Sītavana

"The Feeling of Freedom"  - An Evening Talk by Ajahn Sona
Saturday, May 12th, 7:30 p.m.
Location:  Room A122a (main lobby), Langara College, 100 West 49th Avenue, Vancouver

Meditation Retreat with Ajahn Sona
Sunday, May 13th, 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Location:  Auditorium, UBC Asian Centre - 1871 West Mall, Vancouver
(http://www.asia.ubc.ca/department/directions.html)
Note:   We invite you to bring your own lunch.  Chairs will be provided at the venue.  If you prefer to sit on the floor, please kindly bring your own sitting gear (meditation mat and cushion/bench).

CONTACT:  For further information on either of these events, please email us at: meditate@birken.ca

No pre-registration is required for these events.  Donations are welcome.

"The Feeling of Freedom" - An Evening Talk by Ajahn Sona
Sunday, April 29th, 7:00p.m.

LOCATION:  Orchard House Theatre: 157 Orchard St., Penticton

CONTACT:  For further information, please contact Jerome:  vastawake@live.ca / 250-462-1388.

No pre-registration is required for this event.  Donations are welcome.

Evening Talk by Ajahn Sona
Friday, April 27th, 7:00 p.m.

Meditation Retreat with Ajahn Sona
Saturday, April 28th, 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
(Please bring a food item to share for a Potluck Lunch)

LOCATION:  Kelowna Yoga House, 1272 St. Paul Street, Kelowna
http://www.kelownayogahouse.org

CONTACT:  For further information, please contact Laurie at 250-764-1022.

No pre-registration is required for these events.  Donations are welcome.

Ajahn Sona makes Sunday morning teaching visits to Kamloops approximately once a month. 

2012 'Birken in Kamloops' monthly talks are scheduled on:
-March 18
-April 15
-May 6
-June 10
-September 9
-October 21
-November 18
-December 16

For more information,  please visit:  http://birken.ca/kamloops

Contact: birkeninkamloops@gmail.com

cool mind
                warm heart
                                    green life

Dear Friends,

We are delighted to inform you that this year, Birken Forest Monastery (‘Sitavana’) is celebrating its tenth anniversary at its current location, near Kamloops, British Columbia.  Sitavana's growth and vibrancy over the past decade are testament to the vision and generosity of thousands, particularly in the Lower Mainland. To mark this occasion, Sitavana's founder and Abbot, Ajahn Sona, will inaugurate a week of activities to enable friends and newcomers in the Metro Vancouver area to share in merit and in the Dhamma – without the four-hour drive!

The Birken Forest Monastery AGM was held on Thursday, September 8, 2011 at 5:00 pm.
In attendance were all residents, Ralph & Irma West (parents of Ajahn Sona), Kanthi Randeni (our accountant and bookkeeper, as well as one of our treasurers in the early days of the Society), and guests in residence at the time.

You can download the Minutes and Financials from the meeting here:

The AGM will be held on Sept 8, 2011 at 5:00 pm at BIrken.
Anyone interested to hear reflections on the year past and plans for the upcoming year is welcome to attend.

It has been a rich & fruitful year with, of course, many changes at Birken. We take this opportunity to reflect on the contributions of the many friends and supporters who have helped to make Birken what it is today. Anumodana!