KARUṆĀ SEVENA: Spring and summer in ārāma Karuṇā Sevena

Dear friends,

we hope that you are having a wonderful summer. Please allow us to update you with some exciting news from Karuna Sevena.

As soon as Viveka was opened this spring, we were presented with an opportunity to welcome several monastic visitors here: the venerable bhikkhu Sarana in May and a group of bhikkhus: ven. bhikkhu Vinīta, ven. bhikkhu Punneji and our dear and beloved teacher ven. Bhante Pemasiri Thera from Sri Lanka.

During the one week stay in the ārāma at the beginning of June this year, Bhante Pemasiri Thera offered on request individual meditation instructions to the lay practitioners and also a small number of public talks. His presence and Dhamma talks have been a great inspiration to us. We would like to thank bhante Vinīta and bhikkhunī Visuddhi for their translation and assistance with the Dhamma discussions and also to all lay practitioners who were taking care of the venerables and supported their monastic life. We are very grateful to Bhikkhu Sīlavansa for his help prior and during Bhante Pemasiri's visit. Special thanks goes to Ms. Michaela Spohrova and Mr. Jirka Vrana.

You can find here pictures of the monks‘ stay in the ārāma and here subsequent visit of venerable bhikkhunī Visuddhi in Slovakia and then Vienna in the Dhamma centre of Bhante Sīlavansa. More photos from our activities you can find in the Photo gallery section on the Karuna Sevena webpage.

Vassa in ārāma Karuṇā Sevena

Venerable Visuddhi will live in a seclusion during the vassa period, that is from mid-July to mid-October, and during this period she will not be answering your e-mails or questions and comments. The same goes for me, I will withdraw from e-mail communication and will answer only once a week or two. Thank you for your understanding.

We would like to offer those, who already stayed in the ārāma, to come during the vassa period for a meditation seclusion and your own practice – mind that you need follow the rules and the Daily Schedule as during a regular stay. The only difference is that venerable Visuddhi will not guide your meditation or give you instructions. Make the most of this opportunity during the holidays. You have a unique opportunity to practice and, please, do not forget to take care of our bhikkhunī :-)

The last chance to stay for meditation seclusion and hear the Dhamma from venerable Visuddhi before the vassa begins, would be during the coming weekend of 8 – 9thJuly. You can come to the ārāma, meditate and listen to the Dhamma from venerable bhikkhunī Visuddhi Therī. Dhamma discussion would be topical and aimed at meditation practice supported by sutta interpretation and by explanation of some of the basic Buddhist terms. We cordially invite all those interested, no matter how experienced, be it a beginner or an advanced practitioner. You can come anytime on Saturday 8th July after 10 o'clock and stay for as long as you like only to hear the Dhamma talk (always at the fixed time 6 pm) or you can stay for a meditation practice till Sunday evening ca. 6 pm. Please, let us know by email in advance: when you will be coming and for how long you will be staying. Please, follow the latest news on http://karunasevena.blogspot.com/ or in facebook and read the Terms of stay in the ārāma Karuṇā Sevena.

On behalf of Karuna Sevena I wish you a nice holiday and a relaxed summer.

Mettā

President of Karuṇā Sevena

Ivona Swan, MBA