Annual Report 2006

Triple Gem of the North
Annual Report 2008

Triple Gem of the North was established in 2003 as a non-profit organization dedicated to the study and practice of the Buddha’s teachings. Our lead teacher, Bhante Sathi, and visiting monks teach meditation classes, give special talks, conduct retreats, and perform ceremonies. Triple Gem hosts educational and cultural events and occasionally does fundraising for humanitarian causes.

Triple Gem of the North has established a Meditation Center (Monks’ Residence) in Mankato, MN. In the beginning of 2008 the Mankato Meditation Center was located and a rented duplex. This year a sangha member, Bob Coughlan, donated the use of his house for the time being. It is a spacious and beautiful house in a quiet neighborhood.

Triple Gem of the North continues to hold weekly meditation classes Monday and Wednesday evenings in Mankato, Tuesday evenings at Gustavus Adolphus College in St. Peter, MN, and Saturday mornings in Chanhassen, MN. Bimonthly meditation classes are held at Carleton College in Northfield, MN. This year Bhante Sathi also began a meditation class in Minnetonka and Stillwater, MN. The meditation classes are taught by Bhante Sathi or a visiting teacher. On Tuesday nights a sangha member, Sarah Schmidt, teaches yoga at the Monks’ Residence.

On January 31^st Bhante Sathi gave a Dhamma talk at Carleton College in Northfield, MN. He continued to teach a meditation class at Carleton on a biweekly basis. The class was available to students for credit.

In February Bhante Sathi gave a Dhamma talk at the Unitarian Universalist Church in Rochester, MN.

On March 1^st Bhante Sathi lead a Meditation Retreat in Chanhassen, MN. The following day he lead a Sunday Service at Carleton College. He also began teaching the second level for the Buddhist Certificate Program he began in 2007. Upon completing this level, students received certificates establishing their qualification as Buddhist Teachers. On March 8^th-9^th Bhante Sathi traveled to Oklahoma to help lead a retreat at the Oklahoma Buddhist Center. The following weekend he led a retreat in Pennsylvania at the request of a Triple Gem member who had moved to the East Coast. On the 27^th he led a retreat at Immanuel-St. Joseph’s Hospital in Mankato, MN.

Because Bhante Sathi and many of our members are from Sri Lanka, Triple Gem celebrated the Sri Lankan New Year in Mankato on April 13^th. Another cultural event followed on the 26^th with a Sri Lankan Dinner held at the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Mankato. The dinner was a fundraiser for Triple Gem. Volunteers cooked traditional Sri Lankan curry and dessert and provided entertainment.

The month of May brought Vesak season. On May 3^rd Bhante Sathi traveled to Illinois to attend the Vesak celebration of the Blue Lotus Buddhist Vihara. Triple Gem held its own Vesak celebration on May 10^th at Gustavus Adolphus College in St. Peter, MN. Students at Gustavus organized the event. A spiritual celebration of Vesak followed on May 24^th with a retreat at the Phat-An Temple in Roseville, MN. Bhante Sathi conducted the retreat.

In June Bhante Punna took over responsibilities at the Mankato Meditation Center while Bhante Sathi went home to Sri Lanka for a visit. Bhante Punna stayed until July.

On July 20^th Bhante Sathi led a retreat in Mankato. On the 27^th there was a community potluck.

On August 2^nd Bhante Sathi gave a special Dhamma talk on Death. On the 10^th he attended a retreat in Northfield to give a Dhamma talk. On August 16^th Triple Gem sponsored a Full Moon Peace Walk. On August 30^th Triple Gem sponsored a retreat in Roseville.

September brought the move to our new temporary location at 26 Sumner Hill. Bhante Sathi held the first meditation class at the new location. Bhante Piyaratana visited Mankato for the Blessing ceremony for the new location. On September 21^st Triple Gem held its annual Thank You Lunch for the Sangha at the Mankato Meditation Center. We finished moving into the new location the following day. On September 26^th Bhante Sathi visited a class at Central High School. Also, on September 26^th Bhante Sathi started a new weekly meditation group in Stillwater, MN.

The first weekend of October Bhante Gunaratana, author of Mindfulness: In Plain English, visited Mankato to conduct a weekend retreat at the Mankato Monks’ Residence On the 12^th Mary Jo Meadow visited the Mankato Monks’ Residence to give a Dhamma talk. On the 17^th Bhante Sathi started a new weekly meditation class at The Marsh in Minnetonka. The 20^th he visited KTOE radio station and the 27^th he made another visit to the School.

As usual, November brought the end of the monks’ Vassana retreat, marking the time for Katina ceremonies. November 1^st Bhante Sathi attended the Katina ceremony in Oklahoma and helped lead a retreat the following day. In the beginning of this month the Monday night meditation class was moved to the First Congressional United Church of Christ in Mankato. The Mankato Katina ceremony was held the 9^th. On October 23^rd Bhante Sathi conducted a Metta retreat in Mankato.

On December 6^th Bhante Sathi conducted a half-day retreat at Mahtomedi, MN. On December 27^th Bhante Sathi conducted a retreat at Phat An Temple in Roseville, MN.

This fall we were blessed with the presence of a new monk, Bhante Yassasi, from Sri Lanka. He is currently living at the Monks’ Residence in Mankato.

Triple Gem’s monthly newsletter, Insight, continued to be published through 2008. The Triple Gem website continues to be updated at www.triplegem.org.

View Annual Report 2007