Suddhavari Monastery News

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Lucas Oliveira
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Re: Luang Por Liem in Brazil !!!

Post by Lucas Oliveira »

Monks from Suddhavāri Monastery daily go out to collect alms of food, just as the Buddha and all the great arahants have been doing for 2600 years, uninterruptedly.



São Lourenço - Minas Gerais - Brazil!

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Lucas Oliveira
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Suddhavari Monastery News

Post by Lucas Oliveira »

Lecture by Ajahn Pasanno at Suddhavāri Monastery in Brazil! - 05/01/22



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Last edited by Lucas Oliveira on Wed May 18, 2022 11:39 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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Lucas Oliveira
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Suddhavari Monastery News

Post by Lucas Oliveira »

Ajahn Pasanno in Rio de Janeiro - Brazil!



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Alino
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Re: Luang Por Liem in Brazil !!!

Post by Alino »

Amazing! :)
I was unaware that there was a branch monastery in Brazil!

Saadhu! Saadhu! Saadhu! :anjali:
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Lucas Oliveira
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Re: Luang Por Liem in Brazil !!!

Post by Lucas Oliveira »

Luang Por Pasanno & Ajahn Nyaniko Visit Suddhavari Monastery in Brazil

https://www.abhayagiri.org/news/394-lua ... -in-brazil

the photos in the link are not in the monastery..
is from a place where a retreat was held


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Lucas Oliveira
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Suddhavari Monastery News

Post by Lucas Oliveira »

Dhamma Hall work progress - The main work of the Monastery

We move forward with our construction. Next week we should start the roof. Those who want to collaborate can follow the instructions on this link:

https://suddhavari.org/participe/


Present
Image

Future
Image

Source: https://suddhavari.org/2022/09/progress ... de-dhamma/

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Lucas Oliveira
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Suddhavari Monastery News

Post by Lucas Oliveira »

Monastery closed indefinitely

We suffered another fire yesterday afternoon and so we had to close the monastery again until repairs can be carried out. We will let you know when we are ready to reopen.

Why has the monastery suffered repeated fires?

The region we're in used to be forested, but this was cut down for cattle ranching and an invasive weed species was introduced on purpose by people because it grows fast, tall, and is extremely resilient, making it very difficult to get rid of.

As our objective is to reforest the land, we do not let the cattle graze in the area, which makes the bush grow without obstacles and become a constant fire risk. In other words, if we remove the cattle, the bush grows, if we leave the cattle, the trees do not grow.

In fact, fires are common throughout the region, even in the neighboring lands where there are cattle and the grass doesn't grow much, but in these cases there are no houses and so they just let the pasture burn. On the other hand, we are trying to live on the land at the same time as we reforest, which puts us in a rather difficult situation of risk.

We can take measures to reduce the possibility of fire, but no matter how careful we are it is impossible to completely prevent it, as even a small spark is enough to cause a flame that in just a few minutes gets out of control. Yesterday, for example, it was electrical equipment that shorted out. The time between the beginning of the flame and the fire reaching a point where it was no longer possible to control, was only 5 minutes.

What would probably be useful is to build mechanisms to make it easier to put out the fire when it inevitably returns. This would include drilling a larger capacity artesian well, a large number of water tanks to store enough water to put out a fire, larger capacity water pipes and all buried underground so that they continue to supply water even during a fire, fire hydrants and hoses scattered in various parts, etc… That is, it would be a big and expensive job to carry out. I don't know if for now we will be able to do it financially.

How is the construction of the Dhamma Hall?

We have already bought all the wood for the roof and they have already been delivered. If we don't go ahead and at least build the roof, all this stuff is going to spoil. So at least on the roof we will continue. Afterwards, we can assess whether we should use the remaining resources to finish the work on the hall or build the fire-fighting system.

What was destroyed and how are the activities of the monastery?

All water tanks and plumbing were destroyed, as well as some electrical transmission wires. We managed to save all the buildings. All the tree seedlings that were planted in the burned regions probably died.

We are still not sure when or how the monastery will reopen. For now we'll just connect a water hose from the spring to the construction site so the masons can continue their work. I don't know if it's worth redoing the rest or waiting to do the water system mentioned above. For the time being the monastery is empty and all accommodations booked are cancelled.

Luang Pó Piak's visit continues, but he will have to stay in a house or hotel and the activity with him will be carried out in an alternative space.

When I have more information, I'll let you know.

Ajahn Mudito

https://suddhavari.org/2022/10/mosteiro ... terminado/
Those who want to collaborate can follow the instructions on this link:

https://suddhavari.org/participe/
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Re: Suddhavari Monastery News

Post by mjaviem »

I'm sorry to hear that. I hope they can bring the monastery back up soon.
Lucas Oliveira wrote: Thu Oct 20, 2022 6:36 pm ... As our objective is to reforest the land, we do not let the cattle graze in the area...
What I don't understand is why embarking on a reforesting project. Why not let the place be just the way it is. And I guess they could focus not on preventing fires but only on preventing their buildings catch the fires.
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Lucas Oliveira
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Re: Suddhavari Monastery News

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mjaviem wrote: Thu Oct 20, 2022 9:04 pm I'm sorry to hear that. I hope they can bring the monastery back up soon.

What I don't understand is why embarking on a reforesting project. Why not let the place be just the way it is. And I guess they could focus not on preventing fires but only on preventing their buildings catch the fires.
maybe because it's a monastery of the forest tradition..

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Lucas Oliveira
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Re: Luang Por Liem in Brazil !!!

Post by Lucas Oliveira »

Monastery reopened for visitation, still closed for accommodation

We managed to restore the water supply to the lower part of the monastery, but there is still no water in the monastic huts. Therefore, the monks are now using the dormitory as a dwelling, which prevents us from receiving guests for retreat at the monastery. However, we can now reopen for simple visitation and participation in Saturday and Sunday activities.

As for the future, it was decided to at least finish the roof of the Dhamma hall and start researching ways to improve our firefighting infrastructure, and/or find a way to eradicate brachiaria from the terrain. We are still studying the matter and looking for a solution. Next year the roof will be finished and we will probably have already decided which way to go: finish the work on the hall, invest in infrastructure, manage the weeds, or a mixture of the three. Everything will depend on what solutions we find and how many financial resources we have available to invest in these different projects.

https://suddhavari.org/2022/10/mosteiro ... ospedagem/
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mjaviem
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Re: Suddhavari Monastery News

Post by mjaviem »

Lucas Oliveira wrote: Wed Oct 26, 2022 6:21 pm
mjaviem wrote: Thu Oct 20, 2022 9:04 pm I'm sorry to hear that. I hope they can bring the monastery back up soon.

What I don't understand is why embarking on a reforesting project. Why not let the place be just the way it is. And I guess they could focus not on preventing fires but only on preventing their buildings catch the fires.
maybe because it's a monastery of the forest tradition..

:anjali:
Yes, this is what I'm referring to. The forest tradition is not about trees. It teaches being content with what you have. I mean, I would love to visit this monastery one day, it's the easiest to visit for me (just one plane, a taxi, a 5 hrs bus, and a half an hour walk in a foreign country and I'd be there). But it's just that I'm concerned that I may disagree with some of the things they do or teach and that would be a pity. Perhaps I shouldn't put any expectations but for example when I read the suttas I read this:
MN 81 Sujato wrote:… Ghaṭīkāra has gone for refuge to the Buddha, the teaching, and the Saṅgha... He’s put down the shovel and doesn’t dig the earth with his own hands. He takes what has crumbled off by a riverbank or been dug up by mice, and brings it back in a carrier...
I don't read about reforestation projects and fires fighting investments and the like. So, with all due respect, I want to express my little disappointment and that I know it's probably me who puts too much expectations and should learn to listen to any monks and monasteries with humility because what is most important in the end is how I practise and not how others do the practice.
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Lucas Oliveira
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Re: Suddhavari Monastery News

Post by Lucas Oliveira »

mjaviem wrote: Wed Oct 26, 2022 9:45 pm ...
At Abhayagiri Monastery, they had to do a lot of work to prevent fires..
Fire Prevention and Forest Work
https://www.abhayagiri.org/gallery/235- ... orest-work

Fire Clearance

In order to prepare for the 2019 fire season extensive work has been done over the past year to protect the land and structures at Abhayagiri. Thinning the forest along roadsides and around buildings took months of work and many hands. Anumodana to all who offered time and resources to aid in these efforts.

https://www.abhayagiri.org/gallery/206-fire-clearance
The Monastery was almost destroyed because of fires that happened a few years ago..
Evacuation From Abhayagiri
https://www.abhayagiri.org/gallery/60-e ... abhayagiri

Return To Redwood Valley and Abhayagiri
https://www.abhayagiri.org/gallery/67-r ... abhayagiri

Exploring the Monastery After the Fire
https://www.abhayagiri.org/gallery/69-e ... r-the-fire
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Lucas Oliveira
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Suddhavari Monastery News

Post by Lucas Oliveira »

Luang Por Piak in São Lourenço November 18th and 19th

It is with great joy that we announce the return to Brazil of Luang Por Piak, abbot of Wat Pah Cittabhavana, Thailand, one of the most recognized meditation masters, disciple of Ajahn Chah, and teacher of Ajahn Mudito. He will be in São Lourenço on the 18th and 19th of November. All activities are free and do not require registration.

https://suddhavari.org/2022/10/luang-po ... -novembro/
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Re: Suddhavari Monastery News

Post by BKh »

mjaviem wrote: Thu Oct 20, 2022 9:04 pm What I don't understand is why embarking on a reforesting project. Why not let the place be just the way it is. And I guess they could focus not on preventing fires but only on preventing their buildings catch the fires.
They say that as it is the land is not in a natural state. (although natural doesn't always mean better) It sounds like they can either prevent the fires in the short term by letting cattle on the land (which probably comes with other problems) or in the long term by reforesting. But it also sounds like they are trying to change/improve the infrastructure so that they can live with fires in any case. There can be all kinds of problems from having frequent fires that impact more than just the buildings. Think about plastic water pipes or electrical lines. Or erosion from hillsides with no vegetation.

And there are probably other advantages to having forest cover. It's certainly not just because they are a "forest" tradition.

Maintaining permanent monasteries is both difficult and necessary. The "official" bhikkhu way might just be to move somewhere else if their kutis burn down. But in the modern world in a non-Buddhist country, that just doesn't make sense.
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JamesTheGiant
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Re: Suddhavari Monastery News

Post by JamesTheGiant »

In Australia we expect fire will come through the monastery, so we are building fireproof kutis. They're rated for 2 hours surrounded by fire. It's not difficult to do, it just requires using the correct materials and building methods.

Unfortunately the salas and meditation halls were built decades ago, so they're quite flammable, made of wood.
But next time they build a hall, I am sure it will be very fire resistant.
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