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Much has arisen and passed away since our last newsletter, with much coming, going and standing still. Ultimately nothing moved, but there has certainly been a noticeable illusory perception of activity. At the beginning of December we were visited by Ajahn Amaro, co-abbot of Abhayagiri Monastery in California. On sunday 6th December, Ajahn and the Resident Sangha of Vimutti were invited to join the Dalai Lama on stage during the recent teachings in Auckland.

On December 5-7, Vimutti Buddhist Monastery, the Auckland Theravada Buddhist Assoc., The Auckland University Buddhist Society, Richman Wee and the Buddhist Fellowship from Singapore combined their strengths to sponsor the first major Buddhist conference in New Zealand.

Buddhist leaders from 32 nations around the globe joined hands in an extraordinary gathering to lend their support to world peace, participate in a global conference and commemorate the opening of a new Japanese temple complex of gigantic proportions. Ajahn Tiradhammo was joined by Ajahn Chandako and two members of the Wellington Theravada Buddhist Association to represent New Zealand. In this article Ajahn Chandako recollects some of his enduring perceptions of the summit.

At the end of March two Buddhist monks, Ajahn Chandako and Tan Mettiko, left to wander the South Island of New Zealand for more than a month. Traveling without money, without carrying food and even without fixed plans, their experiences meditating in nature, trusting in the unknown and regularly coming in contact with human goodness touched their hearts and influenced many others along the way. The tales of their adventures will be gradually posted on this website.

The summer of 2008 has been witness to many positive developments at Vimutti Buddhist Monastery. We feel fortunate that the development is progressing so well. During this time there have been three excellent monks coming to stay, Ajahn Yatiko, Ajahn Sudanto and Venerable Mettiko. They have given inspiring teachings to the lay community and been supportive to the monastery in many ways.

In February I had the opportunity to go on pilgrimage to the Buddhist holy sights in India. It is always an inspirational journey to visit Bodh Gaya, where the Buddha realized Nibbana, Lumbini, where he was born, Sarnath, where he gave his first teaching and Kusinara, where he passed away by entering parinibbana. To think that we were walking on the same ground that the Buddha walked on and sitting under the Bodhi Tree just a few metres from where the Buddha was enlightened was powerful. Many people had tears of gratitude welling up. We also climbed up to the Buddha’s kuti on Vulture’s Peak before dawn and chanted and meditated as the sun rose.

“To plant a tree is to believe in the possibility of a more beautiful future. Plant a tree for your children to enjoy. Plant a tree to show respect for the environment. Plant a tree for the Dhamma. You are invited to join in the reforestation of Vimutti Buddhist Monastery. Help nature recover while enjoying […]

On January 7, 2549 a large bronze Buddha statue was cast for Vimutti Buddhist Monastery. Considering that fact that our monastery is just a newly born baby, the turnout was truly amazing. Many of Thailand’s meditation masters attended as well as most of the abbots from our monasteries in the West. Food was prepared for 1000 people and it seems at least that many attended. Crews from two television stations were filming, radio stations were broadcasting and newspaper reporters were taking notes. Why all this fuss for Vimutti?