Community (August 2010) from left: Venerable Nyanadassano, Ajahn Tiradhammo, Anagarika Sinjira, Anagarika Jaime.

Monastery News

This 'Rains Retreat' our numbers have stayed the same, however, some of the faces have changed.

Towards the end of May, followiing our Vesakha Puja Celebration, Ajahn Meng returned to Thailand to help with the construction of a new 'Sala' Hall at Ratanawan Monastery. He has a return ticket for March 2011. In mid-June Anagarika Horst travelled to Europe to visit a dying friend and to renew his visa for a return to New Zealand.

Meanwhile we have been joined by Anagarika Jaime from Spain. He will be with us for the 'Rains Retreat' and then return to Bodhivana Monastery in Melbourne. Also our friend Sinjira has made the first step on her journey to the 'homeless life' by determining to live as an 8-precept nun for three months.

The photo above was taken on the steps of the magnificent stone wall slowly reaching completion around the Commemoration Garden of the New Kitchen/Dining Hall building.The new building is functioning very well, and it is much appreciated to have a warm and spacious place for meal preparation and eating.

Last year the Association received an extremely generous donation from the estate of a local New Zealand woman. This was very fortuitous as it allowed for the complete re-roofing of the leaky Sala and Cloister roofs. The Association was also able to make donations to our associated monastery in Auckland, Vimutti Monastery, as well as the four Theravada monasteries in Wellington. Some of the donation will be used to provide more fire security to the Main Sala building with sprinklers and a smoke-detection alarm system.

The 'Rains Retreat' ends on Oct. 23rd, the same day as the beginning of the Labour Day Weekend Retreat. Our annual Robe-Offering ceremony will be held on Sunday, November 14th. Unfortunately, Venerable Nyanadassano will not be attending as he will be back in Europe visiting friends and family, and renewing his visa for a return to New Zealand (via Thailand) in March. For the second half of November I will be here alone and then, from December 1 to 15, Ajahn Jotipalo will be looking after the monastery while I am teaching in Sydney and Adelaide.

We will bring 2010 to a close with the New Years Retreat from Dec. 26th to January 2, 2011.

Wishing everyone an ever deepening of spiritual practice and furthering of well-being.

With Metta, Ajahn Tiradhammo