“Highlights from life at the monastery in August.”
The rhythm of Vassa carries on with Dhamma practice, care for the land, and moments of devotion. In this edition, we offer highlights from the monastery’s life in August—ranging from a short visit to Bodhgaya to acts of service by lay visitors.
🍃 Second Month of Vassa
“Nurturing the monastery through rains and challenges.”
The monastery entered the second month of Vassa, a period of enhanced practice and community living. Monks continued their personal practice while also caring for the monastery environment—maintaining facilities, nurturing newly planted trees, and studying how the monsoon rains interact with the water management systems designed to prevent soil erosion.
The monastery has faced some testing days with heavy rains, at times straining and even breaching parts of the newly established water management systems. As the Sangha and the Trust stewards work together to address these challenges, it becomes a gentle reminder and an opportunity to learn that much in life remains beyond our control.
🕯️ Offering Parittas at a Neighbor’s Funeral
In a gesture of compassion and friendship, the monks attended the funeral ceremony of a grandfather from a neighboring family. Paritta chants were offered, dedicating blessings to his well-being on the onward journey.
🙏 Paying respects at Bodhgaya
“Arañya Saṅgharāma Bhikkhu Saṅgha and lay practitioners at the Royal Thai Monastery, Bodhgaya.”
In mid-August, members of the Sangha, along with some lay supporters, undertook a short visit to Bodhgaya. This visit was rooted in an old Thai Forest tradition: at the beginning of Vassa, monks and lay supporters travel together to pay respects to the senior teachers in their region. In this spirit, the community visited the Royal Thai Monastery in Bodhgaya and offered homage to Phra Phrom, a senior monk carrying a royal ecclesiastical title entrusted with the stewardship of Thai monasteries across India and Nepal.
The gathering brought together abbots and representatives from many monasteries, who shared about their ongoing projects—whether training sāmaṇeras, opening education programs, or even establishing hospitals. Arañya Saṅgharāma was also introduced within this wider network, planting seeds of connection and mutual support.
“Chanting at the Bodhi Tree and moments from the Sangha’s visit to Bodhgaya.”
There were also moments of profound devotion: chanting the Ratana Sutta in Thai beneath the Bodhi Tree, offering respects at memorial ceremonies for past abbots, and simply sitting quietly where the Buddha realized Awakening. Phra Phrom also shared that practice is not only in scriptures but in learning directly from nature, circumstances, and one’s own mind—teachings very much in line with Ajahn Chah’s emphasis on lived experience.
Returning from Bodhgaya, the Sangha carried with them both the inspiration of lineage and the freshness of having sat in the very shade where the Buddha once conquered Māra and awakened to truth.
🌸 Paper Flowers for Kathina
“Art and creativity at Arañya Saṅgharāma.”
The monastery hosted a lively and heartfelt gathering with local villagers and children to prepare handmade paper flowers. These flowers will be part of the offerings for Luang Por Liem’s visit during the Kathina season. The activity was both joyful and devotional, weaving community effort into the upcoming festival.
:🤝 Lay Voices: Sundays at the Monastery
“Sharing moments of service and practice at the monastery.”
The monastery is also seeing a growing presence of lay visitors from neighbouring areas who come to spend time in service and practice. Among them are — Dr. Pulkit (allopathy doctor) and Mr. Bharat (with extensive knowlwdge of ayurveda) — who have been visiting every Sunday for the past month.
Their days are spent in simple but meaningful ways: wiping corridors, placing stones in muddy ditches so paths remain walkable, reading Dhamma texts, and seeking guidance from the monks for their daily lives. They shared that these visits have brought unexpected peace and clarity, making life feel lighter and relationships at home more harmonious.
In fact, their families—initially unsure—now encourage their visits and even ask when they will next visit the monastery. One of them summed it up with a smile, “I like everything in the monastery.” Many other lay friends, too, have begun to discover joy in the stillness of the monastery—whether in offering small acts of service, sitting in meditation, or simply noticing the beauty of the blue skies and green fields around them.
🌺 Kathina Planning Underway & Dana Opportunity
Preparations for the annual Kathina Ceremony are now in motion. Aranya Sangharama’s first Kathina will be observed in the presence of respected Luang Por Liem, Ajahn Kevali and other Sangha members. This joyful festival marks the end of Vassa and is an opportunity for lay supporters to offer robes and items of daily needs to the Sangha. Details of the event and registration have been shared with the lay community.
📌 For more information and to register, please visit:
Kathina ceremony 2025 | Aranya Vihara Trust
💛 Dana Opportunity
The Kathina ceremony is also a time for lay friends to support the monastery through donations. This spirit of generosity allows everyone to share in the merit of this annual occasion. For those who wish to participate, details are available here:
Donations | Aranya Vihara Trust
✨ May these sharings from August bring inspiration to reflect on the Dhamma, to rejoice in wholesome deeds, and to continue nurturing peace in daily life.
Content courtesy: Yashika Pokhriyal | Photo credit: Miscellaneous