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his year s orest angha calendar commemorates the centenary of the birth of our teacher, Ven. Ajahn Chah. It is dedicated with gratitude and respect for the many offerings that he has made to samanas and lay people through his teachings and example. Although he passed away in 99, his vigour, resolve, compassion and direct penetration of truth remain as our guiding light. It is because of Ajahn Chah s practical wisdom that a world-wide community comprising hundreds of monasteries and thousands of lay disciples has grown and continues to present the ay of the Buddha. As always, this calendar arises through the cooperation of members of that community; may it help to remind us to keep the practice that he has shown us, well-lived and for the welfare of many.
his calendar has been sponsored for free distribution by the Kataññutā group of alaysia, ingapore and Australia. Anumodanā to the many friends and supporters who generously make their photographs available for use in these angha publications. he monthly Dhamma reflections are adaptations of transcribed and translated teachings contained in he Collected eachings of Ajahn Chah, available for download at the links below. e-book formats: www.fsbooks.org/ajahn-chah-teachings audiobook format: www.fsaudio.org/ajahn-chah-teachings LUNAR OBERVANCE DAY hese days are regularly devoted to quiet reflection at the monastery. he dates for the lunar calendar are determined by traditional methods of calculation and are not always on the same day as the astronomical occurrences. HE AJOR ULL OON DAY OR 0 / āgha Pūjā arch ( angha Day ) Commemorates the spontaneous gathering of 0 arahants to whom the Buddha gave an exhortation on the basis of the Discipline (Ovāda Pāṭimokkha). Vesākha Pūjā ay 9 ( Buddha Day ) Commemorates the birth, enlightenment and passing away of the Buddha. Āsāḷhā Pūjā July 7 ( Dhamma Day ) Commemorates the Buddha s first discourse, given to the five samaṇas in the Deer Park at arnath, near Varanasi. he traditional Rainy-eason Retreat (Vassa) begins on the next day. Pavāraṇā Day October his marks the end of the three-month Vassa retreat. During the following month the extended community of monastery supporters traditionally offer robe material as part of a Kaṭhina-season alms-giving ceremony. Calendar production by Aruno Publications: Aruna Ratanagiri Buddhist onastery, UK Aruno Publications 07 www.ratanagiri.org.uk www.forestsangha.org
A firmly-centered mind (samādhi) is the blessing that arises from living a life of integrity (sīla). uch a mind is clean and pure. January 0/ 7 0 * 7 9 0 7 9 0 * Jan : Ajahn Chah emorial Day Jan days Hemanta / Jan days Hemanta / Jan days Hemanta /
A high degree of integrity makes mental firmness more sensitive; this in turn supports the maturation of wisdom. ebruary 0/ 7 9 0 7 9 0 7 eb days Hemanta 7/
his is the path: integrity, a firmly-centred mind and wisdom. hen, when wisdom is truly mature, your mind has the strength to transcend both pain and pleasure. arch 0/ * 7 0 7 9 0 7 9 0 * ar : āgha Pūjā ar days Hemanta / ar days Gimha /0 ar days Gimha /0
If you are mindful while giving teachings to others, you will be teaching yourself at the same time. Don t think that you are only teaching others. April 0/ 7 9 0 * 7 9 0 7 0 * Apr : hai New Year, ongkran Apr days Gimha /0 Apr 9 days Gimha /0
he way of the forest masters is the way of renunciation. Even though it will challenge you to the very core, you should not give up this way of training. ay 0/ 9 0 7 9 0 7 * 0 * ay 9: Vesākha Pūjā ay days Gimha /0 ay 9 days Gimha /0
Acceptance, relinquishment, letting go this way of lightness is the right undoing. If you cling to anything, there is suffering. June 0/ 7 9 0 7* 9 9 0 * Jun 7: Ajahn Chah s Birthday Jun days Gimha 7/0 Jun 7 days Gimha /0
If our respected elders instruct us in what s right or wrong, we should follow them with faith and deep respect. e follow what they say until we see the Dhamma in our own hearts until we are the Dhamma. July 0/ 7 9 0 7 9 * 9 0 * Jul 7: Āsāḷhā Pūjā Jul : irst Day of Vassa Jul days Gimha 9/0 Jul 7 days Gimha 0/0
hy do we suffer? Because of a lack of understanding. Ignorance gives rise to desire, which drives us to create suffering. If you put a match to firewood, you re bound to get heated up. August 0/ 7 9 0 7 0 7 9 0 Aug days Vassāna / Aug days Vassāna /
In cultivating generosity we are cleansing our hearts of selfishness. elfish people experience extreme suffering, they don t really care about themselves they don t love themselves. eptember 0/ 7 0 9 0 7 9 0 ep 9 days Vassāna / ep days Vassāna /
hat is Nibbāna anyway? It means letting go, not becoming anything. Generosity, ethics and good-will: such practices empty the mind of self and other. October 0/ 7 0 9 0 * 7 9 0 * Oct : Pavāraṇā Oct : Last Day of Vassa Oct 9 days Vassāna / Oct days Vassāna /
he place where delusion arises is also the place for Awakening. here, when heat arises, the coolness disappears; but when there is coolness, there is no more heat. ull Awakening is just this extinguishing. November 0/ 9 0 7 9 0 7 9 Nov 7 days Vassāna 7/ Nov days Vassāna /
Have you seen happiness and suffering arising in the trees or in the rivers? Happiness and suffering arise in our bodies and minds. If you want to know the Dhamma, you must look into these. You won t find Dhamma looking elsewhere. December 0/ 9 0 7 9 0 7 9 Dec 7 days Hemanta / Dec days Hemanta /
0 / January ebruary arch 7 0 7 9 0 7 9 0 7 9 0 7 9 0 7 7 0 7 9 0 7 9 0 April 7 9 0 7 9 0 7 0 ay 9 0 7 9 0 7 0 June 7 9 0 7 9 9 0 July 7 9 0 7 9 7 9 0 August 7 9 0 7 0 7 9 0 eptember 7 0 9 0 7 9 0 October 7 0 9 0,9 7 9 0 November 9 0 7 9 0 7 9 December 9 0 7 9 0 7 9 Jan : Ajahn Chah emorial Day, ar : āgha Pūjā, Apr : hai New Year, ongkran, ay 9: Vesākha Pūjā, Jun 7: Ajahn Chah s Birthday, Jul 7: Āsāḷhā Pūjā, 7 Jul : irst Day of Vassa, Oct : Pavāraṇā, 9 Oct : Last Day of Vassa.
January Vimutti onastery, Nr. Auckland, NZ arch Pacific Hermitage, UA ay īladhāra ordination, Amaravati onastery, Hertfordshire, UK July Luang Por Liem visiting emple onastery, New Hampshire, UA eptember Ajahn Vimalo building, Amaravati onasteri, Hertfordshire, UK November Ajahn Chandapālo, antaloka Hermitage, Italy ebruary Khao Laem National Park, hailand April eal offering, Piang Luang am primary school, hailand June at am aeng Phet, hailand August Bee Khee river, Kanchanaburi, hailand October Aruna Ratanagiri Dhamma Hall, Northumberland, UK December i Rai Pah village, ung Yai Naresuan wildlife sanctuary, hailand
BRANCH ONAERIE estern disciples of Ajahn Chah he portal page for this community worldwide is: www.forestsangha.org UNIED KINGDO: Amaravati Buddhist onastery Great Gaddesden Hemel Hempstead Hertfordshire, HP BZ el. Office: + (0) Retreat Centre: + (0) 9 www.amaravati.org Aruna Ratanagiri: Harnham Buddhist onastery Harnham Hall Cottages Harnham, Belsay Northumberland, NE0 0H el. + (0) www.ratanagiri.org.uk Cittaviveka Chithurst Buddhist onastery Chithurst, Petersfield Hampshire, GU EU el. + (0)70 9 www.cittaviveka.org Hartridge Buddhist onastery Odle Cottage Upottery Honiton Devon, EX 9QE el. + (0)0 9 www.hartridgemonastery.org IZERLAND: Kloster Dhammapala Am aldrand Bütschelsstrasse 7 CH-7 Kandersteg el. + (0) 7 00 www.dhammapala.ch CANADA: isarana Buddhist onastery Powers Road, RR # Perth, Ontario K7H C Phone: + () 0 www.tisarana.ca HAILAND: at Pah Nanachat Bahn Bung ai Amper arin Ubon 0 www.watpahnanachat.org AURALIA: Buddha Bodhivana onastery 70 oods Point Road East arburton Vic 799 el. + () 9 999 ax. + () 9 99 NE ZEALAND: Bodhinyanarama onastery 7 Rakau Grove tokes Valley Lower Hutt 09 el. + (0) 79 www.bodhinyanarama.net.nz Vimutti Buddhist onastery PO Box 7 Bombay, (outh Auckland) el. + (0)9 www.vimutti.org.nz UNIED AE: Abhayagiri Buddhist onastery 0 omki Road Redwood Valley, CA 970 el. + (707) 0 www.abhayagiri.org IALY: antacittarama Località Brulla 000 Poggio Nativo (Rieti) el. +9 07 7 ax. +9 0 9 www.santacittarama.org