Novitiate 2015

Merits we collect

Wesak 2015

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.  

Program for Sunday, May 10 ,2015

7.30 am	Observance of the Eight Precepts, for both adult and young; Buddha Pooja and Heel Dana
8-30am	Bhavana  Deshana
9-30am	Bħavanā
11-00am	Buddha PŪjāva
11-20am	Dana offering to the monks and those who observe eight precepts.
12-00 noon	Luncheon
1-1.30pm	Dhamma Deshanawa & Q & A session (Sinhala) 1-1.30 for children by Bhante Bodhi
1:30 - 2:00 pm	Talk by Dr. Amarasinha (English)
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
5 -.6.30 pm	Wesak bhakthi geetha and certificate presentation for Dhaham Pasala Speeches Wesak Dansala Lighting of lanterns

 

The Lord Of Mindfulness

For More of Dillon's Thought: Please click on this link; Retreat With the Buddha

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