The Retreat The monastic community at Chithurst Buddhist Monastery is observing three months of silent retreat from 4 January through 31 March. This is a much-appreciated opportunity to set aside most of our regular duties and focus more on meditation and reflection on the Buddha’s teachings. Daily Dhamma Reflections from Tuesday, 24 March through Monday, 30 March From Tuesday, 24 March through Monday, 30 March, a Dhamma reflection will be offered by Luang Por Sucitto in the meditation hall at 8.30 am. These Dhamma reflections will be live-streamed on our YouTube channel (www.cittaviveka.org/upcoming-livestreams)(http://www.cittaviveka.org/upcoming-livestreams). People who live close enough to the monastery or are staying nearby are welcome to attend the talks in person. Daily Meal-offering and Support The daily meal offering is at 10:30 am*, and everyone is welcome to join us. People wishing to make offerings of prepared foods to be consumed on that day should aim to arrive by 10.00 am, which gives ample time for your offerings to be arranged in the kitchen. Within the monastery, the retreat is being supported by a team of people from the broader community who have come to live and develop their Dhamma practice in more active and practical roles. *On Sunday, 29 March, with the onset of British Summer Time, the mealtime changes to 11:30 am. Day Visits and Accommodations During the retreat, day visitors are very welcome to come and participate in all of the meditation sessions and talks in the Dhamma Hall, or simply come and experience the quietude of the monastery in the same way as when we’re not in retreat. Please note that there is no provision of overnight accommodation for guests during the retreat. Teachings The weekly guided meditation will take place every Sunday at 7:30 pm in the Dhamma Hall. This will also be shared via live stream on the monastery's YouTube channel. A Dhamma talk will be offered during our regular Saturday evening programme, which commences at 7:30 pm. Links for our live streams are accessible at www.cittaviveka.org/upcoming-livestreams (www.cittaviveka.org/upcoming-livestreams) Engagement Because the monastic community is observing Noble Silence, please don’t expect the normal level of engagement that you might be accustomed to. We appreciate your support and hope that you benefit from your time here. With gratitude and well wishes, The Cittaviveka community

The next Lay Forum will take place at the monastery on Sunday, 5 April from 2.00-4.30 pm in the Shrine Room of the main house. Topic – Topic: Vipassanā: reflections on the journey into insight Date and time – Sunday, 5 April, from 2:00-4:30 pm Place – The ground floor of the main house The Lay Forum consists of a short, ten-minute meditation, followed by a talk by a layperson and then by a monk or nun. Each of these two talks will last approximately fifteen minutes. After this, there is some informal discussion in small groups of around five people for forty-five minutes, followed by a larger group sharing for thirty minutes. We usually chant one of the reflections at the end, finishing with a cup of tea and chocolate until 4.30 pm. The Lay Forum is open to all, emphasising valuing your extensive life experience and aspirations regardless of your familiarity with Buddhism, though committed practitioners are especially welcome. Some people may wish to stay on to meet with a monk or nun for the weekly teatime Q&A at 5.00 pm in one of the ground-floor rooms of the Main House. The weekly guided meditation follows at 7.30 pm in the Dhamma Hall. As always, people are very welcome to come earlier in the day and participate in the midday meal offering, which is at 11.30 am. If you wish to receive the monastery newsletter and regular updates about Cittaviveka, please visit this website's Subscription Registration page.(https://www.cittaviveka.org/subscribe)

We wish to let you know about a few things planned here over the next few months. Sunday, 12 April – Songkran (Asian New Year) Many people generally visit the monastery on the Sunday closest to the Asian New Year (13-15 April), joining in with the meal offering at 11.20 am, followed by a water-pouring ceremony afterwards. Sunday, 24 May – Vesak celebration will take place at the monastery Vesak traditionally takes place on the full moon of May or June. This day commemorates the birth, full spiritual awakening and final passing away of the Buddha. Commencing at 10:15, this day of celebration will include an opportunity for the lay community to request the Five Precepts, listen to Paritta chanting offered by the monastic community, a rice pindapata (alms round), the shared meal offering, the circumambulation of the Bodhinyana Stupa followed by a Dhamma reflection. The schedule is outlined below: Sunday, 28 June – Annual International Tort Pha Pa will be held at the monastery Lay supporters of Cittaviveka warmly invite you to take part in this year’s International Tort Pha Pa. This wonderful and unique occasion will take place at Cittaviveka Buddhist Monastery on Sunday, 25 June.  'Tort Pha Pa' in Thai means ‘to offer forest cloth’ and is an occasion which brings to mind the mutual support of the lay and monastic communities. The monks and nuns aim to live simply and offer teachings and examples to people who kindly offer the material support essential to the existence of the monastery as a spiritual centre for the welfare of all. It is also a warm and inclusive occasion in which any act of giving or offer of service contributes to the sense of cooperation and spiritual friendship. This event is initiated and organized by lay supporters from almost every imaginable culture. International Tort Pha Pa events aim to bring all these different cultural groups together to contribute to the life of the monastery, both financially and socially. The day will probably run like this: 10:30  Start 10:45  Refuges and Precepts 11:00  Offering of Dana (Sanghathan) 11:15  Rice Pindapata & Meal Offering, followed by Lay People’s Meal 13:00 Circumambulation of the memorial of Ajahn Chah, followed by the offering of Pha Pa Robes, funds and blessings 17:00  Teatime Q&A with a monk or nun 19:30  Evening Puja including a Guided Meditation For more information about the International Tort Pha Pa, please see the attached invitation created and distributed by the lay organizers of the event. We hope that you are able to join us for one or both of the events listed above! With all good wishes, Ajahn Ahimsako Abbot  – Chithurst Buddhist Monastery

The weekly Sunday teatime Q&A with a senior monk or nun will take place on the ground floor of the main house starting at 5.00 pm. Everyone is welcome to stay afterwards and join in with the weekly guided meditation at 7.30 pm in the Dhamma Hall. The tea time Q&A does not happen during the months of January, February, and March (the annual Winter Retreat). They will recommence on Sunday, 5 April.

A Dhamma talk will be offered every Saturday evening, beginning with chanting and silent meditation at 7.30 pm. Guided meditations occur each week on Sunday evenings at 7.30 pm, also live streamed via the monastery YouTube channel.(https://www.youtube.com/@cittaviveka) On most Full and New Moons, the Cittaviveka community will hold a meditation vigil at 7.30 pm, continuing until midnight. The evening programme will include chanting, silent meditation and some form of a Dhamma teaching, either a reading or a recorded talk. Please feel free to join us for as much of the evening as you wish. You can download a calendar showing the lunar days using this link.(https://www.cittaviveka.org/_files/ugd/960a3c_31b5e6d3aafb4b369bae78514233b95c.pdf)

Use of the Dhamma Hall Visitors are now welcome to visit the monastery from early morning until the end of the group practice session that evening, i.e. evening pujas, guided meditations, Dhamma talks and midnight vigils. ​ We ask people to refrain from visiting the monastery if they are feeling unwell with symptoms of respiratory illnesses. Dhamma Teachings A Dhamma talk is offered every Saturday evening, beginning with chanting and silent meditation at 7.30 pm. Guided meditations occur each week on Sunday evenings at 7.30 pm, also live-streamed via the monastery YouTube channel.() On most Full and New Moons, the Cittaviveka community will hold a meditation vigil at 7.30 pm, continuing until midnight. The evening programme will include chanting, silent meditation and some form of a Dhamma teaching, either a reading or a recorded talk. Please feel free to join us for as much of the evening as you wish. You can download a calendar showing the lunar days using this link.(https://960a3c8a-49c3-459d-a65d-c4f86cbe42f5.usrfiles.com/ugd/960a3c_67e2ba32f40142a4bdbcf3396d48380a.pdf) Sharing the Midday Meal Offering Commencing on Sunday, 26 October, the midday meal offering is at 10.30 am. This changes again with the onset of British Summer Time, Sunday, 29 March, when the meal offering will be at 11.30 am. Making Food Offerings The arrangements for people wishing to offer prepared dishes for the meal will remain the same, taking dishes directly to the kitchen. Other requisites can also be offered at the house or in the Dhamma Hall. Monastery Routine Please visit our website to view the monastery's daily routine.(https://www.cittaviveka.org/daily-routine) As always, please regularly check our website for changes or updates. Also, please consider signing up for our e-newsletter and announcements. You can do this by visiting the Subscribe to Newsletter (https://www.cittaviveka.org/subscribe)page on our website. Closing Time For those of you who plan to park a car within the monastery grounds, please note that the driveway generally closes at 9:00 pm when metal bollards block entry and exit. On nights when Dhamma talks and late-night vigils take place, closing time is fifteen minutes after the end of the gathering.