ALBERTA BUDDHIST VIHARA ASSOCIATION

ALBERTA BUDDHIST VAHARA ASSOCIATION OPERATES THE ALBERTA INSIGHT MEDITATION CENTRE WHICH PROVIDES INFORMATION AND SERVICES TO ALL THOSE INTERESTED IN THE ORIGINAL TEACHINGS OF BUDDGA AND BUDDHIST MEDITATION WITHIN THE CONTEXT OF WESTERN CULTURE. IT ALSO ORGANIZES PROGRAMS AND RETREATS FOR ITS MEMBERS AND GENERAL PUBLIC WITH THE VIEW TO HELP THEM OBTAIN INNER CALMNESS/PEACE. THE ASSOCIATION ALSO CONDUCTS PROGRAMS FOR CHILDREN WHERE IT TEACHES BUDDISM MEDITATION AND HOW TO LIVE A COMPASSIONATE LIFE. AS PART OF ITS EFFORT TO EXPAND ITS SERVICES ABVA STARTED A NEW SERIES OF PROGRAMS IN THE LIBRARIES AND COMMUNITY CENTRES IN THE SPRUCE GROVE AREA WHICH WERE PARTICIPATED BY LOCAL COMMUNITY MEMBERS AND ORGANIZED A BLOOD DONATION CAMPAIGN FOR THE CANADIAN BLOOD BANK. MOREOVER THE ORGANIZATION COMPLETED AN INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECT OF CONSTRUCTING A MEDIUM-SIZED FACILITY TO HELP CONDUCTING SPIRITUAL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS FOR MONKS AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS. ABVA WILL CONTINUE THE AFOREMENTIONED ON-GOING PROGRAMS AS ITS CORE SERVICES FOR THE UPCOMING YEAR AS WELL. IN ADDITION IT WILL CONTINUE TO EXPLORE FURTHER OPPORTUNITIES TO ENHANCE ITS SERIVCES IN THE AREADS OF ADVANCED MEDITATION PRACTICE STUDY OF BUDDHIST TEACHINGS AND SOCIAL SERVICES. SPECIFIC INITIATIVE THAT WILL BE CONSIDERED INCLUDE CONDUCTING A MULTI-DAY RESIDENTIAL RETREATAND CONDUCTING A BUDDHIST STUDY ONLINE PROGRAM. MOREOVER IT WILL CONTINUE TO CONDUCT MEDITATION AND SPIRITUAL PROGRAMS ONLINE GIVING THE OPPORTUNITY FOR THE SOCIETY TO GAIN ADVANTAGE FROM THEM WITHOUT BEING LIMITED BY GEOGRAPHIC BOUNDARIES