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 to Abhayagiri’s 30th birthday, and happens to be a weekend. In addition to this, Vesakha Puja 1996 was also May 31st - when Tom DeMaria took his anagarika ordination and then drove Ajahn Amaro to the land in Redwood Valley the next day.
The only issue with having a 30th Anniversary celebration on the weekend of Vesakha Puja is that many of the very senior monks and abbots we would like to invite need to be in their respective monasteries on the Buddha’s Birthday. However, some of the Senior Monks and Abbots of the newer generation have already agreed to come at this time. So we will have an “introductory event” for anyone who is able to come on the dates of May 30th and 31st.
The theme of this 30th Anniversary Part One will be “The Way Forward” and will have visits from the newer generation of Senior Monks and Abbots, who will offer reflections about their experiences. There will be a 30th Anniversary slideshow, tours of the monastery, and other happenings to be announced closer to the time.
The Thai and Western Senior Monks from abroad will be able to visit Abhayagiri for the 30th Anniversary Part Two, which will be considered the Main Event. The theme will be “Honoring Our Roots with Respect and Gratitude” and we will hear from our Elders about the early days of practice with Luang Por Chah and what it was like to start Abhayagiri Monastery. The current plan is to have this on the weekend of June 27th and 28th.
There will also be a slideshow and monastery tours on these dates.
People are welcome to join us for either or both of these dates according to their convenience. There will be more announcements after April 1, when we will have more information about our potential visitors.
