July 7th: Ten-year Anniversary of Aranya Bodhi Awakening Forest Hermitage

[Aranya Bodhi]

Metta greetings from the Awakening Forest

Dear Venerables and Friends, 

Welcome to join us on our Ten-year Anniversary “7-7” July 7th at our Aranya Bodhi Awakening Forest Hermitage for an “open day” of Dhamma friendship, celebration, remembrances, and vision for now and the years ahead. Together we'll be celebrating our founding abbess Ayya Tathaloka’s 30 years in monastic life.

The week before our anniversary, there will be a volunteers’ campout to prepare for the anniversary and the upcoming Vassa. Vassa starts at the full moon, July 27. (see more below to join.)

RSVP to this email if you plan to join us. Be sure to get the new gate code and directions if you haven’t been to the hermitage very recently. You will need a shuttle up or down the hill. 

Schedule for the Day (may be updated)

9:30-10:30am Arrival (shuttle time) 

11-11:30am *Lunch Dana Offering to the Sangha (*see below)

12 noon *Feast for All Friends

12:30-1pm Late Arrival Time (shuttle time)

1:30pm Dhamma Reflections & Sharing Blessings 

2:30-3:30pm Tours of the Hermitage/Walking the Land 

3:30-4:30pm Tea Time: Refreshments & Conversation 

4:30-5:30pm Cleanup & Departure (shuttle time)

Anniversary Day Lunch Dana Offering

*The Senanayake Family has very kindly pledged Lunch Dana for the Sangha and up to 50 friends - Sadhu to them! 

You are still welcome to bring a dish or drinks to offer & share if you would like to.

Happy Volunteers

Please let us know if you would like to join the Volunteers' Campout the week before our anniversary, or if you’re interested to offer your skills in volunteer support on our anniversary day.

Offering Support & Joining in from Afar

If you’d like to make an offering in honor of Ayya Tathaloka’s 30 years in monastic life, and/or to be a sponsor or contributor towards needed repairs & improvements at the hermitage in preparation for our Ten-year Anniversary and/or the 2018 Vassa, welcome to let us know. We can provide you with a list of possibilities for your joyful participation together.  

Looking forward to seeing you July 7th -

with much metta, 

from all of us in the Awakening Forest

Some photos from our first “Bhikkhuni Camp” mid-June 10 years ago

our first retreat together on the land

The first gathering of our Theravadin Bhikkhuni Sangha in Northern California happened at the San Francisco International Airport on June 11th, 2008. On June 14th we travelled up to the Sonoma Coast for our retreat.

Photos from the first Bhikkhuni Sangha Wilderness Camp Retreat

Jill and Ayya Sudhamma walking the land

Ayya Tathaaloka's tent/campsite (on top of the knoll in the center of the saddle, other bhikkhunis campsites are just a little farther down over the knoll)

Ayya Sudhamma mindfully walking through the forest, over the cave, and down to the creek

Learning creek walking

wild white azaleas above the creek

pindapata, almsmeal and Anumodana Dhammakatha at a friend's cabin, our "village"

Peaceful afternoon abiding (if you look very carefully you can see Ayya Sudinna meditating next to the middle of the lower right tree trunk :)

Late afternoon light on the saddle

sunset

more photos are posted on flickr here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/25760881@N08/

[❧ Aranya Bodhi Hermitage]

Metta greetings from the Awakening Forest,

where our hermitage's anniversary draws near -

Dear friends,

This message contains updates and important information for those who are joining us in person at Aranya Bodhi on July 7th, and for those who'd like to join in by making an offering from near or far (note color coding).

for those joining us in person

CLIMATE

The weather is predicted to be sunny and warm, between the mid-70s and high-80s. However, as our hermitage is very close to the coast, it can cool rapidly when/if fog comes in. Please wear layers, and bring sweaters, jackets or shawls in case it gets cool.

UPDATED SCHEDULE

9:30-10:30am Arrival (shuttle up time #1) 

11-11:30am *Lunch Dana Offering to the Sangha

12 noon *Feast for All Friends

*The Senanayake Family has very kindly pledged Lunch Dana for the Sangha and 50+ friends - Sadhu! 

You are still welcome to bring a dish and/or drinks to offer & share if you would like to.

12:30-1pm Late Arrival Time (shuttle up time #2)

1:30-3:15pm Dhamma Reflections & Sharing Blessings 

3:30-4:30pm Tours of the Hermitage & Tea Time  

4:30-5:30pm Cleanup & Departure (shuttle down time)

PARKING & SHUTTLE

- If you have not yet received directions and gate code, please email the hermitage or text 707-583-9523 to request them. 

- Shuttles will be offered up our steep and very rutted dirt road from 9:30-10:30am, then from 12:30-1pm; and back down from 4:30pm.

- Shuttles that arrive before 10:30am will be able to go all the way down to the kitchen. After that, the shuttles will only go up to the saddle. Return shuttles from the saddle may start around 3:30pm for those who need to go early. Shuttles from the kitchen up to the saddle and down the hill will start at 4:30pm.

- Late arrivals: If arriving at non-shuttle hours between 10:30am and 12:30pm, park at the greenhouse and walk in. If arriving between 12:30 and 1pm, park at the parking pullout before the green bridge (as tight as possible) and wait for the shuttle.

- Shuttle volunteers wished for: 2 drivers, preferably with a good 4WD or AWD vehicle experienced in dirt track backroads driving who can arrive at 9am, or who can be available from 4:30-5:30pm.

for those who'd like to make an offering from near or far

MAKING AN OFFERING

at our hermitage

If you'd like to make an offering for our hermitage's 10th Anniversary or Ayya T's 30th, there will be available:

- one Dana basket for Aranya Bodhi (i.e, road maintenance, new solar batteries, dead tree removal for fire safety, repairs, securing legal ownership of hermitage land)

- one Dana basket for Ayya T's personal requisites and projects (i.e., Bhikkhuni Vibhanga Project, meditation shelter and walking path, medicines),

- one Dana basket in support of our visiting monastic guests,

- one Dana basket for Dhammadharini Support Foundation to apply to "whatever is most needed".

from afar

If you'd to make an offering towards any of these from afar, go to Dhammadharini Support Foundation's donations page, and be sure to include your designation and dedication, like "Hermitage 10th Anniversary" or details.

DEDICATIONS

There is still time to join in a commitment to practice and dedication of merits for Ayya Tathaloka's 30 years in monastic life and have your dedication included in those presented at the celebration by filling out this form. Learn more here.

VOLUNTEERS

- Shuttle volunteers: 2 drivers wished for, preferably with a good 4WD or AWD vehicle experienced in dirt track backroads driving who can arrive at 9am, or who can be available from 4:30-5:30pm

- Cleanup volunteers: 5 people wished for to stay afterwards and help clean up from 4:30-5:30pm.

Thank you to everyone.

Yours truly in Dhamma

with much metta and joy,

from peaceful forest dwellers of Aranya Bodhi