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.
We will be at the Farmers’ Market for the next time on Saturdays May 4th and June 1st & 15th from 9:15 – 10:15 am.
The offerings are placed in front of our shrine for a blessing.
We welcome you to join us for a Vesak Celebration at the vihara, commemorating the birth, Awakening and Parinibbana (death) of our teacher, the Buddha.
Please arrive either for the meal at 11:45 am (bring a vegetarian dish to share) or at 1:30 pm for chanting, meditation, Dhamma Sharing & Buddha Bathing Ceremony. There will be Tea & Discussion at 5 pm at the end of the afternoon.
Ven Dhammadipa is offering a 6 week online class on the Heart Sutra,
please click here for more info.
We welcome you to join us on Saturday May 11th for the first Community Workday at Aloka Vihara this year!
We will be doing forest clearing work on the land, light gardening and some wood staining of two new outdoor buildings.
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 at 11:45am.
Please bring a vegetarian dish to share.
Click here for more dates in 2019.
Read this interesting and well researched article by our friend Derek Pyle for Lion’s Roar.
Dear Friends,
We wanted to share the news that 2019 (well, the end of 2019) marks the 10th anniversary of the founding of Aloka Vihara.
We’re looking forward to celebrating the occasion with you on October 27, the day of the Kathina Ceremony at the vihara. In the meantime, we wanted to share a few photos from over the years and to make a special request. Please click here for the full message.
with warm wishes,
Emily Carpenter
Friends of Aloka Vihara
Please click here for our Photo Gallery of 2018 ~ enjoy!
We have been invited to teach regularly on 3rd Sundays at
‘SF Dharma Collective’ in the Mission, 2701 Folsom, San Francisco.
On April 21 with Ayya Anandabodhi speaking on ‘Metta ~ Loving Kindness’.
On May 19 with Ayya Santacitta speaking on ‘Upekkha ~ Equanimity’.
From June onwards we will start with a new series on ‘Jewels of Awakening’, please click here for more 2019 dates.
1:30-1:45pm Refuges & Five Precepts
1:45-3:30pm Meditation & Dharma Reflection
3:30-4:00pm Tea & Discussion
The Aloka Vihara Resident Community will be in Winter Retreat this year again from January 15 – April 15, 2019.
Visitors are welcome to join us for the Evening Puja & Dhamma sharing at 6:30 pm on Full, New and Half Moon days:
We welcome meal offerings during Winter Retreat ~ if you would like to offer a meal for the nuns, please get in touch with the Vihara Steward at <retreatresponse@gmail.com> or call 530 647 8262 and leave a message.
Please click here for the Aloka Vihara Dana List.
Please be aware that the nuns and resident supporters will be observing Noble Silence during this time, but you are most welcome to stay for the meal and meditate in the shrine room.
Here is a link to our last newsletter on January 14 before entering the Winter Retreat.
More and more Buddhist groups are offering programs in Spanish and doing outreach in Latinx communities. That means stronger community for everyone.
Lion’s Roar interviewed Ven Dhammadipa, who is Colombian American, and has just finished teaching the San Francisco Zen Center’s first online Dharma class in Spanish, Imágenes del Ser, or Images of the Self.