Our annual Vesak program celebrates three events of the utmost significance in the life of prince Siddhartha who became the 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. Vesak full moon day has been for centuries regarded as the Buddha Day. For it was on a Vesak full moon day, that the Shakyan prince Siddhartha Gautama was born, in Lumbini Park, on the frontier of Napal, attained Enlightenment, under the Bodhi tree in Gaya, and finally passed away. Buddhists all over the world celebrate with devotion the Triple Anniversary of Vesak. To a true follower of the Buddha, there is no greater day than Vesak Poya day which also symbolizes peace, love, compassion and piety.

The Bak Full Moon Poya Day Program and  Dhamma class will be held on on Sunday, April 22, 2012, from 7:30 am to 5:30 pm at the Georgia Buddhist Vihara.  We invite you all to join the program.

MORNING PROGRAM

7:30am – 8:30am Observance of the eight Precepts, Buddha Puja and Heel Dana.

8:30am – 9:00am Tea & coffee break

9:00am – 11:00am Vipassana Meditation.

11:00am Buddha Puja

11:20am – 12:00 Noon Dana offering to the monks and those who observe eight precepts. For more information please feel free to contact the Vihara at 770-987-8442.)

AFTERNOON PROGRAM

12:00Noon – 1:00pm Luncheon

1:00 – 2:30pm Discussion will be base on Abhidhamma by Mr. Prasanna Bopitiya

1:30-4:00pm  Dhamma Class

2:30 – 2:45pm Break.

3.00-5.00pm  Sutra Discussion; Nivapa Sutta: Relay Chariots  (English, Sinhala)

5:30 pm  Termination of the Sil Gilanpasa Pujava

========================================
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

Sri Lankan New Year celebration will be held on the   Saturday, April 14, 2012 at the Georgia Buddhist Vihara, 3153 Miller Rd, Lithonia,  GA 30038.

10.15 am Lighting the oil lamp.
10.30 am Significance of the New Year
11.00am Buddha Puja
11.30 am Dana for the Maha Sangha
12. Noon Pirith chanting an offering of the sheaf of betel leaves to
the monks and parents.

12.40pm Luncheon for the guests
1.45 pm Cultural Events begins.

Note: Parents should bring present for around $5 (wrapped and labeled with child’s name) for each of your children so that all the children will get a useful present.

(May 26,27,28   2012)

You must print and complete the following forms to apply for the summer retreat program. Please note that space is limited for 10 participants on a first-come, first-serve basis. This retreat is for males and females who are between 15 and 25 years of age. At this time, there are no facilities that support a co-ed retreat. The Georgia Buddhist Vihara hopes to be able to support a co-ed retreat in the near future.

All forms must be completed in full and must be submitted on or before May 1, 2012. You may deliver the forms in person to the Georgia Buddhist Vihara, you may mail the completed forms to the Vihara (3153 Miller Road, Lithonia, GA 30038), or you may scan and email completed forms to Justin Howell (justinhowell2112@gmail.com). An email confirmation will be sent once your application has been received.

Participant’s Name: ______________________________________________

Participant’s Age: _______________________

Parent’s/Guardian’s Name: __________________________________________________

Address: ________________________________________________________

Parent’s/Guardian’s Email Address: ___________________________________________

Home Phone: __________________________ Cell Phone: ___________________________

Business Phone: ____________________________________

Emergency Contact: __________________________ Phone: __________________________________

By signing below you are giving permission to participate in all activities related to the weekly retreat at the Georgia Buddhist Vihara. By signing below, you (as the participant) understand all requirements to participate in the retreat. By signing below, you are giving permission for the retreat participant to be transported in temple and/or personal vehicles of those who are acting as retreat coordinators while attending a retreat at the Georgia Buddhist Vihara.

_________________________ ______________________

Signature of Participant Date

_________________________ ______________________

Signature of Parent/Guardian Date

(if participant is under 18 years old)

Medical Information

Does the participant have any medical or health issues that we should be aware of? If so, please describe: ____________________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________________

Allergies: ___________________________________________________________________________

Chronic disability or illness (past or present): _______________________________________________

Name of Family Doctor: ________________________ Phone: ________________________________

Insurance Plan Name: _______________________ Group Number: ___________________________

Member Number: _______________________________

Dietary Restrictions

Describe: _____________________________________________________________________________

Medications

I would like for the participant to be given the following medications:

Name of medicine: ____________________ What is the medicine used for: __________________

Quantity of be given: __________________ Times to be given: _____________________

All medicines should be clearly labeled with the participant’s name, name of medication, what it is to be used for, quantity to be given and time to be given. The Georgia Buddhist Vihara does not assume responsibility for administration of medicine beyond oral medications. In case of emergency, I hereby give permission to the physician named above, or, in his or her absence, to any other physician, to provide treatment.

_________________________ ______________________

Signature of Participant Date

_________________________ ______________________

Signature of Parent/Guardian Date

(if participant is under 18 years old)

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Georgia Buddhist Youth  Retreat    

(May 26,27 & 28)

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 – Sutta Discussion
• 3:30–4:00 – Break, Coffee/Tea
• 4:00–4:30 – Personal Reading and Reflection
• 4:30-    5:30-      Abhidhamma session by Dr. Deeptha Jayaratne
• 5:30–6:00 – Prepare for Trip
• 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.

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Family Sponsorship Form 

• Each sponsoring family will need to arrive at the vihara by 6am 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.

Saturday, May 26

Danas & Evening  Gilanpasa & Ata-visi Pujjawas will be taken care of by Mrs. Priyanga, Mrs. Sumudu & Mrs. Taniya & one or 2 Mothers will be there for the nights with the Girls   

Sunday, May 27

Dr Unil  Peraa family  will provide the Daval Dana for Sunday & Flowers & Gilanpasa for the eve Ata-visi Pujawa on Sunday Morning.

Monday, May 28

Danas & Gilanpasa & Ata-visi Puja wasthu  will be provided by Mrs. Roshini, Mrs. Upeksha & Mrs.Kumudini

Vipassana (“mindfulness”) meditation retreat and noble day of silence on Saturday, March 17, 2012 from 7am to 6pm.  This one-day meditation retreat will held at the Georgia Buddhist Vihara (3153 Miller Road, Lithonia, GA 30038).  For this retreat, all meditation instructions, discussions, and Dhamma talks 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

7:30am – 8:00am: Observance of Refuge and the Eight Precepts, Buddha Puja (“offerings”), and traditional Buddhist chanting in Pali (with English translations).

8:00am – 8:30am: Breakfast (self-service)

8:30am – 10:00am: Meditation instructions and vipassana meditation

10:00am – 10:30am: Break (coffee/tea) and personal reflection/reading

10:30am – 11:00am: Metta (“Loving-Friendliness”) meditation 

========================================
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

Please mark your calendars for 2012 schedule of activities of the
Georgia Buddhist Vihara Sunday Dhamma School and look at the Vihara
website for further detail. Two families are assigned for providing with snack for these activities. If these assigned dates are not convenient for you please
discuss among yourselves and exchange dates. We would appreciate it very much if each family would kindly remove the garbage and clean the kitchen after serving the snacks. It would also be an excellent example for children to keep the kitchen and Vihara clean. Needless to say how appreciative all of us would be if
you would kindly remember to bring some flowers to offer to the Buddha
on the day you serve snacks.  Please Note: If you have any suggestion of these dates; changes or adjustment,  let us know as soon as possible. 

• Jan-15   Kalinga Panditharatne and Family and Kithmin Samaraweera Family
• Jan-29   Nadeeja Wickramanayake Family and Daminda Manamendra Family
• Feb-12   Poya Observance (Sil Day)
• Feb-26   Deepal Jayagoda Family and Ranjith Siyasena Family
• Mar-11   Poya Observance (Sil Day)
• Mar-25   Susantha Chandaratna Family and Luminda and Kisa family
• Apr-22   Poya Observance (Sil Day)
• Apr-22   Chamila Tissera  Family and Uditha Walivita Family
• May-06  Poya Observance (Sil Day)  Wesak Full Moon
• May-20  Kalinga Panditharatne and Family and Kithmin Samaraweera Family
• Jun-10    Poya Observance (Sil Day)
• Jun-24    Nadeeja Wickramanayake Family and Daminda Manamendra Family
• July-8     Poya Observance (Sil Day)  
• July-22   Deepal Jayagoda Family and Ranjith Siyasena Family
• Aug-5     Poya Observance (Sil Day)  
• Aug-19   Susantha Chandaratna Family and Luminda and Kisa family
• Sept-2     Chamila Tissera  Family and Uditha Walivita Family
• Sept-16   Poya Observance (Sil Day)  
• Sept-30  Kalinga Panditharatne and Family and Kithmin Samaraweera Family
• Oct-21     Poya Observance (Sil Day)  Kathina
• Oct-28     Nadeeja Wickramanayake Family and Daminda Manamendra Family
• Nov-11    Poya Observance (Sil Day)
• Nov-25   Deepal Jayagoda Family and Ranjith Siyasena Family
• Dec-9      Poya Observance (Sil Day)
• Dec-23    Susantha Chandaratna Family and Luminda and Kisa family

The Duruthu Poya day program will be held on on Sunday, Jan 08, 2012, from 7:30 am to 6:00 pm at the Georgia Buddhist Vihara,  We invite you all, to join the program.

MORNING PROGRAM

7:30am – 8:30am Observance of the eight Precepts, Buddha Puja and Heel Dana.

8:30am – 9:00am Tea, & coffee break

9:00am – 11:00am Vipassana Meditation.

11:00am Buddha Puja

11:20am – 12 Noon Dana offering to the monks and those who observe eight precepts. For more information please feel free to contact the Vihara at 770-987-8442.)

AFTERNOON PROGRAM

12nn – 1:00pm Luncheon

1:00 – 2:30pm Discussion will be base on Abhidhamma by Dr. Deepta Jayaratne

2:30 – 2:45pm Break.

3.00-4.00 Dharmadeshanawa

4:00 – 5:30 Sutra Discussion;Vammikasutta : The Simile of the Ant Hill  (English, Sinhala)

5:30 pm  Termination of the Sil, Gilanpasa Pujava

• The Gautama Buddha’s first visit to Sri Lanka. (nine months after his Enlightenment, the Blessed One visited Mahiyangana, in the Uva Province of Sri Lanka. His mission was to restore peace, to create a state of freedom from war or violence.)
• The Gautama Buddha,  offered Deity Sumana, some locks of hair. He placed it in an urn as a valuable Relic in the Mahiyangana Stupa.
• the Buddha’s second visit was to Nagadipa, in the Jaffna District. The Awakened One, Buddha, visited Nagadipa, to settle a dispute between Mahodara and Chulodara, uncle and nephew respectively, who were about to wase war, to gain the ownership of a gem studded thrine. Buddha, saw this and arrived in Nagadipa, emphasizing the value of harmony and ill-effects of hatred and settled the dispute without blood-shed.

• The unique event of bringing the Bo-sapling of the sacred Jayasiri Maha Bodhi (under which our blessed one, the enlightened one, attained the supreme bliss of Buddhahood) from India to Anuradhapura by Sangha Miththa Maha Rahath Therani (Emperor Asoka’s  daughter, Arahat Mahinda thera’s sister,  young beautiful, charming, princess Sangamitta, who entered the Bhikkuni Sasana at the age of 18 years).  Sangamitta Therani arrived in Dambakolapatuna port in Jaffna (after seven days of sea journey) with a right branch of the Sri Maha Bodhi in India accompanied by a retinue of several others who joined her in this voyage.  This Bo-Sapling was planted in the “Mahamevuna Uyana”, the headquarters of Buddhism in ancient Sri Lanka. This event symbolises that Buddhism took deep root throughout the length and breadth of Sri Lanka.
• The second most important mission or the purpose of Sangamitta’s arrival, was the establishment of Bhikkuni Sasanaya or order of the Buddhist nuns. Queen Anula, was the first to be ordained. Later thousands of ladies from all walks of life entered the Buddhist order as Bhikkunis.