Date: May 31, 2012
Times: 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.

A special invitation! Please join Aryaloka’s Council at 6:30 p.m. on  Thursday, May 31 for an informative and lively discussion about our beloved center. This is your chance to learn about the state of our center and sangha, ask questions of our Council members, hear about current programs, and envision what Aryaloka will become! We’ll begin with informal presentations, have a break for delicious refreshments, and then have a lively discussion. It promises to be a fun, interesting and community-building event. Please plan to attend – this event is open to  the whole sangha and we hope each and every Order member, mitra and sangha member will come! Bring energy and ideas, and we promise a very good time!

	Led by:	Aryaloka Council
	Times:	6:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.
	Venue:	Aryaloka
	Registration:	No registration necessary
	Fee:	Free
	Level:	Open to all
	Directions:	Directions Page

Start Date: Saturday, May 26, 2012
End Date: Saturday, May 26, 2012

Register for this Event

Join us for a hike around Tower Hill Pond in Candia on Memorial Day weekend. This is a relatively easy hike, with gravel paths and mostly flat terrain around the pond’s edge. The entire hike is about 3 – 3.5 miles and estimated to be 1 1/2 to 2 hours long. We’ll adjust our pacing to suit the group, and stop for lunch wherever the view is best. Friends, family, and dogs are especially welcome to join us! Bring lunch, snacks, water, insect repellant and sunscreen. Unfortunately there is no swimming in the pond.

We’ll plan to hike on Saturday May 26, keeping Sunday, May 27 and Monday, May 28 reserved as back up dates in case it rains. Meet at the trail head at 11:00 AM for a relaxed late morning departure; carpooling from Aryaloka or other locations can be arranged informally closer to the time. Although there is no charge for this event, please register with the Aryaloka office so we can keep in touch about any changes in dates or times. For more information about the trail, click here: http://www.londonderrynh.net/tag/tower-hill-pond

	Led by:	Shrijnana
	Times:	11:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.
	Venue:	Tower Hill Pond
	Registration:	Registration Page
	Fee:	Free
	Level:	Orpen to All
	Directions:	Directions Page

In this issue:

• “Getting Unblocked: Working with the Five Hindrances in Meditation” by Saddhamala
• Reflections on 2011 from the Aryaloka Buddhist Center Council
• “Releasing the Butterfly: Living with Impermanence” by Ashley Davis Bush
• Movie Review: “Travelers and Musicians,” by Daniel Bush
• Tom Gaillard shows that the year’s finances end on a positive note
• Online Insight: The Best Buddhist Blogs
• New additions at Buddhaworks, the Aryaloka bookstore
• Men’s sangha spends a day with Asian culture at the Museum of Fine Arts
• Upcoming arts events at Aryaloka
• Sheila Groonell writes about the fun of contemplative movement
• Poetry from our sangha members

An Appeal for Generosity

The Aryaloka Buddhist Center is growing fast and attracting more people who want to learn about and live the Dharma. Our mission is to create the best possible conditions for you to explore, practice and share the Buddhist spiritual path for the benefit of all beings.

The annual appeal is a vital funding source for Aryaloka along with Sangha night donation, retreats and other programs. Unlike the other sources, though, the monthly pledge provides the bedrock of certainty to our monthly income, and enables us to better plan and dedicate the resources towards teaching and spreading the Dharma throughout the region.

Aryaloka is fueled by a considerable volunteer force, and for that we are deeply grateful. Income from retreats and Sangha night donations only cover a portion of the Center’s annual costs. Additional funding is still needed to pay for our small staff, utilities, building maintenance and upkeep, including meeting unexpected (and costly!) issues like squirrel control or the losses from Hurricane Irene.

Hello Aryaloka sangha!

We have a new look and lots of new and improved functionality on the latest version of the Aryaloka website. There will be an expanded presentation at some point soon, during the 25th Anniversary evening series of talks, that will go into more detail. But for the moment, here are a few spots you might want to take a look at and explore…

Events Calendar

The new events calendar allows you to see our upcoming events at a glance. Each event has a rollover that gives you a quick teaser of what it’s about, and by clicking on the event it will take you to a more detailed description. Events are also labeled with different colors to reflect the group that they are for (for instance, Introductory events are in orange).

Online Registration

An enormously useful addition to our website. You can now register AND pay for events online using our online registration system. Payments can be made by credit card or PayPal account through PayPal.

Online Donation

Again, using your credit card or PayPal account, it’s easy-peasy to make donations. You can make an ongoing pledge to our Mandala of Supporting Friends or a one-time donation. For pledges, the funds will be automatically charged and you’ll be supporting Aryaloka without ever even having to think about it.

“Life as a Buddhist” Section

Part of our ongoing efforts to inform those new to Buddhism on what it’s all about, the Life as a Buddhist section gives an overview of what Buddhist practice is, and in particular, how it’s practiced in the Triratna Buddhist Community.

Vajra Bell Online

As editor of the Vajra Bell newsletter, this is one of my favorites. Now, in addition to being able to download the Vajra Bell, you can read it online in a snazzy new format. And keep your eyes peeled for more changes coming to the newsletter… (pique your interest?)

The Web kula hopes you enjoy what we’ve put together!