4. Recollection: Hesitation after Master Hua’s gift of land. Recounted by Debbie Stamp. [Abhayagiri] [Debbie Stamp] // [Ajahn Amaro] [Ajahn Pasanno] [Gratitude]
Recollection: Thai donors sponsor the food on Debbie Stamp’s first retreat. [Generosity]
2. Reflections by Father Damian on Abhayagiri and Holy Transfiguration Monastery as neighbors on the same mountain. [Abhayagiri] [Holy Transfiguration Monastery] // [Ajahn Pasanno] [Mutual lay/Saṅgha support] [Spiritual traditions] [Christianity ] [Debbie Stamp]
Story: Father Boniface discourages the Abhayagiri monks from coming to the hill. [Father Boniface] [Father Damian] [Ajahn Sumedho] [Ajahn Amaro]
Recollection: Abhayagiri monks visit Holy Transfiguration Monastery every Christmas. [Abhayagiri]
2. Story: Frequent visits to Abhayagiri; becoming Ajahn Pasanno’s student. Told by Sakula. [Abhayagiri] [Ajahn Pasanno] // [Ajahn Amaro]
8. Recollection: The history and significance of the Community of Abhayagiri Lay Ministers. Recounted by Sakula. [CALM Group] [Lay teachers] // [Abhayagiri] [Portland Friends of the Dhamma]
1. Story: Coming to Abhayagiri on its second anniversary. Told by Ajahn Sudanto. [Abhayagiri] [Ajahn Sudanto] // [Ajahn Pasanno] [Ajahn Amaro] [Portland Friends of the Dhamma]
4. Recollection: “I wasn’t in on the secret [that Ajahn Pasanno would move to America].” Recounted by Ajahn Sudanto. [Ajahn Pasanno] [Ajahn Sudanto] // [Ajahn Amaro] [Abhayagiri] [Ajahn Damrong] [Ajahn Yatiko] [Wat Pah Nanachat]
5. Recollection: Returning to America to care for my parents. Recounted by Ajahn Sudanto. [Parents] [Abhayagiri] [Ajahn Sudanto]
6. Recollection: After drafting an article called “Coming of Age,” Ajahn Amaro reflects that the self-view invested in the idea of being abbot of the California monastery is completely backward. Recounted by Ajahn Amaro. [Ajahn Amaro ] [Abbot] [Conceit] [Becoming] // [Saṅghapāla] [Pre-Abhayagiri vihāras] [Cause of Suffering] [Disrobing] [Ajahn Sumedho] [Abhayagiri]
Quote: “Being the abbot of a monastery and you’re only 34!” — Ajahn Amaro’s mother. [Parents] [Blame and praise]
Quote: “If our heart is attuned to Dhamma, it’s not about becoming any thing.” [Dhamma] [Beauty]
8. Recollection: A number of spooky miracles. Recounted by Ajahn Amaro.
Story: Master Hua offers Ajahn Sumedho 120 acres of land from his deathbed. [Master Hsuan Hua] [Ajahn Sumedho] [Abhayagiri] [Ajahn Amaro] [Ajahn Vīradhammo] [Psychic powers]
Recollection: The property next door: “You can either buy it or forget it.” [Saṅghapāla] [Commerce/economics]
Recollection: Abhayagiri opens on June 1, 1996. [Abhayagiri] [Ajahn Karuṇadhammo]
9. Recollection: Great goodwill, energy, and extraordinary commitment in building Abhayagiri Monastery. Recounted by Ajahn Amaro. [Abhayagiri] [Building projects] [Generosity] // [Thai Forest Tradition]
Reflections on collaborative leadership. [Leadership] [Ajahn Amaro] [Communal harmony]
10. Recollection: Learning to collaborate with the Abhayagiri land and climate. Recounted by Ajahn Amaro. [Abhayagiri] [Culture/Natural environment ] // [Building projects]
11. Recollection: Collaborating with the local culture and laws. Recounted by Ajahn Amaro. [Abhayagiri] [Culture/West] [Community] // [Ajahn Amaro]
12. Recollection: The role of the co-abbots took shape as we went along. Recounted by Ajahn Amaro. [Abhayagiri] [Abbot] // [Respect] [Leadership] [Saṅgha]
Quote: “There needs to be receptivity and the willingness to be surprised by your companions in the Holy Life.”
13. Recollection: Another surprise from Luang Por Sumedho: “I’d like you to come to Amaravati and take over as abbot.” Recounted by Ajahn Amaro. [Ajahn Sumedho] [Ajahn Amaro] [Amaravati ] [Abbot] // [Abhayagiri] [Travel] [Retirement] [Ajahn Pasanno] [Saṅgha decision making]
Reflection: All things are impermanent patterns of experience. [Not-self] [Impermanence]