Dear Friends,
As the fast-changing situation develops with the coronavirus, and the government has increased regulations around travel and social-distancing to help slow the spread of the virus (and look likely to continue to strengthen such measures), we have had to close the monastery to visitors and guests for the time being. This is in the best interests of everyone connected with Santi, considering the extraordinary circumstances we are all in the midst of. Evidence from overseas countries ahead of us in this pandemic suggests that refraining from gathering in groups is the best measure to inhibit the spread of the virus and protect the community at large. We can all help to protect each other in this way.
This means we have to cancel the meditation evenings, guest stays, and danas at Santi until we see what develops. However, if anyone would still like to offer dana and dedicate merits to certain family or friends we can still do so remotely. We are more than happy to continue to chant blessings of the Triple Gem and dedicate merits to certain people if you send us details by email. Dana can still be offered to the sangha in the form of online donations, items ordered online, or e-gift cards which can be used to obtain groceries or other monastic requisites (further details). If you would like to connect via skype for the chanting and dedication of merits this is also a possibility. Please feel free to get in touch with us if you would like any further information about this or need spiritual support at this time. Also, a reminder about the audio Dhamma resources we have online here for your practice support.
We will be keeping people updated with posts on the website as the situation develops and about when we might be able to open again to visitors.
These are certainly interesting times we are living in, and certainly very powerful times for Dhamma practice too. May all of us strengthen our faith and rely on our practice of sila, samadhi, and panna to continue to bring blessings into this world of ours, and ripen our own factors of awakening. There is never a better time than now to recollect and practice the Dhamma of awakening. May you all be safe and well.
May all beings come to know the true nature of the heart and find release from every kind of suffering.
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Addendum: Bhante Sujato and Bhante Akaliko are doing a live stream 30 min chanting and silent sitting online video for people to join in each day: at 7am, 1pm and 7pm. It’s called ‘Lokanta Service 717’.
If you’d like to join in for meditation support, follow this link: https://www.youtube.com/user/dhammanet/videos
People can also subscribe and enable notifications to get reminders.
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Why not take this opportunity to do an online retreat at home in May, guided by experienced lay Buddhist teachers!
Click here for more information…