| Well
we made with the minimal amount
of rain - it was great long
weekend and we had some fun,
with treasure hunts, A buddhist
Communion service, quizz, meditation,
pujas and the usually chaos....
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Welcome. Happy New year...
Firstly thanks for
organizing this and supporting your families in this way.
So this is to give you some
information about the family camp which will be held at the Sunyata
center in County Claire Ireland in June 2007.
There
is a brief bit of blah about
me here (I'm even looking reflective) and you can also learn
about where I live.
The
dates for the family camp fall
just after Vesak, so we will be using the
topic of Vesak over the weekend
to explore the Highest
Blessing. The Highest Blessings
is a Paritta - words the Buddhist Theravadin Monastics chant
for protection and in Pali
its called the Mangala Sutta. I
hope that we will have time to
learn this chant in English listen
to it here.
As we are a bit new to each
other, things may not go quite
according to plan, so please
bare this this in mind when
you come. Remembering that old
Buddhist saying of it all changes
- hoho. One of the practical aspects which I have
recommended is that a Child
protection policy be implemented.
Please do not take this personally,
its a statement of the utmost
care we should give
to children and young people.
Details can be found here
(is a 500k PDF). Part of the
registration process is that
you make yourself and your children
aware of this policy. It is
based on the child protection
policy that is used at Amaravati
Buddhist monastery Family events
and has be refined by the parents
that attend the events, some
of whom are specialist in this
field. They have made a statement
which I would encourage you
to read (it can be found in adapted form in the policy above).
You can also look here for the approach I use. The most important area is fun
and investigation of what happens
when we come together as group.
Although most children need
activities, so much of modern
life is filled up with doing
things, rather then just allowing
things to unfold - play. Saying
all this, their is a timetable
because it helps the cooks!
(have a look at this school to see what I mean).
Also all activities and pujas
are optional. For parents if
you want you children/young
people to come to the puja that's
up to you to tell they why. (NVC or video here
can help with this) For the
children/young people
if you don't want to do something
investigate/explore why you
don't want to do it. Is your
friend not coming? you don't
like the it...if you don't know
where to start, take your internal
eye and explore your body....where
is it tense .. where is it relaxed.
Can you tell your parents why?
(NVC)
You can also download
a copy of the family camp song
book here
So here is an idea of the timetable
Vesak is can summed up as the
Birth, Enlightenment and pass
away of the the historical Buddha.
Its also the journey we all
take every moment when we take
a breath in and a breath out.
Friday
Arrive - Sometime in the
evening - Welcome Puja
- introductions
Saturday
Theme is BIRTH
Breakfast
9.30am -10.15 AM Morning Puja
- Devotional Practice.
5 precepts ...Guided meditation
break
10.30AM -11AM Highest
blessings and Birth 11AM -12 AM activities
12.30 Meal - and then rest - No
planned activities till 2PM-Please 2.15 PM talks/discussion
with teens
Activities for others.
3.45 PM short quiet optional
meditation
Evening Meal - all parents
invited to chat with me.
Evening Puja - surprise!
Sunday
Theme Enlightenment
Breakfast 9.30am -10.15 AM Morning Puja
- Devotional Practice.
Guided meditation
10.30AM -11AM Highest
blessings and Enlightenment 12.30 Meal - and then rest
- No planned activities till
2PM - Please
2.15 PM talks/discussion
with adults
Activities for others.
3.45 PM short quiet optional
meditation
Evening Meal - all teenagers
invited to chat with me. Monday- The passing way - the big finale.
or err bring your best frock! 9.30am -10.15 AM Morning Puja
- Devotional Practice.
Guided meditation
clearing away
12.30 Meal - and then rest
- No planned activities till
2PM - Please
Closing Ceremony time
to be arranged.
I will be on retreat from January
to end of March 2007 so I wont be able
to correspond with any of you
until then. If you want to comment
or suggest something drops us
an email and I will respond
sometime before June. Looking
forward to being with you all.
Great News is that Sister
Cittapala will also be able
to make the weekend as well.
Blessings.
Amaranatho
Child Protection links for
Ireland
http://www.dohc.ie/publications/our_duty_to_care.html
http://www.catholiccommunications.ie/ourchildrenourchurch/
http://del.icio.us/amaranatho/child-protection
http://www.youth.ie/work/cp.html
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