Five Day Bhavana Course
held at Chan Academy Australia*
27 December 2006 to 31 December 2006.
Written by Anita Carter, Frank Carter and Adam Richards.



The topic of the course is "What mantra are you really running on?

AIM:

That each student will find what their current lifes agendas are, and in doing so, be able to formulate the dhammic agendas they wish to have.

OBJECTIVES:

1. The student will understand the real meaning of mantra and agenda through researching dictionaries and Buddha Dharma texts.

2.The student will identify what their real agendas are through reflective meditation in the following ways; In doing this the student identifies what Mantra they are running on. They ask the questions:
A. What is my belief of happiness?
B. What is my idea of success?
C. What is my idea of peace?.
Then, they compare this with what the Buddha's answers to these three questions are.

3. The student will identify their level on the path to waking up, by measuring how close they are to what the Buddha's answers to the 3 questions are. By doing this the student will see how they can change this mantra to a Buddha Dhamma one.

4. The log book will be used to check and record what in the present, our mind is doing while we are doing activities during the course.

At random intervals we will be asked to record in our log book what our mind was doing at that particular moment. Was our mind inside the body or outside? Was it in the present? What cetisika was present in the mind? Was there mindfulness? What was our motive, and so on. Each time we are asked, write a snap shot comment on what our mind was doing that second. What feeling- pleasant unpleasant or neutral was arising; Which realm would that mind mainly befound in:- Buddha, Human, Deva, Animal,Ghost, Hell, or Azura: Should take 3-4 mins per entry.

5. The student will write a shorterm and longterm plan of how they can come to see and therefore follow the Buddha's answers for themselves. By doing this the student can run on a Buddha Dhamma Mantra.

ACTIVITIES TO MAKE MERIT

1. Clean the hall and library, vacuum carpets, dust altars, change flowers and water bowls.
2. Help build the new hall
3. File in sariputa room.
4. Set up 2007 planners
5. Digitise teachings
6. Provide food and drinks to all.
7.Clean kitchen and toilets.
8. Prepare radio program.

DAILY STUDENT ACTIVITY

1. Students will bring an offerings daily and an excercise book to be used as a log book of practice.
2. Students will arrive and pay respect in the hall first, take 5 precepts and refuge.
3. Students will make an offering to the abbot.
4. Students will take on extra precepts of
- No idle chatter
- No slander
- No flattery
- No harsh speech
- No devisive speech

DAILY SCHEDULED PLAN

10-11am:- Increase your awareness of your mind and body, making merit from the list.
11-11:15am:- Tea and snacks
11:15-12:15pm:- Teaching and course activity
12:15-12:30pm:- Feedback
12:30-1pm:- Lunch- 5 reflections to be kept and no talking while eating.
SATI- increases your awareness of your mind and body.
1-1:30pm:- Wash up
1:30-2:30pm:- Merit making for one hour- You need to do all of the eight merit making activities.
2:30-4pm:- Teaching and meditating- wise relection.
4-4:15pm:- Tea time.
4:15pm Feedback and sharing of merit

*Chan Academy is a registered trading name of the Buddhist Discussion Centre (Upwey) Ltd.
33 Brooking Street, Upwey, Victoria, Australia, 3158 A.C.N. 005 701 806 A.B.N. 42 611 496 488
e-mail: wbu@bdcu.org.au

file location: LAN I:\Bhavana Course 2006.rtf


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