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On Sunday, April 14th the Abhayagiri community celebrated the traditional Thai New Year known as Songkran, an occasion for ritual cleansing where Buddha images are ceremonially bathed in fragrant water and the lay Sangha has the opportunity to offer requisites and wash the hands of senior monks.
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As Abhayagiri comes out of winter retreat, nature comes to life and the community begins their work of caring for the forest, receiving visitors, and holding a space of practice for all those seeking refuge.
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A look at the changing face of Abhayagiri during the monastery's three-month winter retreat, including pictures of the annual celebration of Māgha Pūjā, a day honoring the spontaneous gathering of the Buddha and 1,250 of his first enlightened disciples.
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November featured, not just the full ordination of Tan Rakkhito, but the going-forth of one of the monastery’s four white-robed postulants into the intermediate stage of novice.
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A snapshot of Abhayagiri in summer. Despite a haze of smoke from nearby fires and a variety of work projects, the community honors the traditional three-month Vassa retreat by working to reorient themselves towards practice.
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After assembling and oiling new shelves over the past month, the Abhayagiri community replaced the makeshift shelves they'd been using this past year. The completion of the library represents the final step in finishing the new reception hall.
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Abhayagiri celebrated Āsāḷha Pūjā on October 27th. The day commemorates the Buddha's first discourse, given to the five samanas in the Deer Park at Sarnath, near Varanasi. The traditional Rainy-Season Retreat (Vassa) begins on the next day.
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Luang traveled to Thailand July 11th to begin his year-long sabbatical abroad. He spent his first month in a cave in Central Thailand, breaking his retreat to receive guests on his birthday and travel to pay respects to Luang Por Sumedho at Wat Ratanawan on Āsāḷha Pūjā.
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On July 29th, Ajahn Karuṇadhammo and Ajahn Ñaṇiko ordained Danskey and Nick as anagārikas, taking on the eight precepts and white robes.