JUNE 2005 UPDATE
Dear Friends,
The last month at the Abbey has been full. In mid-May the first weekend retreat for friends from the Coeur d'Alene areas was held. Fourteen peoplefrom Idaho, Washington, and Montanaattended, and I actually managed to finish teaching the entire text of “The Thirty-seven Practices of Bodhisattvas.” (Those of you who know me know that sometimes it takes me years to teach even a short text!) This inspiring text inspired some good discussions and focused meditation sessions.
The following week, Sr. Rita Keegan, a Mary Knoll nun, and her friend, Maureen, a hospital chaplain,
Ven. Drimey
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came to visit. Rita spent twenty years in Bolivia and has a big heart, and we enjoyed a wonderful conversation as well as a walk in the forest. As they were leaving, Ven. Lobsang Drimay, an American Tibetan-Buddhist nun, arrived accompanied by Wendy and Kristin Garner from Montana who were a dynamic duo in the kitchen. Kristin, age 11, made a stupendous blueberry pie by herself, while Ven. Drimay educated me on Sanskrit spelling and Nanc and Wendy weeded the garden. In early June we had a surprise visit from Bhikshuni Tathaaloka, an American nun who practices in both the Theravadin and Korean traditions, and Linda. It's a delight to welcome sangha to the Abbey.
Our webmaster, Tanya Lasuk, is in the process of moving from Florida to Washington State, so there will be a short delay in getting photos of recent events on the website. Wait a few days after receiving this and then visit the website. We're delighted that Tanya will be closer to the Abbeyonly two or three hours drive now [make that at least three -TL], and I'm sure you join me in appreciating Tanya's joyous effort to keep the website up-do-date, thus giving you a feeling for life at the Abbey.
Buddha
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Vesak, the anniversary of the Buddha's birth, enlightenment, and passing away, was May 23. To celebrate this we did Nyung Ne, a two-day retreat on Chenresig that involves doing several sessions of meditation a day together with many prostrations. As part of the discipline of this particular retreat, the first day we ate one meal, and the second day, we didn't eat, drink, or speak. It isn't really all that hard and is a skillful method for turning our mind to the Dharma because all our usual avenues of distraction are cut off.
We finally got some rain, so the garden flowers are gorgeous and the meadows are lush green. Of course the rain also gave rise to a healthy crop of knapweed, a noxious weed that we are combating again this year. Nanc and Jan, together with our '77 truck, Haroldina (named after her previous owner), went into the forest and meadows for this purpose, and some back-pack spraying was in localize areas too.
Volunteers at the offering service weekend at the end of May accomplished a lot and had a great time doing so. Yusuke, Chad, and Dwight built a woodshed; Donna, and Danna mowed the berm; Chris and Nanc organized the barn loft; Maribel and Jill planted the garden outside the meditation hall, Tracy washed windows, and Heather planted veggie starts for the garden. Nanc's sister, Jane, visited for a few days as well. She has worked for non-profit organizations for years and gave us valuable advice.
Over Memorial Day, I went to Hsi Lai Temple near L.A. to attend “Nuns of the West,” our second
The Nuns of the West
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Catholic-Buddhist nuns gathering. During these times when religion is used to politicize and divide people, it is heartwarming to see to see monastics coming together in friendship to learn from each other. You may wish to read my reflections on this remarkable meeting as well as those of Sr. Jeanne Ranek OSB. It was good to teach at DFF in Seattle again and to speak at the Buddhist Festival at Volunteer Park.
The Abbey is undertaking two new building projects during the summer of 2005 to enable residents
Sketch of meditation cabin.
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and visitors make the most of the Abbey site by transforming less used areas into beautiful spaces that will support the Abbey's purpose: Dharma study and practice.
The first is the construction of a small writing studio/meditation cabin in the garden. This will provide me with a quiet space to work and will also serve as a location for meditation retreat. The room, entry way, and “bathroom” (composting toilet) will total 365 square feet (outside measurements). Estimated building cost is $21, 000.
The second building project this summer is to transform the bay of the barn into a meeting/multi-purpose room for residents and visitors to the Abbey. The inside of the sitting room will measure 531 square feet, and estimated remodeling cost is $9,500. More description of these projects and photos of the building process will be on the website soon.
We will hire professionals for the excavation and concrete work on both projects. Dave Ferre has kindly volunteered to do most of the building for the studio/cabin, and Sean Garner has offered to begin the bay remodeling. More volunteers are welcome and needed to assist them. This is a great opportunity to offer service, meet Dharma friends, enjoy the Dharma life at the Abbey, and have a good time. Contact
if you'd like to join in. Experience in construction is not required; in fact, this is a great way to learn new things! If you'd like to offer financial support to complete the project, it will be gratefully accepted.
June 12 was our second annual Open House for local Buddhists. We began with an All Day Practice Day, which included guided and silent meditation, a thought-provoking Dharma discussion on integrity, and a teaching on emptiness. During the Open House we shared a tour of the house and garden, a walk in the forest, and delicious food. About 50 people attended, filling the meditation hall. Some were locals from Coeur d'Alene and Spokane; others were from Missoula MT, Dillion MT, Yakima WA, and elsewhere. We all enjoyed making new Dharma friends and seeing old ones. People were enthusiastic about the vision of the Abbey and we kept hearing again and again, “It's so beautiful here!”
People have suggested that a schedule of upcoming events, both at the Abbey and away, be included in each monthly e-newsletter so that you'll be able to plan ahead and join in.
May the summer sun fill us all with wisdom,
Bhikshuni Thubten Chodron
CALENDAR
- June 22 26 Annual Friends of Sravasti Abbey board and volunteer meeting at the Abbey
- July 1 ? 4 Volunteer Service Weekend at Sravasti Abbey
- July 8 and 15 (Friday), at 7:00 PM Madison WI
- Ven. Chodron on “Heart and Mind” Red Gym (next to Memorial Union at University of Wisconsin campus) Contact Jeff from the Buddhist Study Group, at hsuehyihuang@yahoo.com.tw
- July 9 Sravasti Abbey 9:30 AM 4:00 PM All Day Practice. Join Abbey residents in meditation and Dharma discussion.
- July 22 24 Cleveland OH Ven. Chodron teaches at Jewel Heart Saturday evening and Sunday afternoon Info: aewarren@sbcglobal.net
- July 22 ? 24 Volunteer Service Weekend at Sravasti Abbey
- Friday, July 29 Chicago Ven. Chodron speaks on “Working with Anger” 7:00 PM Swift Hall, Room 107, 2029 Sheridan Road Northwestern University (Evanston Campus) Info: Tibet Center 773-671-7775 Email: tibetcenter@aol.com www.buddhapia.com/tibet
- Aug. 8 26 at Sravasti Abbey
- Exploring Monastic Life http://www.sravastiabbey.org/calendar.html
- August 20 Sravasti Abbey 9:30 AM 4:00 PM All Day Practice. Join Abbey residents in meditation and Dharma discussion.
- Sept. 2 ? 5 Volunteer Service Weekend at Sravasti Abbey
- Sept. 23 ? 25 Volunteer Service Weekend at Sravasti Abbey
- Oct . 7 ? 9 Volunteer Service Weekend at Sravasti Abbey
- Oct. 18 ? 20 Volunteer Service Weekend at Sravasti Abbey
- Nov. 4 13 Castle Rock WA Vajrasattva Retreat and teaching on dependent arising and emptiness by Ven. Chodron Cloud Mountain Retreat Center, Castle Rock WA info@cloudmountain.org
- Nov. 18 ? 20 Volunteer Service Weekend at Sravasti Abbey
- Nov. 25 27 Sravasti Abbey “Rejoicing and Giving Thanks” Retreat Info: barbaramcdaniel@earthlink.net You're also welcome to come the evening of Wed., Nov. 23 and take the 8 Mahayana precepts with us on Thanksgiving Day. Please register with Barbara.
- Dec. 6, 2005 March 10, 2006 Sravasti Abbey Vajrasattva Retreat
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