Today is the second of three retreat days at the temple this week. We will be practicing sitting and walking meditation in noble silence from about 8 am to 5 pm. Evening chanting is at 5 pm. Everyone is welcome to join us for some or all.
Retreat
I will be on a non-residential all-day retreat at the temple from today through Friday. Everyone is welcome and encouraged to come for as much or as little as one likes. There is no cost.
Evening Chanting
Like virtually every evening at the temple, tonight there will be chanting in the Pali language at 5 pm. Everyone is welcome.
Sila
"…the ultimate outcome of adherence to [Sila] is freedom from all defilements. The Sila are the first steps towards this goal."
H.H. Somdet Phranyanasamvara
(from "What Did the Buddha Teach")
Sart Ceremony
There will be a Sart ceremony today from 10 am to 1 pm at The Lunch Box in Ventura. All are welcome.
Saturday Program
There will be no Saturday program today. They are expected to resume next Saturday though.
Two Things
Ajahn Chah reminded us that Dhamma practice is very simple. It requires only two things: knowing and letting go.
Shaping Reality
"Reality is only partly a given. We are also shapers of our reality. We have an active role in shaping every present moment we experience."
Thanissaro Bhikkhu
(from "Meditations 4")
Causes
"Everything that has appeared in this world is sprung or generated from a cause."
Ajahn Chaiya
(from "Requirements for Peace and a Better Life")
A Full Moon
Today is the full moon uposatha. This is an excellent occasion to deepen one's practice with meditation, generosity, and reminding oneself of the virtuous qualities we can cultivate toward blamelessness.
Skillful Speech
"Skillful Speech, the Buddha told us, has four qualities: It is always truthful. It is uplifting, not malicious or unkind. It is gentle, not crude or harsh. It is moderate, not useless or meaningless."
Bhante Henepola Gunaratana
(from "Eight Mindful Steps to Happiness")
Sart Ceremony
There will be a Sart ceremony today from 10 am to 1 pm. All are welcome.
Today's Ceremony
There will be no ceremony today; however, there will be a Sart ceremony tomorrow from 10 am to 1 pm.
In the meantime, it's beneficial to follow the breath and watch the mind.
At Any Moment
"When concentration and insight are strong, the distinctive knowledge can come at any moment. It can come in a single 'bend' of the arm or in a single 'stretch' of the arm. Thus it was that the Venerable Ananda became an arahant."
The Venerable Mahasi Sayadaw
(from "Practical Vipassana Meditational Exercises")
Washing Away Impurities
"It is not within the power of a Buddha to wash away the impurities of others. One could neither purify nor defile another."
-From "Buddhism Culture & Sri Lanka Pilgrim's Guide"
A Sense of Relief
"Feel the sense of relief and ease that arises when it's simply a few body parts and a few stray thoughts moving through space and time."
Ajahn Karunadhammo
(from "Beginning Our Day, Volume 2")
Mindful Effort
"In truth, desire for success does not bring success. Only mindful effort will."
-Ajahn Maha Boowa
Every Posture
Practice bringing awareness to every posture--to your sitting, your standing, your walking, your lying down.
Presence
Whenever it occurs to one that one is not present, one is present.
Saturday Program
ABMT's weekly Saturday program is an opportunity for the community to visit the temple, spend time with other Buddhist practitioners, offer food and other necessities to the monks, have lunch, chant, and meditate.
The program runs from 10 am to 2 pm in Thai, and English is available from 2 pm to 4 pm.
There is no cost to participate. Everyone is welcome.
