Wesak 2017

                 Georgia Buddhist Vihara wishes you a happy and a peaceful Vesak

Our annual Wesak program celebrates three events of the utmost significance in the life of prince Siddhartha who became a Buddha – His Birth, his attainment of Enlightenment, and his passing away. Georgia Buddhist Vihara warmly invites you to be a part of the triple commemoration. Wesak full moon day has been for centuries regarded as the Buddha Day. For it was on a Wesak full moon day, that the Sakyan prince Siddhartha Gautama was born, in Lumbini Park, on the frontier of Nepal, attained Enlightenment, under the Bodhi tree in Gaya, and passed away in Kusinara. The Buddhists all over the world celebrate with devotion the Triple Anniversary of Wesak. To a true follower of the Buddha, there is no greater day than Wesak Poya which also symbolizes peace, love, compassion and piety. 

  

7.30 am	Observance of the Eight Precepts, for both adult and young; Buddha Pooja and Heel Dana
8-30am	Wesak Dhamma Deshana
9-30am	Bhāvanā/Blood Drive
11-00am	Buddha Pūjāva
11-20am	Dana offering to the monks and those who observe eight precepts.
12-00 noon	Luncheon
1-.2pm	Dhamma  Q & A session 1-1.30 for children by Bhante Buddhi Thero
2:00 - 3:00 pm	Talk & Slide presentation/ Q & A session, Abhidhamma (English) - Dr. Deeptha Jayaratne
3:00-4:00pm	Bhavana for young/children mindful activities/Sutra Discussion; MN 06 - Akankeya sutta
4:00 pm	Wesak Bhakthi Geetha and certificate presentation for Dhamma School (Dhaham Pasala)    Please see below agenda for  Dhamma school Wesak day program starting at 4.00pm. 1. Welcome -    Nevinka and Lisanga 2  " Serivanija Jathaka - Drama    3  Bathi gee   -  Savana Kodithuwakku 4  Bathi Gee - Suranika Galhena 5  " Vessantara Jathaka - Drama 6. Bathi Gee - Nisal Rajapakse 7. Buddhist talk - Thai Nguyen 8  Mahasara Jathaka - Drama 9  Bathi gee - Suranika Galhena 10 presentation of certificates Inauguration of newly established Moonstone and candle holder (pahan Weta) Please note: We are doing a school supply drive for kids in SL. If you would like to donate please bring the items to the temple on or before may 10th.( please share this with your friends )  Most needed items. Note; Monetary donations are welcome to avoid the shipping and customs cost) Colored Pencils - ( 12count ) Box of Crayons - ( 24 counts) Eraser Caps Pencils pencil sharpeners book bags rulers Please bring flowers for Evening Buddha Pooja.

Monthly Retreat

 I am writing on behalf of the Georgia Buddhist Vihara to invite you to the next day-long vipassana (mindfulness meditation) retreat on Saturday, April 22, 2016 from 7:30am to 5pm. This one-day meditation retreat will be held at the Georgia Buddhist Vihara (3153 Miller Road, Lithonia, GA 30038). A one-day retreat setting is a great way to start your exploration of meditation practice, strengthen and enrich your existing spiritual practice, explore meditation practices from the Theravada Buddhist tradition, and explore firsthand the benefits of mindfulness meditation. 

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

The following is a tentative schedule of the day's events:

MORNING PROGRAM

7:00–7:30am - Arrive and prepare the vihara for the day’s activities

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

8:00–9:00am: Breakfast (as a group) and clean-up

9:00–10:00am: 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 sutta/teaching that will be discussed is the Cūḷasaccaka Sutta (The Shorter Discourse to Saccaka), Majjhima Nikaya #35. You can access the sutta online here - http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/mn/mn.035.than.html. Please print and 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  

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PLEASE NOTE:

Participants are asked to contribute (i) a light breakfast food (e.g., fruits, bagels, etc.) and (ii) a lunch dish (preferably vegetarian) to share with the resident monks and the retreat participants. It is common practice to bring flowers, candles, or incense to place on the shrine as an offering – you may do so if you wish. It is also customary in the Theravadan tradition for those observing the eight precepts to wear white clothing to signify purification of morality, though this is not a requirement for attendance.

During this special time, please consider making a monetary donation to the vihara as a way of helping to support the resident monks who make the teachings available and to keep the vihara open so that all people are able to practice and learn the Dhamma.

We look forward to seeing you on Saturday, April 22. I request 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 this program or other programs offered by the Georgia Buddhist Vihara, 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 have regular, day-long vipassana retreats throughout the year. Additionally, I would encourage you to join the community for meditation instruction and Dhamma discussion on Wednesday evenings from 7:00 to 9:30 pm.  

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

With metta,

Justin

Sri Lankan New Year Celebration 2017

Every year Sri Lanka celebrates the New Year which falls on the 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 and the prosperity as well. 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 Sri Lankan New Year Celebrations at 10.00 A.M. on Saturday 15th April 2017 at the Georgia Buddhist Vihara, Lithonia GA.

Agenda:

10.00 am Arrival

11.00 am Buddha Puja11.30 am Dana for the Maha Sangha12.00 nn  Lunch for laity
01.00 pm Celebration Assembly Lighting the traditional oil lamp and Pirth Desana. 
01.30 pm Sigiti avurudu:  Performing  by Sunday school children

Please Sign Up :
www.SignUpGenius.com/go/4090C4AA9AA22A1FF2-sinhala

For Games:

www.SignUpGenius.com/go/4090C4AA9AA22A1FF2-newyear