Buddhist cultures and traditions to be shared on Meditation Day

Spend a day away from the hustle and bustle and unwind…it’s Meditation Day in Fredonia! The International Education Center, together with the Center for Multicultural Affairs, educates and creates understanding across world cultures and traditions by presenting meditation sessions on April 16, 2011 from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at the Newman Center on Temple Street.

 

Conducted by a visiting teacher from the Pittsburgh Buddhist Center, the sessions are free and open to the public. RSVP is requested by April 1.

 

Meditation Day, also known as Vesak Full Moon Poya day, began as a way to show respect and gratitude towards the Buddha’s wisdom, compassion and teaching. Meditation offers forms of Good Practice by abiding by eight precepts, which help people better focus on their normal day-to-day lives and develop habits to guide them towards happiness and harmony. Meditation day celebrates good deeds and focuses on generosity, kindness, wisdom, compassion, tolerance and universal friendliness to respect the most scared noble policies of the Buddha.

 

Those who attend are asked to follow the eight precepts which are to abstain from eight things including harming or taking life, taking what is not given, any form of sexual contact, false speech, the use of intoxicants, eating after the mid-day meal, dancing, singling, watching entertainments, using beauty aids and indulging in any high and luxurious seats and beds. Along with following these eight precepts, they should also dress in white or very light colored clothing and observe silence as much as possible, only talking when asking questions to the teacher. All of these things will lead them to a relaxing day of meditation and the development of habits that impact their own happiness and harmony.

 

“This day is all about celebrating different cultures and traditions. Meditation is celebrated by Sri Lankans with Amisa Puja, making materials of hospitality and Prathipathithi Puja, making offerings of good practices. Spending a day in meditation is one of the highest offerings or forms of Good Practice.” says Nirasha Premaratne, organizer of the meditation sessions. “This will be a day for everyone to not only get away from their busy schedules and calm down, but they will learn how to practice meditation correctly and understand other cultures and traditions.”