The most common questions and what's next
 Sometimes it is the simple things. Taking down laundry and looking up, amazed.  Bhante Nandisena, Sayalay Sujātā and her parents. | How was your retreat? The answer we've been hearing from the bhikkhunis is that the retreat was GREAT! There is more on this in a reflection below from Ayya Santussika. Where is Andrea (former Anagārikā Sarana) and how is she doing? Ayya Santussika and Ayya Cittananda have been in close contact with Andrea since she returned to Mexico last December. Their on-going guidance and Andrea's dedication and determination made for a productive year of development on several levels, leading to her taking robes and 8 precepts again and a plan to train at Saraṇa Vihāra with Sāmaṇerī Arindamā in Spain for 2025. Her new name, currently, is Sayalay Sujātā, given as she took robes at Dhamma Vihāra in Mexico to facilitate entering Spain as a religious worker. Her name might change again as she enters the training there. The prospect of her training and eventually teaching in Spanish and helping start the first bhikkhuni monastery in Spain is rich with potential. Everyone at KBV is cheering her on. What's coming up for teachings and opportunities to participate? The first great way to participate is to join us for sutta study this evening - YES, sutta study is now on Friday evenings! Or come on-line or in-person to the daylong tomorrow, Saturday, October 26, at the Sunnyvale Meditation Center. |
| Next, everyone is invited to the ... KBV 2024 Kathina next Saturday, November 2nd Here are a few words of welcome from the Kathina organizers: As we head up the Kathina Committee this year, my spouse Dilhara, our baby Asher and I, along with the support of our other family members and KBV community members, warmly invite you to join us in celebrating Karuna Buddhist Vihara’s Kathina ceremony. This meaningful event is an opportunity to support the Sangha’s spiritual practice and honor a cherished tradition in Theravada Buddhism. This special occasion not only strengthens the bond between laypeople and the monastic Sangha but also offers a chance for all of us to generate merit and cultivate generosity. We hope that through our collective contributions, we can further support the Sangha and bring ourselves closer to the Dhamma. We are all also really excited to receive all the visiting bhikkhunis, samaneri and bhikkhus who will participate in the kathina ceremony and offer their own words of wisdom on the topic "For the Benefit of Many:" Ayya Suvijjana, Ayya Niyyanika, Ayya Anandabodhi, Samaneri Junha, Ajahn Nisabho, Bhante Jayasara and Ayya Santacitta (online). We hope to see you there, either online or in person. |  A new walking meditation option emerged during retreat  KBV Kathina 2018  KBV Kathina 2019 |
A Wonder-filled Vassa
Here's Deborah providing yet another wonderfully delicious and nutritious meal, including observing all the emerging dietary restrictions for Ayya Santussika. The retreat support team was awesome!
There is much appreciation for everyone who stayed at the hermitage to serve, brought meals or groceries, took away trash, organized volunteers, took care of the grounds and everything else!
Great job supporting a wonderful vassa retreat!
There is much appreciation for everyone who stayed at the hermitage to serve, brought meals or groceries, took away trash, organized volunteers, took care of the grounds and everything else!
Great job supporting a wonderful vassa retreat!
More photos and videos from the vassa
A fellow path-walker
| What looks like a small spine of redwood duff is actually a tiny living being. This inch-worm shared the labyrinth path, inching along, effected by small obstacles, yet, finding the way along the path, as many of us do. Perhaps if the Buddha had seen an inchworm, we would have The Inchworm Simile to learn from! | | |
Fellow Creek-Swimmers
| | The creek running through the KBV Hermitage property is protected because steel head trout swim up it to spawn. The young trout were visiting Ayya Cittananda while she cooled off in the clear creek waters. |
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Vassa Retreat Reflection - October 15
For the third time since this vassa began, the moon is nearly full, signifying that this time of retreat has nearly reached its end. During last night, walking meditation with the moon peeking between the redwoods, lighting up patches on the walking path and the surrounding ferns and forest, with the crickets humming, the soft murmuring of the creek, the gentle breeze and that delicious forest scent, the heart was full as the moon with peace, gratitude and joy.
“How was the vassa?” – people will ask. It was difficult and wonderful, including illness and doctor’s visits, physical work in the forest and so, so much needed peace and quiet. There was some amount of study and creativity, and plenty of time for stillness and solitude. This retreat has been a precious gift. We want to thank everyone who made it possible through their support.
Some twenty-plus years ago, I happened to be in the presence of a number of senior monks. Ajahn Ñāṇadhammo told Ajahn Liem about my plans to become a nun. Ajahn Liem said to me, “You will lay down many burdens.” That has certainly been true, throughout the years and also during this vassa. Now, the task at hand is to return to a busier “normal” schedule -- preparing for kathina and the trip to Thailand, teaching, meeting with people, … -- without picking up any of it as a burden. Or, noticing when something has been picked up as a burden and putting it down again, bringing the mind back to a state of peace and clarity.
Sometimes we might notice a pattern in the types of things we pick up. After all, there are thousands of inputs to the mind every day. We only grasp onto a few of them. We can ask ourselves, “Why this?” We can practice and learn how to investigate the patterns and develop the ability to be at peace with a thought or feeling that brings up aversion or desire … without touching it, without picking it up as a burden. There is a lovely and helpful talk on this topic by Ajahn Kalyano called “Knowing and Putting Down the Burdens of the Mind.” I hope you find it useful and have many opportunities for the kind of peace and solitude that allows for this kind of practice.
With much metta,
Ayya Santussika
“How was the vassa?” – people will ask. It was difficult and wonderful, including illness and doctor’s visits, physical work in the forest and so, so much needed peace and quiet. There was some amount of study and creativity, and plenty of time for stillness and solitude. This retreat has been a precious gift. We want to thank everyone who made it possible through their support.
Some twenty-plus years ago, I happened to be in the presence of a number of senior monks. Ajahn Ñāṇadhammo told Ajahn Liem about my plans to become a nun. Ajahn Liem said to me, “You will lay down many burdens.” That has certainly been true, throughout the years and also during this vassa. Now, the task at hand is to return to a busier “normal” schedule -- preparing for kathina and the trip to Thailand, teaching, meeting with people, … -- without picking up any of it as a burden. Or, noticing when something has been picked up as a burden and putting it down again, bringing the mind back to a state of peace and clarity.
Sometimes we might notice a pattern in the types of things we pick up. After all, there are thousands of inputs to the mind every day. We only grasp onto a few of them. We can ask ourselves, “Why this?” We can practice and learn how to investigate the patterns and develop the ability to be at peace with a thought or feeling that brings up aversion or desire … without touching it, without picking it up as a burden. There is a lovely and helpful talk on this topic by Ajahn Kalyano called “Knowing and Putting Down the Burdens of the Mind.” I hope you find it useful and have many opportunities for the kind of peace and solitude that allows for this kind of practice.
With much metta,
Ayya Santussika
Bhikkhuni and Bhikkhu ordinations at Empty Cloud Monastery for Sāmanerī Satimā and Sāmanera Vaḍḍha
Immediately upon the end of the vassa retreat, the KBV bhikkhunis headed off to New Jersey to help with an ordination unlike any they had seen before: a sāmanerī and sāmanera ordained as a bhikkhuni and bhikkhu simultaneously. It was a beautiful ceremony and a precious time connecting and reconnecting with dear friends in the greater monastic community.
