Aryaloka News

Welcome to our Newest Mitra, Martha!

Posted on Tue, 08/23/2022 - 12:52

Martha Stolzer of Portsmouth became a mitra this past week during Aryaloka’s Sangha Night. I was delighted to conduct the ceremony with Aryaloka’s and Martha’s friends and family present.

Martha has been coming around to Aryaloka for more than two decades. I first remember meeting her at a retreat with Maitreyabandhu in 2018. She came to Aryaloka seeking spiritual refuge from her life struggles, attending classes and retreats. At the start of the pandemic, she dived more deeply into the Dharma, attending Sangha Night regularly online. After attending a day on spiritual friendship and witnessing another mitra ceremony recently, she decided to declare her wish to live and practice Buddhism as part of our Sangha. 

Please join me in welcoming our newest mitra. You can reach her at mgstolzer@gmail.com, 

With metta and mudita,
Saddhavasini

 

Entering the Mythic Realm —  An Exhibition of Paintings by Deb Seavey

Posted on Tue, 08/23/2022 - 12:29

Entering the Mythic Realm —  An Exhibition of Paintings by Deb Seavey

“This show is a collection of colorful paintings of beings who inhabit a mythic realm — Buddhas, Bodhisattva’s, and apsara. With these paintings, I am hoping to inspire connection with these archetypes, the attributes they embody and the realm they inhabit within the human experience.” 

The pieces will be up between September 22nd and November 14th. Email info@aryaloka.org to schedule a viewing, or stop by any Tuesday between 5-7pm. Opening reception Oct 15, 3-5pm.

Volunteer Profile: Meet Dayalocana!

Posted on Mon, 08/22/2022 - 11:08

Dayalocana first came to Aryaloka Buddhist Center (ABC) in January 1989 through a class on meditation and Buddhism taught in Concord, New Hampshire, by Manjuvajra, an Order Member of the Friends of the Western Buddhist Order (the FWBO), which was the predecessor of the Triratna Buddhist Community (the TBC).  Manjuvajra invited the class to attend a day retreat on Padmasambhava at ABC, and Dayalocana has been attending ABC events ever since.

A Celebration of Life for Teal, Aug. 28, 1:30pm

Posted on Mon, 08/22/2022 - 10:57

On Sunday the 28th of August, at 1:30pm at Aryaloka and online, we will celebrate the life of Teal Furnholm, a member of the Aryaloka sangha and an inspiring friend to many. Teal passed away on June 27, just a few weeks ago. She left us some teachings that she wanted to share, and a beautiful video that expresses her vision. Teal deeply wished for all beings to find happiness and to be relieved from unnecessary suffering. You are warmly welcome to come and view her offerings to us, to hear a puja for her, and to offer your own remembrances and rejoicings. There will be light refreshments following the celebration. Teal's close friends from Massachusetts will be present to join us. 

Please RSVP to info@aryaloka.org for in-person or online participation so we can send you the link to join and have enough food on hand. 

Warmly, 
Amala

 

Volunteer Profile: Meet Dianne!

Posted on Tue, 08/16/2022 - 12:26

Dianne Wright always had been curious about Buddhism but, until 2010, had read only a few Buddhist authors.  She began a mindfulness class that year at a local church, and her nascent interest in meditation brought her to Aryaloka Buddhist Center (ABC) for a five-week introductory meditation class.  At that juncture, her interest in the Dharma had been kindled.  She began attending Tuesday Friends’ Evenings each week and, a few years later, became a Triratna Mitra.

Volunteer Profile: Meet Lois!

Posted on Mon, 08/01/2022 - 14:42

Lois Sans came to Aryaloka Buddhist Center (ABC) around the year 2000 for her first meditation class.  Over the next ten years, she occasionally attended ABC workshops, retreats, and Friend's Night.  In 2011, she yearned to see herself more clearly, and, in response, made a commitment to Buddhism and became a Triratna Mitra.

Lois was content being a Mitra and had no intention to request consideration by the Triratna Order for ordination.  However, in the midst of a discussion at an ABC retreat in 2022, something shifted within her, and she realized that in order to go deeper into her practice, there was no viable alternative other than to request such consideration.  As a result, Lois has begun her training for ordination.

For twenty years, the book that has remained on her nightstand is the Dhammapada.  Lois loves the simplicity and beauty of each phrase and believes that it has sustained her for many years.

A Remembrance of Teal

Posted on Fri, 07/01/2022 - 08:42

Teal Furnholm, sangha member and mitra sister, passed away very peacefully at her home on June 27, 2022. She had lived through cancer more than a decade ago, but it returned in recent years and finally got the better of her. 

Teal began practicing with the Aryaloka Triratna Buddhist community while she was in graduate school at UNH, in approximately 2010. After receiving her PhD. in Molecular Biology she moved to California for several years. While there Teal continued to practice. She posted often on Triratna and Aryaloka facebook pages and always felt part of the sangha.  In 2019 Teal moved back to the east coast. Her cancer had returned and she needed to be near Boston for treatment. During these last years she lived with close friends in Rehoboth, Massachusetts. It was these friends who cared for her to the end. 

Ordinations at Akashavana: Welcome Singhasuri!

Posted on Fri, 07/01/2022 - 08:39

She who was formerly known as Lona Kovacs has become Singhasuri! Her Dharma name means ‘lioness-like heroine.’ Singhasuri was ordained with 17 others at Akashavana retreat center in Spain in the course of a three month retreat. She’ll be returning to us on the seacoast at the end of July.

Pictured: Ordinations at Akashavana — The North Americans: (left to right) Padmadharini (preceptor to Singhasuri), Sunada (preceptor to Tamojyoti), the newly ordained Singhasuri (lioness-like heroine), the newly ordained Tamojyoti (she who is a light in darkness), Vimalasara (preceptor to Tyagatara), and the newly ordained Tyagatara (one who is a star of generosity) Sadhu! 

 

Generosity in the Garden

Posted on Mon, 06/06/2022 - 09:41

Thanks to our many volunteers, beauty abounds in the gardens all around Aryaloka. Here's what Betsy Cadbury (one of our valued long term volunteers) had to say about Jackie Lee (a new volunteer): "Jackie is wonderful!!  She rebuilt the little stone wall around the Akasaloka Buddha and planted a purple NG impatiens, and cleaned up the garden by the back stairs and put in 6 begonias.  AND she got a good start on the weeding by the Aryaloka rhubarb stairs! AND she’s coming back!!  Jackie, thank you!  We so appreciate all the help!"

Have your gift matched during NH Gives June 7-8!

Posted on Fri, 06/03/2022 - 18:53

Aryaloka has opened its doors again with measures to prevent the transmission of covid-19, including limiting attendance at retreats and workshops. We are not yet at our pre-pandemic levels so we are needing to make up for lost revenue. Help us make up the difference June 7 and 8 through a special opportunity called NH Gives, a 24-hour giving window for NH nonprofits. 

This year you can double your generosity, thanks to a generous match of up to $2,500 from Dharmachari Cittavan. Thank you Cittavan! 

Mark your calendars to give June 7, 5pm to June 8, 5pm to support Aryaloka and help us reach our goal of $9,000. Your gift can be matched by Cittavan’s funds, as well as a match form the NH Charitable Foundation and its donors! Potentially, your gift could be tripled!