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Abbey News

 

2007 News About The Abbey


2007 News About The Abbey

For news updates for previous years click here.

December 2007

Dear Friends,

Winter greetings!

We just completed Part One of our Medicine Buddha retreat. The quiet time to study, reflect on the Dharma, and meditate is always valuable and rewarding; it enhances our understanding of the Dharma and deepens our practice, as well as gives us a break from the activities of other seasons. Ten of us were on retreat, including Sister Leslie, a Carmelite nun who lives nearby, and Barbara, who kindly managed the office. During retreat, I met with the retreatants on Tuesdays for Q&A sessions and on Thursdays for teachings on the Essence of Refined Gold.

 We were delighted that 111 people did the Retreat from Afar, including over 50 inmates!!! Pictures of the Retreatants from Afar were in the meditation hall, reminding us that the virtuous energy of the retreat spread around the world to their homes and beyond. Retreatants from Afar were from Canada, Mexico, India, Singapore, Sweden, Uruguay, Malaysia, Ireland, and many other places. Let us know if you want to join the Retreat from Afar for Part Two, January 6 through March 9.

 The retreat was completed with a fire puja on Saturday, December 2, followed by a big snowfall.

 Sharing the Dharma Day this last Sunday was well attended. The local folks are hearty and determined to hear the Dharma snow or sun! The weather being as it is, our foot of snow vanished during the last few days of a chinook.

Hearing the Dharma
Early in the retreat, my long-time friend, Dr. Alex Berzin, visited the Abbey and gave a Dharma talk to the retreatants. The topics of his talk ranged from meditating on emptiness in tantric practice to what a Buddha perceives. Our heads were spinning like prayer wheels by the end of the talk!

 Khensur Wangdak Rinpoche, the former abbot of Namgyal Monastery also visited the Abbey for nine days, teaching Guide to a Bodhisattva’s Way of Life, the inspiring text by the great Indian sage Shantideva. He completed the first chapter on the benefits of the altruistic intention, rousing us to create the causes to generate this precious mind. He also gave initiation into the practices of Medicine Buddha and Manjushri. One evening he spoke specially to the monastics and aspiring monastics, telling us the story of his ordained life in Tibet as a little boy and his rewarding monastic life and education. Remembering the mischief he got into as a the young monk, he leaned back and giggled with glee.

The Abbey was completely full during Rinpoche’s teachings, so much so that seven guests had to stay at our neighbors’ homes. Local people commuted daily for the teachings. Everyone was very cooperative and harmonious, putting the teachings on bodhicitta into practice. Although we were crowded, everyone was cheerful and kind. People’s eagerness to hear teachings and do a week-long retreat highlight the need to build a new monastic residence and enlarge our kitchen, making more spaces for both Abbey residents and guests. Click here to see the photos of all the November activities.

Other News
Work with our architect, Tim Wilson, continues—we have a good basic design for the new monastic residence which will be located in a gorgeous site in the lower meadow. In December we plan to meet with people who know about sustainable materials and green building. Though it will be more costly initially to construct the residence in this way, we feel responsible to preserve the environment.

Did you receive the recent letter from Friends of Sravasti Abbey? If not read it here and sign up for future snail mail letters here.

A great website called Buddhist Geeks interviewed me. You may like to listen to “Reformatting the Hard Disk of the Mind, Part I” or “Part II.” Our dedicated team of audio editors has completed the talks from the Activism with Altruism Retreat at the Abbey in September. Enjoy listening!

The Abbey community will end the year with a four day lamrim retreat. Clarity through Introspection. You’re welcome to join us.

May kindness, generosity, compassion, and cooperation—the real meaning of the holiday season—grow in your hearts,
Bhikshuni Thubten Chodron and the residents of Sravasti Abbey

Venerable Chodron's new book, which includes a CD with over 14 hours of guided meditation, has just been released by Snow Lion Publications. Guided Meditations on the Stages of the Pathcontains a foreword by His Holiness the Dalai Lama and is designed to help practitioners at all levels of the path, but especially those who want to establish a daily meditation practice.  top

November 2007

Dear Friends,

October 13 was a marvelous day of celebration at the Abbey in honor of our Founding Donors, all those who had contributed to the Abbey during its first year, thus enabling us to purchase the property.

Aspiration Buddha Dedication
The festivities began in the morning by celebrating my 30th anniversary as a monastic (which was in the spring of 07). Actually, the ones to be celebrated are my teachers and the entire lineage of monastics that goes back to the Buddha, without whose kindness I would not have had the precious possibility of living my life in this way.

After doing White Tara meditation, students offered "monastic birthday" gifts, including a generous monetary offering that will be put towards the construction of the new monastic residence.

Following that, I told the history of the founding of Sravasti Abbey, with the escapades, setbacks, and successes that involved. Many people told me afterwards that they enjoyed hearing the tale. Barbara then told people about future plans, especially the new monastic residence that we would like to build next year, depending on the funding. Tim Wilson, our architect, then responded to questions.

Founding Donor Tom asked the first question-How much discount did Tim give the Abbey on his architectural services? I had asked Tim about this after we received his initial bid, and he kindly lowered his charge 20%.

Then several other people asked about green building and sustainable designs. We definitely want to do this and were happy when one of the guests with experience in this field volunteered to help. We then gave gifts to the Founding Donors, local supporters (who take care of us wonderfully by offering food and assisting with errands), and all those who attended. Listen to the audio recordings and read the summaries of the day's events.

The tour of the building site then began. People had seen Tim's drawing of the monastic residence and the first draft of the floor plan, and Kevin had sketched out the area in the meadow with yellow ribbon. Looking southeast, down the hill, there is a beautiful view of the slope and the mountains on the other side of the valley. Looking uphill, we could see the site of the future temple through the tall golden meadow grasses.

Lunch followed. It was the first time we fed over 50 people at the Abbey; Abbey residents had been cooking all week in preparation. In the afternoon, in a procession that included the blowing of conch shells, the ringing of sweet sounding bells, banners waving in the breeze, and all of us chanting the Buddha's mantra, we escorted the new Buddha statue to its home with a procession from the meditation hall to the garden. There we invited the Buddha to remain forever and to teach at the Abbey. The grand finale was the "Sravasti Abbey Monastic Choir" singing Shantideva's dedication verses to the tune of the "Star Spangled Banner." What a way to purify that song! Read some of the inspiring aspirations of the Founding Donors, placed beneath the Buddha.

The weather was perfect for the event-a bright, sunny autumn day. At breakfast that morning, as we looked out the window, we saw a huge moose strolling by the building site, surveying it carefully, and nodding with approval.

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Retreat From Afar and Khensur Rinpoche
Our annual retreat begins soon and we would like to invite you to join the Retreat from Afar and share the joy of Dharma practice with us. During our retreat in November, Khensur Rinpoche Geshe Wangdak will teach on Shantideva's Guide to a Bodhisattva's Way of Life and give the Medicine Buddha and Manjushri initiations Nov. 20 - 26. You're welcome to join us for these.

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Offering Meals
In the past, people have rejoiced in our doing retreat and have wanted to support our efforts. If you would like to offer food to the retreatants, contact . Or if you'd like to send a "Care Package" with goodies, it will be happily received. As always, we dedicate for those who offer funds, food, and service to the Abbey. We're all one community; without you, the Abbey wouldn't exist!

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Precepts, Guests, and Teachings
Other October news: Barbara took the 8 anagarika precepts ("gomi genyen" in Tibetan)! The residents gathered around to cut her hair the night before, and several friends came to observe the ceremony. She's now wearing the grey outfit that anagarikas at the Abbey don. Then, two days later, Bill, Cheryl, Jenna, Robert, and Mark took refuge and lay precepts. Ven. Thubten Saldon, who has been with us since June, left to visit her mother in Uruguay.

The Abbey was happy to welcome Geshe Thubten Phelgye and Geshe Dorji Damdul, whose visits happened to coincide. The two-day seminar at North Idaho College was well attended, with close to 90 people at each talk. Coeur d'Alene Dharma Friends did a wonderful job organizing this event. The three talks at Gardenia Center in Sandpoint, were similarly well attended, and our October Sharing the Dharma Day had the most attendees yet!

The garden and forest are ablaze with magnificent autumn colors. We're enjoying the outdoors: chopping firewood from the forest, building garden beds for veggie planting next spring, and taking walks together.

May we celebrate Thanksgiving this year with appreciation for our human lives that enable us to practice the precious Buddha's teachings; gratitude towards sentient beings, all of whom contribute to our being alive; and compassionate action for all beings.

Bhikshuni Thubten Chodron and the residents of Sravasti Abbey

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Venerable Chodron's new book, which includes a CD with over 14 hours of guided meditation, has just been released by Snow Lion Publications. Guided Meditations on the Stages of the Path contains a foreword by His Holiness the Dalai Lama and is designed to help practitioners at all levels of the path, but especially those who want to establish a daily meditation practice.

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October 2007

What you'll find:
Join the Retreat from Afar and Khensur Rinpoche Geshe Wangdak’s Teachings
Activism with Altruism
Ordination: Nanc Becomes a Nun
We’re Going to Build a Monastic Residence
Sravasti Abbey Hosts Heart Shrine Relics
New Book and more

Dear Friends,

Our annual retreat begins soon, and we to invite you to join the Retreat from Afar and share the joy of Dharma practice with us. During our retreat in November,Khensur Rinpoche Geshe Wangdak will teach Shantideva’s Guide to a Bodhisattva’s Way of Life and give the Medicine Buddha and Manjushri initiations Nov. 19 - 26. You’re welcome to join us for this.

Activism with Altruism
September began with an Activism with Altruism retreat, especially designed for environmental activists. The Abbey was full to overflowing with participants. Taught in a secular manner that included non-Buddhists, we delved into topics such as clarifying our motivation, working with anger and frustration, maintaining a happy mind and compassionate heart while working for others, letting go of expectations, cultivating a long term view, and taking delight in the moment-to-moment process of benefiting others, not the goal of seeing our agenda met. The weekend was rich with talks, discussion groups, meditation, walks in the woods, and reading in the garden. As part of the Abbey’s commitment to serve the broader society, we aim to do more weekend retreats for activists in the future.  top

Ordination
Nanc’s ordination followed just a few days after the retreat. Four Chinese bhikshunis—Ven. Mingjia, Ven. Jendy, Ven. Jencheng, and Ven. Tienchang—joined Ven. Saldon and me to form the bhikshuni sangha giving the sramanerika and shiksamana ordinations. The Abbey was full with guests that day who witnessed the haircutting and offered lunch to the sangha including the now Ven. Thubten Semkye. (Semkye means “generating the mind” referring to bodhicitta—a good name for Nanc, don’t you think?). In the afternoon, almost forty people, including Ven. Semkye’s sister and niece, gathered in the meditation hall to hear the bhikshunis talk about their lives and what led them to become monastics. People were very moved and inspired by this personal sharing.

The weekend following the ordination was a work party. The house was packed to capacity and people joyfully offered service in a variety of areas: the soon-to-be-consecrated Buddha monument in the garden, adding finishing stone to the patio, sprucing up the garden, and various indoor projects. 

In addition to the visit of the Chinese bhikshunis, Ajahn Sundara from Amaravati Monastery, Rev. Clarissa from the Portland Buddhist Priory, and Sisters Leslie and Nancy, the Carmelite nuns who live nearby, also graced us with their visits. Carl Willmott and Exiquio Anderson, both young enthusiastic men in their twenties, are now Abbey residents as well. Meanwhile Barbara and Kevin bask in their lives at the Abbey, as their hair keeps getting shorter and shorter.   top

Monastic Residence
The day after the work party, we went to Coeur d’Alene to sign a contract with architect Tim Wilson from Momentum Architecture to design a new monastic residence for the Abbey. The number of monastics and those in training has been steadily increasing, and the events open to the public have been full to capacity, some having waiting lists. So we need more space! The new monastic residence will house 12 people, enabling some rooms in the house to become much needed offices and other rooms to welcome more guests. Depending on the response to our Inviting your Generosity, we hope to break ground next summer. We’ll send you more info soon! 

September’s Sharing the Dharma Day saw about 25 people meditating, listening to teachings, and discussing them. A walk in the forest followed lunch, and we could witness the beginning of autumn colors. Dechen Smith brought the gorgeous house for the Buddha statue that we will install in the garden on October 13. Please join us for this event!  top

Heart Shrine Relics
The following weekend Sravasti Abbey, together with Coeur d’Alene Dharma Friends, hosted the Heart Shrine Relic Tour, which included relics from the Buddha, some of his chief disciples, Nagarjuna, Lama Tsongkhapa, and Lama Yeshe. The Unity Church in Spokane kindly opened their doors as a venue, and about 1,000 people came over the three days. The opening evening included talks by Mary Verner, a native American Spokane city councilwoman; Rev. Deidre Ashmore, one of Unity’s Ministers; Lama Yonten, an American Nyingma lay lama; Carmen Straight, the tour custodian, and myself. Saturday I gave a talk on Compassion and Forgiveness, and Lama Inge from Padme Ling Dharma Center gave a talk on the Buddhist Path. Sunday’s interfaith panel included four female clergy (myself included) and a native American man. 

Thai monks from Richland and their followers came twice, and they, together with we Western Tibetan nuns, Lama Yonten, and Lama Inge, held the stupas holding the Buddha’s relics to people’s head to give blessings. Many people had strong experiences while viewing the relics and receiving blessings; others sat quietly meditating in the room. Old people and young people from many different ethnic and racial groups came. Sunday afternoon was a pet blessing, and being an animal lover, I thoroughly enjoyed chanting mantra and holding the Buddha’s relics on the heads of dogs of all sizes, cats, and birds.

The volunteers worked hard and joyfully. At the end the volunteer coordinator said that she was particularly impressed with the Abbey volunteers: everyone she asked to help not only said yes, but also completed whatever task she requested. I must say the CDA Dharma Friends and Unity Church’s volunteers were equally cooperative, and anyone who has ever counted on volunteers knows how special that is.  top

New book and more news
In late September, I taught in Torreon, Mexico. The public talk on “Working with Anger” was packed (about 250 people attended), and the other teachings were as well. The Mexicans are very sincere in their Dharma practice, and it was lovely to see many old friends and meet many new ones there. Just after the weekend seminar finished a rainbow appeared in the sky, and there were no rain or rain clouds anywhere to be seen!

My new book, which includes a CD with over 14 hours of guided meditation, has just been released by Snow Lion Publications. Guided Meditations on the Stages of the Path contains a foreword by His Holiness the Dalai Lama and is designed to help practitioners at all levels of the path, but especially those who want to establish a daily meditation practice.  top

May the delight we take in the varied beautifulcolors of autumn leaves remind us to take delight in the kindness of all the varied sentient beings,
Bhikshuni Thubten Chodron and the residents of Sravasti Abbey

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September 2007

Dear Friends,

August has been a full and enjoyable month at the Abbey. It began with a three-day Lamrim Meditation retreat led by the residents, with teachings on the Four Noble Truths by me each morning. People enjoyed the Dharma friendships created during the unique type of discussion groups at the Abbey. The house and community room were full with retreatants and those camping in tents enjoyed the warm summer weather.

Our nineteen-day Exploring Monastic Life followed. What a great group that was! Again, the house was full and several people tented. The mix of people was interesting and invigorating for all—seven participants were in their 20s, six in their 50s, with just a few in their 30s and 40s. Our community life was rich, and the center of it was Dharma teachings and discussions.  In our group discussions we delved into important issues for those considering monastic ordination—our view of holding precepts, relationships with family and friends, openness with those we live with in community, and so on. These enabled us to ask ourselves questions we had never explored before, to learn from others’ reflections, and to develop the kind of trust that Dharma practitioners living in community have. In the daily teachings, we covered topics such as the motivation for requesting monastic ordination and the way to cultivate it, the six harmonies of sangha members, the Buddha’s purpose for establishing precepts, the various levels of vows, the qualifications for joining the sangha, and so forth.

Each day we offered service, employing the Dharma we learned to the tasks we did together with one another. There was a lot of joyous effort in this course, not only for the Dharma but also in offering service. There was an applesauce crew, cooking up the yummy apples from our prolific apple tree, a knapweed team pulling out the self-centered mind in the form of knapweed, a garden and Buddha monument group who made the platform on which our new Buddha monument will rest and the circumambulation path around it, a veggie squad that helped with lunch prep, and an office and transcribing squad who helped out indoors. Several people commented that offering service helped them let go of the racing or ruminating mind that worries about the past and the future. Tracy kindly cooked for the entire program. Meanwhile Lucy from Torreon, Mexico, did private retreat in the cabin in the garden.

One day a week was a rest day, when we had more quiet time and also took long walks in the forest. On one of these, Tsundru spread Don’s ashes in a high and peaceful place in the forest. Don was an 80-year-old man who lived in the same building as Tsundru in Seattle. Don lacked family and other friends, so Tsundru befriended him and cared for him for many months prior to his death. After scattering his ashes, we sat and recited the “Extraordinary Aspiration of Samanthabhadra” and other prayers for Don’s benefit. In the future, we would like to put a Kuan Yin statue at this place in the forest, setting up an area where others who wish to scatter their loved ones ashes can also do so.

Meanwhile we’ve begun a new birthday custom at the Abbey: for both Carl’s and Kevin’s birthdays, we sat in the upper meadow as the sun set while they told us of the important people in their lives to whom they are grateful. We then did prayers and dedications for these people as well as for the birthday-boy. It was a wonderful way to transform an event that is usually “all about me” into a day of appreciation for all those from whom we have benefited.

You hear Spanish at the Abbey now, with Ven. Saldron from Uruguay and Lucy from Mexico sharing Dharma thoughts and anecdotes. Ulric joined in in Portuguese some times. He stayed with us this summer, as a breather after graduating college. It was wonderful to watch his internal growth over the months with us. Other news: as I write this, Ven. Tarpa tells me that Berotsana the Bear is back! You’ll remember he came to sample our tasty apples last year.

Our one-month Medicine Buddha retreat in November and two-month retreat Jan. 6 – March 9 are coming up. If you would like to attend, please let us know soon. If you would like to volunteer to cook for the retreatants, email Kevin. You could do a “mini-retreat” by attending morning and evening sessions, and we would appreciate your kind cuisine.

My new book, which includes a CD with over 14 hours of guided meditation, will soon be released by Snow Lion Publications. Guided Meditations on the Stages of the Path contains a foreword by His Holiness the Dalai Lama and is designed to help practitioners at all levels of the path, but especially those who want to establish a daily meditation practice.

In this season where fruits and veggies ripen on trees and vines, may your mind be ripe for the cultivation of love, compassion, and wisdom,
Bhikshuni Thubten Chodron and the residents of Sravasti Abbey

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August 2007

Dear Friends,

Ven. Chodron during Long
Life puja for Geshela

I enjoyed and benefited from the month or study with Geshe Sopa in Wisconsin. He taught Je Tsongkhapa's text Ocean of Reasoning, which speaks about emptiness and dependent arising. The text is quite detailed and profound-not at all easy to understand-so Geshela teased us that we were "chewing hard bones" as we investigated these topics. Geshela is 84 and going strong. His mind is joyful. He has a great sense of humor and doesn't get tired of teaching us.

In fact one day, his clock stopped without his knowing it and he just kept on teaching until one of the students gently pointed out that it was about 40 minutes beyond the end of class!

The conference of Buddhist Women's Role in the Sangha was great. It's wonderful to meet so many capable and inspiring women practitioners and to learn more about Vinaya (Buddhist monastic code) from monks and nuns from various Buddhist traditions as well as from university scholars. Read His Holiness' statement made at the end of the congress. His support for bhikshuni ordination is wonderful!

His Holiness the Dalai Lama's five days of teachings in Hamburg were quite special. He taught Aryadeva's Four Hundred Verses, a text that knocks down the various wrong conceptions in our minds. I saw many old friends there, people I've known since I lived in Europe in the early 80s. They knew about the Abbey and rejoiced at what we're doing. The organizers asked other monastics to give talks in the evenings, and I spoke on "Working with Anger." About 700 people came and they were a warm and receptive audience. We had a good time laughing at our silly ways of thinking and acting when we're angry.

It's good to be back at the Abbey again. The Abbey residential community has grown. Ven. Thubten Saldron has been with us since June, seeing if the Abbey is a good fit for her. We enjoy her presence very much. Ulric, who just graduated college, is with us for the summer. He is getting brighter by the day. Barb and Kevin integrated quickly into the community; they are both FOSA Board members and long-time students. Carl continues to be with us five days a week. We're feeling the need for more residential space, especially during retreats and courses. Both the Lamrim Meditation Retreat and the Exploring Monastic Life Program in August are filled to capacity and have waiting lists. We are in touch with an architect and will soon begin planning for the next building, a monastic residence. We'll keep you posted.

My new book, which includes a CD with over 14 hours of guided meditation, will soon be released by Snow Lion Publications. Guided Meditations on the Stages of the Path contains a foreword by His Holiness the Dalai Lama and is designed to help practitioners at all levels of the path, but especially those who want to establish a daily meditation practice. (See the home page for our special link to Snow Lion)

The Abbey residents add:

Things were hopping here at the Abbey in Venerable Chodron's absence. Here are some of the highlights:

Ven. Fa Yin
  • We were blessed with a lovely Sangha visit-Ven. Jendy, three other bhikshunis, and lay supporters from the Evergreen Temple in Kirkland, WA joined us for a day. They brought Ven Fa Yin who graciously gave a wonderful teaching on the Lamrim. We love to welcome sangha to the Abbey. Ven. Jendy and other bhikshunis will return in September when long-time resident Nanc Nesbitt takes ordination vows.

  • Our Appreciation Day celebrated the local volunteers who have been so instrumental in offering food and service to the Abbey. Ven. Saldon led us in a beautiful animal liberation practice where we freed many worms rescued from the local bait shop.

  • Work continues on the Aspiration Buddha Garden project, which will replace the area where the gazebo was. Dechen, Carl, Nanc and others have been constructing the base of the shrine, and H.E. Jigdal Dagchen Sakya is filling and consecrating the bust of the Buddha. Please join us for the dedication of the Aspiration Buddha on October 13 when we honor Sravasti Abbey's Founding Donors and celebrate the 30th anniversary of Venerable Chodron's ordination [March 1977].

  • 18 people came for the July Sharing the Dharma Day, another 20 spent this last weekend in the Lamrim retreat. Venerable's weekly Tele-Dharma teachings on Essence of Refined Gold resumed August 2 and will continue through October. Contact if you are interested in participating.

  • Looking ahead, the 3-week long Exploring Monastic Life-with 15 participants!-starts Tuesday, finishing right before the Labor Day weekend Activism with Altruism retreat for environmental activists.

Whew! And there's more…

Heart Shrine Relic Tour in Spokane September 21-23 - Along with Coeur d'Alene Dharma Friends, the Abbey will host the Heart Shrine Relic Tour at the Spokane Unity Church, 2900 S. Bernard St. The tour is a project of Lama Zopa Rinpoche, bringing more than 1000 relics of the Buddha and other Buddhist Masters for public viewing and blessing. We welcome your visit to the relics and your volunteer support! Email Barbara if you can give a few hours that weekend.

If you want to do long retreat, but 3 months feels too daunting, the Abbey's Winter Medicine Buddha Retreats are the answer. There's a one-month retreat Nov. 2-Dec. 2 and a two-month retreat Jan. 6-March 9, 2008. Read about it on the web site and sign up soon- applications are due in September and October.

In these days of summer abundance, may your own positive actions bear much fruit, bringing happiness now and in the future for you and for all living beings.

Bhikshuni Thubten Chodron and the residents of Sravasti Abbey

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July 2007

Dear Friends,

The theme of the last month has been Compassion, the wish for all sentient beings – ourselves and others – to be free from suffering and its causes. This began with the Cultivating Compassion retreat at the Abbey over Memorial Day, when we practiced letting go of bias, attachment, and animosity and cultivating equanimity. The twenty people who attended extended compassion to each other and other beings in the environment. This flowed easily following the teaching on the kindness of others, which helps us to realize that we have been the recipient of tremendous kindness in our lives and thus counteracts the self-pity that feels unappreciated.

This was followed by a week-long retreat I led at Cloud Mountain, where we meditated on Chenrezig, the Buddha of Compassion, and reflected on the text “108 Verses in Praise of Compassion.” The discussion sessions in this retreat were especially potent, centering around topics such as responsibility, the use of intoxicants, generosity, receiving others’ generosity, and lying. Many people took refuge and precepts at the conclusion of the retreat, and participants commented that having four monastics at the retreat made a big difference. The teachings from the retreat will be on the web soon. Other additions to the website are Helen Ann sharing with us an epiphany after Chenrezig meditation, interviews of Bhikkhu Subhita Thera and me about bhikshuni ordination done by “For You Magazine” in Singapore, and a Letter to the Editor about Geshema degree for Tibetan nuns.

Making two prison visits this month, in addition to our usual correspondence with inmates, is an expression of our compassion as well. The first visit was to Monroe Correctional Center near Seattle, the other to Airway Heights Correctional Center near Spokane. In both places, the inmates were very open and ripe to receive the Dharma. Nodding heads punctuated my talks and sincere questions followed them.

Two new Buddhas came to reside at the Abbey. We were given a gorgeous Medicine Buddha painting by Ven. Gache (formerly Joan). She had purchased this as a surprise for us, before knowing that our winter retreat, this year would be on the Medicine Buddha. An anonymous benefactor offered a magnificent Vajrasattva painting, which she kindly reprinted as postcards. Let us know if you would like one.

The Young Adult Retreat was so much fun! Three of the participants – Miles, Natalie, and Ulric – had attended last year, while Carl and Fay were new. There were teachings each morning, followed by a discussion in which they really opened their hearts and minds and shared with each other. Some of the topics we discussed were: what we learn from our parents that has benefited us in, the qualities we appreciate in our parents, the relationship with a spiritual mentor, low self-esteem, success, and expectations.

Some of the discussions carried over until after lunch when the Abbey residents also joined in. The young adults’ fresh perspectives, enthusiastic energy, willingness to be open, and humor permeated the entire community. The afternoons were spent offering service and many of the discussions continued while pruning trees, gardening, and moving rocks together. The week concluded with the young adults presenting hilarious skits followed by heartfelt comments shared with the residents. At this point a gentle rain fell and a double rainbow appeared in the sky.

The stupa in the garden is progressing, with Pat and Carl closing off the root cellar and Dechen designing the pedestal and “house” for the bust of the Buddha. This will be a lovely centerpiece in the garden, with a circumambulation path around it.

Now I’m attending teachings on Je Tsongkhapa’s Ocean of Reasoning, given by Geshe Sopa in Wisconsin, and from here will go to Germany to attend the Congress on Buddhist Women’s Role in the Sangha July 18-20. Meanwhile, the Abbey residents continue to joyfully share the Dharma with the public at our weekly seminar in Newport WA, our local town. Many visitors are staying with us for various lengths of time as well.

May you enjoy the warmth of summer and may your hearts be warm with compassion,

Bhikshuni Thubten Chodron

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June 2007

Dear Friends,

Lady slipper
May has been an active month at the Abbey. Our second Sharing the Dharma Day was well attended, with close to 25 people present. The theme was “Taking the Ache Out of Attachment,” and we had a provocative discussion on the people, possessions, situations, and ideas to which we’re attached. Everyone stayed on for a potluck lunch and then our annual Open House. We were pleased that many friends and neighbors from Newport, Coeur d’Alene and places in between came to share the beautiful spring weather with us. We took them on a tour of the Abbey, and they commented on how much has been accomplished in just three and a half years. Many of our guests then joined in a long walk in our forest and meadow with its wild flowers, the bright green buds of new leafs, and dark green of the firs and pines.

The following weekend many friends visited—the Garner family, Rachael, and Jesse from

Ven. smooths the patio
Missoula; Jason, Carl, and Bob who live locally—and we had a great time working together pouring the concrete for the new patio downstairs and transporting gravel from the root cellar to the driveway, repairing the road that was torn up last winter to replace the leaky water pipe. I “poured” the first shovel full of concrete (with Sean’s assistance) and the guys with the strong backs took over from there. All of us enjoyed a picnic lunch in between tasks and tsog offering puja in the evening.

Kathleen and Leah
The third weekend was the semi-annual FOSA meeting. With the Abbey’s resident community growing, we needed to reorganize our roles and responsibilities. Our neighbors, Pat and Jo Simpson, who have a variety of skills, have been instrumental in guiding us in this process, so that we now have Sravasti Abbey Action Team—the Abbey residents who manage the day-to-day operations and are the central Dharma community—and the FOSA Leadership Team (a remaking of the FOSA Board), that assists and participates in the Dharma community in a variety of ways. The minutes and other material from the meeting will be on the web before long. A great example of FOSA support is the fantastic video clip about the Abbey that Donna made. Check it out on YouTube.

FOSA’s growth and maturity really resonated in everyone this year. I was able to attend only one day of the four-day meeting, so everyone pooled their energy and talents and invigorated each other both in practicing the Dharma and in offering service. I was away attending a preparatory meeting for the Congress on Buddhist Women’s Role in the Sangha July 18-20 in Hamburg, Germany. The energy at the bhikshuni meeting was fantastic as well, with everyone working towards a common goal of restoring full ordination for women in the Tibetan Buddhist Tradition. “For You Magazine” in Singapore interviewed Ven. Subhita Thera from Sri Lanka and me on this topic.

Buddha and Barb
You may remember that we had to tear down the gazebo in the garden last year because the roof was unsound. We’ll adorn the remaining platform with a pedestal on top of which will rest a bust of the Buddha which Barbara McDaniel donated to the Abbey. The Buddha will be painted with gold-leaf and will look out at the garden and the valley below. If you would like to participate in this project, .

Two people have generously offered us tangkas this month. An anonymous donor offered a painting of the single Vajrasattva, and Ven. Ghache offered an inspiring painting of the Medicine Buddha. (She didn’t know our winter retreat will be on the Medicine Buddha.) Please download these and use them for your meditation.

Just as the sunshine warms the earth and grows the garden, may compassion warm our hearts and grow a garden of joy in those around us,
Bhikshuni Thubten Chodron

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May 2007

Spring is here! The meadow is green, the daffodils are in bloom, and birds are chirping up a song, while the swallows perform their stunts in flight. Plus, we’ve welcomed Kevin Conlin as a new resident at the Abbey! Kevin is a long-time Dharma student and the co-chair of FOSA. Moving here from Florida, he has enthusiastically joined the Abbey community.

Kevin Conlin

Having completed our annual three-month retreat, Abbey residents went traveling in April. Ven. Tarpa and I attended the Thirteenth Annual Monastic Gathering at City of the Dharma Realm in Sacramento. These gatherings of mostly Western Buddhist monastics have consistently been inspiring to attend and this one was no exception. This harmonious meeting of monastics from a variety of Buddhist traditions is a beacon of hope in our world where religion is often used to divide, not unite, people. Our theme was “Health” and included a variety of presentations. Read more about it and see pics here. On the way back from the conference, I gave talks at Dharma Friendship Foundation in Seattle and Chi Yuan Temple in Kirkland. It was wonderful to see so many Dharma friends in these places.

Barbara from MORE magazine
April was an active month. Nanc and I went to New York, first to Tibet House and then to Menla Mountain Retreat, a beautiful center in the Catskills. Nanc then visited her sister in Vermont while I went to North Carolina and Virginia where I taught at four prisons. The prison visits were arranged by Herb Cunningham and Ben White from Liberation Prison Project, who have been doing great work spreading the Dharma in those and other prisons. The inmates listen intently and really take the Dharma in; teaching them is very rewarding. Some prison staff and volunteers also listened to the talks, and the chaplain at one prison was vigorously nodding his head as I spoke. Meanwhile Ven. Tarpa went to San Francisco to enjoy H.H. the Dalai Lama’s teachings and then to L.A. to visit family.

The Thurmans accept gift from Ven.
Archibald Steele, the photographer of many of the early photos of His Holiness the Dalai Lama when he was a child in Tibet, was the uncle of Abbey supporter, Carolyn Cossetto. Carolyn had two visas issued by the Tibetan government to her uncle in the 1930s and ‘40s as well as a letter the young Dalai Lama wrote to Mr. Steele. Carolyn wanted to offer these to Tibet House in New York City, and we were honored to deliver them for her. Carolyn has kindly given us prints of several of Mr. Steele’s photos from Old Tibet, which are displayed at the Abbey.

Our first Sharing the Dharma Day this year was a great success with over twenty people in attendance. In the morning I gave a talk about the Buddhist approach (all SDD talks will be put on the Thubten Chodron website), and after a delicious potluck lunch, we had a fascinating discussion about happiness: What is happiness? How is it related to ethical conduct? What is the relationship between happiness, how we think about things, and what emotions are present in our mind? Meanwhile, twice weekly teachings continue on Essence of Refined Gold by the Third Dalai Lama. We’re experimenting with doing these via conference call and will let you know how it goes.

As those of you who have been here know, the area outside the downstairs door needed some work. We’ve decided to put a patio in there—an area for summer dining as well as for sitting and reading. We shoveled out the old gravel, and then Sean, Jason, David with the help of a Bobcat, excavated the dirt. We’re now waiting for the area to get dry and will pour the concrete soon. We also appreciate the members of Osel Shenphen Ling in Missoula, several of whom have helped us cut firewood and care for the garden.

Many new things are on the Sravasti Abbey website: David’s reflection on Retreat from Afar; Joanne’s view of the Abbey as 240 Acres of Heart; and several new Spanishtranslations of different parts of the website (Many thanks to Karina for providing these!):

Friends in Singapore just pointed out that some of my talks have made it to YouTube! Here they are:

This year we’ll do our winter retreat a bit differently. Instead of three consecutive months, there will be a one-month retreat Nov. 2-Dec. 2 and a two-month retreat Jan. 6-March 9, 2008. This way those of you who want to do a one-month retreat will have the opportunity to do so. The practice will be Medicine Buddha and Lamrim. Details are on the website: Retreat Essentials, To Everyone Considering Attending the Medicine Buddha Retreat, and General Info.

May your wisdom flower,
Bhikshuni Thubten Chodron

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April 2007

Dear Friends,

Our three-month winter retreat ended happily with a fire puja—a symbolic burning of defilements—and a Lama Chopa puja to express our gratitude to the Buddhas, Dharma and Sangha. Twenty people were present at the festivities which included a potluck lunch and a walk in the garden. The Lama Chopa puja was a time to express our thanks to the local volunteers who supported us during retreat by offering food, running errands, and sending their goodwill. We rejoice at the positive energy created by all of you who joined us by doing Retreat from Afar, and we thank all of you who made offerings so that the retreat could take place. We leave retreat with deep gratitude as well as determination to share with others what we have gained.

This spring I am especially grateful because it marks the 30th anniversary of my monastic ordination. Thirty years ago I was ordained in Dharamsala, India by Kyabje Ling Rinpoche, H.H. the Dalai Lama's senior tutor, and it is through the kindness of my wonderful spiritual teachers and the support of excellent Dharma friends that I have had the amazing opportunity to live as a monastic. My bows and deep thanks to all of you.

The snow has melted and the tiny snowbells, the first flowers of spring, have appeared. The lilac buds are evident and the pussy willows are blooming. As we clean away the autumn leaves, we discover new sprouts, including some brilliant purple Siberian irises in the garden. In addition to the resident human beings, many others at the Abbey meditate—the kitties, the turkeys, the squirrels. Each in our own way, we all sit and we all do walking meditation. We've had a number of visitors, among them the Garners, Jenna, Rachel, David, Joanne, Dechen, Celia, Pat and Jo—who have helped us in many ways—buck up the tree that fell in the winter wind storm, fill in the ditch that houses the new water pipe, plant the garden, and prepare a picnic area for summer. Each person contributes to our community in his or her own way and all feel rewarded by their stay with us.

The two-day seminar at North Idaho College was packed to overflowing. NIC and Coeur d'Alene Dharma Friends did an excellent job organizing the event, and the audience was very receptive and curious. We were delighted that thirteen people from Osel Shenpen Ling in Missoula MT came for the weekend.

May 16-20 is FOSA's Board and Volunteer Gathering at the Abbey. Come and enjoy helping plan the development of Sravasti Abbey as well as design strategies to get there. We want to expand our spreading of the Dharma, care for the forest and garden, begin implementing the Master Plan, and continue capacity building. We practice together, hear teachings, and discuss the Dharma. Our gatherings are full of fun and laughter, great ideas and actions to implement them. Contact Kevin if you would like to attend or write to the Abbey office.

If you can go to Hamburg, Germany, you may want to join the Congress on Buddhist Women's Role in the Sangha July 18-20. This special event will be attended by an impressive list of well respected monastics from various Buddhist traditions as well as academics who are gathering to discuss the establishment of full ordination for women (bhikshuni) in those traditions and countries where it is not yet present. His Holiness the Dalai Lama will attend the last day and will be a keynote speaker. If you are unable to attend, please send your aspirations and prayers so that women in the Tibetan and Theravada traditions will be able to receive full ordination and receive the spiritual benefits of being full members of the sangha.

Upcoming events are listed at the end of the e-news. Please join us for Dharma events at the Abbey or elsewhere. We also welcome visitors who would like to participate in community life when we don't have special programs going on.

May the lotus of compassion blossom in your heart this spring,
Bhikshuni Thubten Chodron and the residents of Sravasti Abbey

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March 2007

Dear Friends,

Snow Fun

The joyful days of retreat roll on, one following the other, blending together. Occasional happenings make a particular day eventful—at least externally; inside of us each meditation session is eventful. Check out "A Day in Retreat Life" including pics of the moose in the meadow. You're very welcome to come Sunday March 11 at 10 a.m. for the Lama Chopa Puja to conclude the retreat and celebrate our fortune in being able to do it.

Kensur Jampa
Tegchog
Rinpoche
Khensur Jampa Tegchog Rinpoche wrote us a very moving letter after his visit here.These comments, coming from the former abbot of Seraje Monastery and a teacher who has taught extensively in Western Dharma centers, touch us very much.

As the retreat is ending soon, we want to express our appreciation toall of you who made it possible, including the local team who brought food each week, those of you in other places who offered the funds for the food, all the transcribers who made it possible for the inmates and others to read the weekly teachings, Jack who audio edited the weekly teachings, and all of you who contributed to making the Abbey a reality. We also want to congratulate more than 80 people who did the Retreat from Afar with us. We appreciated your letters sharing your meditation experience and encouraging us on.

Ven. Chodron leads discussion
Even while we are in silent retreat, the Abbey continues its social outreach. Over 80 people are doing the Retreat from Afar, developing their compassion and thus changing their lives and the lives of those around them. About 45 of the retreatants from afar are inmates in state and federal prisons, so imagine the impact that their radiating Chenrezig's compassionate energy is having on other inmates as well as on the staff. A number of the retreatants from afar volunteered to transcribe the weekly Q&A sessions that include teachings on the Third Dalai Lama's Essence of Refined Gold, enabling us to post it on the web in both audio and written form and to send a copy to each of the retreatants from afar.

We share not only the Dharma, but also try to help others in practical ways. For example, we contribute to the local food bank, make offerings to nunneries and monasteries in India in order to support the sangha there in their study and practice, and donate to various Buddhist prison projects in the USA. And as a member of the Committee of Western Bhikshunis, I work towards the introduction of the bhikshuni ordination (full ordination for women) in the Tibetan Tradition. Some of you may like to attend the Congress on Buddhist Women's Role in the Sangha in Hamburg, Germany, July 18-20 which will focus on this subject. His Holiness the Dalai Lama will speak at the conference on the last day.

May the transition from the quiet of winter to the growth of spring also mark our internal transition from contemplation to compassionate service.

Fondly,
Bhikshuni Thubten Chodron

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February 2007

Dear Friends,

While the Abbey is in silence, the board of Friends of Sravasti Abbey (FOSA) is taking this opportunity to write to you.

First, a report on the retreat:

Walking around the mani stone
As the snow begins to melt, the Chenrezig retreat continues at the Abbey. Two residents and two guests keep a focused daily schedule that includes five meditation sessions and one study session, beginning at 5:15 (a.m!) Ven. Chodron is taking her own retreat in her writing studio. Once a week, on Thursday evening, Ven. Chodron meets with the retreatants for a Q & A and teaches on a text by the Third Dalai Lama, The Essence of Refined Gold. Volunteers receive the audio from these teachings via the Internet and transcribe the teachings for distribution to the 80-plus Retreatants from Afar. This skillful use of technology is helping to weave a wonderful network of Dharma friends who can practice and study together, no matter what their circumstances.

Some of
those retreating from afar
Many of us on the board are doing the Retreat from Afar and have also done past retreats at the Abbey, so we know from experience that the two groups inspire and support each other! It's not too late to sign up if you would like to participate in the retreat from your cushion at home. Ven. Chodron's website offers several audio teachings on the practice to help you get started. Ven. Chodron's upcoming retreats at Menla Mountain Retreat in New York in April and at Cloud Mountain in Washington State in June also focus on Chenrezig.

If you're in the Abbey's neighborhood, come rejoice with us on March 11 for a special celebration to close the Abbey's 3-Month Chenrezig Retreat. All are welcome!

You're invited:

Walking and talking
Friends of Sravasti Abbey is an interconnected network of Dharma friends from around the world. We practice together (in person and via the Internet) and we work together to support the Abbey. In fact, if you're on this Enews list, you're already a friend of the Abbey, so we'd like to invite you to get more involved. Take a look at our recent FOSA meeting and read about how to volunteer. Then please join us for our annual meeting, May 16-20, at the Abbey. In fact, make it a Dharma holiday and stay for the spring retreat the next weekend.

Dream Job for a Buddhist Development Director:
Here's another way FOSA is working to help the Abbey. If you know development professionals who love their work but want to apply their Dharma values on the job, encourage them to apply to become the Abbey's full-time Development Director. We are seeking a motivated individual to design and implement a plan for inviting generosity to sustain operations and lay the groundwork for an upcoming capital campaign. The application deadline is March 1.

Spring Teachings:
If you live on the East Coast, you have several opportunities to participate in talks or retreats with Ven. Chodron in April. She will also be teaching in Coeur d'Alene March 23 and 24. Scroll down for information and links to these and other Dharma programs throughout the summer. We especially hope you'll visit the Abbey soon—to attend a retreat or course, to volunteer service, or simply to offer a meal. You're involvement supports the Abbey's inspired effort toward creating peace in our chaotic world.

Thanks for caring about others. Thanks for being a friend of Sravasti Abbey! Through this positive energy created from that caring, may all beings benefit.
Kevin Conlin, Alison Cunningham, Kathleen Herron, Leah Kosik, Barbara McDaniel, Nanc Nesbitt (on retreat), Dianne Pratt, and Bill Wilmot for all the
Friends of Sravasti Abbey

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January 2007

Dear Friends,

Khensur Rinpoche

The highlight of December was Khensur Jampa Tegchog Rinpoche’s ten-day visit. Each afternoon he taught from Nagarjuna’s Precious Garland, emphasizing karma and its results as well as emptiness. I gave talks and review sessions in the mornings. Rinpoche’s teachings will be audio edited and put on the web, as will my morning talks. Since the Abbey was full to capacity with 18 residents and guests, we arranged for Khensur Rinpoche, Ven. Steve Carlier (his translator), and two nuns to stay at Jo and Pat’s home down the road, where Rinpoche would have more privacy.

Snow nun
The group energy during the course was wonderful. People bonded as Dharma friends, discussed the Dharma, meditated, and laughed together. Everyone pitched in to help with the cooking, and because we were an international group, we had Chinese, Indian, and Mexico food, with some Tibetan mo-mos as well. Some local friends came, so up had up to 32 people in the meditation hall. Many monastics were here so we did Posadha (sojong) with bhikshunis, a shiksamana, and sramanerikas. On the last day, Khensur Rinpoche spoke at Airway Heights Correctional Center. He pointed out the excellent conditions for Dharma practice in prison, telling the American inmates about the experience of Tibetans who were imprisoned after the Communist takeover of Tibet in 1959 and how they practiced. Khensur Jampa Tegchog, who is on the Abbey’s Advisory Board, has been my teacher since the early 80s when Ven. Steve and I both studied with him in France, so his visit to the Abbey was especially significant for me. At the end he commented that while the Abbey was still new and therefore small, he could see that the people here were subduing their minds through Dharma practice and developing compassion.
Chenrezig

Dianne, who attended last year’s retreat, gifted us a large and very beautiful Chenrezig painting. This will be an inspiration for those doing the Chenrezig retreat this winter and will remind us of Chenrezig Hall, which, in the future, will be our first large building project at the Abbey. If you’d like to participate in the Chenrezig Retreat from Afar, please join us! There are over 80 participants now, 45 of them are inmates. Khensur Jampa Tegchog was delighted to hear about the Retreat from Afar, saying how wonderful it was that so many people are meditating on Chenrezig. “The long mantra and the mani mantra are so powerful,” he said, “They are very helpful for calming your mind.” Lama Yeshe used to tell us, “Even if you don’t want to develop compassion, by reciting Chenrezig mantra you will.”

Ven. Chodron in  Singapore
Photos from my visit to Singapore are now on the website. On Lama Tsongkhapa

Day (Dec. 15) we did the Lama Chopa Puja and chanted as we did a candlelight procession. At the conclusion of the puja, the Abbey community read aloud the names of people who have supported the Abbey in the last two months. Following the Asian tradition of making offerings to the sangha and requesting them to pray for the donors’ well-being, many Singaporeans friends asked that we dedicate for their long life, good health, harmonious relationships, dispelling of obstacles, and success, as well as for the good rebirth of their loved ones. We also prayed for the well-being of all our benefactors—American and international—who enable the Abbey to spread the Dharma in a world that needs the peace and wisdom that Buddha’s teachings bring. The previous week, the FOSA Board did prayers to Tara, dedicated for the benefit of all sentient beings and especially all our supporters and all the Singaporeans who had asked us to pray for them.

FOSA Board
The Board of Friends of Sravasti Abbey (FOSA) met at the Abbey Dec. 8-10. Laurel York, an inviting generosity (we prefer this term in place of fund raising) consultant, guided us through an assessment of our present capabilities so that we can realistically plan the construction of Chenrezig Hall. There was a lot of sharing, creative thinking, and teamwork, as well as laughter and enthusiasm, as we planned for the future. Our goal, as always, is to make the Buddha’s teachings available to as many people as possible, and within that, to cultivate a strong and healthy monastic community that will enable that to happen. Read the minutes and let us know how you would like to be involved. Our general conclusion was to spend the next year in Capacity Building—growing the existing community, expanding FOSA, and hiring a development director—before launching a capital campaign to build Chenrezig Hall.

Take a look at the new flying menus on the website and the new Plans and Accomplishments page. All of you Spanish speakers will also enjoy the monthly newsletter and other web pages in Español. And if you want to hear more about Ven. Tarpa’s ordination, read Dan Black’s informative interview.

Since we are in retreat, the next e-news will be at the beginning of March.

May all of us feel Chenrezig’s compassion towards us and may we, in turn, share our compassion with all others.
Bhikshuni Thubten Chodron

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