Join us for our Community Work Day on Saturday, October 13.

This time we will be harvesting our winter wood supply at Boeger Winery in Placerville, thanks to the generous offer of Sue & Greg Boeger.

Please meet us at 8:15 AM at Placerville Station Transit Center, Mosquito Road & Clay Street, Placerville, CA 95667, map.

If you plan to come, it is important to RSVP Ayya Anandabodhi ahead of time at <info@alokavihara.org>.

We will work from 8:30am – 3:30pm with a break for lunch at 11:45am. A bag lunch and soft drinks will be offered for all.

At 8:30am we will begin with a short meditation and Dhamma reflection to set the tone for the day and end with sharing of merit. 

With metta ~
Ayya Anandabodhi

More dates for Community Work Days

Our video message to Governor Brown

From October 7-13 we will observe again ‘Earth Care Week’ at the vihara, this year with a beautiful Earth Mandala Installation in our shrine room.

Program for this week:

• 7:45 am ~ Morning Reading on the theme
• 7:00 pm ~ ‘Elements Chant’, to connect deeper with the truth of interbeing  and  ‘Inviting the Devas’ & ’28 Buddhas Chant’, to ask the benevolent forces of the universe for blessings and protection for Mother Earth & for our own individual paths towards realizing ‘the way things truly are’.
• On the first day, October 7, we will watch ‘ALBATROSS’, a love story of our time from the heart of the Pacific.

We hope to see you at the vihara!

Join us on October 7 at 5:30 pm at the vihara for meditation and watching of the film ‘Albatross’, followed by a sharing among friends. For more info click here.

A wonderful opportunity for a Silent Retreat for women only in the forest of Tilden Park. The organizers are still looking for a paid cook for this retreat, please get in touch.

 

On most Thursdays from 5:00 – 6:30 pm you are invited to join the nuns’ community for Sutta Contemplation in our library. This is a heart-based form of practice and no previous experience is needed. Please check our online calendar before you come, to make sure we are at the vihara. Most of these meetings are facilitated by Ayya Ahimsa.

 

When: Sunday, November 4, 2018, 10:00am – 3:30pm
Location: Aloka Vihara Forest Monastery, Placerville, California
Directions: click here
Sponsors: Juliann Rhodes & Danny Bernstein

We are very happy to invite you to this year’s Kathina Ceremony at Aloka Vihara Forest Monastery. We hope you will join us on this special day as we celebrate the continued development of Aloka Vihara.

The Kathina Ceremony is a unique opportunity for the lay community to reflect deeply on the interdependent relationship between the monastic and lay communities and to follow that reflection into action. Just as the monastics dedicate themselves to sharing the teachings with us both in word and through their way of life, we lay practitioners have the opportunity to offer what it takes to help the Bhikkhuni Sangha thrive.

This year bhikkhunis from Dhammadharini Monastery and Karuna Buddhist Vihara will be joining us for this special day.

Donations to the 2018 Kathina Ceremony

With last year’s renovation projects now complete, donations received during this year’s Kathina Ceremony will help support the continued development of the monastery’s infrastructure, including energy efficiency improvements in preparation for making the transition to solar electric.

If you would like to contribute to these efforts, please visit our donate page. You can also see a list of items currently needed at the monastery here.

Need a ride to the monastery, interested in volunteering, or wondering where to stay in Placerville? Please visit our FAQ page for answers to these and other common questions. And if you can’t find what you’re looking for there, please email us so that we can help.

With much gratitude,
Danny, Juliann & the Friends of Aloka Vihara

All are invited to celebrate International Bhikkhuni Day with us at Aloka Vihara.

 

Program for the evening:

• 5 pm Tea in the library
• 6 pm ‘Arahant Bhikkhuni Chant’ & Meditation in the Shrine Room
• Sharing of poems from the Therigata and lifestories of the awakened nuns at the time of the Buddha
• Ending with sharing of merit & blessings.

Taught by the Nuns of Aloka Vihara Forest Monastery
December 27, 2018 – January 4, 2019
Jesuit Retreat Center, 1001 Boole Road, Applegate, CA

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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 time together, and we offer you this opportunity to explore the Dhamma in a setting that differs somewhat from a typical meditation retreat.

In the spirit of the monastic lifestyle, we will be following the Eight Precepts, taking only what is offered, participating in the daily routine mindfully and with awareness, and attempting to reflect on our every activity as part of our practice. This will include Noble Silence, morning and evening chanting, sitting and walking meditation, and daily Dhamma teachings. There will be opportunities for group interviews along with Q&A during the retreat. An optional daily period of Qi Gong will be offered by Rosalind Lwin.

The Eight Precepts:

To refrain from…
1)  taking the life of any living creature
2)  taking that which is not given
3)  any intentional sexual activity
4)  false and harmful speech
5)  consuming intoxicating drink and drugs which lead to carelessness
6)  eating at inappropriate times
7)  entertainment, beautification and adornment
8)  lying on a high or luxurious sleeping place (not indulging in sleep)

Accommodations are double rooms with shared bathroom facilities. The retreat center is wheelchair accessible, we are unable to accommodate any other environmental needs.

We will offer a light breakfast and, in keeping with this monastic tradition, the daily meal (vegetarian) is eaten before noon. In the evening, hot tea is available and “monastic allowables” are served, e.g. dark chocolate, cheese, ginger, soy milk. At meal times we offer vegan and gluten free alternatives, we are unable to accommodate other dietary needs.

Some retreatants will participate in light yogi jobs each day. The smooth running of the retreat depends on everyone’s daily contribution to the retreat community. Retreat jobs should be done in silence as much as possible, maintaining your quiet and attentive state of mind. Retreatants should commit to stay for the entire retreat and to fully participate in the retreat schedule including the daily work period.

Please make travel arrangements accordingly so that you arrive in time for registration (3:00-­‐5:30) on opening day and are able to stay through the closing ceremony and activities on the final day (approx. noon).

The Jesuit Retreat Center is located about 2-2.5 hours driving from the San Francisco/East bay, Oakland and San Francisco Airports, and about an hour from Sacramento Airport. There are Amtrak trains from the Bay Area and from Sacramento to Auburn.

If you have any questions or concerns during the retreat, the retreat manager, Kathy Cheney, will assist you. Note writing should be minimized, and notes to the teachers need to go through the retreat manager.

Continuing in the ancient Buddhist tradition, the retreat and teachings are offered freely. In turn, retreatants are afforded an opportunity to support those transmitting the Dhamma by offering donations (dana) to the teachers and the retreat manager. Operating and food expenses are paid from dana previously received by the Saranaloka Foundation. At the end of the retreat, you can donate so that retreats can continue to be offered to future retreatants on a dana basis.

Registration

Please email the completed registration form to the registrar/manager Kathy Cheney. Click link below to open the registration form, download and save to your desktop, then fill in all spaces and attach to an email and send to: <kathycheney48@gmail.com>.

Saranaloka Registration Form 2018

PayPal Link for Retreat Deposit ($ 150.-)

If you prefer to pay per check, please make it payable to the Saranaloka Foundation and send the check to:

Neil Henderson
1371 Campbell Lane
Sacramento
CA 95822

If you attend the retreat or cancel before November 29, 2018, your deposit will be returned to you upon request or can be offered as a freewill donation to the Saranaloka Foundation. It will not be returned if you register and do not attend the retreat or if you do not cancel by the November 29 cancellation deadline. Registrants who do attend the retreat may request a refund of the deposit after the retreat is over.

Please be sure to put this email address in your contacts: <kathycheney48@gmail.com>.

With very best wishes for peace and ease,

Kathy

Kathy Cheney
Saranaloka Retreat Coordinator
2018 NY Retreat Registrar/Manager
<kathycheney48@gmail.com>

On Saturday mornings from June through September 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.

Please check in our calendar when we are at the Farmers’ Market for the next time, usually on Saturdays from 9:15 – 10:15 am. We are planning to be there again on September 22 & 29 (last time this year).

The offerings are placed in front of our shrine for a blessing.

Democracy NOW! latest full show on Climate Change (August 3, 2018)

In support of the Global Climate Action Summit in San Francisco (September 12-14), tens of thousands of people across the country & planet will come into the streets. Joined by partners from around the planet we will demand bold action on climate and climate justice. Those demands will determine our future on this planet for years to come.

Ayya Santacitta & Ayya Santussika & Ayya Ahimsa & Ayya Cittananda will join the Buddhist Contingent and together with other Faith Groups, show up for this important climate action in San Francisco on September 8, click here for more information and RSVP for the march.

We will meet you between 8:00 and 9:15 am at Ferry Park, San Francisco or find an event close by your own towns and cities.

~ ‘Official Song’ at the march ~

Onwards!