What’s Happening:﻿

Important COVID-19 Update

We are currently participating in the national and local pandemic response efforts by changing our usual routine to be in line with New Hampshire’s health recommendations as they evolve. We will post updates here if and when they change.

The monastery is still open – however, all public activities aside from the daily meal offering at 11am are cancelled until further notice. This includes the cancelation of all morning and evening pujas. Therefore there will not be any Saturday evening pujas or Dhamma Talks. (The talks that are given to the resident community are now posted on the Audio page.)

As of August 2 we will be holding outdoor meditation workshops under the tent behind the Sala, every Sunday at the usual time of 1pm–3pm. You are welcome to come for this; please bear in mind that the weather may make this difficult on particularly rainy or windy afternoons, and we may have to cancel on those days.

If you come to the monastery we ask that you please follow all the posted guidance on hygiene protocols, as well as current CDC recommendations on social distancing. Right now all activities around the meal offering take place outside, where there is an open tent for rainy days. Food offerings are received and served to the sangha outdoors: they can also be left on one of the dedicated tables either outside or just inside the front entry of the Sala.

You may walk the grounds outside, but of the buildings, please enter only the Sala or the Meeting House (the meditation cabin behind the Buddha on the hill), use the hand sanitizer provided, wear a mask in the presence of others (we can provide a cloth mask), and keep a safe distance (6 ft) from other people. THANK YOU!

We will not be accepting new overnight guests for the foreseeable future. For now:

We ask you to please note the following:

You are welcome to come to offer food for the daily meal, as usual (indeed, the sangha relies on these food offerings, since the monastery does not purchase food). However:

We ask that you DO NOT come in person if you are feeling unwell, or if you are in contact with anyone feeling unwell.

Food offerings can be ordered and sent to the monastery through services which offer this. Please see the Dana List for current needs.

Food offerings can also be dropped off at the monastery, and the lay support team will be happy to receive them and replenish the pantry or to cook and serve them as appropriate. If no one is around, leave offerings on the table in the front entry; leave a note if you wish and the sangha will chant an anumodana after the food is offered to the monks.

Strict hygiene measures are being undertaken in the food offering area – currently outdoors – as well as in the shrine room. Please be careful to follow the advice posted in these places.

Times like these are rare, in our fast-moving societies where the truth of uncertainty – and the proximity of death – is often ignored. If you or a loved one is sick, we wish you and them all blessings and a speedy and full recovery. For all of us, we have an opportunity to use this time for our own spiritual welfare. May all beings be free from the suffering that comes from living in an unstable, impermanent world.