Community Work Days

Community Work Days

The last two months of the year, we plan to have Community Work Days. Everybody is invited to come help with some important work projects that we hope to complete before the end of the year. There probably will be help needed in the kitchen and other lighter jobs, so there will be work available for people of all physical abilities. Saturday, November 14th we plan to do some maintenance work on th…

New Buddha image arrives

New Buddha image arrives

The Abhayagiri Buddhist Monastery welcomed the arrival of the new Buddha image that will eventually grace the new reception hall. The Buddha image arrived auspiciously on a wan phra (observance day). The shipping truck did experience some difficulty in trying to navigate the narrow and steep Tomki Road, which leads to our upper parking lot. Due mostly to generous help from some neighbors, we were…

Abhayagiri Kathina: November 1, 2015

Abhayagiri Kathina: November 1, 2015

Each year since the time of the Buddha, at the end of the three-month Rains Retreat, the lay community around every Buddhist monastery has gathered to celebrate the completion of the retreat and to offer to the monastic community gifts of cloth and supplies that will be useful for the coming year. The cloth is then cut, sewn and dyed by the monks to make a robe on that day to offer to one of the S…

Forest Practice Month

Forest Practice Month

Forest Practice Month The senior monks at Abhayagiri were meeting recently, discussing several important jobs that need attention. One project is trail maintenance. The 2.5 mile long “Loop Trail” has been in existence for over 10 years and has had many repairs and improvements done to it, but in many places the trail surface is getting unevenly worn. Another important job is creating fire breaks /…

Dhamma Art - Gifts from Those Living in Prison

Dhamma Art - Gifts from Those Living in Prison

Recently, a hand-drawn picture was the focus of attention at the monk’s office of Abhayagiri Buddhist Monastery. [Hand-drawn charcoal sketch] It’s a highly detailed pencil drawing featuring Buddha images, stupas, and a relatively youthful-looking Luang Por Chah and Luang Por Sumedho. It was attracting its share of admiration…but some people wanted to know, “Who drew this?” After some discussion, i…

New Photo Albums Posted

New Photo Albums Posted

Some new photo albums have been posted on the website, including more photos from Luang Por Liem’s visit to Abhayagiri in early July. Other postings include the Spirit Rock teen weekend, Luang Por Pasanno’s 66th birthday, Ajahn Karunadhammo’s 60th birthday, and the annual Yosemite trip. So, check out the gallery section. Enjoy!

A Day of Sharing in the City

A Day of Sharing in the City

On August 23, six Abhayagiri residents and fifty lay supporters gathered at the Mindfulness Care Center in San Fransisco for a day of sharing. Rik Center, founder of the Mindfulness Care Center, had organized the event as an opportunity to recollect the history of Abhayagiri, to reflect on the blessings that the monastery has brought to people’s lives, and to support Abhayagiri’s ongoing developme…

A Day of Peace: Yoga and Meditation Daylong Oct. 4

A Day of Peace: Yoga and Meditation Daylong Oct. 4

Ajahn Pasanno and Cator Shachoy will lead a day of meditation and yoga Sunday, October 4 from 9 am to 5 pm at the Mindfulness Care Center in San Francisco. This is a benefit event for Youth Yoga Dharma. The day begins with meditation led by Ajahn Pasanno, followed by a 2-hour yoga class with Cator. Lunch break from 12-1:30 pm includes a traditional meal offering. Please bring a food offering to sh…

20th Anniversary Celebration–Hold the Date

20th Anniversary Celebration–Hold the Date

Abhayagiri will be celebrating its 20th anniversary on Saturday June 4, 2016. We plan to have an all-day gathering, including talks, photographs of the “old days,” and just general visiting with friends old and new. More details will be forthcoming closer to the event, but please put the date on your calendar if you would like to be part of the celebration.

2015 Abhayagiri Thanksgiving Retreat Registration (Closed)

2015 Abhayagiri Thanksgiving Retreat Registration (Closed)

Retreat registration is closed. This post is left here for informational purposes. Registration for the Abhayagiri Thanksgiving Monastic retreat will close on July 31. Here is the original retreat announcement: Abhayagiri Monastery in Redwood Valley, California and the Sanghapala Foundation invite you to join Luang Por Pasanno and the Abhayagiri Community for a 10-day retreat over the Thanksgiving…