2026 New Year’s Newsletter

Happy New Year dear friends!

The New Year offers an opportunity to put energy into what is meaningful and fulfilling, planting the seeds of our good aspirations for the time ahead. It is also a time to review and let go of old habits and tendencies that are no longer serving us. In this way, little by little, we correct the course of our lives. 

We may find ourselves in a social and political landscape we had not imagined a year or two ago, so how do we meet what we find here? How do we continue to bring our light into the world and to live from our higher potential, even in challenging times? If we look in the right places, we will find many examples of people displaying courage, compassion, creativity and care for others. This probably isn’t making mainstream news, so you will need to look carefully, but it is happening all around, and it can remind us that we have the agency to live according to a higher truth.

New Year Retreat – An Invitation to Simplicity and Letting Go

I am writing from Applegate retreat center where around 50 people are gathered for our New Year Retreat, seeing in the New Year with clear intentions of aspiring to our higher good and letting go of what holds us back. This retreat has happened annually since 2008! How delightful to have some of the original retreatants still showing up to see in the New Year together in this meaningful way. Lovely to welcome new friends too. A big shout out to Kathy Cheney, who has been managing this retreat for about 14 years! Check Ayya Anandabodhi’s page on the Dhamma Seed website for recordings.

Almsgiving Ceremony Highlights

In December, we had a wonderful Almsgiving Ceremony initiated and organized by Kate Hathirat, who, with the generous support of so many people, gathered over $38,500 to support the establishment of Parayana Vihara and well-being of the sangha. Our deep gratitude to Kate and everyone who participated in any way in this event. It felt like a turning point of welcome and support as we grow and puts down roots. 

Doug, Ajahn Nisabho’s father, shared how easy it was for his son to show up at a monastery – one of many hundred monasteries in Thailand – and enter into the robes as a young man. Doug went on to acknowledge how much more difficult it is for women to find a place to live and train in the monastic life and how he wishes be part of redressing that balance through supporting the bhikkhuni sangha to grow and thrive. 

Our Growing Monastic Community

It has been a little over a year since Parayana Vihara was incorporated as a nonprofit on Dec 5, 2024. The monastic community is now growing and Parayana Vihara is becoming a place for women to train in the monastic life as well as a place of gathering and practice for the lay community.  

Venerable Silananda has found a home at Parayana Vihara, taking on the Theravada practice and teachings after training for eight years in a different lineage. Her deep commitment to embodying the Path is like a compass as she adjusts to this new form, and I appreciate the kindness, integrity and humor that she brings. Alliance for Bhikkhunis just published an article about Ven Silananda here. 

Venerable Satima, who has been training in monastic life for several years already, is blossoming at Parayana Vihara. I appreciate her deep and steady practice, her knowledge of the suttas, and her lived exploration of the middle way. 

Anagarika Khema, who has been drawn to the monastic life for several years, has made the important step of giving herself to the Anagarika form for one year. This is a postulancy form, a time of exploration and discovery of ones deeper relationship to the monastic life. Her deep integrity, kindness and strength are a gift. 

We couldn’t do what we are doing without the kind support of Joan Wheeler, our monastery steward, who supports of us with so much care and love. Also the precious and essential support of our Board of Directors, Kate Hathirat, Robert Hohn and Joan Keegan, and the many people who are engaged with our endeavor through practice and generosity in it’s myriad forms. 

A Thriving Multifold Sangha in the Pacific Northwest 

Samaneri Juhna, who helped found Parayana Vihara and who was with me for it’s initial years, will soon be moving to Bellingham, WA, having taken a short return to lay life and then re-ordaining with Ayya Santussika of Karuna Buddhist Vihara.  You can learn more about Samaneri Junha’s intentions here.

We have good relations with our local bhikkhunis Ayya Suvijjana and Ayya Niyyanika of Passaddhi Vihara in Olympia. Gathering from time to time for sangha kamma and to discuss the Dhamma and our practice together is meaningful and heartening.

Recently we had a visit from Ajahn Kovilo and Ajahn Nisabho of Clear Mountain Monastery, who are true Dhamma brothers on the path. Clear Mountain is on the verge of purchasing land east of Seattle to build a monastery there. 

We each have our separate locations, but are united through our practice and love of the Dhamma and the monastic path. 

It is inspiring to see the development of the Fourfold, or Multifold, Assembly of Buddhist practitioners in the Pacific Northwest, and an honor to be part of this. 

Upcoming Winter Retreat 

Parayana Vihara will be in silent meditation retreat from mid-January through mid-March. This is an essential time for us to deepen our practice and “top up our spiritual batteries”.  May this also be of benefit to others as we practice to liberate our hearts for the benefit of all beings.

Wishing you good health, happiness, and spiritual prosperity in 2026!

With metta and wishing every blessing for your life and practice,

Ayya Anandabodhi