Dear Friends of Aranya Refuge,
We are writing to express our deep gratitude for the opportunity to have a Monastery for a Month held on Vancouver Island in November 2022.
We’re thrilled to report that the event was a great success, thanks to our resident monastics, Abbot Taan Ajaan Geoff, Taan Mike, and to all the participants. We sincerely appreciate the generosity and support of people like you.
Taan Ajaan Geoff was the heartbeat of the community, leading daily practice, extended fireside Q&A sessions and daily Dhamma talks that weaved together each day’s themes. Taan Mike served as Ajaan’s attendant, while also helping around the monastery – and quickly developing an easy familiarity with the intricate trail system of the old-growth forests. The venue for the temporary monastery – Earthspring Sanctuary – provided an ideal setting for practice: lush, serene, unpredictable, nourishing.
Throughout the course of the month, 50 people assembled to form a Parisā – a community of lay and ordained Dhamma practitioners.
Most participants were local from Vancouver Island, Salt Spring Island, Vancouver, and the lower mainland ; some traveled from further across Canada, and others ventured in from the United States.
There were overnight guests, day visitors who stayed nearby, drop-in guests, supporters who brought or sent food to the monastery, and many dedicated Dhamma friends around the world sharing enthusiasm and support through online groups and chat messages.
Here are some photos and teachings from the month.
As we look ahead to 2023, Taan Ajaan Geoff and the other members of the Aranya Refuge Board of Directors are exploring how we can continue to support monks from Wat Metta to return for a month of practice and teachings.
If you’re interested in supporting the expenses from last month’s Monastery for the Month, please know that your financial contributions will cover costs related to travel & accommodation for Taan Ajaan Geoff and Taan Mike from Wat Metta to Victoria; groceries and requisites for the monks; rental of Earthspring Sanctuary; additional supplies needed throughout the month; and event insurance. Click here for information on how to contribute.
Anumodana to all who contributed past and present, and made it possible to go ahead with the “pop-up” monastery this year. 🙏
We also look forward to continuing to practice and grow together in community. If you would like to join other students of Taan Ajaan Geoff for regular online practice, please visit the following groups:
Friends of Metta Forest Monastery (Facebook group)
Kusala Community (WhatsApp group)
You can also find the full collection of Taan Ajaan Geoff’s evening and morning talks under “November 2022” on dhammatalks.org.
If you have any questions about Aranya Refuge Theravada Buddhist Monastery, our plans for the future, or how to get involved, feel free to email us at info@aranyarefuge.org.
With deep gratitude,
The Aranya Refuge team