Comings & Goings
Monks
1. Ajahn Sucittto left for NZ on 6th Nov, having spent the Rains.
2. Ajahn Khemavaro travelled to New Zealand to attend the Kathina Ceremony of Bodhinyanarama Monastery.
3. Ajahn Kusalo, Abbot of Bodhinyanarama, visited WBD from 12th to 19th November.
4. Ajahn Khemavaro led a 9-Day Retreat at Jhana Grove Meditation Centre, Perth in November.
5. Ajahn Chaiyaporn returned to Wat Boonyawad on 7th Nov.
6. Ven JR will be returning to Perth on 17th Dec
7. Ven Subharo, a Canadian work with 7 vassas, will join the community in Dec for 6 months.
8. Vens Preecha and Ning will come to AUS in March with Ajahn Dtun
9. Ajahn Medhino left for New Zealand in Dec and will travel on to Sri Lanka and Thailand.
10. Ajahn Santutthi will come back to WBD in mid March.

Layguests
1. David will be ordained as a Novice in Dec/Jan.
2. Fran will stay until May 2016.
3. Soong has asked to stay on after the Rains Retreat.
4. Donna has come for a 3 months stay at WBD.

Upcoming Retreats

New Year Retreat
30th Dec to 3rd Jan 2016

Visits from Senior Monks in 2016

Bhante Khippapanno
17th – 20th January

Ajahn Tiradhammo
February to May

Ajahn Dtun
March 2016

LP Sumedho
22nd to 27th April

Projects for 2016

Monks Toilet—Replacing the old toilets next to office with new ones for monks. Plan to be finished before Ajahn Dtun’s visit in March. Estimated cost: $3K
Road Work—Resurfacing the main tracks from office to Sala and Sangha House. Estimated cost $9K
New Kuti—Estimated cost $15K. Construction to begin in May 2016.

30th July to 27th 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 02-4323-3193 or 0409-389-887 between 11 am and 12 noon. Thank you for your support.

Senior Monk in Residence

Luang Por Tiradhammo, one of the most senior Western monk in the Ajahn Chah Tradition, will be at the Wat until 19th May. He recently led a 5-Day Easter Retreat.

New Teachings on Website

Recordings of Ajahn Dtun’s March visit to Australia and LP Tiradhammo’s Easter Retreat will be available on the website shortly.

Vesak Celebration

Sunday 24th May 2015

Activities include: Shared Meal, Auspicious Chanting, and Dhamma Talk

10 – 3 pm

Vesak Weekend Retreat

with Ajahn Khemavaro

Friday 29th to Sunday 31st May 2015

Rains Retreat 2015

31st July to 26th October

You are cordially invited to spend the Rains Retreat at the Wat–to serve and to deepen your practice. Minimum stay of one month and priority will be given to those who can commit themselves for the entire three months.

Kathina Ceremony

Sunday 1st November 2015

Activities include: Shared Meal, Auspicious Chanting, and Dhamma Talk

10 – 3 pm

The Wrong Road

A wandering ascetic, having heard of the Buddha, travelled everywhere looking for him. One night he came to stay in a house where the Buddha was also staying but, not knowing the Buddha’s physical appearance, he was unaware of his presence. The next morning he arose and continued on his way, still searching for the Buddha. To search for peace and Enlightenment without correct understanding is like this.

Due to lack of understanding of the truth of suffering and its cessation, all the subsequent factors on the path will be wrong—wrong intentions, wrong speech, wrong actions, and wrong practice of concentration and tranquillity. Your likes and dislikes are not trustworthy guide in this matter either, although foolish people may take them for their ultimate reference. Alas, it is like travelling to a certain town—you unknowingly start out on the wrong road, and since it is a convenient one, you travel it in comfort. But it will not take you where you want to go.

Excerpts from A Still Forest Pool by Ajahn Chah

To register for upcoming retreats, please download an application form from our website www.wbd.org.au and send it to wbdoffice@gmail.com. For further enquiries, please email or call the office at 02-4323-3193 or 0409-389-887 between 9 – 12 noon.

Comings & Goings

          Monks

1. Ajahns Medhino and Tiradhammo have arrived.
2. Venerable Cunda from Perth will come on 12^th for a stay of 3-4 months.
3. Ajahns Phanom will return to Thailand on 27^th March with Ajahn Dtun as planned.
4. Venerable Kimbila will be going back to Perth in April/May.
5. Ajahn Chaiyaporn will return to WBD with Ajahn Dtun on 19^th March.
6. In May/June three monks from Boonyawad will come to WBD for the Rains.
7. Ajahn Santutthi will leave WBD May/June to spend the next Rains at Bodhinyana Monastery and stay there until April/May 2016.
8. Ajahn Cittapalo from Bodhinyana Monastery will join the community in July for the next Rains Retreat.
9. There may be 8-10 monastics for Rains Retreat this year.

Layguests

1. David and Darcy took anagarika ordinations in Nov.
2. Flo, from Germany, has stayed on as caretaker and will be at WBD until June
3. Francisca, from the Netherlands, is back and will stay for another 3 months.

Upcoming Ceremonies/Retreats

Ajahn Dtun Visit

Public talk at Buddhist Library at 7 pm 18^th March

Weekend Retreat (20 – 22 March)  80 retreatants and 12 monastics.  Rosie and Patrick Co-Managers.  Uvadee to coordinate meals

Easter Retreat

Ajahn Tiradhammo to lead 5-Day Retreat  2^nd to 6^th April  Jade—Manager.  Uvadee to coordinate meals

Invitations to Senior Monks for 2015

LP Sucitto has confirmed he will be at WBD for Rains 2015

 Projects for 2014/2015

Thera Kuti—Almost finished and should be ready for Ajahn Dtun’s visit in March.  Ordered some wooden furniture from Thailand and will be arriving in 3-4 months.

Road Work—National Park has received some funding to grade the Old Northern Road.  They have asked us to help with some funding to buy gravel to fill the road.  Estimated cotst $10K

New Kuti—Estimated cost $15K.  Construction to begin in April 2015.

Upgrade Yurt—Internal renovations and painting.

Comings & Goings

          Monks

1. After spending the Rains, Ajahn Ariyasilo has moved on to the Buddhist Society of Victoria.
2. Ayya Karuna has travelled to Vietnam to look after her mother and practice in a monastery there.
3. Venerable Jhanarato, who visited in May for one month, has returned from having spending the Rains in Sri Lanka and intends to stay for one year.
4. Venerable Nanda, an eight Vassa Malaysian-born monk from the Pa Auk Tradition, visited the Wat for four weeks in November.
5. Venerable Kimbila from Bodhinyana Monastery will join the community in Dec and plans to stay for six months.
6. Ajahn Medhino, a Dutch monk ordained at Wat Pah Nanachat, having spent the last several years in Sri Lanka, will visit the Wat in Feb for a stay of a few months.  Ajahn is fluent in Thai.
7. Ajahns Phanom and Chaiyaporn from Wat Boonyawad completed the Rains at WBD.  Ajahn Chaiyaporn would like to stay for another year
8. Ajahn Khema will be in Thailand from 20^th Jan to 21^st Feb 2015.
9. Ajahn Santutthi plans to spend the next Rains at Bodhinyana Monastery and stay there until April/May 2016.
10. Ajahn Cittapalo from Bodhinyana Monastery will join the community for the next Rains Retreat.
11. Ajahn Dtun has confirmed that he will send two monks to spend the next Rains at the Wat.  Estimated arrival date around May/June 2015.

Layguests

1. Belinda and Bryn, having spent the Rains, will stay until Dec.
2. Darcy and David, who also spent the Rains at WBD, have become anagarikas.
3. Flo, from Germany, joined the community in late October and plans to stay for 3-6 months.
4. Francisca, from the Netherlands, arrived in Nov and will stay for one month.

Upcoming Ceremonies/Retreats

5-Day New Year Retreat with Ajahn Khemavaro–31^st December to 4^th January 2015

Weekend Retreat in March 2015 with Ajahn Dtun.

Invitations to Senior Monks for 2015

Ajahn Tiradhammo will be visiting the Wat in Feb 2015 for about 4-6 weeks.

Ajahn Dtun has confirmed that he will visit AUS in mid-March 2015.

Ajahn Sucitto has confirmed he will be at WBD for Rains 2015.  It is our understanding that Ajahn will be on solitary retreat for most of his stay at the Wat.

Projects for 2014/2015

Thera Kuti—The main structure is up and we hope to have it ready for Ajahn Dtun’s visit in March.

Road Work—Dave the backhoe guy is back.  He has done drainage work around the shower block and Old Kitchen.  Put Rotamill on the rest of the main road from kitchen to Sangha House.  He has also prepared a couple sites for potential new kutis.

New Kuti—Estimated cost $15K.  Construction to begin in March 2015.

Upgrade Yurt—Internal renovations and painting.

 Buddhist Library

Cultivating Happiness through Wisdom

Tuesday 29^th April

7-9 pm

For more info, please email: info@buddhistlibrary.com.au or call 02-9519 6054

UNIBUDS

University of NSW

Developing Your Spiritual Qualities

Friday 2^nd May

7-9 pm

For more info, please email: allankha.ak@gmail.com or call Emily – 0433 149 913

 Sangha Lodge

Vesak Celebration

Sunday 4^th May

10-1 pm

For more info, please email: assocengagedbuddhists@gmail.com or call (02) 9590 3617

Comings & Goings

          Monks

1. Venerable Bom will return to Thailand on 9^th of March.
2. Ajahn Ariyasilo is expected to arrive on 16^th of March for a stay of a few months.
3. Ayya Karuna returned on 28^th Feb from 2 months stay at Dhammasara 
4. Ajahn Khemavaro will visit his family in USA—20^th March to 5^th April. 
5. Two monks from Wat Boonyawad are expected to arrive mid to late March for the Rains.
6. Venerable Pasadika disrobed on 28^th of Feb. 
7. Ajahn Khemavaro will be in UK to attend Abbots Meeting—23^rd May to 6^th June.
8. Ajahn Khemavaro will lead a 10-Day Retreat in Norway—20^th June to 1^st July.

            Layguests

1. Kerrie joined the community in Feb and will stay until April
2. Martin came in Dec and will stay until April.
3. Two male guests have signed up for Rains Retreat.

Retreats/Teachings

Ven Santutthi led his first weekend retreat in November 2013.

5-Day New Year Retreat was led by Ajahn Khemavaro

Very successful retreat during Feb with Luang Por Liem.  More than 60 people attended the retreat.   Much appreciation to Mai, Kerrie, Uvadee and Zyndy for organizing and  managing the kitchen.

Visits from Senior Monks in 2014

Luang Por Liem and two monks visited the Wat from 23^rd to 27^th Feb.

Ajahn Ariyasilo will come in March for a few months, possibly will stay for Rains Retreat.

Future Retreats

Easter Retreat 17^th to 21^st April

Fund Raising Events

$4,000 was raised during LP’s visit for the construction of his chedi in Ubon.

Projects for 2014

New Kuti—Finished in Feb. 

Sala Toilet—Martin help build two new toilets near the Sala.  It was completed for LP Liem’s visit in Feb.

Upgrade Yurt—Internal renovations. 

New Walking Meditation Platforms—Kuti #7 and #8 have new meditation walking paths. Planning to put 2-3 more in village area.

Are you interested in working and meditating at the Wat? We are looking for a responsible and kind person to help with maintenance work and the running of the monastery. This position includes room and board, and the opportunity to participate in retreats and daily meditations. It would be helpful to have a valid driver license, and skills in building and grounds maintenance. The position is available from three to twelve months. If you are interested, please contact the monastery at office@wbd.org.au or call 02-4323-3193 .