2022 Photo Gallery

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Slab is Poured and Walls Rise – December

Waiting for the slab to be poured, we chanted Tara mantra as the temperatures dropped and snow fell. Through the hard work and great kindness of many people, it finally happened in mid-December. Now that the concrete has cured, the interior walls are quickly going up and the rooms are taking shape.

Singapore Teaching Tour – December 

Our abbess and teacher, Venerable Chodron, has headed off to Singapore for the first time since 2019. It’s been an annual tradition for her to share the Dharma with long-time students in Singapore, but Covid put that on hold. These photos show the joyful reunion of students with their teacher. In her teaching marathon, she shares the Dharma at numerous centers, meeting many old and new friends along the way.

Entering Varsa – December

We are always delighted to enter varsa, the annual three-month monastic retreat. During this time we are especially mindful of our speech and actions as we focus on community harmony and refrain from correcting one another. Varsa is one of the rituals the Buddha established for the monastic sangha. At least four fully ordained monastics are needed, and we are fortunate to have a flourishing bhikshuni (fully ordained nuns’) community here. The Abbey’s varsa overlaps with the annual winter retreat.

Training the Next Generation – December

Our siksamana training course ended this week with the ceremonies to enter varsa, our annual three-month monastic retreat. The ceremonies nicely encapsulate all that we learned throughout the course about precepts and monastic roles and responsibilities. May all the benefits of our training ripple out to benefit all sentient beings!

Building in Snow – December

Snow hasn’t stopped construction of Sravasti Abbey’s new Buddha Hall. Abbey residents play an essential role in keeping the building site accessible. Ven. Losang and other monastics take turns plowing the road so that trucks can come into the site. That will be essential when 15 concrete trucks come in to pour the slab.

Siksamana Training Course – December

The Abbey just completed an intensive three-week siksamana training course for resident monastics and five guest nuns. Most of the participants are training to take full ordination (that’s what “siksamana” signifies), and the course helps prepare them for this step. Venerable Chodron and the Abbey’s fully ordained monastics gave talks and led discussions on the precious monastic precepts established by the Buddha, monastic comportment, and many aspects of living in a monastic community. Several kind lay friends also came to cook and offer service during the program. What a treasure to broaden and deepen our commitment to monastic life!

Layer by Layer, the Buddha Hall is Built – November

November brought many changes in weather—wet, cold, then snowy—but construction continues. Gradually the outer walls are rising, but most of the action has been on the ground. Many systems have components below the concrete slab foundation. Now that those systems are installed, the slab can be poured.

Sharing the Dharma Day – November

A nice-sized crowd gathered for our final Sharing the Dharma Day of 2022. After the long Covid shutdown, we are still delighted to welcome guests for the Dharma events. The day’s topic, drawn from the book, An Open-hearted Life, focused on the difference between personal distress and genuine compassion. It’s timely, in the face so many tragedies in the world news. We were inspired to share Dharma remedies and Dharma joy together.

A Precious Teaching with Geshe Yeshi Lhundup – November

The Abbey just spent six illuminating weeks with Geshe Yeshi Lhundup of Drepung Loseling Monastery in India. Offering six sessions a week, Geshe Yeshi unpacked Je Tsongkhapa’s “Illuminating the Intent.” This classic text is a commentary on Chandrakirti’s Entering the Middle Way. This was Geshe-la’s fourth teaching series on this text. This time we delved into the ten perfections and the beautiful qualities a bodhisattva develops on the way to Buddhahood. We hope he will accept our invitation to return again and again!

Our Friend Impermanence – November

Abbey life provides constant opportunities throughout the day to reflect on the reality of impermanence and selflessness. By setting a bodhicitta motivation before whatever we do – walking in nature, participating in workshops, running errands, listening to teachings, or offering service – we are consciously creating the causes for big change that will serve everyone.

Buddha Hall Tanks, Pipes, & Faswall – October

The Buddha Hall construction site is humming with activity. An enormous amount of concrete has already been poured, and crews have started to set the Faswall blocks. (See Buddha Hall Walls Go Up with Faswall to learn more.) They’ve also laid plumbing pipes and electrical conduit, and installed four enormous (30,000 pounds each!) water tanks for the Buddha Hall fire suppression system. Stay tuned. There’s lots more to do!

Abbey Life – October

You might think our outdoor season would be winding down right about now, but not yet! Buddha Hall construction and daily Dharma teachings are constantly reminding us of our aspiration to benefit all sentient beings.

 

Sharing the Dharma Day – October

It was great seeing so many friends come to October’s Sharing the Dharma Day (SDD). Each month on SDDs, the Abbey community and local friends take time out of our busy lives and gather together to meditate, hear teachings, share a meal, and discuss the Dharma. The opportunity to reconnect on a heart-to-heart level is very nourishing for us both. 

 

Offering Service Saturday – October

Offering Service Saturday brought local friends to help with forest thinning and mantra rolling, while a few nuns headed to Portland for a short weekend visit. We are grateful for all our support in spreading and sharing the Dharma!

Easing into Fall – October

Autumn has arrived, and the colors are changing almost as quickly as our minds! This week has been full of visits from family, friends, and teachers, weekend courses, a second concrete pour at the Buddha Hall site, and beautiful weather.

Rejoicing in a New Monk – September

“Go forth to enter the path!” Chanting the beautiful text of the ordination ceremony, the Abbey community welcomed a new monk, Ven. Thubten Ngawang, into monastic life. Master Jian Hu, former abbot of Chung Tai Zen Center in California, served as Preceptor, with Geshe Dadul Namgyal as Acharya. Abbess Ven. Thubten Chodron beamed joyfully throughout the ceremony as anagarika Stephen Taul fulfilled his long-held aspiration. Many lay friends joined the entire Abbey community to support and rejoice in his merit. As the chant continues, “How happy is the door to liberation!” Congratulations and welcome, Venerable Ngawang!

Abbey Life – September

Community life at the Abbey continues to be an enriching experience, with events like Sharing the Dharma Day, the arrival of teachers, and visits from new and old friends who kindly sustain our way of life in numerous ways.

Happy Birthday Venerable Chodron! – September

We love celebrating our teacher’s birthday on September 18! On this festive day, we express our serious gratitude for her guidance, skill, and courage, sometimes in silly ways. “May her lotus feet remain unfaltering for a very long time!”

Buddha Hall Is Set In Concrete – September

It was a major moment for the community to see all the trucks come in and begin to pour the footings for the new Buddha Hall! To us, it’s not just concrete: this lays the groundwork for a place where many dedicated practitioners will come and work towards their highest spiritual aims, with ease and room to do so. See the video: We’ve Started Pouring Concrete!

Perfection of Generosity Labor Day Retreat – September

The Abbey hosted our largest in-person retreat since the Covid shutdown, with nearly 30 guests joining us for the Labor Day weekend retreat. Many more joined online. Venerable Chodron’s teachings covered all kinds of generosity, from material giving to the non-material giving of love, protection, respect, and the Dharma. We left feeling refreshed and inspired to share whatever we have with others.

Bringing Home the Dharma – August

This past month we’ve been rejoicing at all the folks who’ve come to visit us and learn more about what we do as a community. We enjoyed another Sharing the Dharma Day (SDD) with new and old friends, and Ven. Sangye Khadro also held a silent retreat on how to meditate. Meanwhile, we continue to offer service in whatever way is needed.

Growing Aspirations – August

Throughout our Exploring Monastic Life (EML) course, residents and guests developed ever deeper clarity. Our discussions raised sensitive but practical subjects, and participants continued to offer service. We had some fun with skits, and we also held an anagrika ceremony for our new monastic aspirant, Donyo!

The Buddha Hall Site Takes Shape – August

Here’s a look at the recent and speedy Buddha Hall developments at the Abbey! In less than a month, the look of the building site has changed completely — from mostly forest to nothing but powdery dirt that is still being shaped to get ready for the concrete footings. Meanwhile, the community is getting to know the statues that are in process for the main altar.

The Way of a Monastic – August

Happy August! We’re right in the middle of our annual Exploring Monastic Life (EML) program, where 16 participants are learning more about monastic life in general and, specifically, about training at the Abbey. Activities this past week included teachings and discussion, lots of forest work, a training request ceremony, and celebrating Wheel Turning Day.  

New Horizons – July

July has been full of big changes for the Abbey! A cascade of guests have continued flowing in and out, and we’ve really enjoyed sharing the Dharma and making lifelong connections with them. Residents also enjoyed a trip to nearby Hayden Lake as a brief pause from Buddha Hall activity.

Buddha Hall Groundbreaking Ceremony – July

At last! The long-awaited Buddha Hall project is in motion. Here’s a look into the July 17 groundbreaking ceremony, which we combined with Sharing the Dharma Day. Many friends joined the community to hear the Buddha Hall team speak about the history of the project. Then we followed Ven. Chodron to the building site where we blessed the land and used borrowed golden shovels to ceremonially break the ground. What a joyful day!

Manjushri Retreat – July

We enjoyed a good week in silence meditating on Manjushri, the Buddha of Wisdom, and hearing teachings by Venerable Chodron on the first verses of Chandrakirti’s Supplement to the Middle Way, his homage to Great Compassion. We visualized clarity, wisdom, and understanding infusing our minds while learning to reflect on the lack of inherent existence of everything!

Buddha Hall Begins – July

We’re rejoicing! Ven. Chodron has signed the contract to begin building the Buddha Hall! In the coming weeks, trucks and construction workers will roll up the hill to break new ground. Here is a look at the signing ceremony where the community renewed our commitment to bring this long-held dream to fruition. 

Fun in the Sun – June

The Abbey community has spent time serving all beings in the beautiful, sunny outdoors. We’ve been clearing out our forests by hauling and burning wood, as well as gardening, maintaining infrastructure, and sharing the Dharma, all with the help of Sravasti Abbey’s friends.

Korean Conference and Tour – June

Vens. Chodron and Damcho traveled to Seoul, South Korea in June to attend a two-day conference on “Buddhist Nuns’ Sangha Around the World: Present and Future” organized by Hanmaum Seonwon (One Mind Zen Center) to commemorate the 10th anniversary of the passing of their founder, Ven. Daehaeng. Afterwards, they joined a pilgrimage tour of historic temples and Hanmaum Seonwon branches. It was a brief but rich experience learning about the situation of Buddhist women worldwide and getting a glimpse of Buddhism in Korea. See Ven. Damcho’s complete travelogue here.

Young Adults Week – June

For one week, a bunch of thoughtful, reflective, and enthusiastic young adults came to explore Buddhism at the Abbey. They spent the week meditating, chanting, bowing, enjoying live teachings, offering service in a variety of ways, and discussing the Dharma together. We hope they came away feeling lighter and clearer on their paths. 

Memorial Day Retreat 2022 – June

The Abbey was happy to host a large in-person retreat for the first time in over two years. Approximately 20 old and new friends attended our annual Memorial Day retreat, and many more online. Venerable Chodron continued to teach from her book “Good Karma” on how to create the causes for happiness and avoid the causes of suffering. The community was reminded how joyful it is to open our doors and share the Dharma in-person. 

Dronsel Dons the Blues – June

It’s still lush and wet here in the eastern Washington mountains, where the wildflowers and the people are blooming! Today the community partakes in a very light and joyful anagarika ordination for Dronsel, who previously went by Yvonne. We rejoice in her long-sought dedication to travel this path.

From Joy to Joy – May

More beauty shows its face around the Abbey, as we continue to offer everything we have to the flourishing of the Dharma. With a happy mind, we continue to cook, clean, garden, invite guests, and participate in pujas, retreats, and teachings, all for the sake of the beings who may benefit. 

A Spring Ordination – May

On May 16th, Sravasti Abbey welcomed a new member to the sangha.  Stacy made the leap from an anagarika (monastic trainee) to Venerable Monlam. Here’s a look at the beautiful novice ordination we held, where lay friends and guests came to support the new monastic. 

Rain of Guests, Flood of Dharma – May

It was a beautiful week at the Abbey, with a wave of greenery sweeping the region! With the new weather, we’ve started to clean-up our forest again. Meanwhile, we’re being showered with precious Dharma teachings from in-house and off-site teachers. Guests keep trickling in, who kindly help us to carry out the activities of awakening.

Awakening the Kind Heart Retreat – April

Venerable Sangye Khadro led a beautiful weekend retreat on a loving-kindness, the first retreat of the season. Guests and monastics reflected on the kindness they had received throughout their lives and related their experiences to each other. Here’s a glimpse into the retreat.

Abbey Life – April

April life at the Abbey has been meaningful and chock-full of merit-making. Yvonne arrived from Singapore for a long visit, and we welcomed other guests for short stays. Offering service activities are in full swing, along with retreats, Offering Service Saturdays, and Sharing the Dharma Days. Now that we are open again, friends are even coming up just for lunch. All are vaccinated and boosted (our requirement for visiting) and everyone needs to call before they come.

Kathina Day – April

Kathina is a celebrated day that goes all the way back to the time of the Buddha, when the lay community offers much-needed requisites to the sangha. This year, our friends in Singapore and Malaysia presented the Robe of Merit on behalf of our friends in Ukraine. Read more about this day of mutual generosity and gratitude here: https://sravastiabbey.org/kathina-in-person-online-april-10/ 

First Sharing the Dharma Day – April

As soon as our winter retreat ended we opened the doors for Sharing Dharma Day, inviting in-person guests for the first time in a long time. What a joyful occasion! After a guided meditaiton with Ven. Jigme, Ven. Chodron gave a practical teaching on preparing our minds to work with conflict (watch it here). The vegetarian potluck lunch was scrumptious, followed by a Green Tara meditation practice. It was a joy to close the day by thanking the volunteers who supported the Abbey throughout the winter retreat. We’re happy to be open again!

Winter Retreat Ends- April

Our three-month winter meditation retreat ended, as it usually does, with a time of sharing and a Dorje Khadro fire puja to purify all negativities. Meditators from both the Medicine Buddha retreat and the Vajrasattva retreat groups had fruitful insights to share. Then we piled into the kitchen to create a scorpion of black sesame seeds, an offering to Dorje Khadro in the fire puja. By this merit may the poisons of ignorance, anger, and craving be purified. May this merit nourish the seeds for all beings to be fully awakened.

Ending Varsa – March

Varsa, the annual monastic retreat that emphasizes community harmony, ends with a ceremony called Pravarana. One of the four main ceremonies that monastic communities are required to hold each year, Pravarana offers a chance to invite feedback about our behavior. The ceremony restores our precepts, promotes harmony, and strengthens our community’s commitment to the Dharma. Although Varsa is complete, our overlapping Medicine Buddha retreat continues for two more weeks.

Happy Birthday, Venerable Sangye Khadro! – March

Venerable Sangye Khadro recently turned 70. We rejoiced in her long teaching experience and that she has been ordained almost 50 years! We celebrated with a Cittamani Tara puja and some birthday fun.

Change, Even in Retreat – March

While each day of retreat looks very similar, there are many opportunities to appreciate impermanence. We’ve celebrated Losar—Tibetan New Year—received the long-awaited Buddha Hall building permit, and changed which half of the community is supporting the retreat. As the end of retreat nears, so does spring.

One-Month Retreat Ends – February

Six Abbey guests ended their one-month Medicine Buddha retreat with the powerful Dorje Khadro  fire puja to help purify any mistakes during their time in retreat. They also thanked Venerable Chodron for this rare and amazing opportunity. Meanwhile, the Abbey community’s retreat goes on as we practice meditation, offer service, get exercise, and receive wise teachings from Geshe Thabkhe.

A New Year, A New Anagarika – February

Lunar New Year, Feb. 1, was an auspicious day at the Abbey. Two men took the eight anagarika (monastic trainee) precepts for life – Gyatso in person and Renato in Mexico via Zoom. Two lay people also took refuge and the five lay precepts. The Malaysian Butterworth Lay Buddhist Society sponsored a delicious celebratory lunch prepared by Kuni’s Thai Cuisine. We rejoice in all the merit created by so many beings on this day!

Life in Retreat – February

Here’s a glimpse into our winter retreat life: meditating, performing rituals, and receiving teachings, while getting to know Vajrasattva and Medicine Buddha. Slowly but surely we’re transforming our minds with each passing day. 

2022 Winter Retreat Portraits – January

30 retreatants, including 10 new participants, are joining us this year for 1-3 months of intensive healing and purification. Here is a look at their friendly faces.

On Vacation with Medicine Buddha and Vajrasattva – January

The Abbey community is now totally immersed in the winter retreat, with some guests joining us as well. Seven retreatants are focusing on the Vajrasattva purification practice while the rest are meditating on Medicine Buddha. Half of the community is in full retreat and the other half is offering service and meditating three times a day; we will switch halfway through so everyone can have six weeks of full retreat.

Getting Ready for Winter Retreat – January

We are offering lots of service around the Abbey to prepare for our upcoming three-month winter retreat. Shoveling has become a daily routine due to lots of snow, giving us many opportunities for physical exercise and cultivating joyous effort. We also hosted our annual Vajrasattva purification retreat over the New Year weekend that attracted nearly 200 online participants.

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Sravasti Abbey

692 Country Lane
Newport WA 99156 USA
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509-447-5549