Portland Friends of the Dhamma

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  • Attending a Daylong
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• Participate
  • Upcoming Events
  • Ajahn Sudanto visits once a month
  • Meditation for Beginnners
  • Ajahn Santacitta, Sister Sumedha in Oct.
  • Ajahn Geoff in Oct/Nov.
  • See Entire Calendar
  • Weekly Groups
  • Tuesday Meditation and Reading
  • Friday Morning Puja
  • Friday Meditation and Discussion
  • Sunday: Buddha’s Way of Mindfulness
  • Other Lineages
  • Other Links
  • Upasika Program
  • Pacific Hermitage
  • Donate
  • Contact Us
• Teachings
  • Talks Recorded at the Center:
  • Ajahn Sucitto 06-2010
  • Ajahn Pasanno 11-2008 09-2007
  • Ajahn Geoff 10-2008 11-2007
  • Ajahn Sundara 10-2007
  • Ajahn Sudanto 10-2007
  • Ajahn Karunadhammo 10-2007
  • Ajahn Sucitto 05-2007
  • Chants Recorded at the Center
  • Teachings on the Web:
  • Abhayagiri.org
  • ForestSangha.org
  • Saranaloka.org
  • DhammaTalks.org.uk
  • AccessToInsight.org
• Pacific Hermitage
  • A Branch of Abhayagiri
    in the Pacific Northwest
  • See the Pacific Hermitage website at PacificHermitage.org

Attending a Daylong at Portland Friends of the Dhamma

We ask that everyone arrive quietly fifteen minutes before the start of the program. Noble silence begins as you enter the building. Head upstairs. If your time here includes a meal there will be folks in the kitchen ready to receive your food offering. Please be in the Shrine room before the bell rings. If you are coming for a daylong and are unable to attend the entire scheduled time we ask you do not arrive late however leaving early, though not encouraged, is ok. If you must leave early please do so during a walking meditation or break. We ask you do not leave during the sitting meditation periods.  Put away your cushions and remove any items you brought or used in the Shrine room. If you are coming for an evening then arriving late, if unavoidable, is no problem.

If we have a guest monastic we often have more guest than cushions so you might want to bring your own if you have one. Keep any valuables with you in the Shrine room. When there are guests the library opens only after the program ends.

 

Appropriate Dress

Upasikas are encouraged to wear black pants and white shirts when in the presence of a monastic guest.

Wear loose fitting clothing, modest clothing that covers the shoulders and knees. Sleeveless or strapless shirts, short pants and skirts are discouraged.

 Appropriate Etiquette

Remove your shoes before entering the Dhamma hall. You may wear your shoes anywhere else in the building.

Enter the room quietly.

When sitting in the meditation hall it is traditionally considered impolite to point one's feet at either the shrine or at the monastics. This includes casual tea or discussion times as well.

Lying down or stretching out is considered inappropriate in the meditation hall. There are chairs and pews to use if this is more comfortable. Again, please do not recline or lie down in the pews.

When addressing a monastic it is considered polite to put hands in anjali (folded in front on oneself).

There usually is a good amount of time for questions. Don’t hesitate to have practice questions prepared if this helps get your questions answered.

For a small and comprehensive booklet about engaging with monastics please see Discipline and Conventions: Standards of Theravada Buddhist Renunciate Communities