Fearless Mountain Newsletter
Fall 2002 Articles
From The Monastery Go Forth, Young Man Tradition Welcome to the Homeless Clan Building Committee From Blessing to Commitment Sanghapala Foundation A Day in the Life Calendar View Archive
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From June 28 to July 2, 2002, the Abhayagiri Sangha and nine participants in the CALM (Community of Abhayagiri Lay Ministers) program gathered at the monastery for the second retreat of the three-and-a-half-year program. (Two participants were unable to attend.) The program began late in 2000, with the initial period of time meant as probationary, to give both the Sangha and participants an opportunity to see if this was something they wanted to continue. We were especially pleased to learn that the Amaravati Council of Elders gave unanimous support and expressed commitment to the continuation of the program through its completion in September 2004.
The lay participants in the program are: Taraniya (Gloria Ambrosia), North Carolina; Jim Cameron, Florida; Dennis Crean; California; Kathryn Guta; California; Shirley Johannesen, British Columbia, Canada; Jaya Karlson, Massachusetts; Konda––a (Barry Kapke), California; Sakula (Mary Reinard), Oregon; Santideva (Fred Kral), California; Mettika (Cindy Hoffman), California; and Janice Sheppard, Wisconsin. The following members of the Sangha have also been regular participants: Ajahn Pasanno, Ajahn Amaro, Ajahn Sundara, Ajahn Jitindriya, Tan Karunadhammo, Tan Jotipalo, Tan Phasuko, Tan Dhammadaso, Samanera Obhaso, Samanera Naniko, Anagarika Chris, and Debbie Stamp.
Since January of 2002, CALM has met weekly to discuss and consider assigned readings. Those living nearby attend at the monastery. Those who are distant or unable to get to the monastery are provided with taped copies of the hour-and-a-half study sessions. The first three months focused on readings having to do with breath meditation, and the second three months on readings on the First Foundation of Mindfulness, or awareness of the body. In addition to the academic study, in each three-month period we will examine specific aspects of meditation, ritual/ceremonial practices of Theravada Buddhism, and social issues of our time. We also plan to gather for a retreat each January and July until July 2004.
The lay participants share a commitment to being of service to the Abhayagiri Sangha. More generally, we are seeking to deepen our own understanding the Buddha's teachings of Dhamma/Vinaya and our grounding in the Thai forest tradition of Ajahn Chah. We Page 2 of 3
are united in our appreciation for the truth of the Dhamma and the beauty and simplicity of the monastic form. We aspire to be of help in allowing this tradition to grow and flourish in the West.
Our recent retreat was filled with warm feelings of connection and a lovely sense of caring spiritual friendship. This tone was set in our very first gathering, a blessing ceremony for the new house of participant Dennis Crean. Ajahn Pasanno and Ajahn Amaro used this opportunity to also give us instructions on the logistics of arranging the blessing string and setting up a ceremony.
As part of the retreat we reviewed the logistics of the program and decided that the curriculum was excellent, but that meeting every week was too much if we were to keep up with the assignments. For the next two three-month sessions we will meet every other week for two hours. We decided that we would figure out a way for those who are at a distance to contribute and assist in making presentations, either by teleconference or video or audio-taped presentations. From July until the New Year, we will be reading on insight and the feminine in the Buddhist world, and on kamma and the realm of feeling.
Some of the highlights of the weekend included a talk on the Anattalakkhana Sutta and an evening Dhamma talk by Ajahn Sucitto; an overview of the Pali Canon by Ajahn Amaro and a "hands on" exercise to practice locating and searching in various published versions of scripture; and a fascinating session led by Ajahn Pasanno and Ajahn Amaro on ceremony. Much to the amazement of most all of us, we spent almost the entire "ceremony" session on the fine points of bowing, and we were disappointed when it was suddenly time for tea with many questions and comments left unsaid. The emotional highpoint of the retreat was at the end when Ajahn Pasanno, Ajahn Amaro, and Ajahn Sucitto led us in a blessing and commitment ceremony. Following paritta chanting, each participant made a personal statement of commitment to Page 3 of 3
participate fully and to complete the training to the best of his or her ability. Suffused with blessings and surrounded by large and happy smiles from all present, each lay participant then received a gift of a Thai medallion honoring Ajahn Mun.
By the end of the retreat, verse 328 of the Dhammapada seemed written just for us:
If you find an intelligent companion who will walk with you,
who lives wisely, soberly, overcoming all dangers,
walk with that person in joy and thoughtfulness.
(S. Beck, trans.)
