This year, Abhayagiri turns 30 on June 1st. Due to the growing size of our community and some logistical considerations, the current plan is to celebrate this occasion in two separate, but related events. It happens that Vesakha Puja - the full moon of May commemorating the Buddha’s birth, enlightenment and final nibbāna - is Sunday, May 31st. This is an amazing coincidence that it falls so close…
Update: The teachings and readings from the winter retreat are now available via this link: https://www.abhayagiri.org/talks/collections/1/177-winter-retreat-2026-the-foundation-of-mindfulness The monastery entered the annual three-month winter retreat on January 3, 2026. Our Abbot, Ajahn Nyaniko, will be in Thailand until early March and on solitary retreat for most of March with the exception of…
Jātipi dukkhā. Birth is suffering. I heard someone recently explaining the Buddha’s list of the different forms of suffering. He came to this one and said, “Well, that’s behind us now.” The problem is that it’s not behind us. We have it behind us, but we also have it ahead of us if we’re not careful. Each time it happens, it’s like a throw of the dice. As they say, the opportunities that are open to you are based on your past karma. But look at your karma—you don’t even have to look at past lifetimes; look at your karma in this lifetime—and you realize you’ve got a mixed bag. You’ve done skill…
This Dhamma talk & Q&A was offered on March 25, 2026 at Abhayagiri Buddhist Monastery.
