Amaravati Family Camp 2005

General photos from camp     photos (password protected)

What we did on the camp

download 5 Precept flyer (pdf Print version) (pdf Screen version)

daily reflections from camp

4 key points for the camp was:-
intention/voilition
energy (intention) + thought =action
choice
cause and effect

 

What we did on the camp

There was so many great activities this year, laughing yoga, wood carving, knitting,tai chi, yoga, shiatsu,all sorts of arts and crafts for the different age groups and sutta study, parent meditation. Here is what we did in the pujas.

A twainese Bhukkhuni was visting Amaravati so we also learnt some chinese symbols - kamma and sila

We also had Bridget Belgrave read some of her book ZAK and we read the Buddhas Question rread review here

Have a look at the time table

Welcome Puja

daily reflection

meditation on gratitude

read the sutta about the acrobat

The theme Kamma and Sila was chosen because its difficult to connect tohow our actions and speech effect ourselves and others. From my own personal experience I would not like to break the precpets in any gross way, the results of doing this is just to much suffering. Personally I dont like being told what to do, without some sort of explanation, some sort of understanding. This is the encouragement this week... find out for yourself why the precepts can really help you.

As Ajahn Chah said “no one and nothing can set you free but your own understanding”

I remember my first meditation course I resolved myself to keep the five precpets – six months later I was being sick down a toilet because I had drunk to much alochol – cause and effect.

So tommorrow morning we formally take the 5 precpts and refuge in Buddha,dhamma and sangha. The Buddha means awareness and this is what sees the dhamma – the way things are – so this is an opportunity for you all. We are becoming a community, a sangha for a week and we can offer each other the support in doing this....

The question to contemplate on is how would you feel if somebody did the action you were just about to do, to yourself?

reflection on action

Activites we did

Have you ever
ALL RIGHT – OK
Build a Handshake

We also asked what rules would you make if you were in charge of the world - see what we came up with

 

Sunday am - Theme today is owner of my kamma

daily reflection

We chanted this

So we are going to use the last part of this chant, to reflect/contemplate about the theme of kamma and sila. So we can try to use this time to investigate, like a detective, how things are, why are things the way there are.

In terms of the theme look at your actions, what you do and why you do them.

Have a sense of wonder about this.

Meditation on the Sense of Self

The Five Precepts

The precepts and the triple gem act as our common bond for this summer camp they help us guide our body, speech and mind- the way we act.

We use the precepts to guard our selves against outward actions that harm ourselves or other people.

They also help us to develop concentration - this is done by firstly remembering the precepts. This also allows our mind to calm down and wisdom can arise.

 

Sunday Pm Puja - Owner of my kamma

Owner of my kamma means taking responsibility for your actions -Its an acknowledgement of kamma.

How many people did not do there washing up/chore today? I'm not saying this to make you feel guilty. Just ask yourself why you did not do it... and then maybe ask yourself how the person responsibly for organizing feels when you dont do it. Or if you did do it how does that make you feel?

There are two guardians of the world in Buddhism Hiri and Ottapa a natural sense of wrong doing and shame . This is very different from coming from a view or an opinion, or cultural attitude. Its a basic gut feeling.

That doing good can have good results and doing bad can have bad results.

Guided meditation on responsibility (free from guilt and shame very important)

Activities we did

You dont hurt me
dodgem
stop and go

So taking responsibility means understanding about how the result of our action will affect us and other people.

We are asking you to have a taste of taking responsibility - this does not mean doing it on your own – what this means is owning your emotion and responding from there and this can and usually does mean asking for help.... here is a chance to see how it works....

If you cant do something, “then just notice about not doing it”.... (Cheri Huber)

Monday am Forest Puja – Heir to kamma

daily reflection

we went into the woods for the puja

Before we enter the woods, I would like to ask you to do something rather unusual. Please listen carefully:

Instead of running ahead or walking while chatting with each other, could each of us please try to walk quietly and LISTEN, really listen to all the sounds you can hear: feet touching the ground - first gravel, then tarmac, then … -, and birds singing, wind rustling leaves, and may be more sounds… --- And before we enter the woods, we will stop for a moment, and, everybody on their own, please, quietly ask the beings who are living there for permission to enter their space, their home. – With this gesture you can express your respect for the woodland, and it also is a way for ourselves to connect inwardly, to make our hearts responsive and attuned to the new environment, to the spirit of the forest. Then, as soon as you feel connected, go on walking, and follow me to a place where we all will gather for Puja. I would ask you to stay on the path while walking, until we arrive there. Is that clear enough? – So now, please come in silence, listening …

First stop at entrance to woods – asking for permission to enter …
Then walk on to big beech down in the woods below the walking path, and stop there.
Wait until everybody is there.

standing meditation under a tree

meet a tree

Monday PM Puja

The word heir means to receive something so – heir to kamma means to receive our actions. We are a recipient of our actions.
So now please turn to the person next to you and give the gift that you found this morning. Notice what this is like if you did not bring a gift or receive one.
Notice how we are heir to our kamma....

A word or smile can be a gift. So perhaps now turn to your neighbour and exchange a pleasant word or smile.

So now just
Think up something you like a lot what does that feel like in the present moment in your body – share with your neighbour.
Think up something you dont like - what does that feel like in the present moment in your body – share that with your neighbour.

Guided meditation on heir to my kamma

Activity
group story

 

 

Tuesday am Born of my kamma - 3rd precept

daily reflection

So the theme today is “born of my kamma” - how to we give birth to our kamma – how do we create kamma?

Guided meditation on born of my kamma

 

Tuesday PM Born of my kamma

In Buddhism we use the word “intention” – it’s a big word which means to choose to do something for some specific reason.

Guided meditation on intention

I wish you health and happiness

 

Wednesday (no morning PUJA -we went for a walk) - Related to my kamma

The theme we will look at this evening is how we relate to our kamma. What is our relationship to our kamma. Are we just reacting to it or are we coming from awareness. What do we choose to do?

daily reflection
Meditation on related to my kamma

activites

hammer and nail - ching-chang-chong

we also read the story good and bad

 

 

Thursday am - Sila

daily reflection

Guided meditation on sila

Thursday Day pm – outside meet in field at stupa.

Guided meditaion cloud watching

activites

Back to Back 

Friday am – Abide supported by my kamma

daily reflection

The theme today is “Abide supported by my kamma” This mouthful of words which can means that you can rest and be helped by your kamma.

Its about living with your kamma. So we are now going to practice some meditation because this is an action that can help support you in your life.

Guided meditation on abide supported by my kamma

Friday PM Puja

To continue to explore the theme further, sometimes the result of past actions and various other factors can be difficult in the moment and we just need to bare with – to be patient and endure – stick with it.

Meditation on Patience and endurance
(or see what kamma you have made this week – can you be patient with it)

we read the story THE BLIND MAN AND THE HUNTER

We also played slo tag

Saturday am – Good or ill I will be the heir

the last part of the kamma is “for good or ill I will be the heir”
So again we end up with choice and intention.

Lets do a mantra on some of the more positive choices you can make when decided on a looking at a situation.
Metta – mean lovingkindness and you can use choose to think in this way when you feel hate
Karuna – means compassion you can use choose to think in this way when you feel selfish
Mudita - symapthetic joy you can use choose to think in this way when you jealousy
Uppekha – means even minded/ balance you can use choose to think in this way when you feel unbalanced.

Saturday evening - Closing puja

daily reflection
So we cant change what has happened –
for bad kamma we can give compassion
for good kamma we can celebrate
Intention for good kamma -choice – influence what can happen
share – rejoice in our kamma

acknowledgement – thank you- when I saw you do this ...
write down a 5 things that you think you did good- show them to your neighbour.

sharing of blessings

Story about consequences

A young monk observing a snail crossing a footpath thinks to himself hmm this is no good he could get stepped on. Prudently the young monk walks over to pick it up too place it elsewhere where it will be safe. An older monk observing this walks up to him and says, you just affected its kamma.
The younger monk replies Im only trying to place it in a safer spot.
Older Monk the snail had its original intention let it continue on its path?.
The younger monk heeding his advice places the snail back where he found it.
To which the older monk then replied, you did it again.

 

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