A DAY OF REJOICING - OCTOBER 13, 2007 (en Español)
The aspiration Buddha dedication and celebration of the 30th anniversary of Venerable Thubten Chodron's ordination began with a glorious morning. The autumn blue skies and flaming trees surrounding the Abbey set the stage for a day of joy and Dharma friendship.
From the mandala offering to Venerable by her students to the colorful procession carrying the Buddha statue to its new home in the garden, the air was filled with the Dharma and hearts of gratitude.
We did our best to try and capture the precious day as over 50 friends and supporters of Sravasti Abbey came to rejoice at all the virtuous activity and merit created by those near and far.
 The day begins with a glorious morning.
 The Abbey residents always see a moose sighting as an auspicious sign. This day was no exception as one of the Abbey's large yet elusive wild residents passes by the main house.
 The garden is ablaze with color dressing itself in the finery of fall in preparation for the Buddha.
 The sangha offers Venerable Chodron a mandala offering on behalf of all the participants for her teachings, thirty years of monastic life, and founding Sravasti Abbey .
 The residents of the Abbey as well as Friends of Sravasti Abbey offer some wonderful gifts to Venerable.
 Tim Wilson, the architect chosen to design the new monastic residence, joins us for the morning. He answers questions we have and shares his enthusiasm for getting the opportunity to work for the Abbey on such an auspicious project.
 The Abbey honored its founding donors and volunteers with gifts. Here Fred Williams from Seattle receives a gift from Venerable Chodron.
 Venerable and long time student Wendy Mickle from Lopez Island, Washington share a special moment.
 Jo Simpson, who will be one of the project managers supporting and coordinating the building of the monastic residence, receives a gift from the abbess.
 The yellow flagging shows the general shape of the monastic residence as well as its location in relationship to the main house. The visitors take a tour of the site with the Abbey residents. It will be located in the beautiful lower meadow with spectacular views to the east and south.
 Tim Wilson shares some thoughts with Venerable Chodron as he looks over the site of the proposed building. Green materials and the use of the terrain will play an important part in the construction of the residence.
 Many of the guests gather to make a food offering to the sangha at the Abbey reminding us all of the continued generosity and kindness of so many people. We then enjoy a delicious vegetarian meal prepared by Abbey residents and guests.
 After lunch the procession to escort the Buddha statue to its new home begins at the meditation hall.
 With conches blowing the procession starts down the driveway.
 The sangha follow the conches with bells and incense honoring the Buddha.
Cheryl from Seattle uses her talents as a musician to blow the conch; not an easy task. |
 The procession comes around in front of the Buddha house where new plantings and the new circumambulating path outline the platform and garden where the Buddha will reside.
 The sangha and Abbey residents round the house as the procession arrives at its destination.
 As we chant the Buddha's mantra, the Buddha is placed in the house and the protective glass door is closed .

After the King of Prayers is recited the Sravasti Abbey Monastic Corps Chorus sings the grand finale, Shantideva's A Guide to a Bodhisattva's Way of Life to the tune of the "Star Spangled Banner." The guests enjoy it immensely!
 The house is built with materials that will make it a sturdy, protecting the Buddha statue from the harshest weather.
 The Buddha overlooking the garden is surrounded by a glorious rainbow of fall foliage, a wonderful offering to the Buddha.
 A very happy abbess.
 After all the guests have gone and the Abbey residents are in evening meditation the Buddha in all his splendor sits quietly in the night .
 The Buddha appears to emanate replicas of himself in the glass windows of his new home.
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