Author: Bhikkhu Jayasara

American Buddhist Monk Currently Residing at Bhavana Society of West Virginia

2019 Bhavana Housekeeping

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Some 2019 Bhavana Housekeeping Announcements :
 
Now that Bhavana is officially out of seclusion and gearing up to start a new year, I wanted to post up some reminders and announcements.
 
Firstly, Bhavana is always looking for residents. If you would like to stay for one week, or one year, you are welcome to apply with a residency application on the website : https://bhavanasociety.org/long-term-residency
 
Secondly, although we have a cook currently, that position tends to change hands every year or so, and hence Bhavana is always accepting applications and interest in living at Bhavana in the paid cook position : https://bhavanasociety.org/cook
 
If you are interested in attending Bhante G’s Saturday Dhamma/Pali sessions, keep an eye out on the website as the date it starts up for the year and subsequent dates will be posted there on the front page.
 
I look forward to a new year of sharing Dhama with all of you, and helping to maintain and grow Bhavana as a place for all people to come to learn and experience the Dhamma first hand.
 
– Bhante J

Scheduling Events for 2019

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One final post. The 2019 Bhavana Schedule is up, those of you who wanted to schedule an event with me in 2019, feel free to check the calendar and send me an email (bhikkhujayasara@gmail.com – put Visit Scheduling or some such in the topic), This will be the last time I post for the next three months.,
 
 

December 1st to March 1st : Partial to Full Seclusion.

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Starting December 1st I will be going mostly/partially off internet for the next three months. For December and January I will be off social media and most online dhamma work, but will still need to use email for monastery business and the like. February I will then do my full month totally off the grid in seclusion.

So I’ll technically still be online December & January, still will be doing my dhamma sessions on Saturday and Sunday nights. but otherwise I’m switching my focus to running Bhavana and my own practice for this time.

If it is an emergency that you need to contact me, you can write that in an email, it would probably best be done via calling our office manager at the Bhavana number to get in contact with me. I will still be available for those who want to schedule visits for next year and for emails that are an emergency, but otherwise, I wish to have this time to spend working on myself and my practice.

Come Join us in January and February for some Seclusion!

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It’s getting to that time again when Bhavana begins the slow process towards winter shutdown and seclusion.
 
If you are interested in coming to stay with us for a time during this period to help support the community with work and spend lots of time in practice, fill out a residency application on the website (https://bhavanasociety.org/long-term-residency).
 
During the January and February months of Seclusion, the minimum length of stay is a week. It is not very different than staying at any other time, except there are no visitors and we concentrate mostly on work centered around food and wood work. The afternoons for the most part will be free for you to practice, although you may be asked to work with the residents when needed.
 
If you have any further questions feel free to PM me.
 

Introduction to Meditation Retreat: Full Audio of Retreat (all Talks, Q&A, and Guided Meditations+)

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In an effort to allow those unable to take retreats I have recorded the entirety of the 2018 Summer “Introduction to Meditation” Retreat. You can find the links and descriptions to all of the recordings ( an 11 part series) below. It is recommended that you listen to each one in order, as they often build on previously given teaching.

***All audio is also downloadable.

Part I –  Introduction to Meditation Retreat: Welcome Talk, Precepts, and Guided Meditation.

https://clyp.it/c/intro1

Part II –  Introduction to Meditation Retreat : Day 1 : Simile of the Ember and Mindfulness of Eating

https://clyp.it/c/intro5

Part III –  Introduction to Meditation Retreat : Day 1 : Guided Meditation with “Vipassana Itch” and Standing Meditation.

https://clyp.it/c/intro2

Part IV –  Introduction to Meditation Retreat : Day 1 : Walking Meditation Instructions.

https://clyp.it/c/intro4

Part V –  Introduction to Meditation Retreat : Day 1 : Dhamma Talk “Why We Meditate”

https://clyp.it/c/intro3

Part VI –  Introduction to Meditation Retreat : Day 1 : Questions and Answers

https://clyp.it/c/intro6

Part VII –  Introduction to Meditation Retreat : day 2 : Guided Metta Meditation.

https://clyp.it/c/intro7

Part VIII –  Introduction to Meditation Retreat : Day 2 : Final Guided Meditation – The Five Subjects of Contemplation.

https://clyp.it/c/intro8

Part IX –  Introduction to Meditation Retreat : Day 2 : Dhamma Talk – Right Attitude and Qualities of a Successful Meditator.

https://clyp.it/c/intro9

Part X –  Introduction to Meditation Retreat : Day 2 : Questions and Answers

https://clyp.it/c/intro10

Part XI –  Introduction to Meditation Retreat : Final Day Q&A and Closing.

https://clyp.it/c/intro11

 

Living with Uncertainty

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A friend recently said this to me: “I hate being vulnerable. Especially if it opens me up to being hurt. ”

My response was this: that it is the human condition in itself to be vulnerable. We exist in a state of uncertainty, immersed and infused with it, although we try our hardest to try and mold that uncertainty to our will, in the end, it is quite impossible to do so and we reap very little but suffering in the attempt.

In modern times we have done much to decrease some uncertainty, most of the people who will read this message, and who live in first world countries, have significantly reduced uncertainties that our ancestors struggled with daily, like where the next meal comes from, and if a predator will take them out if they stray too far from the fire. On the other hand, there are uncertainties on global scales we face now that our ancestors did not have to deal with. The specific context may change, but uncertainty remains.

Nothing is stable in this world, there is nothing we can cling to for safety, no true refuge in the storm, so why not ride that storm? Why not be brave, courageous, and face that uncertainty head-on, instead of hiding or trying to control that which we cannot truly control.

In uncertainty, in chaos, there is both the potential for death and loss, sure, but that is also where the greatest treasures lay, in the lair guarded by the dragon. It is said that the thing you need most is in the place you least wish to look for it. Take the risk, for as they say ” Fortune Favors the Bold”.

fear lies freedom

Bhavana Society Chanting Guide

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I have put together a series of audio covering all the main chanting done by the monastics here at Bhavana Society. These audio files are simply be chanting in a slow fashion to aid the person who wishes to practice chanting in Pali.

All of these audio files are meant to be chanted along with the Bhavana Vandana. The description of each chant gives the corresponding page in the book to find the sutta chant.

Get the digital copy of the book for free at: http://www.lulu.com/us/en/shop/bhante-henepola-gunaratana/bhavana-vandana/ebook/product-17448367.html

All of my audio files are streamable and downloadable :

5 Precepts(with practitioner and monk parts)

Pali Chanting : Five Precepts

This is a recording of the five precepts chanted here at Bhavana and is meant to go along with page 6 of the Bhavana Vandana .

Daily Chanting

Bhavana Society Daily Chanting Guide

This is the daily chanting done at Bhavana Society and is meant to be used in conjunction with the Bhavana Vandana starting on page 14 and ending on page 27.

Paritta and various chants

Maha Mangala Sutta Chant

The Maha Mangala Sutta (Great Discourse on Blessings) is a very ancient sutta chanted widely in the Buddhist world. It is one of the four Paritta chants. and is meant to be used in conjunction with the Bhavana Vandana starting on page 36.

Ratana Sutta Chanting Guide

The RatanaSutta (Jewels Discourse) is a very ancient sutta chanted widely in the Buddhist world. It is one of the four Paritta chants. and is meant to be used in conjunction with the Bhavana Vandana starting on page 40.

Karaniya Metta Sutta Chanting Guide

The Karaniya Metta Sutta (Limitless Goodwill Discourse) is a very ancient sutta chanted widely in the Buddhist world. It is one of the four Paritta chants. and is meant to be used in conjunction with the Bhavana Vandana starting on page 46.

Maha Jayamangala Chanting Guide

The Maha Jayamangala Sutta (Great Verses of Joyous Victory) is a traditional sutta chanted widely in the Buddhist world. It is one of the four Paritta chants. and is meant to be used in conjunction with the Bhavana Vandana starting on page 48.