Retreat Calendar

Note #1:  24 Hours 8 Precepts Observation Day at the BSV

Date of event: Saturday, 27 April, 7:30am  to 7:30am Sunday, 28 April 2013

Saturday  - Morning Program
7.30am     Arrival of participants
7:45am     Participants assemble in shrine hall
8:00am     Vandana, Ti-Sarana, and Taking of 8 precepts
8:15am     Instructions on day’s program and house-rules
8.30am     Dhamma talk by Sangha
9:15am     Group sitting and walking meditation
10:30am   Buddha Puja (offerings of flowers, lights, incense, etc)
Followed by preparation of offering to the Sangha and sil program participants.
11.00am   Lunch with Sangha
  Clean up after lunch

Afternoon Program
12:00pm  Personal walking meditation
12:30pm  Personal rest or reflection period
1:30pm    Walking Meditation
2:00pm    Group sitting and walking meditation
3.30pm    Tea break
4.15pm    Group sitting and walking meditation

Evening Program
6:00pm   Personal rest period or continue with sitting/walking meditation
7:00pm   Chanting
7.15pm   Q&A on Meditation/Dhamma discussion
8:15pm   Group Meditation
9.30pm   Rest or personal sitting/walking meditation

Sunday - Morning Program
4:30am   Wake up
5:00am   Group sitting and walking meditation
6:30am   Vandana. Ti-Sarana and observance of the five precepts and dedication of merits
   Thanksgiving to sponsors and volunteers and organisers.
7:00am   Breakfast preparation and offering to the Sangha and sil program participants
7:30am   Meal clean up, cleaning of library and preparation of shrine room for next program (all participants are encouraged to help).
8.00am   Completion of 24hr precept program

   SADHU!   SADHU!   SADHU!

Notes for Participants participating in the 24 hours 8 Precepts Observation @ the BSV

PLEASE NOTE
(1)
• Program is not for children under 15 years old unless they are experienced meditators.
• Please do not attend if you fall sick even if you have registered.
• Due to space constraint, we can only accommodate 30 people for over-night stay.
     and 50 participants for the day program.
Last date of registration:  24 April 2013.
Please register early to enable us to make necessary food, meditation and accommodation arrangements (accommodation in the main hall and library upstairs with gender separation).
• Noble Silence is to be observed throughout the program and speak only if absolutely necessary.
• No reading, no listening to audio.
• All phones to be switched off during the program. No checking of messages.
• Q + A:  Questions to be written on notepaper and left in the questions box. The question box will be opened and question/s answered by a monastic at the 7.15pm session.
(2)
Program participants will need to:
• Please eat breakfast prior to arrival on Saturday morning.
• Bring your own sleeping bag or blankets, pillow, sheets, towel, and toiletries.
• You may wish to donate toilet rolls, facial tissues, kitchen towels.
• It is customary to wear white clothing when observing the Eight Precepts, though this is not a requirement for attendance.
• Lunch on Saturday and Breakfast on Sunday are being sponsored and prepared through the
generosity of a group of dhamma friends.  If you wish to bring something to share for tea-break, you are most welcome to do so. You may wish to bring afternoon allowables such as  dark chocolate, crystalised ginger, sweets, cheese, milk, coffee, tea, chocolate/cocoa drinks.
• Please car-pool or park car outside of BSV car-park; the car-park of BSV will be needed for participants to do walking meditation.

During this special time, please consider making a donation to the BSV, or to the forest monastery project so that we can continue to support the Sangha who make the teachings available to us so that all people are able to practice and learn about the Dhamma (the Buddha’s teachings).

We look forward to seeing you on Saturday, 27 April at the BSV. Please 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 program. To confirm that you are planning on attending or if you have questions about our program, please feel free to contact Sanghamittarama at:  sanghamitta.arama@gmail.com

We hope that you will be able to join us for this day of renunciation, meditation, and contemplation. If you are unable to make this retreat, please know that we conduct regular meditation classes, retreats, and sutta discussions weekly throughout the year. For more information,  please check our calendar of events at http://www.bsv.net.au/?id=calendar-of-events-1 

May you, family members and friends, be well, happy, and peaceful……
With Metta
Sangha of BSV-Sanghamittarama

Sponsors:
Lunch for Saturday and Breakfast for Sunday for
Sangha Members and Participants are being sponsored and prepared by:

Sirini and family (Co-ordinator)
Janaki and family
Emma and friends
Jenny and Erin
Darshani, Don and Family
Kanchana, Saliya and Family
Catherine Lavars
Manel Fernando
Ajitha Paldano
Chuli Abeyaratne

Volunteers needed: 
• To prepare meditation hall before arrival of participants (preferably Friday nite).
• Ushers for those staying in (prepare room to keep their sleeping bags etc)
Sleep areas (Gender segregated).
• Preparation for tea-breaks …….
• Volunteer for power-point slides for chanting.
• Prepare pen and paper for Q & A questons on meditation.
• Lock gate of car-park so that area can be used for walking meditation.
• Other areas of assistance.

Sangha participation:  Bhante Jag/Ayya Upekkha 
 

Note # 2:  In-House Day Retreats conducted by Ajahn Brahmavamso at the BSV Centre

Date of Event:  Monday 20th May & Tuesday 21st May 2013

Day Retreat Program:

8.30 am     Meditation Instructions
                    Short Break
                    Questions – Discussion

11.00 am   Break for offering of Dana
                     Lunch for participants

12.30 pm   Meditation
                    Meditation instructions
                    Short Break
                    Questions – Discussion

3.00 pm     Tea

3.30 pm     Meditation Instructions
                    Short Break
                    Questions – Discussion

                    Day retreat close at 5:30pm so that participants can rest at home before the 8pm dhamma talk. 

8.00 pm   Dhamma talks by Ajahn Brahm at the Monash Religious Centre 19th, 20th, 21st May.