Aryaloka News

It takes a community to run a place as big as Aryaloka! Aryaloka has always been a grassroots situation, funded and facilitated locally by the sangha (spiritual community). In the spirit of sangha, we practice generosity in relation to each other and the world around us. Generosity can be practiced in many ways, including the helping of our friends. Volunteering at Aryaloka can be a great way to build community and friendship with others.

Dear friends,

This is an invitation to come together as friends of Vihanasari who passed away on August 18th.  We will share our stories, our memories and rejoice in her many qualities. 

Please join us at Aryaloka on Saturday, December 16th at 3 pm. 

Vihanasari requested her family donate a bench that could be located in a peaceful place at Aryaloka.  In November they placed a beautiful teak bench at the stupa and scattered her ashes in the Memorial Garden along with ashes of Nikki, her dog and faithful companion. 

What do you give someone who is looking for deeper meaning in their life? What do you give someone who is interested in learning how to meditate, or to practice mindfulness more fully? What do you give someone who intentionally has few possessions and would rather not acquire more?

Give them a means of personal transformation! Give them opportunity for meditation practice, yoga, Dharma study, or the arts! Aryaloka has a full program of events that would make ideal gifts for practicing Buddhists, yogins or for those that are curious about Buddhism, meditation and yoga.

Tuesday October 17, Gale, Herb and Naomi had their Mitra ceremonies! Becoming a Mitra is a significant step in one's Buddhist practice and you can learn more here. Congratulations and best wishes on the path ahead!

There will be a Celebration of Life for Francesca Latawiec at Aryaloka Buddhist Center at 1:00 on Sunday, October 29, 2023. Francesca lived in Exeter, NH and died unexpectedly at home on Oct. 1, 2022. She was a devoted member of the Aryaloka sangha and became a mitra in 2020.

We're so pleased to announce that two men were privately ordained at Aryaloka on Wednesday 27th October and publicly ordained on Sunday 1st October. The ordinations took place within the context of a ten-day Going for Refuge retreat that was preceded by a six-day pre-ordination retreat with the ordinands and Private Preceptors. Our new installment that houses the Dakini rupa was used as the ordination khuti. The khuti is a secret place so we can't show any photos of how it was prepared, but we can tell you that it was a transformed and magical space.

Calling all ARTISTS from the Aryaloka Community!

It is time for a new Aryaloka T-shirt, and the ‘T-shirt kula’ is looking for sangha artists to submit their best creations!
Here are the details:

Under The Trees: A Joint Exhibition by Victoria and Lawrence Elbroch
Ink Drawings, Etchings and Prints

Opening Reception Sunday October 15, 3 - 5pm
On view from October 15 to November 19 Tuesday evenings 5-6:30pm; all other hours by appointment

Our dear friend Dharmacharini Vihanasari (Sandra Bonin) died on August 18, 2023 at age 79 following a long struggle with Alzheimer’s. We remember her as a long time member of the Aryaloka sangha. First as a friend, then a mitra and in July, 2008, she was ordained into the Triratna Buddhist Order and given the Buddhist name Vihanasari by Dayalocana her Private Preceptor. Vihanasari had a strong connection with 1000 armed Avalokitesvara, the Bodhisattva of compassion. He represented her desire and willingness to solve whatever problem came her way and her compassionate nature.

A Celebration of Life will be held for Bob Montgomery at Aryaloka Buddhist Center, 14 Heartwood Circle, Newmarket NH, on August 19th, 2-5pm.
The family will be providing light refreshments.