2023 Thanksgiving Retreat
Led by Ajahn Karunadhammo, Ajahn Nyaniko and
the Abhayagiri Community
November 19-26, 2023 at Applegate Retreat Center, Applegate, CA

Abhayagiri Monastery in Redwood Valley, California and the Sanghapala Foundation invite you to join the Abhayagiri Community for an eight day residential retreat over Thanksgiving. Although zoom has been a great support over the time of the pandemic, we are very happy that we can be together in person again.

The retreat will be held from Sunday afternoon, November 19th, through Sunday morning, November 26, 2023, at the Applegate Jesuit Retreat Center, near the Sierra foothills. It’s a beautiful, very private 350-acre center, nestled in California’s historic gold country. The closest airport is Sacramento, about 50 miles SW of the center.

We will create a monastery 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. We will all live the monastery life, following the Eight Precepts, taking only what is offered, 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 talks and teachings.

Because of the length of this retreat and the adherence to the Eight Precepts, you must previously have sat at least one five-day meditation retreat. Retreatants are requested to attend the entire retreat, from registration time to the closing ceremony on Sunday morning at approx. 10:30am. The facility is accessible for people in wheelchairs. We are unable to accommodate special dietary or environmental needs. We will eat a hearty breakfast and, in keeping with this monastic tradition, the daily meal (vegetarian) is eaten before noon; there is no evening meal or use of kitchen. Incense and candles are used at the morning and evening chanting periods.

Covid Protocol
The Applegate Center is a double-occupancy rooming setup. Covid continues to play a factor in the world and as a community we will mindfully follow a safety protocol before and during the retreat. Although current covid information may not be applicable at the time of the retreat, everyone will be asked to take extra precaution in the two weeks before opening day. Everyone will be required to take a covid antigen test within 24 hrs of arrival at Applegate Center. More information will be provided as we get closer.

The retreat will be offered solely on dana (free will donations). There is no set fee.
Upon registration a refundable $200 deposit is required. Receipt of your deposit will confirm your place in the retreat. Before registering please consider your ability to fully commit to attending. Cancellations have a significant impact and as we get closer to opening day we may not be able to fill your canceled space. Please Note: Should you cancel after October 15, your deposit will not be refunded. Thank you for your understanding.

Registration/Lottery is open July 15 – August 8, 2023. and applicants will be notified late August.

To apply for the lottery please fill out the online form HERE and:
Mail a $200 deposit check to:
Paul Friedlander, 722 Prospect Avenue, Oakland, CA 94610
Please Note: Make the check payable to Sanghapala Foundation and post date it November 19, 2023.

OR

To register for the retreat please fill out the online form HERE and:
Mail a $200 deposit check to:
Paul Friedlander, 722 Prospect Avenue, Oakland, CA 94610
Please Note: Make the check payable to Sanghapala Foundation and post date it November 19, 2023.

For all questions please contact the retreat manager, Kathy Cheney, retreatmanager.kathy@gmail.com

Thanksgiving Retreat Registration Now Open

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At 9am PDT (Pacific Time) on June 13, Ajahn Jayasaro will be doing a virtual question and answer session with the Buddhist Community at Stanford (BCAS). The general public is welcome to view this event.

The schedule for the event is :
8:30 - 9:00 AM PDT Group meditation (without Ajahn Jayasaro)
9:00 - 10:00 AM Ajahn Jayasaro Q&A with the Buddhist Commmunity at Stanford

For more information, please see this page :

https://buddhiststudies.stanford.edu/events/conversation-ajahn-jayasaro-webinar

Mark Your Calendar - The Annual Retreat is Scheduled for Dec. 4 - Dec. 13

Abhayagiri’s annual monastic retreat is scheduled for Fri. Dec. 4 – Sun. Dec. 13, 2020 at the Jesuit Retreat Center in Applegate, CA. Registration for this retreat will likely open sometime during the summer, usually in July or August.
Due to Covid-19, and the uncertainty about what restrictions, if any, will be in existence at that time, Abhayagiri has not yet made alternative plans about the retreat format if there are still restrictions for gatherings at that time.
If you are interested in attending, please save these dates and keep an eye on Abhayagiri News articles for updated information and the opening of registration. As per usual, Abhayagiri News list subscribers will automatically receive new News articles like this one as they are posted to the website.

In 2018, Ajahn Karuṇadhammo began a two year commitment to be co-abbot with Ajahn Ñāṇiko, to help with the transition period after Luang Por Pasanno stepped back from being the abbot and began a one year sabbatical.

Having just finished his two year commitment, Ajahn Karuṇadhammo will be going to the Pacific Hermitage for the vassa and Ajahn Ñāṇiko will be the sole abbot for the foreseeable future.

With this transition, there has also been a decision to re-arrange the seating in the Dhamma Hall and the Monks Dining Hall, with Luang Por Pasanno, Guiding Elder, and Ajahn Ñāṇiko, Abbot, now both seated in the front and center.

Ajahn Karuṇadhammo plans to return to Abhayagiri after the vassa. However, upon his return he will be entering a period of retreat.

Abhayagiri is considering how to continue to support the extended Abhayagiri community amid concerns and regulations regarding COVID-19. Please note that we have put the following precautions in place :

• The monks are not going on alms rounds.

• The Saturday night and Lunar Observance Day evening services are no longer available for the general public to participate in person. However, you may still participate by going to the Abhayagiri YouTube Channel and watching the Live Streams of Evening Puja at 7pm PDT every night except the day after the lunar observance day. https://youtube.com/c/AbhayagiriBuddhistMonastery

• The outside teaching engagements are being canceled as needed. Abhayagiri is continuing to make various events available via live stream. We will continue to update the web calendar with cancellations as needed.

• We are not accepting short-term overnight guests for the foreseeable future.

There have been some inquiries asking if people are still allowed to come to the monastery to offer food and supplies. The answer is “Yes, food and supply offerings are welcome.” Offerings can be left on the stainless steel tables outside of the kitchen. For health and safety reasons, please abstain from entering the kitchen or any other buildings. Also, please note that visitors from outside the monastery must wear a mask while at the monastery. Finally, if you are experiencing a fever, flu or cold symptoms, please refrain from coming to the monastery.