The first autumn storm is rushing through our valley, rattling our shutters. And with this change of season, there are usually also changes in our monastic communities. At Dhammapala though, this year, there is only one change to be announced: Tan Sihanado is back in England. There he will help look after Luang Por Sumedho’s well-being over the winter. In exchange, our Samanera Nikkāmo is back from Italy as Bhikkhu Nikkāmo. Otherwise, our community should remain constant over the winter (Dhammapala Community). Tan Sihanado, with his friendly, open and helpful nature, was a great asset to our community, so we were reluctant to let him go. He would like to visit us again next spring. We hope it works out.
Before the winter retreat, we are expecting one more monastic guest from our communities in England: Ajahn Foo-Kij, who is a Thai Ajahn from our lineage, currently living at Cittaviveka. He will be with us throughout November.
Our Kathina celebration was once again a joyful event, with a particularly large number of visitors and generous donations for the monastery. Amonumodana to all involved! Our regular guest Ajahn Kongrit was once more the main speaker at the event. Also present were Ajahn Vajiro, the abbot of Sumedharama Monastery in Portugal and from Italy Luang Por Lai and Ajahn Tok, accompanied by Ajahn Ice. Luang Por Lai and Ajahn Tok, on a visit from Tahiland, had already attended the kathina at Santacittarama. Ajahn Punnyo from Ratanagiri in England was also with us, but unfortunately, due to a cold, was not able to join the celebrations. He still enjoyed a restful stay at Dhammapala. And we were delighted to welcome so many good friends from our monastic communities this year.
Our renovated staircase is almost complete. The platform lift is installed and working. By now we have already entered the planning stage for our next project: the wheelchair-accessible conversion of a monk’s room with its own accessible bathroom, so that aged monks can continue to live at Dhammapala and receive care here if necessary. The renovation, if all goes according to plan, should take place next spring. Due to various generous donations towards these projects, they should not put any significant financial strain on the monastery’s finances. Anumodana!
Unfortunately, due to unexpected delays in the construction project, no courses could be held at Dhammapala this year. However, now that the staircase project has finally been completed, our course program should be able to run as usual next year. The new dates should be listed on our website, under the “Events” section and in the calendar, before the end of the year.
The next ‘big thing’ for our community will be our Winter Retreat, from the beginning of January to the end of March. During this time we will switch into a quieter, more reclusive mode and there will be no scheduled events at Dhammapala. The monastery will of course stay open for day visits during this period. And we look forward to receive many of you as overnight guests again from spring onwards.
With good wishes,
Bhikkhu Abhinando
