Don’t be so caught up in 'being yourself'
Ajahn Kongrit
We’ve probably all felt frustrated, impulsive, restless, angry, disheartened, disappointed, lonely, sad, anxious, confused, or indecisive—each feeling varying in intensity depending on the situation, mood, and emotional environment at the time. These emotions often bring discomfort and unease to the mind, sometimes even making the body feel unwell. Fortunately, though, these moods and feelings have a rhythm; they come and go, even though it may sometimes feel as if they never truly leave.
But with careful observation, we can see that they don’t stay with us permanently. This is because the natural state of our mind, the true “host” within, is inherently bright, radiant, and pure. It only changes when influenced by emotions, which are like temporary guests that come and go. (An 1.51-52)
If we don’t counter these emotional visitors and instead allow them to take the lead frequently, the mind—the “host”—becomes accustomed to these tendencies, and they turn into deep-seated habits, or “anusaya.” Eventually, they develop into latent tendencies, or “āsava,” that saturate, seep through, and subtly influence our actions, speech, and thoughts, making it seem as if such tendencies are our true nature. When we start to believe these moods define “who we are,” it’s as though we’ve surrendered our home to these guests we repeatedly allow inside. Surely, there are moments when we see how these familiar emotions cause us to suffer, yet we still cling to them, accepting them as “ourselves.” But if these tendencies cause such distress, wouldn’t it be better not to be “ourselves” in that version? And if we have to be some version, why not choose one that’s a little nicer, a little better?
We observe that our mind is capable of changing emotions and even training for improvement, and we all have the potential to change, to train ourselves. To train until the mind’s pure, bright, radiant nature prevails as the permanent “host.” This transformation is possible. Especially for those of us who see ourselves as the new generation—educated, valuing independence, and unwilling to be under anyone’s control—why, then, do we continue to allow ourselves to be enslaved by emotions that make us feel frustrated, annoyed, and heartbroken, time and again?
The Past Events
Being a Buddhist monastery in a non Buddhist country implies being involved with society at large.
In August Skiptvet Kommune asked if we would be interested in doing a small exhibition in Bygdetunet. We felt that it was a great opportunity to introduce the monks' way of life so we agreed. It was a delight to witness monastics and friends of the monastery working together in a very selfless way. It turned out to be a well received event and the feedback was really positive. More about it can be found here.
In October Ajahn Kongrit and Tan Mahesako went to Askim secondary school to speak about Buddhism, the Dhamma and the monks' life. The students were very engaging and asked many questions ranging from the very mundane to the “way to reach Nirvana”.
A week later a class of about 35 students from the Academy of secondary education in Fredrikstad came to the monastery.
Connecting in Norway
In the middle of August the Skiptvet Sangha went to Wat Thai Norway at the occasion of the annual meeting of the Thai Sangha in Europe.
A couple of weeks later Tahn Tejasaro & Tahn Mahesako went to Wat Ubolmanee in Grimo to pay respect to Luang Por Kamphong. They didn’t know before setting out on the journey that it would be Luang Por's birthday the next day. It was a lovely occasion to connect with the extended community, monastic and lay.
Connecting in Europe
In September Ajahn Kongrit spent a few days at Wat Santacittarama in Italy for the occasion of Venerable Ṭhitapemo’s Bhikkhu ordination.
At the end of October Ajahn Kongrit went to Geneva for a day invitation and then Dhammapala Buddhist Monastery in Switzerland to join the community there on the occasion of the kathina ceremony.
Dugnad
A heartfelt thank you to all who participated in Dugnad 2024! We are incredibly grateful for the many friends of the monastery who generously gave their time and energy to support us, especially considering the event was announced on such short notice.
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The atmosphere throughout the day was filled with joy, camaraderie, and a shared sense of purpose. An impressive amount of work, from tidying up the barn, to transporting firewood to the kutis, ensuring they are well-stocked for the colder months ahead.
Your dedication and collective efforts have made a significant impact, and the monastery feels all the more cared for and prepared for the coming seasons. We deeply appreciate each of you for contributing your time, skills, and positive energy to this important community event.
We look forward to welcoming you back for future gatherings and hope that the spirit of Dugnad continues to inspire us all to come together in service and friendship.
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Past visitors
Ajahn Ahimsako, the abbot of Cittaviveka, together with Tahn Anejo & Tahn Titthañāṇo visited us in Skiptvet at the end of October.
It was Ajahn’s first visit to Norway and Skipvet Buddhist Monastery. On the evening of their arrival being a Monday Ajahn offered a Dhamma reflexion on the theme of “togetherness”, stressing the fact that Lokuttara vihara is part of a wide connected group of monasteries both in Europe and the world.
Ajahn Amaro, the abbot of Amaravati, UK, visited us for a few days at the beginning of November. It was very inspiring to have Ajahn here for the last day-retreat of the year and during the Pah-Pah celebration.
End of Vassa
The rains retreat came to an end on 18th of October. As usual at the end of the vassa, monastics resume their wonderings or move on to other monasteries.
Pha-Pah
On the 3rd of November many friends of Skipvet Buddhist Monastery gathered on the occasion of the Pha-Pah celebration. It is customary for the lay community associated with a monastery to organise a cloth-offering ceremony during the kathina season to mark the end of the rains-retreat. It was a very joyful event blessed by the presence of Ajahn Amaro.
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Departures
Tahn Tejasaro returned to Wat Satiwongsaram, Birmingham, UK on the 12th of October. He had to leave shortly before the end of vassa due to his visa.
Tahn Mahesako is leaving on the 7th November, initially to Thailand for a couple of months and then to carry on with his wanderings.
Upcoming visitors
Ajahn Big, a Thai monk of 13 vassa is planning to visit us from 12th to 26th November. He is currently residing at Chiturst Buddhist monastery. Some of you might remember him from his last visit in November 2023.
Tahn Mantano, a Swedish monk of 5 vassa is planning to visit Skiptvet for a couple of weeks. Arriving on the 2nd December.
Coming event
New year’s eve
To mark the transition from the year 2024 to 2025 in a skillful and wholesome way we invite all the friends of Skiptvet vihara to join us on the 31st. For more details see here.
Activities
As usual the monastery is open for daily or overnight visits. You can join in the daily routine of the monastery and contribute in any way you can.
There are also many opportunities for the extended community to join the community on specific occasions such as the “Monday evening Puja”, the “Lunar Observance Days” (moon days).
On moon days there is usually a Dhamma talk after the evening Puja and the opportunities to take the 3 refuges and the 8 precepts. Also the sangha will practise sitting or walking meditation until midnight. Anyone is welcome!
Monday evening Pūjā (19:00-20:00) is the opportunity for anyone interested to join the evening chanting and meditation. After that there are refreshments available in the house and an opportunity to speak with a monk about Dhamma practice or wider subjects.
On moon days there is usually a Dhamma talk after the evening Pūjā and the opportunities to take the 3 refuges and the 8 precepts. Also the sangha will practise sitting or walking meditation until midnight. Anyone is welcome!
Monday evening Pūjā (19:00-20:15) is the opportunity for anyone interested to join the evening chanting and meditation. After that there is refreshment available in the house and an opportunity to speak with a monk about Dhamma practice or wider subjects.
Moon days
8 November – Half moon day
15 November – Full moon day
23 November – Half moon day
30 November – New moon day
8 December – Half moon day
15 December – Full moon day
23 December – Half moon day
29 December – New moon day
Now I’ve seen you.
Tejasāro Bhikkhu
As a young boy in Bangkok, I was inspired by many Western films; one that has been engraved in my mind was the Walt Disney animation “Brother Bear”. The climax of the last scene was on top of a giant glacier surrounded by the Northern Lights. I announced to myself then that “I must see these lights with my own eyes”. Seeing more and more photos and learning about those lights made me realise that they were the most beautiful things in the sky that were visible to the human eye.
Back to December 2015. It was my last winter as a layman. Soon I would be joining the monastic path. Like someone who was told that they had a few months to live, I was thinking of all the things I had not yet done. I thought of all the things and decided to write a bucket list, hoping to complete a few things before I was ordained. But as someone stepping into the monastic path, I did not think that I could go and experience it with the time I had left as a layman. I had no money or connections to local people in any of the countries that experienced the Northern Lights. And even if I toured the countries, it was not guaranteed that I would be able to see the lights for myself.
Year 2015 was also the year where the solar cycle was in its eleventh year meaning that the Northern Lights would have been stronger and more visible and would have been able to be seen in Northern Scotland. With this knowledge, I embarked on a journey to Aberdeenshire to go and witness the lights for myself. It would have been my last opportunity to view them before I ordained, and I would make it my mission.
I started by driving eight hours from Birmingham, England, to Aberdeen, Scotland. The next part of my journey was to drive another hour and a half to Banff, but I was advised not to do so and to rest for the night. That night ended up being the only night that the Northern Lights were visible, and I missed it. During the rest of my journey, I drove in the dark, down country lanes and the back roads of the Scottish Highlands. On the last night, I was stopped by the police and was given a warning for driving too quickly. But that did not stop me. I drove out of a bend and my car flew into a tree. Luckily the tree was not too big to cause me injury or death, as only small, but it was not small enough where the car just ploughed straight through, as on the other side was a lake. I came to a halt without any injury or significant damage to the car. So, I continued my journey back. I got back to Birmingham on New Year’s Eve, and I did not succeed in the mission I had set out for. I accepted the outcome of my efforts. I knew how much I desired to one day see them, as I had experienced a life-or-death situation in my efforts to view them.
This year, I had originally planned to spend the vassa in Thailand but I had only received my new passport only a few days before the vassa started. And even though I would still have been able to travel, the plane ticket to Thailand was extremely expensive being such a last-minute flight. Ajahn Kongrit advised me that the flight to Norway was cheap and there was a Kuti available for me if I were to go. So, I seized the opportunity to travel to Norway and spend the vassa at Lokuttara Vihara under the leadership of Ajahn Kongrit Ratanavaṇṇo.
I had never been to Norway before coming this Vassa, but I had heard a great deal about it. The Lokuttara Vihara is in a small town called Skiptvet, located in the south-east of Norway. Due to its location, I did not expect to see any Northern Lights as it only had a few hours of dark sky in the summer. However, one night in August, I checked the aurora forecast and it showed that there was a possibility to see it very late at night.
On my way back to my Kuti, I looked up at the sky like I did every night and I saw soft white lines, like a beam of light shining through the sky. I opened my camera to try and take a picture of it, and whilst doing so it turned green on my screen. It was theNorthern Lights. I had to let Ajahn Kongrit know of what I was seeing so I made my way to his kuti and we both spent some time taking photos of the lights. It was a first for me and a first time ever recorded for the monastery too.
After I had experienced it for the first time, I spent time checking the forecast of the lights and any updates that were available. I would prepare myself for the cold nights outside of my kuti and I started taking photos of the sky. The lights would come and go, they would shine brightly and fade away.Since being in Norway, I have captured the Northern Lights a total of six times. In six nights out of eighty-five, I managed to see the Northern Lights. Was I just lucky?
Buddha said that there are four bases of power leading to success (Iddhipāda); Chanda - (intention or desire), which was my interest in the Northern Lights that I developed during childhood, Viriya - (effort), the dedication to keep checking the forecast, taking photographs, staying awake at night, Citta - (mind or consciousness), not just to make effort but also doing it with mindfulness and concentration and Vīmaṃsā - (investigation), after seeing the results of the Aurora forecast, weather forecast and test photos, I considered what the best outcome I would be able to get. I did all these steps so I believe not a lucky person but followed the teachings of buddha which led to success.
I spent 85 days in Skiptvet, Norway. I experienced many new things, and met many new people along the way. All of the memories I have made during the time I spent this vassa are safely tucked away and will be memories I will always remember. But I would not have been able to have experienced any of it, without the support and encouragement of others and for that I am very grateful.