FROM INSIGHT MEDITATION (VIPASSANA) TO LIBERATION

Welcome to our annual Dharma programme

  in Shravasthi, north of Lucknow

and Sarnath,  near Varanasi, India in February, 2013.

Thai Monastery, Shravasthi. February 10 - 20, 2013 with Christopher Titmuss

Thai Monastery,  Sarnath, February 21-28, 2013 with Christopher Titmuss , Jaya, Zohar and Jess Huon

Every year, the noise pollution in Bodh Gaya has increased due to use of rock festival style loudspeakers for weddings and Mahayana pujas. Air pollution gets worse and worse as traffic, trucks, buses and cars, increases at a dramatic rate. More and more of us use face masks in the village. The pollution contributes to the blocking of sinuses, chest irritation and vulnerability to germs.  More and more meditators declined to come to Bodh Gaya due to air and noise pollution. The new Lord Abbot of the Thai Monastery told us the Thai monastery will undergo a massive three to four year building programme starting in April, 2012, in the section of the monastery that we use.

He kindly offered to make available to use  other Thai Monasteries such as Shravasthi, Lumbini or Kushinagar.  We chose Shravasthi because of easier train and flight access and the historical importance of Shravasthi. The Abbot is a very strong advocate on the application of Dharma and Vipassana practice.

 You take around a 10 hour overnight train journey from New Delhi  (17 hours on the express train to Gaya) to Gonda railway station, and then coach or shared taxed to Shravasthi. You can fly to Lucknow and then take a bus or taxi to Shravasthi or train to Gonda. Gonda is six hours on the train from Varanasi.

There is growing appreciation already for our move to Shravasthi. Some teachers, managers and seniors in the Dharma have expressed interest to sit the retreat in this peaceful zone next February, 2013.. The Lord Abbot of the Thai Monastery in Shravasthi will make space for us in a section of the grounds of the monastery which covers around 10 acres. All constructions there are modest.

Do join the retreat. As in previous years, it is run totally on the donations.

Teachings employ insight meditation (Vipassana) in the four primary postures, one to one meettings, daily talks, inquiry and comprehensive instructions with teachings on mindfulness, the depths of inner experience and  liberation.

Maria  Russell from Australia will be the senior manager for Shravasthi in February 2013..  She will arrive  several days before February 10.  Your support to asist her to prepare retreats would be appreciated.    For further information contact christopher@insightmeditation.org or Maria at shaktimayadevi@gmail.com

In January 2013, Radha Nicholson from Australia will offer a daily meditation talk and inquiry Turvannamalai, south India. The venue is Mountain Breeze Guest House, near Sivasakti Ashram,  Tiruvannamalai, Tamil  Nadu.   She will offer a similar programme in Rishikesh before the Shrvasthi retreat.

Retreats are offered totally on a donation (dana) basis. Your kind donations cover many costs involved for the programmes.

Do come to Shravasthi in the lovely month of February.  Pass the word on. www.cleartrip.com provide an excellent train and plane reservation service. Pay online within India or overseas in Indian currency with email tickets available.

May all beings live with love, wisdom
and know an awakened life.