We can not expect perfect harmony in our global society when a growing number of us, with our varying conditioned opinions and preferences are sharing the limited space of our planet, but as humans we do have the capacity to agree on a basic set of rules for interaction and moral standards that would support a fair amount of harmony and cooperation among us.
As our small community at Dhammapala to some degree mirrors the global situation, with six people holding five different nationalities living together in a very limited space, we are very happy to have given a good example this summer. Agreeing on the Buddha’s standard for moral behaviour and sticking to the rules of interaction he has laid down for his monastic disciples, we have been spending the summer in a harmonious convivial spirit.
The theme of harmony and cooperation is also what is celebrated with our traditional kathina-festival at the end of each summer. It was held once again in our local community hall and became not only a celebration but also another embodiment of those qualities, as more than 250 guests came together enjoying the occasion. It was, as usually, smoothly prepared for by our festival organisation committe led by Jaree. Much appreciation to them and this year’s main sponsors Kritsaya, Kularp & Pimdao, as well as to our infatigable secretary and all helpers who have contributed to the joyful event.
Our appreciation also goes to our monastic kathina visitors, Ajahn Preechar and Ajahn Dton from Santacittarama in Italy, Ajahn Djew and Tan Namo from Thailand, as well as Ayya Sucinta, who visited us from Hanover. With the help of our monastic guests, especially Ajahn Dton and Tan Namo, we were able to complete the monk’s robe within the time that, according to our rules, must be sewn from the material offered at the kathina celebration and then offered to one of the monks before the next dawn (see photos). Shortly before 10 p.m. the time had come and we handed over the finished robe to Ajahn Khemasiri in a small private ceremony at the monastery.
For Tan Namo Cattavilo and his family it was a particularly special kathina this year, as this time he sat with us on the stage as bhikkhu – rather than among the visitors – beautifully reciting the chant of the invitation to the devas to attend the occasion. Tan Namo – born and raised in Geneva – had become a bhikkhu in Thailand earlier this year, with Ajahn Djew from Wat Yen Boon in Chiang Rai as his teacher.
As Tan Namo’s father is Swiss, we then had – so to speak – four and a half Thai bhikkus at our kathina this year. The fourth one being Ajahn Ice, who spent the summer with us and now returned to Italy. We are sad to ‘have lost’ him, as his eagerly helpful and always good humored nature has contributed a lot to the good atmosphere in our community this summer. We hope to receive him again as a guest or part of our community in the future.
At least a small consolation for our many Thai friends and supporters, who have greatly enjoyed and benefitted from Ajahn Ice’s presence will be Ajahn Viranando’s arrival at Dhammapala, planned for late December. Ajahn Viranando is German and probably still remembered by some of you from his last stay here for nine months in 2019. Ajahn Viranando is now coming back to stay with us long term. He has spent most of his time as a bhikkhu in Thailand and speaks the Thai language. So our Thai friends among you will have at least one among us again to whom you can speak in your own language.
Ayya Sucinta, German bhikkhuni since 1998 and abbess of the Anenja Vihara in Bavaria from 2011 to 2017, was our guest for two weeks in November. Our old friend Bhante Sukhacitto also stopped by again and led an insight dialogue course in December. In addition, right after kathina we had Ajahn Vajiro, the abbot of Sumedharama, our monastery in Portugal, for a short visit, as well as the venerable Miao Hei from the Chinese Ch’an tradition in October (see photo).
Otherwise our community will stay the same and is now looking forward to another Winter Retreat, three months of quiet time and seclusion for us from the beginning of January to the end of March. During this time there won’t be any public events and we won’t accept any overnight guests, with the exception of our Winter Retreat support team. We start to receive overnight guests again with the Easter-retreat on the 28th of March, when also our program with the usual retreats, introduction weekends, group visits, Zoom sessions etc will start again. You can already see next year’s program in the events section on this website. Please note that booking for retreats and intro weekends is only possible from the dates given on the respective info-pages.
We are looking forward to seeing many of you again next year and wish you all a decently harmonious winter,
Ajahn Abhinando
