Dear Dhamma Friends,
We’re now into the second month of our Monastery for Two Months '26 program at Tugwell Cottage in Sooke, BC, and we're happy to share some reflections from the program so far.
🏡 The Setting
Tugwell Cottage continues to offer a wonderfully conducive environment for practice. The large log cabin — with its stained glass windows, crackling wood stove, and wide deck overlooking the surrounding forest — has once again been transformed into a temporary monastery. The living room serves as our Sala, while the monks reside in the cottage next door on the adjoining property.
A stream runs alongside the property, and the trails leading into the surrounding forest provide ample space for walking meditation and quiet reflection.
☸️ First Month: Ajaan Peter and Than Will
The first month of the program was led by Ajaan Peter and Than Will from Wat Mettā. Guests and day visitors settled into the familiar monastery rhythm: morning meditation, the communal meal offering, and a quiet period for personal practice through the afternoon. Evenings brought the community together in the Sala for Q&A with the monks, tea and allowables, and a closing session of chanting, a recorded Dhamma talk from Than Ajaan Geoff, and meditation.
🌿 A Retreatant's Reflection
One of our first-week retreatants, Alexandra Kirsch, graciously offered the following reflection on her time at the monastery:
Getting to remote Rural Sooke by public transport was, let's say, an adventure in itself. The closest bus stop still left me with a 30-minute uphill walk. Thankfully, I had packed light – otherwise I might still be halfway up that hill. But every step was worth it.
For seven days, two monks and four lay people transformed the beautifully located Tugwell Cottage into a temporary monastery. The living room became our Sala, and everyone had their own quiet room. Surrounded by nature, it was the perfect setting to slow down, breathe, and simply be.
Our daily rhythm was simple: four meditations and one meal. What initially sounded like a challenge quickly became a gift to both body and mind. In between, there was time for walks, exploring the small river behind the house, or simply resting. Rural Sooke is usually wonderfully quiet – so you can imagine our surprise when a loud gunshot suddenly interrupted the afternoon silence. Thanks to the excellent detective work of one of my fellow meditators, we soon discovered it was only a blank cartridge, used to scare away an overly curious eagle that had been eyeing the neighbour's chickens.
Each evening, we gathered for Q&A sessions with Ajaan Peter and Taan Will. Some nights, we dove deep into Buddhist philosophy and ethics. Other times, we swapped stories about rattlesnakes at Metta Forest Monastery, wild camping in Mexico, or an unconventional "Buddha medicine" made from ox pee – which, unsurprisingly, did not become a popular souvenir with one of my fellow meditators.
These seven days brought me an unexpected amount of clarity and calm. So much so that returning to busy Victoria felt completely overwhelming. Everything blinked, buzzed, and demanded attention. It reminded me of my first walk from New Delhi's train station to my hotel – sensory overload included.
Now, a few days later, my inner filters have adjusted again. But the time at Aranya Refuge left a lasting mark. I've let go of some unhealthy habits, like taking my phone to bed and scrolling first thing in the morning. I've learned to create a little distance from my thoughts and words – to observe them and ask whether they are true and helpful before acting on them.
I wholeheartedly recommend taking this kind of time out whenever possible. And my deepest thanks go to everyone who made this retreat happen – especially our dedicated kitchen chef, facility manager, and steward, Brock.
— Alexandra Kirsch
🔄 Second Month: Ajaan Isaac and Than Peter
Ajaan Peter and Than Will concluded their residency at the end of February and returned to Wat Mettā. We are grateful to Ajaan Peter and Than Will for their month of practice at Tugwell Cottage, and to all the guests, day visitors, and donors whose generosity made it possible.
We now welcome Ajaan Isaac and Than Peter, who have arrived from Wat Mettā for the second month of the program. Day visitors are welcome to join the daily schedule through the end of March.
🙏 Join Us
Overnight guest spots are fully booked, but day visitors are welcome. We encourage those new to a monastery experience to drop in for the morning meditation and participate in the morning meal offering. Or come for unstructured time in the afternoon, or the Q&A, tea and allowables, chanting, and meditation in the early evening.
Anyone wishing to bring food is welcome to do so at any time.
📢 Other News
During the program, Ajaan Peter and Than Will stopped in Vancouver on their way to Vancouver Island for an informal dana meal gathering with lower-mainland practitioners and supporters of Aranya Refuge. The gathering was held at a gracious heritage space in West Point Grey, steps from the beach. We are grateful to those who organized and hosted the occasion.
Questions? Send us an email: info@aranyarefuge.org
Anumodana for supporting the Buddha, Dhamma, and Sangha to take roots in a wilderness home on Vancouver Island.
Monastery for Two Months '26 Volunteer Team: Brock Brown, Kiko Brown, Suzan Denis, Duncan Murphy, Metta VanderVliet, Irfan Pirbhai
Aranya Refuge Board of Directors: Than Ajaan Geoff, Brock Brown, Jacqui Balfour, Russ Callaghan, Irfan Pirbhai, Tiara Letourneau, Kiko Brown, June Fukushima (in loving memory)
““There are pretty things out in the world, beautiful things, but there can be a lot of ugliness in the human heart. So we want to make sure that we develop goodness, beautiful goodness, inside our own human hearts—and we appreciate it in others. That’s how this human world becomes a place that’s worth living in. So look for your goodness inside. Develop it as a skill. And if you follow the skills of the Buddha, you find it can take you far.””
Ṭhānissaro Bhikkhu | The Skills of Merit | January 19, 2025