Aloka Vihara News

Join Ven. Dhammadipa online for a five week discussion of death and what it teaches us about everyday life, Tuesdays at 3:30 PM Pacific US time, beginning October 15th. Our primary text will be “The Five Invitations” by Frank Ostaseski, and there will be occasional short readings from the suttas and the Zen koan tradition. There is also an online forum for written dialogue, as an alternative or supplement to…

The Buddha’s Words on Happiness    Join us for an afternoon of meditation, Dharma teaching and Q&A with Ayya Anandabodhi and Ayya Ahimsa December 15th, Sunday, 1:30 – 5:00 pm  In the Mangala Sutta the Buddha answers an important question, “What is happiness?” His explanation describes the Path from its beginning right through to full awakening. Using this sutta we will recognize the many wholesome ways the happiness is already…

Last weekend we met for our annual Board Council at the vihara. Please click here for more info about the Saranaloka Foundation board and officers. Lots of gratitude for your steady and skillful support over the years!

From November 6-16 the Aloka Vihara community will be in silent retreat. If you would like to come and offer a meal, please call us on 530 647 8262, otherwise the vihara is not open for visits over these 10 days. We are sharing the blessings of our practice with you and thank you for your kind support!

On Saturday mornings from May 4 through November 9, 2019 a weekly Farmers’ Market is held in Placerville. This is a great opportunity for our nuns to meet people and receive offerings. This photo shows Ven Dhammadipa and Ayya Ahimsa with fresh greens in their almsbowls and big smiles all around. Here is a video of an almsround from last August. We will be at the Farmers’ Market for the…

We welcome you to join us on Saturday, October 26 to help with preparations for our 10th Anniversary & Kathina Celebration! No special skills required ~ there will be all kinds of work ~ heavy and light ~ outdoors and indoors. Please arrive by 8:30 am for a short meditation & reflection, to set the tone for the day. We will work from 8:30am – 3:30pm with a break for lunch…

Please join us for Tea on October 6 at 4:00 pm at the monastery, 2409 Tolowa Trail. ~ No Need to RSVP ~ please click here for directions      

Taught by the Nuns of Aloka Vihara Forest Monastery December 28, 2019 – January 5, 2020 Jesuit Retreat Center, 1001 Boole Road, Applegate, CA An Invitation to Simplicity and Letting Go   During retreat we come together as community to support each other in our practice, consciously letting go of the past and opening to the New Year with whatever it may bring. We create a monastic environment during our…

Thanks to the kind offer of our friends, we will be harvesting logs from a neighboring forest on September 14. Last year they generously offered us enough wood for two winters. So this year we will be harvesting green wood ready for the following winter. We welcome any hands, chainsaws and trucks for this community effort. Lunch will be offered, please be sure to bring your own water bottle. We…

Join Ven. Dhammadipa and the community of the Red Clay Sangha in Atlanta for a day of sitting, walking meditation, two Dharma talks, and a community meal. Registration is now open at www.redclaysangha.org. Space is limited, but there will be a waiting list in case seats open up. The topic of the retreat is the four kinds of courage. “Meditation practice fosters an inner courage that brings clarity and strength…