Rugged Interdependency - Amaravati Buddhist Monastery

Golden Highways Revisited: 1998items needing to be sorted, but it had none of the emotive angst-laden quality ofrecent years. Of particular significance were: the prospect of the MassachusettsMonastery invitation, (“we can’t decide for a year,” was the reply); the continuationof the three-four month, chee prom model for women taking the Eight Precepts atAbhayagiri; and, lastly, the promise of Sister Jitindriyā to be with us for the winter.We also heard that Sister Thānasantī was confirmed for the October retreat at SpiritRock and that Ajahn Sundarā is to planning to come with Luang Por Sumedho inthe spring of 1999. These are good pieces of news for us in the USA.Ajahn Karuniko was chairing the meeting – smoothly done (if occasionallyhustled somewhat by Ajahn Sucitto) – and the day was punctuated by a trip to AshHouse with Ven. Thānuttaro, the elder brother of Tan Kalyano and someone withwhom I had been a friend since long before his ordination. We had been invitedthere to have a meal by Noy Thomson, a friend and supporter of Chithurst sincethe very earliest days of the community here. She passed on a whole slew of thelatest gossip, of who is partnering whom, and her struggles with impatience andanger; we drank in her kindness with appreciation. She misses all the folks sheknew and the passing of the age at Chithurst. There’s hardly any of the old crowdleft – but that’s the way…The Sangha meeting wound to its conclusion with the usual banter of exhaustionand impatience and cheerfully tied itself up on time at 5 o’clock. It’s a joy tomarch steadily through this tide of mundane items – all dedicated to the supportand furtherance of the spiritual life – in such a civil and honest manner; differentpoints of view get voiced, propositions made and deposed or saluted, questionsare put forth and complaints heard with a whole heart. How well we humans cando when we put our minds to it: meeting, conversing and parting in harmony – notmuch in one sense, but in another the greatest of achievements.Post meeting separations ensued with Ajahn Munindo, Sister Siripaññā,Luang Por and Ajahn Akiñcano all heading off to their respective places. TomorrowSister Jitindriyā, Ajahn Tira and Ajahn Candasirī will depart, Ajahn Chandapāloand I on Thursday should be the last of all. The night closed with the last pages ofPope Joan – gasping in childbirth like Vāsitthī at the Parinibbāna: consummationand demise occurring simultaneously. The night has closed in and the only soundsare the pen and the chortle of owls – goodnight.July 1 stIt seemed that very little help had come forth for Ajahn Attapemo on the subject ofthe opening ceremonies for the Amaravati Temple, a year from now, so I offered tosit down and brainstorm with him on the subject. He thus stayed an extra day and,after the gruel meeting, we spent the morning rattling our way through schedules,guest lists, publications and logistics. By the end of the morning there was a palpablesense of reassurance in the air and the makings of a game plan for the four-dayevent – whether it will actually fall out as we have planned, who knows? But, nonetheless,we have at least conjured up a reasonable shape for the beast. I will also be103