The Lord Of Mindfulness

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Retreat With The Buddha

For More of Dillon's Thought: Lord of Mindfulness

Bak Poya

Bak Poya Program will be observed on the Sunday, April26th, 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

GBV Monthly Retreat

On behalf of the Georgia Buddhist Vihara I invite you to the next vipassana (mindfulness) meditation retreat on Saturday, April 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 Ariyapariyesana Sutta (The Noble Search Discourse) - Majjhima Nikaya #26. You can access the sutta that will be used for the discussion online here: http://suttacentral.net/en/mn26 (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

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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, April 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

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Justin Howell
Cell phone: 404.375.0264

Youth Retreat and Ordination

Dear devotees, supporters, and friends,

I am writing to share details about two special events that will be taking place at the Georgia Buddhist Vihara this spring. First, we will be conducting the youth retreat this year starting at 7pm on wensday  June 3rd  until 6pm on Sunday, Jun 7. This annual event will be open to anyone between the ages of 12 and 19 years old.

Each year, we have adults volunteer to assist the monastics with chaperoning the youth retreat. This year, we have decided to provide adults the opportunity to assist with the youth retreat and then continue in retreat for the week following the youth retreat. During this time, the monastics of the Georgia Buddhist Vihara are offering anyone 15 years old and older the opportunity to temporarily ordain for this period of time to deepen one's experience of the Dhamma and to generate positive merit. The adult temporary ordination and extended retreat will  begin at 7pm on Friday, May 29 and will continue until 6pm on Sunday, June 7.

During both retreats, participants will reside on the Vihara's premises and undertake group and individual meditation practice as well as engage in Dhamma study and discussions. I will make the details and daily schedule for each of these retreats available in the near future. I wanted to inform you of the dates of these opportunities as you begin planning your spring events.

Again, I ask that you please inform us as soon as possible if you or a family member will be attending either of these events so that we may plan to accommodate those who are interested in participating. Please sign up here: http://1drv.ms/1cRZajF

I hope that you and your family will be able to take advantage of these two retreats.

May you and your friends and loved ones be well, happy, and peaceful.

With Metta,
Ven. Wajirabuddhi Thera

Sri Lankan New Year Celebration 2015

Every year Sri Lanka celebrates the Sinhala and Tamil New Year which falls on the 13th or 14th of April The Sri Lankan New Year is a time where family and friends come together to celebrate and participate in traditional events associated with the beginning of a new year. There are many different events that are carried out at auspicious times during this festive season. Boiling milk over a clay pot signifies the welcoming of the New Year. The New Year festivities commence with the traditional lighting of the oil lamp. Gifts such as new clothes and money are exchanged and the entire family gathers around the dining table where traditional food such as kiribath (milk rice) and other delicacies are shared. Activities such as pin the tail on the elephant, sack race and tug of war are some of the games that are enjoyed by both the young and the old during the New Year celebrations.

On behalf of the Georgia Buddhist Vihara and Sri Lankan Community in Georgia, We wish all our friends and well-wishers a very happy Sinhala & Tamil New Year and cordially invite you all to the Sinhala & Tamil New Year Celebrations at 10.00 A.M. on Saturday 11th April 2015 at the Georgia Buddhist Vihara, Lithonia GA. To view of auspicious time click here

Agenda:

10.00 am Arrival

11.00 am Buddha Puja
11.30 am Dana for the Maha Sangha

12.00 nn  Lunch for laity

01.00 pm Celebration Assembly Lighting the traditional oil lamp and Pirth Desana.
01.30 pm Sigiti avurudu: singing by Sunday school children

• Traditional New-year Games
• Bursting balloons (Children)
• Bun eating competition (Children)
• Placing the eye on the elephant (Adults)
• Ow, Na, Ba (open)
• Musical chairs (Children)
• Musical chairs (Female)
• Musical chairs (Male)
• Running in sacks (Children)
• Running in sacks (Adults)
• Pacing with a lime on a spoon (Adults)
• Insert the thread through the eye of the needle (couple)
• and many more traditional events....
• Presenting awards to children

Anumodana

Join us for a day filled with traditional  food and  games.   
If you know of anyone who has not received this email please forward it to them.

All are welcome .....

• Please signup for food items.
• Please signup for games & activities.

Following food menu has been suggested and any variations are welcome. Those who are interested may also bring curries to go with rice for Dana & lunch for guests. Expected turn out is 100. Three families can share bringing each food item.