Lokuttara Vihara - Skiptvet Skogskloster TV interview

NRK short interview with the monks and laypeople at Lokuttara Vihara - Skiptvet Skogskloster (14-11-2017)
Transcribed and translated from the original Norwegian:
The forest outside of Meiribyen Skiptvet is the location of the only Buddhist forest monastery in Norway. The monks are not allowed to earn or handle money or do cooking, they are totally dependent on alms to survive.
(monks come walking)
Forest monks doing their traditional walk with their alms bowls on their way to receive the daily almsfood.
Ole Henry has come here from Sarpsborg to feed his Buddhist friends which he does several times each week.
Ole Henry: I am participating in the daily pindapata where the monks walk around and receive the food offerings.
This Buddhist forest monastery, which is the only one of its kind in the Nordic countries, was established in Skiptvet two years ago. Here the monks are living an ascetic life of celibacy. They are not allowed to earn or handle money, not allowed to own anything, to get clothing or food for themselves or to cook food. Everything is based on gifts and voluntary work from good helpers.
Ajahn Kalyano: This is to allow us to focus in on the practice of meditation. And then with what we learn from that we offer to others as a way of gaining a living, but we don't actually charge for anything we do.
Jonatan is 32 years old and (something between) half layperson and half monk.
Jonatan: Then we have those meditation cushions.
He gave up his life with a stable job and a girlfriend in Gothenburg and found the inner peace he was searching for here.
Jonatan: It was like a calling to search for this inner peace instead of the outer more material peace.
For the monks who belong to the Thai forest tradition the closeness to nature is important. The monastery offers free stay for all that wish for peace and quiet.
The monks are from England, Czech Republic, France and Sweden and feel that they have been well received by the local population in Skiptvet.
Samanera Titthankaro: In the beginning we sure looked a bit odd when we first came, but everyone's really friendly, it is very pleasant and a good atmosphere in Skiptvet.
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