the Casper sitting group. Apart from morning meditation, breakfast, and the mid-day meal, the group practiced the welder’s art throughout the day. They learned the basics of safety, cutting, bending, brazing, arc-welding and plasma arc-cutting. Anne and Michael Brown let the monastics use their zendo as a resting place during this time. Special thanks to Richard for his expert welding instruction, and to all who provided food and support to the monastics.
It is also with great appreciation that we mark the completion of the tenth vassa of our longest lay resident and Sangha protector, Debbie Stamp. It would take several newsletters to recount the litany of tasks that Debbie deals with every day for our benefit, and she still manages to connect with residents and guests alike in a warm, kind and humorous way.
For the winter season, Ajahn Sudanto will be living at Birken Forest Monastery in British Columbia, and Tan Jotipælo will be at Arrow River Hermitage in Thunder Bay, Canada, for an extended period.
Vassa In Oregon
Ajahn Sudanto and Tan Karunadhammo, at the invitation of Portland Friends of the Dhamma, departed to settle for the vassa on a piece of land in Mosier, Oregon, close to the Columbia River Gorge. The bhikkhus spent the summer season living in tents on this remote land, and gave periodic teachings at the Friends of the Dhamma Center in Portland.
Special thanks to the people who stepped forward as stewards to look after the bhikkhus for this vassa. However, it’s worth noting that the stewards didn’t need to work very hard; every day different supporters brought offerings of preparted food, and Page 5 of 7
one steward had to schedule it in just to be able to offer a meal himself. This is no small act of generosity from the people of Oregon—Mosier is just over an hour drive from Portland. Truly, Anumodanæ.
Ajahn Pasanno, with Tan Thitābho, paid a visit to Mosier in late September. There was a gathering at the retreat site and the ajahn gave his encouragement and support.
This season also marks the completion of the tenth vassa for Tan Karunadhammo, who will continue on now as “Ajahn” Karunadhammo (the first completely home-grown Abhayagiri monk to reach ten vassas).
Luang Por Plien Visits Abhayagiri
On June 25th we were truly blessed to receive Phra Ajahn Plien Paññāpadīpo, a highly revered Thai Forest ajahn, for a two week stay. During his visit, Luang Por laid out a feast of Dhamma teachings for all to savor. In the evenings, the teaching lasted into the late hours of the night and sometimes the wee hours of the morning. Ajahn Pasanno carried the burden of translator, which required awesome focus and endurance.
Luang Por was accompanied by Tan Moshe, a Thai monk from Wat Pah Nanachat, who served as Luang Por’s attendant during his travels in America. Tan Moshe, with his refined attention to detail, was able to offer our community a good example of æcariyavatta, the how-to of looking after senior monks. Another monk who visited during this time was Ajahn Pīyasīlo, a soft-spoken Thai monk from Chiang Rai. Ajahn Pīyasīlo has spent time at Chithurst Monastery in England and has become a good friend of our community. Mae Chee Mon, an eight precept nun who was ordained with Ajahn Sona at Birken Monastery in British Columbia also visited over the same period.
One of the first places that Luang Por was interested in visiting was the City of Ten Thousand Buddhas. The Venerable Abbot Heng Lyu asked Luang Por if he would give a talk that evening, to which he readily agreed. The Ten Thousand Buddha Hall was completely packed, and the Dhamma teaching was translated from Thai Page 6 of 7
to English to Chinese. Dharma Master Heng Lyu expressed that he felt he had some affinities with Luang Por Plien. Even though the two had never met, they related and spoke to each other like old friends.
On Sunday, July first, Luang Por then went on a brief teaching tour in the San Francisco Bay Area, accompanied by several monks and lay people. Teachings were given at Wat Buddhanusorn in Fremont, and Luang Por was able to connect with Ajahn Mahæ Prasert. Next they stopped at Wat “SanFran” Dhammaram, the city temple of Luang Por Toon Khippapañño. Fortunately Luang Por Toon was there himself, having made one of his rare visits to San Francisco. It is always a delight to see two very senior Thai Forest ajahns visiting and chatting with one another. Jack Kornfield and the staff at Spirit Rock Meditation Center generously offered accomodations to the group, and Luang Por gave the weekly Monday night talk there. Following the formal talk, Luang Por invited anyone with Dhamma questions to join him in the Council House. A good sized group did just that, staying on well past midnight.
Following a whirlwind tour of the Bay Area (literally a whirlwind—a helicopter tour over the Bay and under the Golden Gate Bridge) the group went to Berkeley Buddhist Monastery for the monthly “first Tuesday” gathering. Ajahn Amaro arrived in the Bay Area after leading the retreat in Oregon, just in time to join the gathering. Following the evening Dhamma Talk, Luang Por offered a special treat to all present: traditional blessing verses and sharing of lovingkindness, in English.
After a day back at Abhayagiri, Luang Por, Ajahn Pasanno and a crew from the monastery set off for Shasta Abbey. The group stopped along the way to have the daily meal in the redwood groves of Humboldt County. At Shasta, Luang Por met with the resident monastics and gave a well-received Dhamma talk before returning to Abhayagiri. On July tenth Luang Por Plien, Ajahn Pīyasīlo and Tan Moshe departed leaving behind in the stillness of the woods a peaceful abundance Page 7 of 7
of Dhamma teachings for us to contemplate.
Mississippi Pilgrimage Part Two
On July ninth Tan Jotipālo headed to Minnesota to meet up with Father William Skudlarek, a Benedictine monk from St. John’s Abbey. The two monks undertook an interfaith walking pilgrimage up the Mississippi River in northern Minnesota, covering about 85 miles in eight days along the Paul Bunyan Bike Trail. The walk was a success. A short journal can be read at: The Monastic Dialogue Website.
Ordinations
Sāmanera Kassapo received the full acceptance (upasampada) into the bhikkhu Sangha on the evening of July fourteenth. It was the first ever night-time ordination held at Abhayagiri. The ceremony was well attended by Venerable Kassapo’s friends from Southern California.
Michael Bodman left the home life on July sixteenth, thus becoming an anagārika. Michael had served on the support team for the last winter retreat. He brings an attentive and helpful style to the resident community.
Anagārika Whit took pabbajjā, the “going forth” of a sāmanera on October sixth. His new name is Kaccāna, after Mahā-Kaccāna, the Buddha’s disciple foremost in expounding the detailed meaning of brief utterances. His parents, brother, sister, extended family and friends observed the ceremony.
Development
This year we have mostly stuck to our “no new construction” determination at the monastery. OK, we have put up a small water softening shed to filter our spring-fed water supply to the main buildings. And, after many years of planning, we have erected a shrine house to provide shade to the golden Buddha statue that presides over the cloister compound. The new pavilion, a design collaboration of Ajahn Pasanno and Tan Ñāniko, provides a pleasant space in which to sit in meditation and pay respects to the Buddha.
So there may not be a lot to report on here in terms of external development. The work of greatest benefit, the true work that this monastery was established to support, is that of one’s inner development; the cultivation of peace born of seclusion, built on wholesome foundations in the spirit of lovingkindness. That work continues constantly in the ordinary flow of the present moment. Our spacious forest workshop is always open.
