Monthly Retreat

On behalf of the Georgia Buddhist Vihara to invite you to the next day-long vipassana (mindfulness) meditation retreat on Saturday, May 27 from 7:30am to 5pm. This one-day meditation retreat will be held 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 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 Mahāsaccaka Sutta (The Greater Discourse on Saccaka) found in the Majjhima Nikaya, discourse #34. You can access the sutta online here - https://suttacentral.net/en/mn36. 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, May 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 be having 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 9:00 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

"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

Annual Youth Retreat 2017

Devotees and Friends of the Georgia Buddhist Vihara,

We are happy to announce the dates for the Georgia Buddhist Vihara's 6th annual youth retreat. This year's youth retreat will begin at 7:30 pm on Thursday, June 8 with a brief orientation for all participants and conclude on the afternoon of, Sunday, June 11. This is an excellent opportunity for young people to spend dedicated time learning about self-discipline, meditation, Buddhist teachings, and the Buddhist tradition. Young people will learn through first-hand experience the benefits of following the Buddhist path through a period of focused learning and practice.  

The retreat is open to any young person between the ages of 12 and 25 years old. If you are interested in registering for the youth retreat or learning more about the retreat, please contact the Georgia Buddhist Vihara at gbvihara@gmail.com or 770 987 8442.

Please download the application for the GBV 2017.

Georgia Buddhist Youth  Retreat    

(June 8,9,10 & 11)

Orientation and Precepts

Brief Orientation begins 
On June 8 (Thursday) at 7.30 pm 

Daily Schedule

• 5:00–5:30am – Wake Up, Coffee/Tea.


• 5:30–6:30 – Group Meditation


• 6:30–7:00 – Buddha Puja


• 7:00–8:00 – Breakfast (self-service)


• 8:00–9:00 – Vipassana Meditation


• 9:00–9:30 – Break, Coffee/Tea


• 9:30–10:00 – Meditation Instruction


• 10:00–10:30 – Walking Meditation


• 10:30–11:00 – Metta Meditation


• 11:00–11:30 – Buddha Puja


• 11:30–12:30pm – Lunch


• 12:30–1:30 – Work Period


• 1:30–3:30 –Abhidhamma session  


• 3:30–4:00 – Break, Coffee/Tea


• 4:00–4:30 – Personal Reading and Reflection


• 4:30-    5:30- Sutta Discussion     


• 5:30–6:00 – Prepare for Temple visitation


• 6:00–7:30 – Temple Visits


• 7:30–8:30 – Atavisi Buddha Pujawa, Group Chanting (selected Sutra with English meanings) Metta Meditation


• 8:30–9:00 – Journal Writing; Prepare for Bed


• 9:00–Lights Out

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General Guidelines for Retreat Participants

What Not to Bring

• Do not bring illicit drugs, alcohol, or tobacco products.


• Do not bring personal computers, personal gaming systems, cell phones, mp3 players, electronic musical devices, radios, musical instruments, newspapers, magazines and secular books to the center. Buddhist reading materials will be provided.


• Do not bring clothing with distracting lettering.


• Do not wear perfumes or deodorants with strong scents.


• Do not bring pets.

What to Bring

• Flashlight


• Sleeping Bag, Pillow, Towel (shower facilities are available)


• Toiletries (soap, shampoo, toothbrush, toothpaste, razors)


• Bring a cup (for tea/coffee and water), a plate, and a spoon and fork for eating.


• Ear plugs if you are a light sleeper


• Personal meditation cushion if you prefer (We have plenty of zafus, zabutans, and benches for everyone)


• Modest clothing. (Even in the warmest of weather, tank tops and short shorts are not acceptable.) Do not bring t-shirts with commercial or political messages. You are requested to wear white clothing, if possible.


• Work gloves, cleaning gloves, breathing mask (if working outside causes breathing problems) for the work period.
• Each participant should complete entire program to be obtained a  certificate 

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Family Sponsorship 

• Each sponsoring family will need to arrive at the vihara by 6 am on their designated day in order to prepare the morning meal for the monks and retreat participants.


• Sponsoring families will also be responsible for preparing the lunch meal.


• Sponsoring families will be responsible for preparing evening nutrition and leaving it for the participants to consume later in the evening.


• It is preferred that sponsors adhere to the following guidelines for providing meals during the retreat period:
  
  
  
  • All meals should be vegetarian.
  
  
  • Food for the morning meal should be light and consist of cereal, oatmeal, muffins, bagels, fruit, yogurt, or pancakes.
  
  
  • Food for the lunch meal should be more substantial since this will be the primary meal until the next morning meal.
  
  
  • Evening nutrition could consist of homemade juices, milkshakes, soup, etc. Please be mindful that retreat participants have taken the 10 precepts which stipulate that no solid, substantial food should be taken after noon.