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SEPTEMBER 2004 UPDATE

Dear Friends,

Our first summer at the Abbey has been abundant in several ways. We had many visitors in August. Ven. Jendy, another nun, and eight members of Chi Yuan Temple in Seattle visited us. They treated us to delicious homemade Chinese food. Four of their friends, including two teenagers, followed a day later. Dennis from PA and Irene from OR, both long time practitioners, also visited. Our sense of community expanded as Helen Ann from Atlanta returned for a month and Andy from Boston stayed with us for ten days. Tom and Miles from Seattle helped Nanc chink her cabin in preparation for the winter, Alix and Kathi weeded the large flower beds, and Megan, a local teenager, helped with canning. Visitors marvel at the rich Dharma discussions and teachings that spontaneously occur at mealtime.

Our abundant garden

Speaking of which, our apple tree is producing in abundance, so we're drying and canning apples for the Vajrasattva retreat this winter. The veggie garden has and is growing well (so are the weeds!), and Nanc and team have been done a great job repairing what was torn last year up when the new septic system was put in while we were in escrow. Check out photos of the summer.

Meanwhile, I enjoyed and benefited greatly from Geshe Sopa's teachings on Je Tsongkhapa's text Illumination of the Thought, which I attended at Deer Park Buddhist Center for five weeks. Deer Park is building a new temple and Lama Zopa Rinpoche gave an inspiring talk about the great benefit of building temples and monasteries, and much of what he said also applies to Sravasti Abbey.

A report from the Friends of Sravasti Abbey meeting (en Español) at the end of May is now on the website so that you can see how the board and volunteers work together and what we're planning. Please feel free to contact any of the board members if you have suggestions. The Board meets every two or three weeks via conference call, and Board members circulate a weekly update to share news. We're happy to welcome Nerea Keesee to the Board. She is the Communication Chair and is already busy researching how to get teachings to you on CD and DVD. Also, see the financial report for the Abbey from its inception until June 30, 2004.

Jim, the wildlife biologist, returned to visit us and we walked the land all afternoon. It was like having a personal tour guide who is an encyclopedia about forest life. He helped us to identify the animal tracks and scat we saw, advised us about areas where the trees need to be thinned, suggested ways to preserve wildlife habits, and gave ideas for upkeep of walking trails. While we were out in the forest, it poured rain, so we took shelter under the trees. Afterwards, when the sun came out, the water drops looked like diamonds shimmering on the plants, and we watched a chipmunk step outside its home in a slash pile to sun bathe.

In the meditation hall, two logs beams were removed from across the room. That, plus putting shed dormers on either side of the room, gives it a nice sense of spaciousness. The contractor is in the final stretch of his work (which has already stretched out longer than expected!), and by late next week, Abbey residents and volunteers should be able to begin painting, laying the flooring, and designing the altar.

As you can see, we are busily working to ready the Abbey for the winter Vajrasattva retreat and for the growing residential community. In the next few months, we really need some volunteer help, skilled and unskilled. Please contact < if you can join in.

Amidst all this external construction, we're all pleased to announce that my new book Taming the Mind is fresh off the press. You can get it at a bookstore or directly from Snow Lion.

Many of you have commented on the Abbey's fantastic website. Many thanks to webmaster Tanya Lasuk for her diligent efforts. After Hurricane Charley, her yard was covered by branches stacking four feet high. I've yet to hear from her after Hurricane Frances. Please extend your loving-kindness to her and everyone impacted by events around the world.

May your hearts be peaceful,

Bhikshuni Thubten Chodron

[Note: We're fine, just the digital cable was knocked out for a few days. - Tanya]

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