Community- Sharing- Retreats- Meditation
Purpose: In a meditation retreat there is the opportunity to watch and understand the nature of the body and mind. In the retreat setting all the essential needs are taken care of. Because the retreat is silent, it provides the opportunity to take off the daily roles of being a personality, a partner etc. Much can be learned about the habits of the mind in this simplified structure.
THE RETREAT STUCTURE
| Time | Activity |
|---|---|
| 5:30 am | Wake-up Bell |
| 6:00 - 7:30 | Chanting & Meditation |
| 7:30 am | Breakfast & Free Time |
| 9:00 - 11:30 | Instruction and Meditation |
| 11:30 am | Lunch & Free Time |
| 1:30 - 5:30 | Instruction and Meditation |
| 5:30pm | Tea Break & Free Time |
| 7:00 - 9:30 | Meditation, Chant & Dhamma Talk |
Guidelines for Meditation Retreats:
Retreatants at monastic Buddhist Meditation Retreats undertake to observe noble silence, the
Eight Precepts, and to follow monastic etiquette.
The Eight Precepts are as follows:
(1) Harmlessness: not intentionally taking the life of any living creature.
(2) Trustworthiness: not taking anything which is not given.
(3) Chastity: refraining from any sexual activity.
(4) Right Speech: avoiding false or malicious speech.
(5) Sobriety: not taking any intoxicating drinks or drugs.
(6) Renunciation: not eating after midday*.
(7) Restraint: refraining from entertainment and self-adornment.
(8) Alertness: to refrain from over-indulgence in sleep.
What to Bring
We encourage you to bring a water bottle, toiletries, enough clothes for the duration of the retreat, warm clothes and walking shoes/boots for outside, slippers, earplugs, a flashlight, alarm clock, watch, and a meditation cushion and mat to put your cushion on. Please ensure that you keep your valuables in a secure place. Please do not leave valuables in the meditation hall.
Accommodation
All retreatants will have their own room, complete with bedding and towels. Rooms will be assigned in the main building and in Martha House, a 5 minute walk from the main building. There are sinks in each room, and bathrooms located throughout the main building and in Martha House. Your room number will be assigned to you upon arrival. Please make sure to have your room key with you at all times.
Please do not contact Galilee staff regarding questions about accommodation, meals, or other concerns, before or during the retreat. Instead, please directly notify the on-site Retreat Manager (Arsalan) if there are any concerns.
Meals
Vegetarian breakfast (7:30 to 8:30a.m.) and lunch (11:30 to 12:30p.m) will be served each day in the dining hall. Please adhere to these meal times. Please also note that there will be no evening meals for the entire duration of the retreat. Tea and juice will be available in the evening. If for some reason you need a light snack in the evening, you may bring it with you and keep it in the fridge in the greenhouse (with your name clearly marked). If you have specific dietary requirements, please bring any necessary food / drink items with you. Also, inform the on-site Retreat Manager of specific dietary requirements if not already specified in the registration form.
Telephone
There is a telephone located on the main floor of the Galilee Centre, beside the meditation hall. Please use the telephone only in the case of emergencies (local numbers only - Ottawa numbers are acceptable). Instructions to use the telephone: pick a line (1, 2 or 3) and then dial your number. Please refrain from using the phone during meditation sessions. No cell phones are permitted in the main hall. In case of an emergency your family can reach the office between 9:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. at (613) 623-4242 during weekdays.
Volunteers
There will be a sign-up sheet for various volunteer duties (i.e. bell-ringing, offering dana to the monastics, etc.). Please help the retreat organizers by signing up for volunteer jobs on Friday evening.
Meditation Hall Etiquette
No food or drink is permitted in the meditation hall. You may bring a water bottle if needed.
A schedule will be posted throughout the retreat center. A bell will be rung inside and outside the building before each session. Please make sure to be settled in the Meditation Hall at least five minutes prior to every session. We also ask that you use the rear door of the hall and that you please be mindful when opening and closing doors, shifting cushions / chairs, etc. so as to cause the least amount of distraction to your fellow retreatants. Chairs are available in the meditation hall for those who need them. If you are using a chair, please make sure to set it up along the back wall or side walls of the room. Please leave slippers at the door, and bring only essential items into the meditation hall. Please also make sure to not bring any cell phones into the Hall, and turn off any watch alarms for the duration of the retreat.
Donation to the Monk
In keeping with ancient Buddhist tradition, the teaching and meditation instructions given by Ajahn Viradhammo are free of charge. The monastic tradition is supported by donations from the laity. You may make a donation to the monk through the Ottawa Buddhist Society and thereafter receive a tax receipt at the end of the year.
Conclusion of the Retreat: Sunday , March 19
The retreat will conclude on Sunday, March 19 at noon. The closing talk, precepts, and sharing circle will take place from 9 am to 11 am. Lunch will be served after the conclusion of the retreat.
Housekeeping:
Before leaving Galilee, please remove the sheets and pillow cases from your bed and leave them at the foot of your bed. Please shut the windows and ensure that the doors are left open.
May you have an insightful retreat.
ABOUT THE OTTAWA BUDDHIST SOCIETY
The Ottawa Buddhist Society serves Theravada Buddhists of all nationalities in and around Ottawa. All who support the Society and its objectives are welcome to Society events, and to become members. The OBS focuses primarily on Buddhist teachings in the Theravada tradition as practiced in the forest monasteries of Sri Lanka, Thailand and Burma.
For more information about the Ottawa Buddhist Society, Please Click>The Ottawa Buddhist Society