Meditation Retreat

Greetings,

I hope this message finds each of you doing well. I am writing on behalf of the Georgia Buddhist Vihara to invite you to start the new year by joining community members for a special day-long vipassana (mindfulness) meditation retreat on Saturday, January 2, 2016 from 7:30am to 5pm. This one-day meditation retreat will be held on-site at the Georgia Buddhist Vihara (3153 Miller Road, Lithonia, GA 30038). This one-day retreat is a great way to strengthen and enrich your spiritual development, cultivate wholesome qualities of mind, or just to explore the benefits that mindfulness meditation has to offer. 

All meditation instructions and discussions will be conducted in English. This retreat is open to everyone - those who are new to meditation as well as those who are experienced meditators.

Following is a schedule of the day's events:

MORNING PROGRAM

7:00–7:30am - Arrive at the vihara and prepare the space for breakfast

7:30–8:00am: Observance of Refuge and the Eight Precepts and traditional Buddhist chanting

8:00–8:45am: Breakfast (as a group) and clean-up

8:45–10:00am: Guided vipassana ("mindfulness") meditation 

10:00–10:30am: Break (coffee/tea)

10:30–11:30am: Metta ("Loving-Friendliness") meditation 

11:30am–12:00pm: Preparing lunch & traditional Buddhist chanting

12:00–12:45pm:  Lunch (as a group) and clean-up

AFTERNOON PROGRAM

12:45–1:30pm: Walking meditation

1:30–2:30pm: Vipassana meditation

2:30–3:00pm: Break (coffee/tea)

3:00–4:30pm: Sutta Discussion led by Ven. Wajirabuddhi Thera. The topic of the discussion will be the Mahāhatthipadopama Sutta (The Greater Discourse on the Simile of the Elephant's Footprint) - Majjhima Nikaya #28. You can access the sutta online here - https://suttacentral.net/en/mn28 (this is the Bhikkhu Bodhi translation from Wisdom Publication's The Middle Length Discourses). Please bring a copy of the sutta to the Dhamma discussion.

4:30–5:00pm:  Conclusion - Termination of the Eight Precepts by observing the Five Precepts and concluding chanting

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PLEASE NOTE:

Participants will need to bring (1) a light breakfast food (e.g., fruits, bagels, etc.) and (2) a lunch dish (preferably vegetarian) to share with the resident monks and the retreat participants as a form of dana (offering).  It is also customary to bring flowers, candles, or incense to place on the shrine as an offering. It is traditional and customary to wear white clothing when participating in a meditation retreat, though this is not a requirement for attendance.

During this special time, please consider making a monetary donation to the vihara as a form of dana (an offering to the monastic community) so that we can continue to support the monks who make the teachings available to us and to keep the vihara open so that all people are able to practice and learn about the Dhamma.

I look forward to seeing you on Saturday, January 2 at the vihara as we bring in 2016 engaged in self-reflection and mental cultivation. I would ask that you RSVP (by email) in order to let us know that you will be joining us so we can adequately prepare for those who will be participating in the retreat. To confirm that you are planning on attending the retreat or if you have questions about our program, please feel free to contact me by email at justinhowell2112@gmail.com. 

I hope that you will be able to join us for this auspicious day. If you are unable to make this retreat, please know that we will be having regular, day-long  vipassana retreats throughout the year.  

Additionally, I would like to encourage you to join us for meditation and Dhamma discussion on Wednesday evenings from 7:00 to 9:00 pm.  

May you, your friends, and family members be well, happy, and peaceful…wishing everyone a very happy, healthy, and prosperous new year.

With metta,

Justin

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Justin Howell
Cell phone: 404.375.0264

"Live as if you were to die tomorrow.  Learn as if you were to live forever."  -M. Gandhi

"You can't lead the people if you don't LOVE the people. You can't save the people if you won't SERVE the people."  - Cornel West

Undu Vap Poya

Undu Vap  Poya Program will be observed on the Sunday, 
Dec 20, 2015 from 7:30 am to 5:30 pm at the 
Georgia Buddhist Vihara.  We invite you all to join the program.

Morning Program
7:30	–	8:30	a.m.	Observance of the eight Precepts, Buddha Puja and Heel Dana
8:30	–	8:45	a.m.	Tea & coffee break
8:45	–	10:00	a.m.	Vipassana Meditation By Ven, Panamwela Wajirabuddhi Thero
10:00	–	11:00	a.m.	Sathipattana Meditation Discussion
11:00	–	11:30	a.m.	Buddha Pooja
11:30	–	12:00	noon	Dana offering to the monks and those who observe eight precepts
12:00	–	1:00	p.m.	Luncheon
Afternoon Program
1:00	–	3:30	p.m.	Discussion (base on Abhidhamma) by Dr. Deepta Jayaratne
3:30	–	3:45	p.m.	Tea & coffee break
3.45	–	5:30	p.m.	Sutra Discussion
		5:30	p.m.	Termination of the Sil and Gilanpasa Puja

The Significance of Unduvap Poya Day

The arrival of the great Arahat Bhikkuni Sangamitta to Sri Lanka and the found chon of establishment of the order of the nuns (Bhikkuni Sasanaya) took place on Unduvap Poya Day. Further on this Unduvap Poya Day, she brought with her a sapling of the Sacred Jayasrimaha Bodhi tree from Buddhagaya. Where Prince Siddhartha attained Enlightenment. The Bo-sapling was brought to Sri Lanka from India through the Expressway or Highway constructed from Dambakola Patuna, a sea port in the North of Sri Lanka, to Anuradhapura, with all pomp and glamour with respect of honour befitting to this event. The Bo-sapling was presented to the ruler of Sri Lanka, Devanampiyatissa.

The advent of Buddhism to Sri Lanka took place on Poson Poya Day with the arrival of Arahat Mahinda, son of Emperor Asoka and the foundation for the establishment of the order of nuns began with the coming of Arahat Mahinda’s sister Arahat Sangamitta Thera to Sri Lanka.

Pretty, pleasant and charming Princess Sanghamitta at the age of 16, married a Prince namely Aggribrahama. They were blessed with a son. They named him Sumana. Emperor Asoka’s brother Prince Tissa entered the Buddhist order. He was followed by Prince Aggribrahama. After he entered the Buddhist order, the little Prince Sumana too entered the Buddhist order at the age of seven (7) years.

The turning point of Sanghamitta’s life was, that she too decided to enter the sasana as a Bhikkuni. She entered the order of nuns, under the guidance of two elderly nuns, namely Ayupali and Dhammapali. At the age of 61 years, during the reign of King Uttiya, Arahat Therani Sanghamitta passed away. Sri Lankans are ever grateful to these two Arahat Mahinda and Theri Sanghamitta, who were responsible in making Sri Lanka the “Dhammadeepa”.

These two events changed the entire course of Sri Lanka’s history. With these two significant events, there sprang up a new society, economy, culture, arts, crafts and a proud Buddhist civilization and Buddhist Literature. Mahamegha Park at Anuradhapura-Mahavihara became the citadel Buddhism, which was to be official religion of Sri Lanka. The present day the city of Anuradhapura and its ruins, the massive stupas, edifies, the tanks are a silent tribute to Arahat Mahinda and Sanghmitta Theri. No visit by an foreign delegation, envoys, diplomats has created such an impact on the lives of Sri Lankans as the visits of Arahat Mahinda and Arahat Sanghamitta. It was the dawn of a new social, cultural and spiritual revolution in the island. After Sanghamitt’s arrival, Buddhism was deeply rooted. This took place on Unduvap Poya Day, and the Buddhists pay homage to Sanghamitta specialisation this day. Anuradhapura is the centre of attraction on this Unduvap Poya Day. Many devotees observe sil at the Jayasri Maha Bodhi and Ruwanveliseya premises. (for full story)
By Premasara Epasinghe

Georgia Buddhist Vihara Katina Ceremony Pirith Chanting

Live stream at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VcyPoYRpmzU

If this link fails, please look for a new live event at the GBV YouTube home page at
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UChi0wbxm3zgglDDjpjC3qkA

Annual Katina Puja Ceremony 2015

Katina refers to the offering of  a special robe (katina civara) carefully prepared by  pious laity and presented by them to monks who have completed the three-month period of retreat called Vas in Sinhala and Vassana in Pali (literally, ‘the period of rain’).  Katina literally means ‘firm’ or ‘solid,’ as the offering of a Katina robe helps one to earn good, solid karma. The Katina Ceremony has a history spanning more than 2500 years.  A special element of the Katina robe offering   is that it is not offered to an individual monk, but to the entire community of Sangha; to all noble disciples of the Buddha --  and not only to enlightened ones, but also to those monks yet to be enlightened.  

The Katina robe can be offered only during a specified period at the end of the rains retreat, between the full-moon day of October and the full-moon day of November. It is a monastic tradition long preserved and observed by Buddhists all over the world, and is highly revered as a unique, once-yearly opportunity to acquire merit. Georgia Buddhist Vihara will celebrate Kathina on 6 and 7th days of November (below is the full program). This year Kathina Pinkama is sponsored by devout devotee; Deeptha and Taniya jayaratne family. You are invited to attend this meritorious Pinkama.

SCHEDULE FOR FRIDAY & SATURDAY NOVEMBER 6TH & 7TH

Friday November 6, 2015
Sil program from 7:30 am  TO 5:00 pm
3:30 - 5:00 pm	Dhamma Discussion by a Panel of Ven, Thero
6:00 - 7:00 pm	Atavisi Buddha Puja conducted by ( Ven. Pallebage Chndrasiri Thero)
7:00 - 8:00 pm	Dinner for devotees.
8:00 - 8.30 pm	·    Procession for pirith chanting ·    Commencement of chanting with a short admonition/ observance of precepts/ invitation to all deities.
All night chanting (Pirith Deshanawa)
Saturday  November 7, 2015
7.00 am	Buddha Pujawa
7.30 am	Pindapata Sangika Heel Dana  (breakfast)
8.00 am	Breakfast for devotees
9.00 am	The procession starts at the new parking lot and heading on to the Vihara pathway to main preaching hall with Buddhist flags and Robe. All are invited for this parade to carry the Katina Robe make use of this rare occasion.
9.30 am	Offering of Kathina Robe by devout Dayaka. Taniya and Deeptha Jayaratne family and spiritual friends.
10.15  am	Katinanisansa Dhamma Talk 11:00 amConclusion of Katina Ceremony.

බලන් සබඳ ඒ මුණි තෙද අසිරිය..

ඉතින් අපේ ගෞතම සම්මා සම්බුදුරජාණන්වහන්සේ බුද්ධත්වය ලබා ගත් පසු තමා ගේ මවු තුමියට කෙළෙහි ගුණ දැක්වීම සදහා එතුමියව සතර අපායෙන් මුදවා ගැනීම සදහා ශ්‍රි සද්ධර්මය දේශනා කිරීම සදහා තවුතිසා දිව්‍ය​ ලෝකයට වැඩම කොට මාතෘ දෙව් පුත් හට අභිධර්මය දේශනා කොට තුන් මසක් තවුතිසා දිව්‍ය​ ලෝකයේ වස් වැස, වස් අවසානයේදී නැවත මෙම ලෝකයට වැඩම කරන ලද්දේ සංකස්ස පුරයටයි. මෙම අවස්ථාව ‘ලෝක විවරණය’ යන නමිනුත් හැඳින්වෙනවා. එයට හේතුව නම් බුදුරජාණන්වහන්සේ දෙව්-බඹුන් පිරිවරාගෙන​ මේ පොළෝ තළයට වැඩම කරන අවස්ථාව එතනට රැස් වූ සියලුම මිනිසුන් හට දැක ගැනීමට අවස්ථාව උදා වෙනවා. ඉතින් මේ අවස්ථාව ඉතාම දුර්ලභ​ව මිනිසුන් හට දැකගන්න ලැබෙන්නෙ. ඉතාම ආශ්චර්යමත් වූත් අත්භූත වූත් අවස්ථාවක්. බුදුරජාණන්වහන්සේ පොළොවට වැඩම කරන්නේ තමන්වහන්සේ ගේ ඉර්ධි බලයෙන් මවාගත් රත්‍රනින් හා මැණික් වලින් නිර්මිත පියගැට පෙලක් මතිනුයි. මීට යාබදව දෙපසින් තවත් රන් හා රිදී පියගැට පේළි දෙකකුත් තිබෙනවා. එකක් දෙවියන් සඳහා. අනෙක බඹුන් සඳහා. මේ අවස්ථාවේදී බුදුරජාණන්වහන්සේට පුදපුජා කරමින් පන්ච තූර්ය වදනය කරමින් උන්වහන්සේ හට චාමර සේසත් ධ​ජ ප්‍රතාක වලින් උපහාර පුදපුජා කරමින් ශ්‍රක්‍ර දෙව් ඇතුලු සියලු දෙව් පිරිස බුදුරජාණන්වහන්සේ පිටුපසින් පැමිනෙන ආකරය සියලුම මිනිසුන්හට දැකගන්න අවස්ථාව ලැබෙනවා. බුදුරජාණන්වහන්සේ තමන්වහන්සේ ගේ අපරිමිත වූ ඉර්ධි බලයෙන් මේ ලෝකයේ මිනිසුන් හට ඒ සියල්ල දර්ශනය වීමට සළස්වනවා.

ඉතින් එදා ලෝක විවරණය සිදු කළාවූ අවස්ථාවේ දී සුවිශේෂි සිදුවීම් කීපයකුත් සිදු වුනා. එක් සිදුවීමක් තමා අනාගතයේ මිනිසුන් ගේ ආයුෂ අවුරුදු අසූදාහ දක්වා වැඩි වූ විට මේ මහා භද්‍ර​ කල්පයේ පස්වනුව​ ලොව​ පහළවන මෛත්‍රි බුදුරජාණන්වහන්සේ අවසන් වරට නියත​ විවරණ ලැබුවේත් බුද්ධත්වයට පත්වීමට පෙර අවසාන වරට පැවිදි බව ලැබුවේත් ඒ අවස්ථාවේ දී. ගෞතම බුද්ධ ශාසනයේ ප්‍රඥාවන්ත​ භික්ෂුන් වහන්සේලා අතරින් අග්‍ර වූ සාරිපුත්ත මහරහතන්වහන්සේ ට එම අගතනතුර අපගේ ගෞතම බුදුරජාණන්වහන්සේ විසින් ප්‍රදානය කරන ල​ද්දේත් එදා.

ඉතින් එදා එතනට රැස් වෙච්ච දෙව් මිනිසුන් දස දහස් ගණ​නින් මාර්ග​ ඵල අවබෝධය කරා. එතනට රැස් වෙච්ච අතිවිශාල භික්ෂු සංඝයා වහන්සේ ලා උතුම් වූ අරහත්වය සාක්ෂාත් කළා. ඉතින් බලන්න අපගේ ගෞතම බුදුරජාණන්වහන්සේ විසින් ලෝක විවරණය සිදු කල ඒ දවස කොතරම් ආශ්චර්යමත් ද කියල.

ඉතින් අපි හැමෝම දෙව් මිනිසුන්ගේ එකම ශාස්තෘන් වහන්සේ වන අපගේ මහා මුනිරජාණන්වහන්සේ ලෝකයේ දෙව් මිනිසුන් වෙත පතළ මහ කරුණාවෙන් ලෝක විවරණය සිදු කළා වූ ඒ ආශ්චර්යමත් අත්භුත වූ අවස්ථාව සිහි කරගෙන අපගේ සිත් ඒ කෙරේ පහදවාගෙන කුසල් සිතම වඩමු. අනන්ත වූ අප්‍රමාණ වූ බුදු ගුණම සිහි කරමු.

ඔබ සැමට තෙරුවන් සරණ වේවා…….

උතුම් වු ඒ අමා නිවන් සුවම ලබත්වා!!!

http://dhammamedicine.net/2009/12/10/munitheda-asiriya/

Sign Up for Atavisi Buddha Puja

Dear Devotees & Friends,

Participating in Atavisi Buddha Puja during this rainy season retreat
will bring you special merits to make your path to Nirvana
pleasurable and quicker with right intentions associated with wisdom.
As this opportunity is made for you, please take advantage of it,
as our life is very short and
extremely fragile.
Please click on the
link: http://goo.gl/forms/vSN2AvxWmz to sign up
 and go to: http://www.gavihara.org/p/katina.html to see your responses been recorded.

Also Dana Sponsorship during this "Rainy Season Retreat" is
also available at the bottom on this page: http://www.gavihara.org/p/katina.html.

We truly appreciate all your support during this special time.

With gratitude,

Katina Coordinators.

Contribution Signup Sheet

Nikini Poya

Nikini  Poya Program will be observed on the Sunday, 
August  23rd, 2015 from 7:30 am to 5:30 pm at the 
Georgia Buddhist Vihara.  We invite you all to join the program.

Please sign up for the program
Check out who is coming!!!! 

Morning Program
7:30	–	8:30	a.m.	Observance of the eight Precepts, Buddha Puja and Heel Dana
8:30	–	8:45	a.m.	Tea & coffee break
8:45	–	10:00	a.m.	Vipassana Meditation By Ven, Panamwela Wajirabuddhi Thero
10:00	–	11:00	a.m.	Sathipattana Meditation Discussion
11:00	–	11:30	a.m.	Buddha Pooja
11:30	–	12:00	noon	Dana offering to the monks and those who observe eight precepts
12:00	–	1:00	p.m.	Luncheon
Afternoon Program
1:00	–	3:30	p.m.	Discussion (base on Abhidhamma) by Dr. Deepta Jayaratne
3:30	–	3:45	p.m.	Tea & coffee break
3.45	–	5:30	p.m.	Sutra Discussion
		5:30	p.m.	Termination of the Sil and Gilanpasa Puja

Meditation (Monthly) Retreat

Greetings,

I hope this message finds each of you doing well. I am writing on behalf of the Georgia Buddhist Vihara to invite you to the next vipassana (mindfulness) meditation retreat on Saturday, July 18, 2015 from 7:30am to 5pm. This one-day, monthly meditation retreat will be held on-site at the Georgia Buddhist Vihara (3153 Miller Road, Lithonia, GA 30038). For this retreat, all meditation instructions and discussions will be conducted in English. This retreat is open to everyone - those who are new to meditation as well as those who are experienced meditators.

Below is a tentative schedule of the day's events:

MORNING PROGRAM

7:00–7:30am - Arrive at the vihara and prepare the space for breakfast

7:30–8:00am: Observance of Refuge and the Eight Precepts and traditional Buddhist chanting

8:00–8:45am: Breakfast (as a group) and clean-up

8:45–10:00am: Guided vipassana ("mindfulness") meditation 

 
10:00–10:30am: Break (coffee/tea)

10:30–11:30am: Metta ("Loving-Friendliness") meditation 

11:30am–12:00pm: Preparing lunch & traditional Buddhist chanting

12:00–12:45pm:  Lunch (as a group) and clean-up

AFTERNOON PROGRAM

12:45–1:30pm: Walking meditation

1:30–2:30pm: Vipassana meditation

2:30–3:00pm: Break (coffee/tea)

3:00–4:30pm: Sutta Discussion led by Ven. Wajirabuddhi Thera. The topic of the discussion will be the Cūḷahatthi­padopamaSutta (The Shorter Discourse on the Simile of the Elephant's Footprint) - Majjhima Nikaya #27. You can access the sutta that will be used for the discussion online here - https://suttacentral.net/en/mn27 (this is the Bhikkhu Bodhi translation from Wisdom Publication's The Middle Length Discourses). Please print out a copy of the sutta and bring it to the Dhamma discussion.

4:30–5:00pm:  Termination of the Retreat: Observance of the Five Precepts and concluding chanting

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

PLEASE NOTE:

Participants will need to bring (1) a light breakfast food (e.g., fruits, bagels, etc.) and (2) a lunch dish (preferably vegetarian) to share with the resident monks and the retreat participants as a form of dana (offering).  It is also customary to bring flowers, candles, or incense to place on the shrine as an offering. It is traditional and customary to wear white clothing when participating in a meditation retreat, though this is not a requirement for attendance.

During this special time, please consider making a monetary donation to the vihara as a form of dana (an offering to the monastic community) so that we can continue to support the monks who make the teachings available to us and to keep the vihara open so that all people are able to practice and learn about the Dhamma.

I look forward to seeing you on Saturday, July 18 at the vihara.  I would ask that you RSVP (by email) in order to let us know that you will be joining us so we can adequately prepare for those who will be participating in the retreat. To confirm that you are planning on attending the retreat or if you have questions about our program, please feel free to contact me by email (justinhowell2112@gmail.com). 

I hope that you will be able to join us for this day of quiet contemplation, meditation, and sutta study. If you are unable to make this retreat, please know that we will be having regular, day-long vipassana retreats throughout the year. Additionally, I would like to encourage you to join us for meditation, sutta study, and Dhamma discussion on Wednesday evenings from 7:00 to 9:00 pm.  

May you, your friends, and family members be well, happy, and peaceful…

With metta,

Justin

========================================
Justin Howell
Cell phone: 404.375.0264

QUEEN MAHĀ MĀYĀ’S DREAM

A long time ago in India, there lived a king named Suddhodana and a queen named Mahā Māyā. One full moon night on moth of July, the Queen dreamt of four guardian devas (deities) carried her with the soft bed where she is sleeping, to the Lake Anotatta in the Himalayan Mountain Range. The the maids clothed her in heavenly cloths, anointed her with perfumes, and bedecked her with divine flowers. A white baby elephant (baby tusker) holding a white lotus flower in its trunk went round her three times and entering her womb through her right side of the abdomen. The dream came to an end and the Queen was suddenly awakened. 

Wise men explained that the Queen was going to give birth to a prince. "A great joy is to be yours, O' king, O' queen. A son will be born to you, distinguished by the favor of the Gods. If, one day, he should renounce royalty, leave the palace, cast love aside; if, seized with compassion for the worlds, he should live the wandering life of a monk, he will deserve marvelous praise, he will richly deserve magnificent gifts. He will be adored by the worlds, for he will give them that which they hunger after. O' master, O' mistress, your son will be a Buddha!"