On Tuesday, Luang Por Pasanno and others led an initial visit into the monastery after news came in that they would be allowed to return. Here are some photos that were taken of the day: Photos of the initial reconnaissance expedition On Wedneday, the Abhayagiri community paid respects to Dharma Master Hung Liu and said goodbye to the community at the City of Ten Thousand Buddhas. Then, by the way of eight-car caravan, we drove into Redwood Valley and re-entered the monastery: Photos of the community returning to Redwood Valley and Abhayagiri. After paying respects to the shrine and offering gratitude and chanting, the community set out to get the monastery back in order. Within a few ...
Posted October 18, 2017

Please do not visit the monastery at this time. If you haven’t heard the good news yet, as of Tuesday, October 17, the Abhayagiri community will be returning to the monastery property. However, the monastery is not yet open to public. There are a number of checkpoints along the roads inside Redwood Valley and the law enforcement officials will turn away any non-residents. In addition, the area is still fairly dangerous, e.g., the air quality is poor, some areas are still smoldering, etc. When Abhayagiri is ready to receive visitors, and the area is deemed safe, we will post an announcement on our website. Supporting the Monastery If you looking for a way to support the monastery, one way is to send a gift card from a grocery store in nea...
Posted October 17, 2017

IMPORTANT: As October 17, 2017, Abhayagiri Monastery is not open to the public. We will post an announcement when people will be allowed to visit the monastery. During the morning meeting today Luang Por Pasanno read out loud an email from Tan Kovilo describing a reflection given by Luang Por Liem at Wat Pah Nanachat. You can read it here: Don’t Let Your Thoughts Get you Down by Luang Por Liem Debbie received a message indicating that the Tomki road residents would be allowed to return to their homes, and that included the monastery. So, at around 10am, Luang Por Pasanno, Ajahn Karuṇadhammo, Ajahn Jotipālo, Sāmaṇera Tissaro and Debbie left the City of Ten Thousand Bu...
Posted October 16, 2017

Prince Siddhartha had a wife; He loved her like he loved life. She was fine, and she was fair, And when he said goodbye, he said to her. Yashodhara, look at where life leads; Yashodhara, I’m going to try to get free. I took a little trip into town, I learned that death will cut us down, I woke up by the city wall, Freedom to die is no freedom at all. Yashodhara, look at where life leads; Yashodhara, I’m going to try to get free. Like you, I never heard an old man sigh, I never knew that people die; Like you, I never heard a sick man moan, I learned this body ain’t my home. Ya...