All are welcome to attend the formal ceremonies for Sāmaṇera Cittapālo to enter the monastic sangha as a bhikkhu and Anagārika Nicholas to take on the sāmaṇera (novice monk) training. The event details are: Sāmaṇera Ordination Friday, August 23rd during evening puja, beginning at 7pm : Anagārika Nicholas will go forth into brown robes taking sāmaṇera (novice monk) ordination Bhikkhu Ordination Sunday, August 25th – Probably beginning in the afternoon or evening. Bhikkhu Ordination Ceremony for Sāmaṇera Cittapālo
Posted July 11, 2019

Update: As of August 19th, the registration is remaining open as there are still spaces available. 2019 MONASTIC ANNUAL RETREAT Led by Luang Por Pasanno and the Abhayagiri Community December 6-15, 2019 at Applegate Retreat Center, Applegate, CA Abhayagiri Monastery in Redwood Valley, California and the Sanghapala Foundation invite you to join Luang Por Pasanno, and others from the Abhayagiri Community for a 10-day retreat in December. We will create a monastery environment during our time together, and we offer you this opportunity to explore the Dhamma in a setting that differs somewhat from a typical meditation retreat. We will all live the monastery life, following the Eight Precepts, taking only what is offered, and attempting to ref...
Posted August 19, 2019

On Thursday, July 25th, Luang Por Pasanno awoke to many wishes of congratulations on his email. He was not quite sure what he was being congratulated for. Luang Por quickly learned that he, along with Luang Por Sumedho, Ajahn Amaro, and Ajahn Jayasaro, were being invited by King Mahavajiralongkorn of Thailand to receive new Chao Khun titles. This is a great honor, as the titles were to be presented by the King, himself. Luang Por flew to Thailand the following morning. On Sunday, July 28th, Luang Por Pasanno, Ajahn Amaro, and Ajahn Jayasaro (Luang Por Sumedho did not attend the ceremonies due to health reasons) all received their new Chao Khun titles from the King at Wat Phra Kaew, the Temple of the Emerald Buddha, in Bangkok. The new ti...
Posted August 5, 2019

The celebration for Luang Por Pasanno’s 70th birthday has been rescheduled for Sat. Aug. 10th and will be combined with a recognition ceremony in honor of his new Chao Khun title, which was given to him by the King of Thailand on July 28th. To watch or listen to a recording of the event, please visit https://www.abhayagiri.org/talks/7211-ajahn-pasannos-birthday-celebration-and-recognition-of-chao-khun-title. Luang Por’s original birthday celebration was to have been on July 27th, but was cancelled due to this invitation from the King. His new title is Tan Chao Khun Phra Raja Bodhividesa (Pali) or Tan Chao Khun Phr...
Posted July 28, 2019

I’ve been thinking about Ajahn Ñāṇadhammo, recalling his most memorable interaction with Ajahn Chah while living at Wat Pah Pong. One day while out on alms round, Ajahn Ñāṇadhammo had a slight argument with another monk and became stirred up and upset. When he returned to the monastery, Ajahn Chah smiled at him and uncharacteristically in English said, “Good morning.” Of course Ajahn Ñāṇadhammo was really tickled with that, and this feeling of happiness arose that was uplifting for him. In the late afternoon, he went over to Ajahn Chah’s dwelling place....