Annual Youth Retreat 2018

Devotees and Friends of the Georgia Buddhist Vihara,

We are happy to announce the dates for the Georgia Buddhist Vihara's 7th annual youth retreat. This year's youth retreat will begin at 7:30 pm on Thursday, May 31st with a brief orientation for all participants and conclude on the afternoon of, Sunday, June 3rd. 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.(Youth Retreat Activity photos of 2017)

Please download the Retreat application for the GBV 2018.

Georgia Buddhist Youth  Retreat    

(May 31 to June 3rd) 2018

Orientation and Precepts

Brief Orientation begins 
On May 31 (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


• 1:30–3:00 –Abhidhamma session  


• 3:00–3:30 – 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 an afternoon.  

GBV Wesak May, 5th 2018

Wesak Program of Georgia Buddhist Vihara, Inc

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. 

 Wesak Program will be held on May, 5th 2018 at the Georgia Buddhist Vihara, Inc

7.30 am	Observance of the Eight Precepts, for both adult and young; Buddha Pooja and Heel Dana
8-30am	Significant of Wesak by Bhante Wajirabodhi
9-30am	Bħavanā
11-00am	Buddha Pujāva
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	Wesak Bhana by Bhante Dhammaloka
3:00-4:00pm	Bhavana for young/children mindful activities
4:00 pm 6:00pm	Dhamma School program Speeches by Dhamma School children. Wesak bhakthi geetha Presentation of certificates for Dhamma School and annual youth retreat participants. Wesak Dansala Maha Pahan Pujawa Wesak kudu, (lanterns)

Sri Lankan New Year 2018

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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 14th April 2018 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

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