Bhante Yogavacara Rahula

Tuesday, February 26, 2013

The Rio Buddha Vihara

Sunrise from the meditation deck at the Rio Buddha Vihara

Hi Friends,

I am now staying at the Buddha Vihara in Rio De Janeiro until May 15th. It is very warm here south of the equator. There is a small but enthusiastic group of Brasilians who are living at this Vihara which is in the area called Santa Teresa perched on the side of a mountain not far from the famous statue of ``Christ the Redeemer``. As the photo shows it commands the classic view of the iconic Sugar Loaf rock towering over the Guanabara Bay.
I have already conducted their annual `Carnival retreat` held for the first time at the newly renovated and expanded vihara. And last night a group of 12 held a meditation on the Beach near Ipanema. It was stil 75 degrees F at 9 pm.
A few days ago Ven. Piyadhammo from Wat Sacca in Berlin was also here. He had been staying here since December 28th. And Ven. Mudito, a native Brasillian bhikkhu was also visiting here for several days. So there was a record three Theravada bhikkhus here at the Vihara for the first time ever. The Brasillian upasakas emphasized that point.

This Buddha Vihara was first built and opened in 1972 by a Sri Lankan monk named Anuruddha. In the nineties and until 2003 a Sri Lankan bhikkhu named Ven. Vipassi lived here. Bhante Henepola Gunaratana had come here several times during that time to teach the Dhamma and meditation. It is maintained and run by the Sociedade Budista Brasil or SBB. Nowadays no one monk resides here. They invite different non-Brasillian bhikkhus to come teach and lead their annual Carnival retreat usuially once a year during January-March. This is the sixth year that I have come to Brasil since 1996.
Currently there is only one bhikkhu from Brasil in the Theravada sangha, Ven Mudito. But he is still undergoing his further training in Thailand and does not stay in Brasil. Three young men are currently preparing to go to Thailand to get ordained at Wat Pah Nanachat so that someday there will be a sangha of native Brasillians speaking Portuguese to help lead the Brasillian Buddhists in their study and practice of the Dhamma. And this Vihara will probably grow to be the hub of the Theravada monastic sangha in Brasil.

The sala: below is the main shrine room and just above is the female dormitary.

Male dormitary with the new meditation deck above

The new monk´s kuti

View to the right:classic Rio

View to the left: greater Rio

Discussion with Ven. Piyadhammo

The core group of Upasakas

The Corcavado mountain with the Statue of Christ

A crane comes to breakfast on the fish in the pond

A stroll on Ipanema Beach with Ven. Piyadhammo. Dois Irmãos mountains are in the background

Looking across an unusually deserted Ipanema Beach towards Arpoador

Three bhikkhu watching sunrise at Arpoador point

The new meditation deck

Scenes from the retreat

The offering of the noon meal

Breakfast with a view

For more photos from Rio click this link:https://picasaweb.google.com/sbbcursos/TresMongesTheravadaNoBrasilFev2013

Friday, January 25, 2013

Back in Brasil-Belo Horizonte

Back in Brasil-View from Ouro Preto

Hi Friends,
After spending two nights in airports, I arrived in Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brasil.
Because of Impermanence, my flight from Tallahassee to Maimi was cancelled and I missed my connection from Miami to Rio De Janeiro. I had to stay overnight in Miami airport and get the next morning flight. That made me miss the connection from Rio to Belo Horizonte so I had to spend another sleepless night in the Galeão airport in Rio De Janeiro. The travails of flying.
Belo Horizonte is in the state of Minas Gerais and located about 500 kilometers from Rio De Janeiro. I was hosted by Luciana and Helio, members of the same Amigos De Dhamma Buddhist group that had hosted my five visits in Belo H. over the past 15 years.
I had two days of R&R from the long journey and then gave two public talks in two different Yoga centers and then we had a weekend retreat held in a Catholic Nuns Monastery attended by twenty-seven persons.

Public talk at a Yoga center

The translator into Portuguese

Weekend retreat at Asilo São Luiz-40 kms from Belo Horizonte

Tying on the 'blessing string' at the end of the retreat

15 year old boy was youngest participant

After the retreat Luciana, Elio, and their son, Miguel took me for a two day visit to Lavras Novas and Ouro Preto. These towns are situated in the high mountainous country more 90 kms from Belo Horizonte.
At Lavras Novas we stayed in the country house of Ludmila, a member of the Buddhist group. The next morning we took a few hours walk to an area with a stream and natural pools and waterfalls.
In the afternoon we visited Ouro Preta, which means, Black Gold. It refers to the abundance of Gold that was and still is mined in the area. Ouro Preta was the first capital of Minas Gerais back in the 18th century before the capital was moved to Belo Horizonte. The meaning of Minas |Gerais is, General Mines. The state has many mines for various gems, minerals and ioron ore. When you fly over the state you can see many gaping holes of bare earth gouged out of the lush green hills.

Approaching Lavras Novas high in the mountains

Entrance sign with unique cow

Twin houses of Ludmila and her twin sister Isabela

Meditation before sunset

Area where we walked the next morning

Entrance to the trail

Looking back up to the houses

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Returning

The end---of the walk

Views from Ouro Preta

Pico do Itacolomi-Iconic landmark above Ouro Preto

A few of the thirteen old churches in and around Ouro Preto

Nossa Senhora do Pilar-Our Lady of the Pillar Church
we took a guided tour of this church in the middle of the town

Igreja de São Francisco

Museum in the main square

Before leaving Belo Horizonte Fátima and her husband, Walfredo, took me to visit Inhotim. This is a large park area with beautiful gardens and many modern art pavillions and open air displays. It is located about 90 kilometers outside of Belo Horizonte in the city of Brumadinho.