Issue 7: May 2019 plans and reminder of Ajaan Geoff talk Sept 12 2018

Hello Dhamma Friends

The Aranya (Wilderness) Refuge Project organizers are very pleased to announce the plans for hosting two Wat Metta monks for the month of May 2019.

We have secured the rental of a private home in Metchosin. The house is a 35 minute drive west from central Victoria. The house is on 10 acres of forested property in a rural area.

We chose this location as it promises to offer wilderness and solitude to support the monks’ meditation retreat, but still be accessible to supporters. To ensure that the monks receive their requisites, there will be a volunteer male steward at the home.

Feeding the Monks

Buddhist monastics are not permitted to purchase or cook food and must rely on lay people to offer them food.

Lay people gain much merit through this opportunity to make a joyful offering of food.
The monastics contribute by committing themselves to the teachings of the Buddha, offering themselves as living examples of the holy life.

There will be various opportunities for lay supporters to offer food to the monks.

Saturday Gathering: The monks will receive the meal offering at 11 am at a home in Victoria.

Everyone is welcome. The home is on a bus route.

Following the meal offering to the monks and a pot luck shared by participants, we will meditate with the monks.

Sunday: The Victoria Thai community will arrange for the offering of food to the monks on Sunday at the home in Metchosin. Nat Johnstone will coordinate these offerings.

Monday to Friday:  Meal offerings can be brought to the home in Metchosin by 9:45 am. A Meal Coordinator and the Stewards will assist in organizing those who wish to bring food during the week. For those without a vehicle, please be in touch to arrange a ride or to drop off food in Victoria to be offered on your behalf.  

Financial Contributions

We will have greater expenses for the May 2019 visit due to the accommodation costs.
We also pay for the monks’ airfare, food, and other requisites they may need during their visit.
We welcome any amount of financial support you feel inspired to offer.

The Aranya Refuge Project can receive e-transfers, cheques or cash. To arrange financial contributions, please email aranyarefuge@gmail.com

Reminder: Ajaan Geoff Talk

September 12 2018 7pm
Finding Refuge in a Troubled World
Ajaan has kindly offered to give a talk in Victoria following his teachings in Bellingham.
Place: Goward House, 2495 Arbutus Road, Victoria, BC

Date: Tuesday Sept 12, 7pm
Freely Offered.  

Donations to support the Aranya Refuge Project and Metta Forest Monastery, can be made at the event.

Issue 6: September 12th Evening Talk with Ajaan Geoff

Finding Refuge in a Troubled World

Date: Wednesday Sept 12 2018
7:00 - 8:30 pm

Location: Goward House

 

Finding Refuge in a Troubled World
A Public Talk with Ajaan Geoff

Thanissaro Bhikkhu, known as Ajaan Geoff, is the abbot of Metta Forest Monastery in San Diego County. He is a respected meditation teacher and translator of the Buddha's teachings.

This event is open to all and is freely offered.
No Registration Required.

The room is wheelchair accessible.
 
This event is co-sponsored by the Victoria Insight Meditation Society and the Aranya Refuge Project. 

The Aranya Refuge Project will be hosting two monks on Vancouver Island from Metta Forest Monastery in May 2019.

Donations to support the Aranya Refuge Project and Metta Forest Monastery can be made at the event.

Issue 5: Successful inaugural monastic visit and 2019 Plans

Greetings

The Aranya Refuge Project’s inaugural visit of Wat Metta monks on Vancouver Island for the month of May 2018 was a success!

Than Will and Than Saulo spent their time on personal retreat at the home of Piriya and David Nowak in Maple Bay, B.C.  It was a pleasure for everyone involved to support the monks with their sincere dedication to the Dhamma-Vinaya.

For half of the month, Piriya and David provided steward support for the monks. For the other half of the month, Piriya and David travelled away from their home, and Brock Brown from Victoria, BC stayed at the house to be the steward.

On Saturdays, visitors travelled to Maple Bay and offered a dana meal. Visitors from six cities came to one or more of the Saturday dana meals. Following the meal, the group listened to a recorded guided meditation from Ajaan Geoff. After meditating, there was time for the monks and visitors to learn a little more about each other. 

The monks were also invited to two dana meals, one in Vancouver and one in Victoria. As well, they were invited on an outing to explore the southern shore of Vancouver Island. A highlight while travelling in the car was seeing a black bear!

2019

Ajaan Geoff is in favour of the Aranya Refuge Project continuing. We have extended an invitation for two monks to return in May 2019. 

For 2019, we are looking to rent a suitable place that has access to forested areas where the monks will be able to meditate in solitude. We would like the location to be within an hour’s drive of Victoria. We will continue with food offerings and a meditation on Saturdays. In addition, people can offer food on other days of the week

How to Get Involved
Open Meeting on July 29th  - Noon

You are invited to a meeting on Sunday July 29th at Noon.
Place: Brock and June’s home - 4013 Magdelin St. Victoria
Come learn about plans for the future, and to see how you might wish to be involved.

Please RSVP to info@aranyarefuge.ca.  A light lunch will be offered.

If you cannot come to the meeting and have information about  a suitable home to rent for the May 2019 visit, please be in touch.  Or if you would like to offer dana meals on weekdays in May 2019, please let us know so we can get a sense of how many are available to contribute in this way.

Financial Contributions
Expenses for the monks’ visit included airline tickets, baggage fees, travel insurance and food. We were able to cover the cost of all these expenses from donations made to Aranya Refuge.

We are happy to share financial records for anyone wishing to view the contributions and expenses.

Should you wish to offer financial dana for the Aranya Refuge project, please go here for more information. https://www.aranyarefuge.ca/offer-support/

Please also know that contributions to Wat Metta can be made directly to the monastery.

Sincerely,
AR Project Team

Brock Brown - President
David Nowak - Vice President
Jacqui Balfour - Treasurer
June Fukushima - Secretary
Piriya Nowak - Director

Volunteers:
Kiko Brown - Bookkeeper
John Jordan - Website and Newsletter
Lex Acker - Steward Support

Issue 4: Update on the visit by the Monks of Wat Metta

Anumodana to all who have made it possible for Than Will and Than Saulo to be on retreat on Vancouver Island.

Both monks have settled with ease at the home of Piriya and David Nowak in Maple Bay, BC.
Mount Tzouhalem trails are just behind the house. As Thai Forest monks, they welcome the opportunity to walk daily in the forest.  The monks are well supported by Stewards Piriya, David and Brock.

Visitors have come on Saturdays to offer food and to meditate with the monks.

On Saturday, May 12th, participants came from five communities: Nanaimo, Victoria, Sooke, Salt Spring Island and Seattle.  We rejoice in everyone’s wholesome efforts!

There are three more opportunities to offer a dana meal to the Wat Metta monks while they are on Vancouver Island:

Maple Bay (10 min from downtown Duncan)

• Saturday May 19
• Saturday May 26

Victoria (Gordon Head neighbourhood)
Home of Brock Brown and June Fukushima
Easily accessible by the 27/28 busses.

• May 29 - Vesak

Food offerings are at 11 am.  Arrive before 10:45 am.

If you cannot make it to the food offering, you are welcome to join the monks for the meditation gathering around 1 pm.

Please contact us at info@aranyarefuge.ca to receive addresses and further details.

Please also let us know if you have room to drive someone, as we have people who would like to attend but do not have access to a vehicle.

We wish you good health and happiness.

The Aranya Refuge team

Piriya Nowak
David Nowak
Jacqui Balfour
Brock Brown
June Fukushima
Kiko Brown
John Jordan