"7 Factors of Enlightenment " - A Public Talk and Weekend Retreat with Ajahn Sona

Public Talk - Friday, August 26, 2011, 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. (No registration required) Weekend Retreat, Saturday + Sunday, August 27 & 28, 2011 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. with Ajahn Sona University of Victoria Arbutus and Queenswood Rooms in Cadboro Commons Ajahn Sona returns to Victoria after a very popular retreat with us last summer. The Venerable Bhikkhu Sona is Abbot of Birken Forest Monastery, located south of Kamloops. Born in Canada, Ajahn ("teacher") Sona's background as a layperson is in classical guitar performance. His encounter with Buddhist wisdom as a young man initiated a spiritual journey that led him to become a lay hermit for several years. He subsequently ordained as a Theravada monk under Venerable Gunaratana, at the Bhavana Society in West Virginia. Ajahn Sona further trained at monasteries in the Ajahn Chah lineage in northeast Thailand. Upon his return to Canada in 1994 he helped establish Birken Forest Monastery. Ajahn Sona has ample experience leading meditation retreats and lecturing on Buddhist meditation and practice, both in Canada and abroad. His teachings combine tried-and-true Buddhist wisdom with modern commonsense. Cost: The Buddha's teachings are considered to be priceless. In keeping with the teachings and spirit of generosity or dana, we offer this retreat on a donation basis. The suggested donation for this retreat is $40 ---- to cover the cost of facility rental, and other organizational expenses. A basket will be placed at the registration table for your donation. Any money collected above the costs of the retreat will go towards other VVC programs. We will also set out another basket for you to offer dana for the teachings and the teacher who has shared them with us. No one will be refused for lack of funds; please give whatever is affordable given your means. Register online at www.victoriavipassana.org Once you have completed the registration form you will receive more detailed information about the retreat. Thank you, June Fukushima, Retreat Registrar