ALBA – 25th Anniversary
Introduced by Nick Carroll with special guest Ajahn Amaro
This year ALBA, the Amaravati Lay Buddhist Association, celebrates 25 years of its existence. From modest beginnings and a handful of participants, it has gradually grown to attract increasing numbers of people interested in Buddhism as well as many committed lay Buddhists.
At the heart of good Buddhist practice lies a commitment to enquiry and investigation. If just interested and only beginning, or whether one has been practicing for a long time, ALBA offers an opportunity to all sincere ‘seekers’ to develop their path of practice in the context of a supportive established lay community closely connected to the monastic community.
The day will be an opportunity to celebrate the last 25 years with fellow practitioners and to reflect on what lay practice in the context of a monastic tradition has to offer the world.
Registration is from 9.00am in the Retreat Centre Kitchen, with a short orientation talk at 9.45am and an introduction by the Abbot of Amaravati Monastery, Ajahn Amaro. We will help the Kathina preparations with some leaf clearing and then gather in the Retreat Centre Shrine Room at 11am. After the midday meal there will be two talks about ALBA and lay practice. Bring warm outdoor clothing. Please bring some vegetarian food to share if you can, taking it to the Retreat Centre Kitchen. No booking required. All welcome. See below for further details on the day’s programme.
Programme
9.00am Registration – Retreat Centre Kitchen area; Tea and coffee
N.B. Please bring your food contribution to Retreat Centre Kitchen
9.45am Orientation RC Kitchen area
A few introductory words by Ajahn Amaro
10.15am Clearing leaves and helping with Kathina preparations
11:15am Retreat Centre Shrine Room
Welcome & introduction, 3 Refuges and 5 Precepts, Sitting and Walking Meditation
12.20pm Shared meal in Retreat Centre Kitchen
1:30 pm Tidying up Kitchen and Dining Area
2.00 pm Shrine Room. – Gather in Shrine Room
2:15pm Ajahn Amaro welcomed by NC.
Nick Carroll – introduction and reflections on ALBA
Ajahn Amaro – Reflections and Dhamma talk
4:30pm Closing chant
Tea in Retreat Centre KitchenSilence will be observed for most of the day.
