Issue 16: Online July Daylong Teaching

Updated July 12, 2021

Audio recordings from the retreat are now available in the Teachings section.

Online Daylong Teaching with Taan Ajaan Geoff

Topic: Refuge: Buddha, Dhamma, and Sangha

Saturday, July 10, 2021
10am-12pm; 2pm-3:30pm PDT

Aranya Refuge Theravada Buddhist Monastery welcomes you to participate in a day of teachings from Ajaan Geoff, also known as Ṭhānissaro Bhikkhu, abbot of Metta Forest Monastery in San Diego county.

Description

In the time of the Buddha, when people listened to his teachings and decided to take him as their foremost teacher, they would announce that they were going for refuge in him, in his Dhamma, and in the Sangha of monks.

This daylong—through readings, talks, and discussions—will discuss the tradition of going for refuge: why it is called that, the dangers it can provide protection from, and the three main levels on which its meaning and importance can be understood, from the most basic to the highest level of the practice.

Reading Materials

Ajaan Geoff has prepared a document titled Refuge that can be found here.

As well, you are invited to read two essays from his book titled Beyond All Directions:

  1. the title essay, “Beyond All Directions”

  2. the essay, “On Denying Defilement”

Schedule

  • 10am-10:15am: Join the Zoom room

  • 10:15am-noon: Guided meditation, teachings and Q&A

  • 2pm-3:30pm: Teachings and Q&A

 

Ṭhānissaro Bhikkhu (Geoffrey DeGraff) has been a Theravada Buddhist monk since 1976. After studying in Thailand with Ajaan Fuang Jotiko, he returned to the US in 1990 to help found the Metta Forest Monastery (Wat Metta) in the mountains north of San Diego.  In 1993, Ajaan Geoff was asked to be the abbot and has continued to train monastics and offer teachings to lay people in North America, South America, Asia and Europe.  Ajaan Geoff is a highly respected scholar and practitioner of the Buddha's teachings. His many recorded talks and writings can be found here.

The teachings of the Buddha are offered freely.

Offering Dana

For those who are inspired to support the monastics living at Metta Forest Monastery and the monks who will visit the Victoria, BC area, information on how to offer donations can be found here:

November 2021 'Monastery for a Month' on Vancouver Island with Ajaan Geoff

Arrangements are in place for Aranya Refuge to host Ajaan Geoff and a second monk from Wat Metta on Vancouver Island for the month of November 2021. We are hopeful that the monks will be able to travel and that we can host group gatherings for meditation, food offerings, and receiving teachings.

For more information, contact organizers at info@aranyarefuge.org

With gratitude for the Buddha, Dhamma and Sangha.

Sincerely,
Aranya Refuge Theravada Buddhist Monastery Board and Supporters

Issue 15: Aranya Refuge Theravada Buddhist Monastery

Hello Dhamma Friends,

The Aranya (Wilderness) Refuge Project organizers have exciting news to share.

We are now a registered Society in British Columbia and we are applying to become a registered Canadian Charity. Our name is:

Aranya Refuge Theravada Buddhist Monastery

Aranya Refuge Theravada Buddhist Monastery will continue to provide requisites for the monks from Metta Forest Monastery (Wat Metta) to practice and study and to share the Buddha’s teachings on Vancouver Island. Until the monks are permitted to travel to Canada, we will be offering online teachings from Taan Ajaan Geoff, abbot of Wat Metta.

We wish to acknowledge the generous support we received to make these first steps possible. Several Dhamma organizations shared information with us. Volunteers devoted many hours to develop draft documents, and we received generous financial support for legal expertise to ensure that we have a sound foundation for being a Society and to become a registered Canadian Charity. Anumodana.

November 2021 - Monastery for a Month on Vancouver Island with Ajaan Geoff

We are very happy to announce that Taan Ajaan Geoff has accepted our invitation to visit for the month of November 2021. He will be accompanied by a second and possibly a third monk from Wat Metta.

The monks will stay at Earthspring Sanctuary.  Earthspring is near Victoria, BC and offers 123 acres of forested land -- an ideal place for the monks to practice and study. There will be opportunities for the public to come for day visits, offer food, participate in solitary and group meditations, and receive Buddhist teachings.

We recognize that our plans will depend on provincial and federal health guidelines that could affect the monks' ability to travel, and for there to be in-person group gatherings.

Look for future updates on ways to participate.

2021 Online Day-long Teachings - More Good News!

We are grateful that Taan Ajaan Geoff has agreed to offer two day-long online teaching events that Aranya Refuge will organize. The dates are:

  • July 10, 2021

  • Dec 29, 2021

Registration will open one month prior to the date of the event.

The topic of the teachings to be announced at a later date.

Financial and Material Support

We welcome financial contributions from those who feel inspired to support the development of Aranya Refuge Theravada Buddhist Monastery. Visit the Contribute page on the website for more information. Please note that until we become a Charity we cannot offer receipts for tax purposes.

However, a Giving Group for Aranya  Refuge has been established with the Canadian charity CHIMP (Charity Impact) so that you can receive a tax receipt.  Once Aranya Refuge attains charitable status, funds held in the CHIMP account will be transferred to Aranya Refuge Theravada Buddhist Monastery.
Directions for how to contribute to the Giving Group can be found here.

Information for how to share Food and Material support for the November 2021 visit will be announced closer to the time.

For more information, contact us at info@aranyarefuge.org

Taan Ajaan Geoff Talks from Dec 30 2020
Selves and Not-Self 

Recordings from Taan Ajaan Geoff’s online teaching on Dec 30, 2020, can be found here.

We sincerely appreciate the generosity from Taan Ajaan Geoff in sharing teachings and answering questions from the 200 + participants attending from more than 20 countries.

With gratitude from the new Board of Directors:

Brock Brown (President)
Russ Callaghan (Vice President)
Christie Geiss (Treasurer)
June Fukushima (Secretary)
Jacqui Balfour (Director)

Supporters:
Anita Basu
Kiko Brown (Bookkeeper)
Delaine Fleming (By-laws Committee member)
Farrell Fleming (Former Director - Aranya Refuge Project)
Bernie Geiss (Governance Advisor)
John Jordan (Former Director - Aranya Refuge Project)
Irfan Pirbhai  (Website and Newsletter)
Kiran Shahbaz (Website and Newsletter)

Issue 14: Online Daylong Teaching with Ajaan Geoff (updated Dec 6)

Online Daylong Teaching with Ajaan Geoff

Topic: Self-Making & Not-Self

Wednesday Dec 30 2020
10 am - noon; 2pm - 3:30pm PST

The Aranya Refuge Project welcomes you to participate in a day of teachings from Ajaan Geoff, also known as Thanissaro Bhikkhu, abbot of Metta Forest Monastery in San Diego county.

Description

The Buddha refused to answer the question of whether there is or is not a self. So what are we to make of the not-self teaching? And what of his statements to the effect that the self is its own mainstay? This daylong will explore these issues, showing that the Buddha used both the perceptions of self and not-self as strategies for happiness and as aids on the path to not-clinging, and that both perceptions should be put aside at the end of the path. We will also look into when and what kinds of self perceptions are useful on the path, and when and what kinds of not-self perceptions are more useful.

Reading Materials

Reading materials provided by Ajaan Geoff for the online retreat can be found here.


Schedule

10 am - 10:15 am  Join the Zoom room
10:15 am - noon    Guided meditation, teachings and Q&A
2 pm -  3:30 pm    Teachings and Q&A

Thanissaro Bhikkhu (Geoffrey DeGraff) has been a Theravada Buddhist monk since 1976. After studying in Thailand with Ajaan Fuang Jotiko, he returned to the US in 1990 to help found the Metta Forest Monastery in the mountains north of San Diego.  In 1993, Ajaan Geoff was asked to be the abbot and has continued to train monastics and offer teachings to lay people in North America, South America, Asia and Europe.  Ajaan Geoff is a highly respected scholar and practitioner of the Buddha's teachings. His many recorded talks and writings can be found here https://www.dhammatalks.org

The teachings of the Buddha are offered freely.

Offering Dana
For those who are inspired to offer support to Metta Forest Monastery:
Mail a cheque to:
Metta Forest Monastery
P.O. Box 1409
Valley Center, CA 92082 - 1409

Or Send by PayPal
https://www.dhammatalks.org/donations.html

For those who are inspired to offer support to the Aranya Refuge Project 
https://www.aranyarefuge.ca/offer-support

Your support of Aranya Refuge will make it possible for monks of Wat Metta to train and practice on Vancouver Island. When travel restrictions are lifted, our intention is to host two monks for one month or longer. The longer term goal is to support Ajaan Geoff's vision of a hermitage on Vancouver Island.

With gratitude for the Buddha, Dhamma and Sangha.

Sincerely,

Aranya Refuge Project Organizers

Brock Brown, Russ Callaghan, Jacqui Balfour, John Jordan, June Fukushima

Issue 13: POSTPONED: May 2020 Monastic Visit

Greetings 

We extend our wishes for good health and ease during this time of uncertainty due to the effects of the COVID-19 virus.

We have an update on Ajaan Geoff and Than Tim’s visit:

Sadly, the organizing team and Ajaan Geoff have decided to postpone the visit scheduled for May 2020.  We will resume plans for a future visit once the BC, Canadian,and California authorities deem it safe to travel and gather in groups. 

The rental of the Metchosin property has been cancelled with no financial penalties.

The May 23/24 retreat with Ajaan Geoff, co-sponsored by the Victoria Insight Meditation Society (Victoria IMS), has been cancelled. The venue, Goward House, will send a full refund.

We anticipate that the donor and Victoria IMS who paid for the monks’ flights will be reimbursed.

Message from Ajaan Geoff

We received the following message from Ajaan Geoff, upon his return to Wat Metta from Brazil:

“Things at the monastery are quiet. We have cancelled all overnight visits, and all gifts of food are left in the library, to minimize personal contact.

I just got back from Brazil. I’m currently in two-week isolation, which so far has been quite restful.

Hope you all are well.

Ajaan Geoff.

Future Plans

The organizing team has formed a working group tasked with developing a constitution and set of by-laws to become a registered society in BC.  Once Aranya Refuge is a society, the plan is to apply to be a Canadian registered charity.  

Our goal is to ensure that what is developed will provide the foundation for both our modest, present goal of a month-long visit, and for Ajaan Geoff’s vision of a hermitage on Vancouver Island.

We have received kind support from a number of Buddhist organizations who have shared their constitution and bylaws with us. We have received offers of help from retired lawyers. As well, we are aware of professional governance and financial experts with whom we may contract as needed. 

Please feel free to contact us about this year’s plans and future plans.

With gratitude for the Buddha, Dhamma and Sangha.

Sincerely,

Aranya Refuge Project Organizers

Brock Brown, Russ Callaghan, Jacqui Balfour, John Jordan, June Fukushima



Issue 12: May 2020 Monastic Visit Details

Greetings all and best wishes for the new year.

We have the very good news that Thanissaro Bhikkhu, also known as Ajaan Geoff, abbot of Metta Forest Monastery, will be our guest for the month of May 2020. Than Tim, who was our guest in 2019, will accompany Ajaan Geoff. The monks will reside at 1295 Boulderpath Road in Metchosin, BC where they will study and practice.

Ways to connect with the monks

I. Offering food

Offering food for monastics is considered a virtuous act. The opportunities to offer food are arranged by day of the week and location during our May 2020 visit. We encourage you to participate in these joyous acts of generosity.

Monday to Friday 10 am

Saturday 11am - 2pm (May 2, 9, 16, 30)

  • In Victoria: 4013 Magdelin St. Victoria BC.  After the meal offering to the monks, participants share the remaining food. After the meal, Ajaan Geoff will lead a short meditation and answer questions from 1 - 2:00 pm.

Sunday

Generously, the Thai community has agreed to offer food for the monks on Sundays. For more information contact info@aranyarefuge.ca and we will connect you with the coordinator, Nat Johnstone.

II. Non-residential retreat on May 23, 24 2020

A two day non-residential retreat lead by Ajaan Geoff. Co-sponsored by the Victoria Insight Meditation Society.

Goward House, 2495 Arbutus Road, Victoria BC

Online registration opens April 27, 2020

Gratitude for Supporters

We sincerely appreciate the dana meal contributions and financial contributions from supporters of the Aranya Refuge Project. Going forward, the organizers would like the project to continue annually and possibly for longer periods of time, such as the three-month Rains Retreat. You will find information on how you may contribute to the Aranya Refuge Project on the Offer Support page of the aranyarefuge.ca website.

Gratitude for the Sangha

We are honoured and grateful that Ajaan Geoff has directed his efforts to establishing a presence on Vancouver Island for Wat Metta monks. We are delighted to provide the monks' requisites and to be in their company.

May their presence bring forth the incomparable field of merit for the world.


Sincerely,

Aranya Refuge Project Organizers

Brock Brown, Russ Callaghan, Jacqui Balfour, John Jordan, June Fukushima, Nat Johnstone, Kiko Brown

Issue 11: Successful 2019 Visit and Exciting News for 2020

A Successful Visit and Exciting News for 2020

We invite you to reflect on the joy and goodness that has arisen from the May 2019 visit of Wat Metta monks Than Peter and Than Tim. The monks, organizers and participants enjoyed the experience. We are grateful for the opportunity to be able to host Buddhist monks on Vancouver Island.

Highlights of the monks’ visit:

  • Sunrise meditations on a grassy knoll near the rental property in Metchosin, BC.

  • Several visits to East Sooke Park where they experienced very favourable conditions for their meditation practice.

  • A two-day camping trip to Sombrio Beach complete with west coast rain conditions and sightings of minks and otters. (Photos)

  • A visit to Avatar Grove and Botanical Beach.

  • A tour of downtown Victoria, downtown Sidney, and an ocean-side meditation at Trafalgar Park.

  • Four Saturday dana meal offerings in Victoria - 33 participants from Victoria, North Saanich, Sooke, Nanaimo, Salt Spring Island, Vancouver, Falkland, Vernon, and Washington state.

  • Opportunity to meditate with the monks and ask Than Peter questions at the Saturday dana offering.

  • Meal offerings at the Metchosin rental property - 14 participants.

  • Dana meal offering at Chon Tong Thai Restaurant, Sidney, BC - 8 participants.

  • Dana meal offering in Sooke - 10 participants.

  • Four stewards who ably provided support for the monks.

    • Thank you to Brock Brown, John Jordan, Russ Callaghan and Norvin Cuentas.

  • Many volunteers who gladly helped with driving, bringing food, cleaning up after the dana meals.

Budget

The budget for the 2019 visit included costs for the monks’ travel, health insurance, property rental, food and other requisites.

Total expenses for the May 2019 visit: $4767.59

The highest cost was $3,000 for the property rental.
A detailed budget is available upon request.

Aranya Refuge bank balance after expenses: $3781.53 CDN; $2427.98 USD

Generosity

Food expenses were lower than budgeted as a result of the generosity of the stewards and participants who donated groceries and meals for the monks at the Metchosin residence.

We also appreciated the financial donations to support the project. Special thanks to John Jordan for hosting the monks for the camping trip to Sombrio Beach.

Plans for 2020

We are honored and very happy that Ajaan Geoff has accepted our invitation to come for the month of May 2020. He will be accompanied by a second Wat Metta monk. Ajaan Geoff has also agreed to offer a teaching weekend, sponsored by the Victoria Insight Meditation Society, on May 23/24 2020.

Vision for the Future

While it is not yet clear if we will evolve to be more than a “pop-up” monastery, we hold the possibility for a hermitage on Vancouver Island for Wat Metta monks to practice and to share the dhamma with the lay community. To this end, organizers are taking steps to become a registered BC Society and are investigating becoming a Canadian charity.

For those inspired to support the Aranya Refuge project to continue, we welcome:

  • Financial contributions - see this page for ways to contribute

  • Participation in dana meal offerings at the rental property (May 2020)

  • Male drivers for bringing the monks to dana offerings (May 2020)

With appreciation,

Aranya Refuge Organizing Team

Jacqui Balfour
Brock Brown
Russ Callaghan
June Fukushima
John Jordan



Issue 10: The Monks have Arrived!

Greetings!

Than Peter and Than Tim from Metta Forest Monastery have arrived for their month-long stay on Vancouver Island. They are residing in a rental property in Metchosin, a half-hour west of Victoria, BC.

The monks are practicing, studying and exploring the forested areas nearby. 

Organizers are pleased that the location is working well for the monks.

Ajaan Geoff, abbot of Metta Forest Monastery, named the project, Aranya Refuge. Aranya is the Pali word for wilderness. 

From the time of the Buddha, monks lived in secluded wilderness areas and would walk to a village to receive food offered in their bowls.  Today, monks continue the tradition of walking alms rounds, although in the West it is more common for lay people to come to the monks with food offerings and other requisites.

A lay practitioner who is bringing food to the monks every Sunday in May said, "This kind of opportunity doesn't come by too often, so I am very happy to do it."

The Buddha encouraged generosity as a foundational practice for achieving peace. We encourage everyone to participate in this joyous and rare opportunity to offer food to the monks.

How to participate:

  • Saturdays in Victoria arrive by 10:30 am

  • 4013 Magdelin St. (near Shelbourne/Mckenzie)

  • Bring food to offer to the monks and share with other participants.

  • Meditation at 12:30 pm followed by Q&A with Than Peter.

Mondays in Metchosin

Tuesdays - Fridays

On some days the monks will not be at the house.

The Aranya Refuge Project relies on financial donations from those who feel inspired to support the monks from Metta Forest Monastery to experience a wilderness retreat. You are welcome to send a cheque or e-transfer. Dana baskets to receive financial contributions are set out at food offerings in Metchosin and Victoria.

We thank everyone for contributing time, food and finances to this noble endeavour.

Sincerely,
Aranya Refuge Organizers and Volunteers

Issue 9: Details of Monastic Visit 2019

Greetings

The Aranya (Wilderness) Refuge Project organizers are honoured to receive Metta Forest Monastery monks, Tahn Peter and Tahn Tim, for the month of May, 2019. The monks will reside at 1295 Boulderpath Road in Metchosin, BC where they will study and practice.

Please join us in welcoming our monastic guests to Vancouver Island.

How you can participate:
You can bring a dish of food to share with the monks.

In Victoria: Saturdays, May 4, 11, 18 and 25. Please arrive by 10:30 am for food offering at 11:00 am
4013 Magdelin St.  The 27/28 bus stops close by.
After the meal offering to the monks, the participants can share the remaining food, and then the monks will meditate with the group and answer questions.

In Metchosin: Monday - Friday Please arrive by 9:30 am for food offering at 10:00 am
On most weekdays in May, food offerings can be made at 1295 Boulderpath Road in Metchosin.

It would be most helpful to contact organizers to pre-arrange food offerings at info@aranyarefuge.ca

Offering food for monastics is considered a virtuous act.
Financial contributions to the Aranya Refuge Project are also welcome. 
Contact organizers at info@aranyarefuge.ca to mail a cheque or to send an e-transfer. 

Gratitude
We are grateful to Ajaan Geoff, abbot of Metta Forest Monastery, for supporting our Vancouver Island community to host monastics. It is an honour to offer requisites to the ordained sangha.

We are also grateful to the two visiting monastics who are willing to travel to Vancouver Island.
We are fortunate to have the volunteer service of stewards who will support the monks.

We are also grateful to the local Thai community who will be supporting the monks by offering meals on the four Sundays in May. 

Sincerely,
Aranya Refuge Project Organizers
Brock Brown
Jacqui Balfour 
June Fukushima
John Jordon  

Issue 8: Update For Monastic Visit 2019

GREETINGS

Happy New Year. Hope you are all well and entering 2019 with ease.

Following the success of the visit of monastics from Wat Metta in May 2018, two monks will again come to Vancouver Island. The visit is planned for the month of May 2019.

The abbot of Wat Metta, Ajaan Geoff, has informed us that Tahn Peter and Tahn Tim will be the visiting monks.

The monks will be on retreat.

INITIAL INFORMATION ABOUT THE VISIT

Organizers have rented a house in Metchosin where the monks will study and practice. The home is in a quiet, forested area, approximately 25 minutes west of Victoria, BC.

Those wishing to offer food on week days may contact organizers to arrange the dropping off of their items in Victoria or at the Metchosin location.

On Saturdays, the monks will be offered a dana meal in at a home in Victoria that is on a bus route. Everyone is welcome to the Saturday meal.

Thank you for your interest and generosity in supporting the Buddha, Dhamma, and Sangha.

The Aranya Refuge Project team

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.