For a mendicant, the bowl entails renunciation. It is not a begging bowl for the simple reason that one is not allowed to beg. It is a receiving bowl in which one may, and in fact is obliged to, receive what people wish to give. Having no food is one thing, being passive about that state entails a further letting go, and the practice of publicly demonstrating one's helplessness takes the humility a step further. We don't like to feel helpless; we don't want to hand over the power of our survival to persons unknown and to the will of fortune. So the renunciation in living from an alms bowl is more than not having money and possessions - it is a giving up of much of the power and control that establishes our personality.

For those who offer, the bowl is a symbol of generosity not based on personal affection, but on respect for the spiritual path. A donor can give one spoonful of rice and have the happiness of wholesome action through something quite humble and ordinary; the uplift of generosity is that something from ourselves is received with respect. It's worth considering with what little attention and respect most of what we bring forth in terms of body, speech and mind is received - even by ourselves. A lot of life is dismissed or attended to in a grudging perfunctory way; or tremendous expectations are made about what life should be giving us. But to give from oneself in a situation which doesn't demand that one's offerings be fantastic is a very precious possibility. In that, we can let go of our desire to have things for ourself or to impress others with what we offer.

In the giving and in the receiving there can be a selfless communion which is intimate and yet does not entail personal attachment. When giving and receiving are experienced as the same, the separative existence stops. A soaring of the spirit replaces the normal gravity that connects consciousness to birth and death; instead of evoking violent spasms of despair and denial, that self-emptiness can fill us more wonderfully and boundlessly than any happiness.

So to receive it all graciously, even the disappointment and pointlessness as you stump around the monastery on a cold night; to take what comes and make use of that; to be prepared to relate to life on its own terms rather than from the personal view of how things should be - there's the lesson of the alms bowl! It is the way out of suffering in the ambivalent human realm where, although we aspire for the best, we still have to witness the frustration of our attempts to make things go well.

Ajahn Sucitto

Upasampada (Bhikkhu Ordination)
July 5th, Chithurst
Six men were accepted into the Bhikkhu Sangha on July 5th at Chithurst Monastery (Cittaviveka).
They comprised one Canadian, one Thai, one Indian, one Ulsterman, one German and an Englishman - quite an inspiring sign of transcendence of culture.

Asalha Puja - July 14th
The day prior to entering the Vassa is Asalha Puja, the last full moon of the Asian hot season. On this day long ago the Buddha began 'turning the wheel of the Dhamma' by preaching his first sermon, the Dhammacakkappavattana Sutta. At this time special festivities, including an all-night meditation vigil, will be held at each of the monasteries. Friends, supporters or those with casual interest are welcome to join us for part of all of our evening of practice.

Bhikkhus in California.
Ajahn Amaro and Venerable Subhato are spending 3 months on the West Coast of the United States this summer. They will be offering Dhamma teachings, leading Meditation Retreats and meeting with Dhamma friends and supporters.
They are staying at: 971 Duncan St, San Francisco until July 14th. From there they will travel to Seattle for the final month of their visit.

Vassa - The 'Rains Retreat'
July 15th-October 11th
Originally, Vassa coincided with the monsoon season in India when heavy rains made travelling difficult. Since the days of the Buddha, this 3-month period has been a time of retreat. The Sangha at Amaravati and the other monasteries follow the traditional observance of residing at one place and undertaking intensive training in the Vinaya, the monastic discipline. It is also a time when the members of the Sangha make resolutions to strengthen their practice (as mentioned in Ajahn Jun's article). At the end of the Vassa, again as is a traditional aspect of the training, each member of the ordained community requests that fellow-samanas point out to them any blind spots that they may have with regard to their conduct. All these factors make for a very conducive atmosphere of one-pointedness on the Path. Accordingly it is a very supportive time for lay people also to make resolutions - such as regular meditation, visits to the monastery or determining the 5 or 8 Precepts on the Uposatha Days - and seek out instruction from the teachers. And in Britain, there are no monsoons to hold you back!
The Sangha practises alms mendicancy, so that the offerings of Buddhist groups or families to provide the meal for the day are always appreciated and a good way to enter into the 'give and take' spirit of the spiritual life. In such cases, it is advisable to contact the monastery in advance to find a suitable date. Smaller offerings of food, flowers or incense are always welcome at any time and are the standard way of entering a place that supports the practice of Dhamma.

Kathina
Alms-Giving Ceremonies
The Kathina season follows the three-month Vassa. A Kathina ceremony is held at each of the monasteries to commemorate the harmony of the Sangha and the co-operative relationship between householders and monastics. It is a time when lay people bring offerings of requisites to the monasteries in order to keep these precious Dhamma refuges alive and functioning and to express their gratitude to the Sangha for the teachings offered throughout the year.
At this time, the Sangha also nominates one bhikkhu as a representative of the practice of Dhamma-Vinaya to receive a robe and the requisites on their behalf. If you wish to make offerings or help to coordinate the ceremonies, please contact the monastery concerned.