New Upasika Committee Formed, New Members Welcome to Join

Over the past 10 years, the Upasika Program has provided a formal venue for Abhayagiri’s lay community to connect with the monastery and explore some of the important suttas and teachings of the Thai Forest Tradition. During this time the Upasika Program has been directed and coordinated by Ajahn Pasanno and Ajahn Amaro. Now, along with restructuring the format of this year’s Upasika Days, a group of upasikas have volunteered to participate more actively in the program by joining together to form a committee to help coordinate and facilitate certain aspects of the Upasika Program.

The aim of this Upasika committee is both to assist the ajahns by helping with logistical planning and coordination as well as helping the upasika community take ownership of the program and create a stronger community amongst ourselves. The Upasika committee will provide a forum for developing topics and reading lists for Upasika Days at Abhayagiri as well as being a point of contact for questions about the Upasika Program itself. The committee will foster connections amongst upasikas outside formal Upasika Days, work closely with the monastery to develop themes for Upasika Days, and explore ways to adapt the Upasika Program as the need arises in the future. The Upasika committee will also strive to facilitate participation in Abhayagiri’s events and festivals by upasika members, both near and far from the monastery.

Similar to the Upasika Program itself, this committee is not a closed group but is open to—and looking for!—anyone who is interested to volunteer or even just learn more. If you have any questions about the Upasika committee, have any feedback to offer, would like to learn more about the Upasika Program, or are interested in helping out, please feel free to contact Scott Boultinghouse at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) or (415) 794-9192.

Upasika Program: Final 2006 Meeting December 3

10:30 am~ Meal offering (bring a dish to share)
1:00 pm ~ Chanting, meditation, Refuges/ Precepts, Teachings & Discussion