Between retreats, I had the good fortune to spend a week at Mahapajapati Monastery.
The community there is gearing up for growth and Sangha development in a beautiful way. I was deeply impressed by the friendly open welcome and sharing of Dhamma practice.
Ayyā Gunasari, the founder of Mahapajapati Monastery, who is now 91 years old, is being well cared for and she often shares Dhamma with visitors and sometimes join in the group meditations and chanting. Her smile still lights up the monastery.
Ayyā Ñaṇadipā is leading the daily activities of the sangha and is welcoming of all sincere practitioners to participate and help develop the monastery.
I shared some of the basic plumbing knowledge I’ve picked up before and during monastic life with Sayalay Saccavadi and she worked on adding piping to the on-demand hot water heater so it could be flushed on a regular maintenance schedule.
There were also meal dana offerings and drop in visitors looking for Dhamma instruction, a place to meditate, and community practice.
The dessert was in bloom near the end of my visit, but I didn’t have a camera with me then to catch the waves of blossoms, so here is just a small sample of what was blooming on the upper trail above the monastery.
I will happily visit there again and suggest others add it to their Dhamma circuit when in Southern California.
Glad to see, thank you for sharing the beautiful and heartwarming photos. Blessings in your upcoming retreat!