Monastery Report March 2017

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Chedi at Ajahn Dtun’s monastery, Chonburi Thailand

Comings & Goings

          Monks

  1. Ajahn Santutthi returned to Perth 23 Feb.
  2. Ajahn Khemavaro will go to USA 15 to 29 April with LP Piak.
  3. Ajahn Chaiyaporn will visit WBD for 1-2 months in April/May, depending on visa situation.  He may stay for the Rains Retreat.
  4. Ajahn Nick Dhammarato will be at WBD in April and May.
  5. Ajahn Khemavaro will be away from 8th May to 2nd June—leading a retreat at Jhana Grove, Perth from 12th to 16th May and attending the Abbots Meeting in UK from 20th May to 2nd June.

Layguests

  1. Kelly is planning to stay until May.
  2. Anagarika ordinations for Bryce and Tom on 18 March.

Upcoming Retreats and Events

New Year Retreat by Ajahn Khemavaro

29th Dec to 2nd Jan 2018

Visits from Senior Monks

Ajahn Dtun will not be able to visit WBD in 2017 as he is focusing on finishing the construction of the Chedi and Uposatha Hall at Boonyawad. He is likely to visit again in March 2018.

Several invitations were extended to Meditation Masters during Thailand visit in Jan/Feb. We will post updates once they are accepted and visas are confirmed.

Building Projects for 2017/2018

Kyle’s House—Renovation. Work to start in March/April..

Lay Toilet Block—Estimated cost $25K.  Construction to begin in late 2017.

WBD Closed to the Public 1 – 16 Feb

img_0803The monks will be in Thailand visiting different meditation monasteries from 1st to 16th Feb.  The Wat will be closed to the public.  Any queries, please contact the office between 10 – 12 noon at 0409 389 887 or 02-4323-3193.

Monastery Report November 2016

img_0843 img_0829Community List Rains 2016

Monks                                             Nationality                       Vassa

Ajahn Khemavaro                             USA/Australian                      17

Ajahn Santutthi                                  Australian                              12

Venerable Chandapo                        Thai                                         9

Venerable Sumangalo                       Australian                               4

Samanera Issaro                               Australian

Layguests

Donna, Dana, Jacinta, Scotty, Tash, Marie and Kelly

Comings & Goings

        Monks

  1. Ven Subharo, a Canadian monk, arrived in Dec and left for Sri Lanka in July.
  2. Venerables Sumangalo and Chandapo from Boonyawad spent the Rains Retreat at WBD.  They will stay until Jan 2017.
  3. Ajahn Khemavaro will go to Thailand for 1 month—from 17th Jan to 16th Feb.
  4. Buddha Rupa Casting Ceremony in Wat Boonyawad on 4th February 2017.
  5. Ajahn Khemavaro will lead a retreat at Jhana Grove, Perth from 12th to 16th May 2017.
  6. Ajahn Khemavaro will attend the Elders Meeting in UK from 20th May to 9th June.

Retreats and Events

LP Piak Visit

28th Oct to 7th November

Public Talks at Buddhist Library

1st and 2nd November 7-9 pm

5-Day Retreat @ WBD

3rd to 7th November

New Year Retreat

by Ajahn Khemavaro

30th Dec to 2nd Jan 2017

Building Projects for 2016/2017

Road Work—Resurfacing the main tracks from office to Sala and Sangha House.  Estimated cost $12K

New Water Tanks—Two tanks near Sala and one near yurt to increase water supply for firefighting and communal usage. Estimated cost $12K

20 Panel Kit Solar Project—Investigating the installation of an off grid solar system.  20 panels kit from Rainbow Power Company.  12.3kW/day.  Estimated project cost:  $50,000

LP Piak Visits WBD from 28 October to 7 November


LP PiakSaturday 29th October @ Wat Buddha Dhamma

Dana              10:00 am

Q & A            11:30-12:30 pm

Sunday 30th October  @ Wat Buddha Dhamma

Robes Offering Ceremony 10 – 3 pm

Monday 31st October @ Wat Buddha Dhamma

Dana                          10:00 am

Tuesday 1st November @ Buddhist Library

Public Talk    7-9 pm

For more info, please call 02-9519-6054

Wednesday 2nd November @ Buddhist Library

Public Talk    7-9 pm

For more info, please call 02-9519-6054

5-Day Retreat at Wat Buddha Dhamma

3rd to 7th November

Register for the retreat by visiting our website at www.wbd.org.au, filling out an online application form under “Visiting/Overnight and Longer”.   If you have any further queries, please call the office between 8-10 am and 11 to 2 pm at (02) 4323 3193 or 0409-389-887.

 NB: Please register early as there are limited spaces.

The above schedule is subject to last minute changes depending on LP Piak’s health and energy. Please plan to arrive by 9:30 am for dana at 10. Any queries, please call the office at 0409-389-887 or email: wbdoffice@gmail.com

About the Teacher:

Luang Por (Venerable Father) Piak is one of Thailand’s most respected teachers of Dhamma and meditation. Born in 1948, Luang Por Piak’s given name is Prasobchai but he was nicknamed ‘Piak’. As a child and young man Luang Por Piak did not have much interest in religion or meditation. It was when he was studying for his Masters in New York that Luang Por Piak began to develop an interest about the mind.

The first time Piak began to develop an interest in his own mind was during the years in New York. On the subway, for example, while heading to work, he would find his mind naturally observing and converging on his breath. There he found both pleasure and peace. He also noticed that he was able to wake up in the morning at whatever time he wished simply by mentally determining the time the night before. Even if he’d spent most of the night at a party, he’d still wake up exactly at the predetermined time. These experiences made him curious about how the mind worked and led on to an interest in meditation.

Venerable Piak then received full bhikkhu ordination from Luang Por Chah on July 3rd 1976, just before the beginning of the rains retreat that year.  In 1981, when Venerable Piak had been ordained for five years, a piece of property was offered outside of Bangkok for a branch monastery.  Luang Por Chah asked Venerable Piak to live there as the abbot. It was unusual for a monk to be asked to take on so much responsibility at such a young age, but Venerable Piak had had quick progress in his Dhamma practice and was also native to that region.  Initially surrounded by rice fields as far as one could see, within ten years his small monastery had been completely engulfed by Bangkok’s urban sprawl. Noise, heat and pollution notwithstanding, Luang Por Piak has remained a refuge of peace and soothing coolness within the heart of Thailand’s largest city. Although he never completed his masters degree, he quickly came to be recognized as one of the most respected  masters of our time.

He will be accompanied by Ajahn Mudito, his translator.  Ajahn Mudito, born in Brazil, has been a monk for 12 years, and has spent the last 7 years living with Luang Por.

Rains Retreat Announcement

20th July to 16th October

During the Rains Retreat the community at WBD will focus on formal meditation practice, cultivating stillness, compassion, and wisdom. The monastery is open for day visits, however, we will not be able to accommodate overnight guests.   Emails will be answered between 5-7 days. If it’s urgent please call the office at 0409-389-887 between 11 am and 12 noon.    Thank you for your support.

It is hard to find a being of great wisdom; 

Rare are the places in which they are born. 

Those who accompany them when they appear, know good fortune indeed.

                                                Dhammapada Verse #193

Monastery Report June 2016

Comings & Goings

Monks
1. Ajahn Tiradhammo left for NZ after a two months stay.
2. Ven Subharo, who joined the community in Dec, will be spending Vassa in Sri Lanka.
3. Ven Ning has returned to Boonyawad Monastery on 18 June.
4. Venerable Sumangalo from Ajahn Dtun’s monastery will be joining the community for the Rains Retreat.

Layguests
Fran left for Perth in May, having spent 18 months with the community.
The following lay guests will be joining the community for Vassa:  Donna from UK via Thailand, Hong, Kim, and Van from Mel, Dana and Jacinta from NSW.

Upcoming Retreats

New Year Retreat
30th Dec to 2nd Jan 2016

Visits from Senior Monks in 2016

Bhante Khippapanno
17th to 21st January

Ajahn Tiradhammo
February-May

Ajahn Dtun
11th to 20th March

LP Sumedho
22nd to 27th April

Community List for Rains 2016

Ajahn Khemavaro
Ajahn Santutthi
Venerable Chandapo
Venerable Sumangalo
Samanera Issaro

Possible Visits from Senior Monk 2017

Ajahn Dtun in March/April 2017

Projects for 2016/2017

Monks Toilet—Finished in June. Much appreciation to Jon, Nat and friends who came on weekends to help with the work.
New Buddha Statue for Eating Hall—Ceremony in 4th Feb 2017 at Wat Boonyawad, Chonburi. Estimated Cost $4K
Road Work—Resurfacing the main tracks from office to Sala and Sangha House. Estimated cost $10K
Water Tanks—Two additional water tanks near the Sala.  Estimated Cost $7K

Ajahn Dtun’s Talks (recorded in Sydney, Port Macquarie, and Melbourne)

In Sydney (The Buddhist Library, Mar 19):

In Port MacQuarie Wed. Mar 23:

In Melbourne (at BSV):