June 28th-30th
Ayya Sudhamma is returning to EBS! She will be leading a retreat the weekend of June 28th-30th.
Ayya Sudhamma is a bhikkhunī, an ordained Buddhist nun in the Theravada tradition. Her teaching style is direct and energetic. With clarity and insight she guides participants to deeper understandings of classic Buddhist teachings.
There will be a free public talk and meditation session on Friday evening from 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm.
The retreat will be Saturday from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm and Sunday from 8:00 am to noon. It will include dharma talks, meditation, and discussion.
On Sunday the retreat will conclude with a potluck and food offering to Ayya Sudhamma for those wishing to participate.
This retreat is appropriate for Buddhist practitioners and meditators at all levels of experience.
Location:
The Ecumenical Buddhist Society
1516 W. 3rd., Little Rock
Free Public Talk:
Friday evening from 7 pm to 9 pm - Dhamma talk and meditation
Retreat Schedule
Saturday
8:00 am to 11:00 am - Morning Session
Dharma Talks and Meditation
11:00 am to 12:30 pm - Break for Lunch
Participants should plan to visit a local restaurant or make their own arrangements for lunch..
12:30 pm to 5 pm - Afternoon Session
Dharma Talks and Meditation
Sunday
8:00 AM to 11:00 AM - Morning Session
Dharma Talks and Meditation
11:00 AM to Noon - Potluck and Food Offering to Ayya Sudhamma
If you would like to participate in the potluck please feel free to bring a vegetarian dish to share with others.
Cost:
Thanks to kind benefactors who are underwriting the major costs of this retreat, it is being offered for a fee of $25.00.
Registration:
Click this link to register and for the option to pay the $25.00 fee if desired.
Questions?
Contact Doug Holmes (doug.holmes.42@gmail.com)
About the Teacher:
Ayya Sudhamma is a bhikkhunī in the Buddhist Theravada tradition. She was born and raised in Charlotte, NC, and practiced as an attorney before beginning her spiritual training in 1997. She received novice ordination from Ven. H. Gunaratana (Bhante G) at the Bhavana Society in 1999. She received higher ordination as a bhikkhunī in Sri Lanka in February 2003, becoming the first Western woman to gain higher ordination there. She returned to the United States and has been a resident monastic and teacher ever since. She currently resides at the Charlotte Buddhist Vihara in Charlotte, NC. (https://www.charlottebuddhistvihara.org/). The term Ayya is an honorific which means Venerable.
About Buddhist Monasticism
The Buddha established the sangha of monks and nuns twenty-five hundred years ago. It has existed from that time until now, making it the oldest continuously operating human institution on earth. Many Buddhist monastics, including Ayya Sudhamma’s order, still follow the original rules and guidelines established by the Buddha. For example, Theravada monastics cannot handle money or eat a meal past mid-day. These practices, which seems so strict to westerners, exist to allow bhikkhunīs and bhikkhus (nuns and monks) to devote their lives to the Buddhist path and provide spiritual guidance and leadership to the lay community that supports them.
There is really nothing else like it in the world.