[Updated 1/10/95; expires March 1995] To get the latest version of this file via Internet, send a message to "ftpmail@metta.ci.net" with the words GET SKEDPALA.TXT in the message body. Send corrections & updates to "listkeeper@metta.ci.net". -------------------------------------------------------------------- SANGHAPALA VIHARA #75 H Lane Novato, CA 94945 Tel: (415)-892-7529 -------------------------------------------------------------------- 1994-95 BAY AREA VISIT OF AJAHN AMARO Venerable Ajahn Amaro Bhikkhu will be here in the Bay Area for a five-month visit this year. Together with other monks and supporters from the European monasteries, they will form a monastic community, a //vihara//, as a dhamma residence and focus of their teaching and meditative disciplines. The ultimate goal of the Sanghapala Foundation, the lay support group sponsoring Ajahn Amaro's Bay Area visit, is to establish a permanent Buddhist monastery of the Thai Forest Tradition here in the San Francisco area. While we patiently wait for qualified monks to become available for this venture, at the discretion of Ajahn Sumedho in Amaravati Buddhist Monastery in England, we intend to use the extended visits of our monastic teachers as opportunities for us lay people to familiarize ourselves with the norms and potentialities of this formal tradition. Accordingly, Ajahn Amaro, other monks and their lay attendant, Tim Price, will be in residence at the Sanghapala Vihara -- a rented home in Novato -- from November 7, 1994 through the end of March, l995. We would like to begin thinking of the place where the monastics live and practice as the focal point of our attention -- just as a monastery will be. It will survive on //dana// alone. All are encouraged to visit the vihara on a drop-in basis, freely and frequently, to participate in the traditional rhythms of monastic life. Daily morning sittings from 7-8 AM include chanting and meditation, followed by a simple meal & coffee -- a wonderful opportunity to informally chat with our monastic hosts. For the main meal of the day, the monastics are offered food by the laity in the vihara; volunteers are very much welcomed, and are encouraged to call ahead. Arrangements for meals and appointments are preferred to be within the vihara rather than as outside invitations. Evening sessions for chanting and sitting will take place 7 days a week starting at 7:30 PM; on Saturday evenings a dhamma talk will be given as well. FULL MOON SITTING & CHANTING A Full Moon Sitting & Chanting Ceremony will be held monthly at the SANGHAPALA VIHARA in Novato; call for specific information. DIRECTIONS TO THE VIHARA: Coming North on 10l: (FROM SAN FRANCISCO OR THE RICHMOND BRIDGE): Continue through San Rafael and north to Novato, and Exit East on Route 37 (to Napa = Sears Point Hwy)...Leave Hwy 37 = Atherton/Black Point: at the end of the exit ramp, take an immediate Left under the Hwy onto Atherton Avenue. . . Continue 1.3 miles, and after passing a Fire Station on your right, take the next right = H Lane... 75 meters on your left, before the road curves to the left, is the Vihara; park within the gate, and not on the road if possible. Coming South on 101: Either use the above directions with Hwy 37 [which is easiest] or Exit at first Novato exit = San Marin/Atherton Avenue, and go East over the freeway. . . bear to the right (and not onto Bugeia Lane, which forks to the left)... after the loop road Archibald Lane on your left, H Lane is approx. a quarter-mile down on your left. . . if you see the Fire Station on your left, you missed it.. . PLEASE FEEL FREE TO VISIT, OFFER MEALS, MEDITATE -- JUST COME! -- THIS FORM ONLY WORKS WHEN THE LAITY & MONASTICS INTERACT! WEEKLY MEDITATION AND DHAMMA TALK Meditation & Dhamma talk by Ajahn Amaro & monastics from the Amaravati Buddhist Monastery, England Time: Wednesday evening, 7:30-9:30 pm Where: St. Aidan's Episcopal Church Diamond Heights, San Francisco (Across from Diamond Heights Shopping Center) Please bring sitting zafus and shawls as desired; pews are available. As always, spontaneous dana is the sole means of covering the costs for these evenings. Contact: Sanghapala Vihara, 75 H Lane, Novato, CA 94945 Tel: (415) 892-7529 Directions: * FROM SAN FRANCISCO: get to Diamond Heights Blvd (either from Upper Market St = Portola) or via Duncan Street off of Diamond St. after 28th St.); the Church is directly across street from the Safeway in the Diamond Heights Shopping Center. * FROM THE GLEN PARK BART: take the #52 bus to Diamond Heights Shopping Center. * FROM 101 (NORTH OR SOUTH): get on to 280-West Detour towards Daly City -- get off at 2nd exit, called Monterey Blvd, and at end of ramp (at traffic light) take hairpin turn to the right.. . continue for 50 yds, and take a left at the blinking light onto the foot of Diamond St. (BART is at this corner); 1 block later at the traffic light take a left onto Bosworth -- then approximately l/4 mile turn right on Elk St. (this is at the crest of a hill, with playgrounds to the left) -- ++ CONTINUE ++ Up the steep hill as this road changes its name to Diamond Heights Blvd.; after a second stop sign near the crest of the hill, St. Aidan's Episcopal Church is on the left at the corner of Gold Mine * FROM 280-NORTH: bear right towards San Francisco as 280 divides (and splits to 19th Ave to the left), and continue 2 miles to exit at San Jose-Bosworth; the exit ramp goes beneath a short tunnel, and 50 yds. after this take the very first possible right turn at Rousseau St. (Ray Oil Burner Co. is on comer); go down hill this short block and take a right at the stop sign onto Bosworth. ..this curves to the right with another Stop, passes beneath the freeway, and comes up to the traffic light at Diamond (BART is on your left). . . continue on Bosworth through the light, and approximately 1/4 miles later take a right on Elk, ++ CONTINUE ++ AS ABOVE [end]