We are lucky to host a visiting venerable monk named Bhante Jinaratana who was born in Toronto, Canada. He became interested in meditation as a student at the University of Toronto, and began attending intensive retreats in 2002. Bhante graduated with an H.B.Sc. (neuroscience, mathematics) in 2004, then taught English for a year in P.R.C. Desiring to ordain, but without knowing a suitable place to do so, he travelled to Brisbane Australia and completed a Graduate Diploma in Education in 2008 and during that time he had the opportunity to stay for an extended period at Dhammagiri Forest Hermitage as eight-precept meditator. The guidance he received there helped him to gain the confidence to finally ordain.

Bhante Jinaratana received novice ordination at Na Uyana Forest Monastery in Sri Lanka in July 2011, and higher ordination in June 2012. Most Venerable Na Uyane Ariyadhamma Mahāthera was the preceptor for both ceremonies. From 2019-2021 he stayed at Pa Auk Monastery, Pyin Oo Lwin Myanmar, meditating under the guidance of Sayadaw U Kumārabhivaṃsa and Most Venerable Pa Auk Sayadaw Āciṇṇa.

You are invited to come for a day of practice with Bhante. If you will bring a meal offering, please be sure it is vegetarian. Otherwise, this is a potluck style event, so be sure to bring something to eat for yourself and perhaps a bit more for others if you would like.

Here's the tentative schedule:

   11:00 am:  Taking 5 Precepts; chanting; first meditation session
   12:00 noon:  Meal Offering (vegetarian food only)
   1:00 pm:  Talk -- 'The Importance of Faith in Meditation'
   1:30 pm - 2:30 pm:  Sitting Meditation
   2:30 pm - 3:00 pm:  Walking Meditation
   3:00 pm - 4:00 pm:  Sitting Meditation
   4:00 pm - 5:00 pm:  Talk -- 'Concentration and Wisdom';  Q&A; Sharing Merits; Clean Up

If you have any questions, use the contact information on the flyer below. Also, if you click on the flyer, it will download to your device so you can share it if you’d like to: