Abbey Life – December 2015

Snow came to the Abbey in a big way, and we lost power for about 50 hours, but everyone stayed cheerful and adapted to the many changes necessary due to the weather. December brought wonderful opportunities for offering service and offering kindness as we did our best to stay warm physically and in our hearts.

Abbey Life – November 2015

Abbey life is never dull, and many different events occurred this month to help us practice, including 2-week Dharma course, a major wind storm, and a broken pipe. Here are some images.

Buddhism: One Teacher, Many Traditions – November 2015

The resident community supported Ven. Chodron throughout her work on Buddhism: One Teacher, Many Traditions, co-written with His Holiness the Dalai Lama. Most of us had read portions of the book before it was published and were eager to learn more. Ven. Chodron generously accepted our request for teachings, beginning with a 2-week course in November. We delved deeply into the first 5 chapters, from the Origin and Spread of the Buddha’s Doctrine, through refuge, the four truths, and ending with the first two of the three higher trainings: ethical conduct and concentration. The course will continue in 2016.

High School Visit – November 2015

The Abbey was excited to host 38 students—sophomores to seniors—from the cultural anthropology class of Sandpoint High School in Idaho. In their half-day visit, the students received teachings from our Abbess, Ven. Chodron, and a thorough introduction to a Buddhist Meditation Hall. They accompanied Ven. Jampa for a walk in the forest, and all the guests and resident monastics connected together over lunch. A final Q & A ended the Buddhist excursion. Here are some of the memories made that day.

The 21st Annual Western Buddhist Monastic Gathering – October 2015

After many years of attending and benefitting from the Western Buddhist Monastic Gathering, the Abbey was happy to be able to host this 21st event. Nuns and monks from Theravada, Soto Zen, Korean, Chinese, and Tibetan traditions joined to explore this year’s theme: The Joys and Challenges of Monastic Life. There were many formal and informal discussions and the group performed a very special blessing for the new land addition to Sravasti Abbey.

Buying and Blessing the “Property Down the Hill” – October 2015

Ven. Chodron and the monastic community have a long-term vision for Sravasti Abbey—we expect it to grow and spread the Dharma for hundreds of years. With that view in mind, we recently purchased an adjacent 57.23-acre property.

The property is mostly meadows and forest and includes a small house, a stream, and a pond. Along with rolling hills, it has several acres of build-able land.

With the help of John, our kind and incredibly skillful realtor, we were able to close the deal during the Green Tara retreat and did the first of many land-blessing ceremonies. Watch the video of the signing and hear people’s aspirations.

There’s much work to restore the land and buildings for the new property, named Tara’s Creek. Volunteers are welcomed to come help!

Green Tara Retreat – October 2015

Green Tara’s enlightening pervaded the week-long Tara retreat as retreatants listened, studied, and meditated together. Ven. Chodron gave teachings on the Tara practice and began a commentary on beautiful verses by Khunu Lama Rinpoche, “The Precious Lamp in Praise of Bodhicitta.” She quickly dived into the magnificent qualities of the Three Jewels, deepening our practice of refuge. (Videos are here.)

Abbey Life September – September 2015

Although the days are getting noticeably shorter and temperatures are cooler, September is beautiful at the Abbey. Usually there is much to do, both inside and outside, while the community deepens their practice and share the Dharma with others.

Offering Service Saturday – September 2015

About 20 volunteers joined us for Offering Service Saturday on September 26th. Sarah and Doug, coordinators for the monthly work parties, wrote, “We have it from good sources that what the volunteers teams get done in a day (like the garden and work in the woods) has an exponential effect.” It’s true! Everyone created a lot of merit and had a lot of fun and laughs along the way. Here are some of the images of that wonderful day.

Madhyamaka through Metaphors – September 2015

It has been seven years since Geshe Dadul Namgyal visited the Abbey, but we have not forgotten his skill and fervor in teaching the Dharma. We met again as dear Dharma friends, and Geshe Dadul’s presentation on Madhyamaka through Metaphors invigorated and inspired us. Guests and residents took advantage of Geshe-la’s generosity by asking as many questions in the break time as we did during the long teaching sessions! He seemed to enjoy his visit as much as we did, and he promised to return to continue teaching this profound topic. Videos of the entire course are here.

Chenrezig in Stained Glass – September 2015

From the moment she heard about Sravasti Abbey’s plan to build Chenrezig Hall, stained-glass artist Beverly Brecht offered to create windows for the new building. Her first creation, a magnificent Thousand-armed Chenrezig, is now installed in the dining room, and its presence clearly enhances the peaceful quality of compassion in the space.

Concentration Retreat – September 2015

About 40 people gathered at the Abbey over Labor Day to deepen their meditative concentration. Ven. Chodron taught about the five hindrances to concentration from wonderful Nagarjuna text translated from the Chinese canon. Although the weather was rainy and cool, we had indoor and outdoor options for walking meditation, and everyone focused well to subdue our minds to support our growing compassion and wisdom.

Here are some of the scenes from retreat.

Offering Service Saturday – September 2015

After a long time of with rains, the skies clouded up for the August 29 Offering Service Saturday. We rejoiced in the rain and brought our efforts indoors. We strung many prayer beads for prisoners, canned peaches, mounted shelves, and got some gardening done between showers. A wonderful day! Thanks to all the volunteers who support the Abbey.

Exploring Monastic Life 2015 – August 2015

This year’s Exploring Monastic Life program attracted sincere and enthusiastic practitioners to join the community in hearing teachings, practicing together, offering service, discussing a range of relevant concerns, and … well, exploring how it is to live as a monastic. Highlights included Ven. Losang’s ordination (photos are here), Ven. Chodron’s exceptional teachings from One Teacher, Many Traditions (teachings are here), and glorious days working together in the forest.

A New Monastic at the Abbey – August 2015

The community is rejoicing at the ordination August 10th of Brian Lawson, who is now Ven. Thubten Losang and the Abbey’s 11th resident monastic.

Brian moved to the Abbey last fall and took anagarika precepts in January. The Vinaya—the monastic code—stipulates that monks must be ordained by monks, so Brian traveled to Seattle, accompanied by Ven. Tarpa, for his ordination.

The Abbey community offers special thanks to Ven. Jendy who made the arrangements, to Fa-Sheng Temple for providing the site and everything necessary for the ritual, to Taiwanese Master Hsin Tien for serving as the Upadaya, to the supporting ordaining monastics, to the Abbey’s Seattle Dharma friends, and to David and Janet who provided transport and support throughout.

Empty Even Conventionally – August 2015

Guy Newland’s courses always challenge and inspire Abbey residents and guests, and this year’s teaching on the subtle (to us) distinctions between the Svātantrika and Prasangika philosophical tenet systems followed suit. What joy to be able to deep our wisdom in this way! You can watch the teaching series here.

How to Be a Bodhisattva – July 2015

Our scheduled teacher for this course on Shantideva’s Guide to a Bodhisattva’s Way of Life was unable to come, so the community requested Ven. Chodron to teach in her absence. Ven. Chodron has studied this text for a long time and given many commentaries on it. She offered several beautiful teachings that inspired guests and residents! The teachings are on the Abbey You Tube Channel.

Exploring Buddhism for Young Adults – July 2015

Our annual Young Adult Week is always a special delight, and this year was no different. Several people joined us. Everyone learned a lot and we had a lot of fun too!

Summer! – July 2015

Summer brings many guests, along with lots of opportunities for offering service. Cherries and berries are ripe, the vegetable garden is producing, and there’s always building maintenance and forest work to do. Along with learning the Dharma, much fun is a part of the experience of being at the Abbey.

Offering Service Saturdays – June 2015

June 27 marked the launch of Offering Service Saturdays, a scheduled day each month when volunteers are invited to come “swarm” Abbey projects. Although temperatures passed 100F, nine eager volunteers joined residents and long-term guests to help in the gardens, in the kitchen, and on the website.

We had a wonderful time, did pujas and prayers together, accomplished many tasks, and created tons of merit. Thanks to everyone! The next Offering Service Saturday is July 25. Come on up!

Developing Compassion – June 2015

The sangha led an intimate group in a heartfelt investigation of compassion—its meaning, the basis upon which we can develop it, our inner obstacles, and the practices to overcome these. Together we acknowledged our aspirations and examined the wiles of the self-centered thought that takes our attention away from others. By focusing on the kindness of others and by reflecting deeply on our common struggles in samsara, we can nurture our sincere wish for all beings to be free of suffering and its causes.

Abbey Life in June – June 2015

June brings lots of outdoor activity at the Abbey, and we share the Dharma at home and abroad. Lots of friends have brought their time and energy and presence to the community lately.

How to See Yourself as You Really Are – May 2015

For the fourth Memorial Day in a row, Venerable Chodron taught from His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s book, How to See Yourself as You Really Are. This year we focused on the chapters that teach meditative stabilization. The 36 retreatants created much wisdom, many laughs, and a lot of merit.

Cultivating Love 2015 – May 2015

This year’s retreat season began with a Cultivating Love retreat. We had lots of fun and created lots of merit along the way.

Pravarana – April 2015

At the end of our varsa—the 3-month monastic retreat—we practice a rite prescribed by the Buddha called pravarana, which means “invitation.” In it, we invite feedback from other monastics about our behavior during the retreat time. It’s a beautiful opportunity to share our realizations during the retreat time, to clear the air if needed, and re-commit ourselves to community harmony going forward.

Sharing the Dharma Again – April 2015

Our first Sharing the Dharma Day of 2015 drew over 50 people into the Meditation Hall for meditation, teaching, and discussion on the April topic, “Who Am I?” Venerable Tarpa gave the talk, based on Verse 22 of The 37 Practices of Bodhisattvas and Venerable Chodron’s commentary in Don’t Believe Everything You Think.

Newcomers and old friends alike plunged right in to examine the dependently arising nature of things. It was great for the community to re-connect with everyone, and our guests were clearly happy to be back at the Abbey again!

A Day of Celebration – April 2015

After three months of retreat—both our annual winter retreat and our monastic varsa or “snows retreat”— the Abbey community and guest retreatants invited our friends to celebrate. We began with a kathina ceremony, where the laity offers requisites to the monastics, which was followed by a vegetarian potluck and the Lama Chopa puja. What a joyous day for all.

Winter Retreat Ends – April 2015

After three months of looking at our minds and transforming them with the guidance and inspiration of Yamantaka, Manjusri as well as our kind teacher, Venerable Chodron, the retreatants stepped out for a day of fire pujas, a lunch offering, and a walk in nature. May all beings benefit in some way from our efforts these past three months.

Chenrezig Window Update – February 2015

Several years ago our good friend, stained glass artist Bev Brecht, created the beautiful stained glass window of Mahaprajapati Gotami that’s in the Gotami Library.

Now she is working on a portrait of Chenrezig in glass for the circular window in Chenrezig Hall’s dining room.

One-Month Manjushri Retreat Ends – February 2015

Impermanence is imperceptible through most of our days, but with big events it becomes more apparent. It seems like just yesterday that the one-month Manjushri retreat began. Now, already, it has ended. The closing rituals and practices captured the joy and deep gratitude of the participants and they promised to continue the practice at home. We all rejoice at the amazing merit they have created, and wish them to be well, happy, and to become Buddhas quickly.

The 2015 Manjushri-Yamantaka Retreatants – February 2015

As the Buddha has taught, we must not only cultivate much virtuous karma individually in order to create the causes for awakening, it is also equally important that we take care to create virtuous collective karma with others. Doing retreat as a group is a powerful way to create that. With much rejoicing in our hearts, it is our pleasure to introduce the 2015 Manjushri-Yamantaka retreatants who are creating some wonderful virtuous karma together this winter. And they have come from near and far.

Manjusri and Yamantaka Retreats Begin – January 2015

For the 12th year in a row, the community at Sravasti Abbey and a number of guests will spend three months in silent retreat to deepen their practice and transform their minds. Two separate retreats are going on simultaneously as 14 participants, including some of the sangha, will do Manjusri retreat in the Meditation Hall, while nine people, including five Abbey monastics, will do the Yamantaka practice in Shanti Cabin. May all beings benefit from our efforts!

The Dharma in Singapore – January 2015

Almost every year for decades now, Venerable Chodron has made a yearly visit to Singapore to teach the Dharma and inspire others to practice in their daily lives. We would like to share some of those moments from her recent trip. The faith and enthusiasm for the Buddha’s teachings in Singapore inspire all of us at the Abbey and, hopefully, will inspire you as well.

Om Vajrasattva Hum – January 2015

New Year’s can be a time of renewal and commitment to making our life more meaningful and our minds more virtuous. This year the Abbey community and eight guests began 2015 with a 3-day Vajrasattva retreat. Focusing on purification as well as touching our amazing potential to grow our virtuous qualities gave the group a sense of purpose for the upcoming year. The retreat ended on an inspiring and joyful note.

Sravasti Abbey Enters its Second Varsa – January 2015

To be considered a fully functioning sangha, a monastic community of four or more fully ordained monks or nuns must engage in three important ceremonies laid out by the Buddha: posadha (twice monthly confession and restoration of precepts), varsa (three-month rains retreat), and pravarana (the ceremony to end the varsa).

The Abbey community has been doing posadha for three years. Now, for the second year, the Abbey community has entered into varsa. In this part of the world, winter is a better retreat time, so we’re actually doing a “snows retreat,” which was allowed by the Buddha too. Pravarana will take place in April.

The monastic community here deeply feels how precious this opportunity is, and we dedicate all the merit to the spreading of the Dharma in the West and the world.

Taiwan Journey: The Abbey’s 8th Bhikshuni – January 2015

Venerable Thubten Tsultrim spent five weeks at the Golden Lotus Association temple in Toayuan City, Taiwan, to train and receive full bhikshuni ordination. While there, she captured some moments to remember and share.