Onsite Report 2007

August 20, 2007
Anathapindika's Park, Dhamma Sukha Meditation Center
Annapolis, MO

Dhamma Greetings Everyone!

This picture board report gives you an idea of what is going on in our center right now. There are seven people here from California, Michigan and Washington helping us at the moment. We hope you will offer your support for this new American Buddhist Adventure! Those who come to this center find a new angle for understanding the the Buddha Dhamma which deepens their meditation practice and leads to deep clear insights about what the Buddha actually taught. We hope you will take some time to explore our website at www.dhammasukha.org and listen to some amazing Dhamma talks, read some articles and books and take in some videos. A new and even better website will be coming soon to upgrade this one! You will find the talks and media here to be refreshingly consistent and clear. This is because the material comes directly out of the Pali Texts. The guiding teacher attempts to repeat the Buddhas words as closely as possible while giving instruction. The website will offer you a fine opportunity to learn how precise the Buddha actually was with his original teachings on meditation and the cessation of suffering and how applicable this teaching actually is in today's world. It's a really fun and great experience to have this teaching clearly put together for you concerning the Dhamma and then actually be able to take it directly home with you into daily life when you leave the retreat. Please take some time to have a listen and take a look at what is going on here. This is an American Buddhist experience you won't want to miss trying for yourself.

Bhante Vimalaramsi Evening Dhamma Talk August 2007	Dhamma Hall alter	Friendly curiosity as neighbors join with students for a Dhamma Talk
A question on a Dhamma subject.	Outdoor sitting tent	New Library/Office building under construction Also will be temporary quarters for Bhante until the trailer can be replaced.
New Entrance drive improves the view on arrival. A small landscaped garden is being constructed in front of the house and library/office.	Thai monks in Chicago Temple offered advice and support for Forest Dwelling. Lay people sent a truckload of supplies to help over the summer.	Coming in for the Noonday meal
The old road had been very hard on sandaled feet for the monk sand generally poor for any walking meditation.	The new road has many flat areas where walking meditation is easier because the new gravel is much smaller.	Setting up a group exercise tent for long-term residents was a pleasure for Barbara Wall to work on.
New Kuti #1 awaits a new wood ceiling and walls, new insulation, and a floor covering.	New Kuti #2 awaits next resident	New Kuti #3 awaits interior finishing work.
The main concern for the Kuti area phase is to complete the building the group bathhouse for everyone to use. This building will include a small woodstove sauna for winter use, have a heated laundry area and two large bathrooms including tub and shower. Following this, we will move ahead to complete the Kitchen/Dining Hall which will be in close proximity to the cabin-kuti area. This building will offer an indoor walking area if it rains and a screened in porch for eating. All of the cabin kutis are wired for 110 and also for 12 volt lights. Computers will be possible for writing for longterm residents.	Chosen outdoor dining for monastics is a screened house. There is an indoor area if needed in case of rain.	In late 2006, bird boxes were put up in the Nature Preserve area. This fall, Bat boxes will be built and added to the area. There are almost no mosquitos on our land because of this.
		On tour this Spring 2007. Venerable Vimalaramsi spoke by invitation at a Thai Conference in Tampa Bay, FL. Many young monks attending, appreciated that He directly addressed some of the obvious challenges facing American Buddhist families and temples in this 21st Century.
	Many Thai monks in Chicago Temple offered support and advice for Dhamma Sukha Center. Venerable "Bhante" Vimalaramsi gave a Dhamma talk during the opening of their new Dhamma Hall! Several monks set up a visit for the end of October 2007 to visit the Dhamma Sukha Center.	Sister Khema and Ven. Vimalaramsi had a chance to visit and discuss Dhamma with Ven. Bhikkhu Bodhi and Ven Ji Xing of the Chuang Yen Monastery in Carmel, NY. Ven. Vimalaramsi has been invited to give a 10 day retreat November 21-28, 2007 at this monastery. Ven. Bhikkhu Bodhi looks forward to joining in the retreat.
New Sri Lankan Friends were made In Tampa Bay, FL area.	Ven. Wipola of the Florida Buddhist Vihara invited Ven. Vimalaramsi for Vesak Day ceremonies and assisted him in every way possible while he was in Florida visiting the nearby Thai Conference. Ven Vimalaramsi was able to give several Dhamma talks to lay meditators while in the area. The hospitality of this temple was very gracious and helpful. This temple gave Dhamma Sukha their first Buddhist Flag for our temple.	The visit to Florida was especially nice as all of our hosts were very gracious and supportive for all our needs while going to a Vesak Day Ceremony, the Thai Conference and the Dedication of the new Thai Temple. There were many open-minded young Thai monks who were interested in talking more about teaching Buddhist meditation in English to Americans in addition to Thai supporters. It was encouraging that the Thai community is so supportive of spreading Buddhist teachings to the next generation and taking note of the coming Challenges that face Buddhism in this Century.
In Spring 2007 Ven. Vimalaramsi attended the dedication of a new Burmese Pagoda in NJ. The ceremony was officiated by U Indika who presided over nearly 100 Burmese monks for the ceremony.	Venerable Vimalaramsi was welcomed and gave a short talk about smiling to lightening the mind to find joy in your life again! Many people smiled in appreciation and paid their respects to him afterwards.	Sister Khema was the only American nun there and met one other nun while at the Pagoda Dedication.
August 20, 2007 Dhamma Greetings to you all! The support of our students and interested supporters from all over the world is what keeps Dhamma Sukha Meditation Center growing. Slowly and surely we move in the direction of completing our plan to develop more programs for Teaching the Dhamma to Americans without cultural overlays and offering them an opportunity to develop their own American Buddhist Forest Tradition.	Most immediately we need to house Venerable Bhante Vimalaramsi properly for colder weather. Then we need to move forward on the bath house building. After than we will proceed with the new Kitchen/Dining Hall to supply more indoor space for walking meditation also. In the future we look forward to building a co-housing area on a portion of the 30 acres of forestland we hold to help support this budding monastery/temple and make an alms-round a reality for the monastics. Future phases will include a training center and eventual Buddhist University for male/female monastics to be trained 'equally' as in the time of the Buddha. We will continue on a further expansion of our support system for Meditators and scholars who wish to take long-term retreats to practice meditation and do research into what the Buddha actually taught in a very concentrated open way. A later phase will be to set up a retirement center for Senior monks and nuns and a hospice for all people to have an opportunity for a dignified death surrounded by loved ones;	This project is very exciting and we hope you will lend your full support to our advisory board and Abbott, Venerable Bhante Vimalaramsi, in 2008 as he embarks to make history for American Buddhism by being the first Representative for the United States of America to the World Buddhist Summit Council in Kobe, Japan. This Fifth Summit Conference in April 2008 will attempt to face the Challenges for Buddhism in the 21st Century and bring together thoughts about viable solutions of nearly 40 countries worldwide being represented at the Conference. This gathering will continue its dedication to reclaiming the original practice of Buddhist meditation in order to help move the World forward towards Peaceful co-existence and World Peace. Please follow the Support Us link to help! Metta blessings and smiles to you all. Sister Khema, Chairperson United International Buddha Dhamma Soc. Anathapindika's Park, Dhamma Sukha Meditation Center