SAT CHIT ANAND

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VIPASSANA MEDITATION RETREAT

with Reverend Pannasekara

Sri Lankan Buddhist monk

Friday 24 - Sunday 26 February 2006

Theravada Buddhism

 

 

This will be a silent retreat, giving you the valuable opportunity to focus exclusively on what’s happening within your own mind. There will be instructions and practice for both sitting and walking meditation. Learn techniques to steady and stabilise the mind. This is the first step – it brings calmness and clarity to the mind, and creates space for insight and wisdom to arise. If the first step is right, the steps that follow will be in the right direction. Vipassana meditation helps to purify the mind of delusion and emotional confusion. As a result, we start seeing more clearly, and this gives us the capacity and confidence to effect positive changes in our behaviour and in our lives. Right seeing leads to right action.      

 

REVEREND PANNASEKARA was born in Sri Lanka, where he ordained as a Buddhist monk in 1987. He came to Tanzania in 1998, as Abbot of Temple in Dar-es-salam and chief monk representing the Sri Lanka Order in Africa. He is currently residing in South Africa while completing a PhD degree at UNISA on Buddhism and Social Values in Africa. He teaches at the African Buddhist Seminary, Nan Hua Temple, near Bronkhorstspruit. He is a specialist in Pali Buddhist scriptures, the Tripitaka, and has taught Vipassana meditation for nearly 20 years. His scriptural and meditation expertise, combined with his lovely smile and sense of humour, no more need be said!

 

REVEREND did our AUGUST retreat last year

See August 2005 retreat review

 

SAT CHIT ANAND is a Buddhist Centre and Guesthouse in Plettenberg Bay. It is our delight to host meditations, Buddhist teachings and weekend spiritual retreats, which may be attended on a residential or non-residential basis. A retreat is a time to remove oneself from the distractions of the world, and focus on one’s spiritual practice. Traditionally this involves receiving and contemplating teachings, meditating and doing spiritual practices.

 

WEEKEND RETREAT SCHEDULE

 

THURSDAY:

19h00: Free talk by Reverend Pannasekara

 

FRIDAY:

19h00 – 21h00: Homage to Buddha and introduction

Noble silence to be maintained throughout retreat

 

SATURDAY:                                                   

09h00 – 10h00: Dharma talk, meditation instruction

10h00 – 11h00: Walking and sitting meditation              

TEA BREAK                                          

11h30 – 12h30: Walking and sitting meditation

12h30: LUNCH                                        

14h00 – 15h00: Walking and sitting meditation              

15h00 – 16h00: Question and answer session             

18h00: SUPPER (residents only)

19h00 – 20h30: Homage to Buddha, chanting, meditation

 

SUNDAY:

09h00 – 10h00: Dharma talk, meditation instruction

10h00 – 11h00: Walking and sitting meditation

TEA BREAK

11h30 – 12h30: Walking and sitting meditation

12h30: LUNCH

14h00 – 15h00: Walking and sitting meditation

15h00 – 16h00: Questions, sharing, dedication of merits

TEA and depart home

 

COST

 

RESIDENTIAL: Retreats commence on Friday evening and finish on Sunday afternoon. Price includes 2 nights shared accommodation in garden cottages, all meals (vegetarian food only), and teacher’s dana. Residential: R600

 

NON-RESIDENTIAL: Special price for local residents who wish to attend the retreats, excluding accommodation, but including specified vegetarian meals, and teacher’s dana. Non-residential: R400

 

Deposit of 50% is payable upon reservation of place for residential retreats, and balance payable in cash or cheque upon arrival. Deposit may be posted or paid into bank account, details of which will be provided when booking is made. If booking is cancelled 2 weeks prior to retreat, the deposit will be refunded, less cancellation fee of R100.

 

Plettenberg Bay is a popular holiday destination. It is possible to come early and/or stay after the retreat. Special rates for retreatants participating in our conducted retreats, who wish to stay longer in our self-catering cottages, are R150 per person per night.

 

GENERAL

 

SCA is a non-smoking space. Retreatants to uphold the 5 Buddhist Precepts (see Code of Conduct). We hope you can join us on the retreat. You don’t have to be a Buddhist, because anyone can benefit from the Buddha’s teachings. Number of places limited, so early booking is advisable: phone (044) 533 0453 or email satchitanand@global.co.za for further enquiries and bookings.

 

DIRECTIONS

 

There are 3 entrances to Plett: Coming from Cape Town side, take first entrance into Piesang Valley. Coming from Port Elizabeth side, take third entrance into Piesang Valley. Drive down the valley, till end of the road. There is a traffic circle, garage and some shops. Turn right towards the BI Hotel (left goes up the hill into town). Pass 1st right being Longships Road. Take 2nd right into Longstone Road. There will be a small park on your left hand side, and we are in the road that runs behind this park: no 16 Great Basses Road, large sea-sand coloured house. NB please phone on arrival, because we do not always hear the doorbell.

 

J SAT CHIT ANAND namaste to you Buddha-to-be! 

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