This year, Abhayagiri turns 30 on June 1st. Due to the growing size of our community and some logistical considerations, the current plan is to celebrate this occasion in two separate, but related events. It happens that Vesakha Puja - the full moon of May commemorating the Buddha’s birth, enlightenment and final nibbāna - is Sunday, May 31st. This is an amazing coincidence that it falls so close…
Update: The teachings and readings from the winter retreat are now available via this link: https://www.abhayagiri.org/talks/collections/1/177-winter-retreat-2026-the-foundation-of-mindfulness The monastery entered the annual three-month winter retreat on January 3, 2026. Our Abbot, Ajahn Nyaniko, will be in Thailand until early March and on solitary retreat for most of March with the exception of…
The Buddha defined viriya as application to four things. The first is if an unwholesome state of mind arises, one recognizes it first, and then one strives to overcome it. For example, if anger arises, one recognizes “I am angry,” and then one strives to overcome that anger. The next aspect is if an unwholesome state of mind hasn’t yet arisen, then one strives to make sure that it doesn’t arise. It’s a preventative. And in that example of anger, it’s often the case that we need to develop loving-kindness (which is the antidote to anger) before it arises. It is very difficult to spread loving-k…
This Dhamma talk was offered on March 3, 2026 at Abhayagiri Buddhist Monastery.
