Middle Path seeker: A Day Retreat at Wat Phramahajanaka, Griffin, GA

Yesterday was my day off which I spent part of it to prepare food and flowers to bring to Wat Phramahajanaka. Today, Saturday July the 2nd marked the day 10th of summer retreat at the temple, and I went to the temple with Sirinad and Varunee's family. I got up at 6:00 a.m. to cook "Larb" and rice and got everything ready to go. We left Sirinad's house around 8:15 and we got there at the temple around 9:40.

There were about 30 Thai monks today who came from around the US. One of the head monks already started Dhamma talk in the chapel when we showed up. After setting up our food on the main long and big lunch table, Sirinad and I were busy arranging the flowers. Then, we followed the event schedule below.

10:30 - Chanting
11:15 - Giving alms to the monks
11:30 - Lunch break
1:30 - 2.5-hr walking and sitting meditation
4:00 - Dhamma talk
5:00 - Closing Chanting

There were also evening chanting and other merit activities to do until midnight. Sirinad decided to spend overnight there. I left the temple with Varunee's family around 5:30.

Today, i got to learn one simple technique for walking meditation. I also learned that starting with walking meditation first really helps the mind to calm down before coming to sit down for sitting meditation.

Chanting before lunch