"Finding the Deep Peace of the Heart" An International Meditation Retreat with Luang Por ViraDhammo

Finding the Deep Peace of the Heart

An International Meditation Retreat

with Luang Por ViraDhammo

Dhammagiri Foundation, Mae Hong Son, Thailand.

Dear Brothers and Sisters of the Dhamma,

Thank you for your interest in participating in this meditation retreat with Luang Por ViraDhammo organized by BuddhaDhamma Foundation Ltd (“BDF”).

Luang Por ViraDhammo, 71, ordained since 1974, was the senior Western disciple of Ajahn Chah, the revered Thai forest monk Dhamma teacher. He is currently the abbot of Tisarana Buddhist Monastery, Canada. We are indeed privileged to have the opportunity to practice and receive guidance from a Noble bhikkhu of 44 vassa.

This 9 days, 8 precepts, noble silence retreat shall commence in Dhammagiri Foundation, Mae Hong Son, Thailand on 22nd December 2018. To register your interest for this retreat, it is important that you read and understand the retreat details carefully.

Your registration here is an expression of interest and shall not be deemed a confirmation of acceptance. You will receive an email confirmation from BDF’s retreat co-ordinator by 31st August 2018 if your registration has been successfully accepted.

The email address of BDF may not have been saved into your email address book. To ensure you do not miss any future email correspondences from us, you are kindly advised to save it now. Email address : info@buddhadhammafoundation.org

Thank you for your registration and we shall be in touch soon.

BuddhaDhamma Foundation

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RETREAT Key Details, Terms & Conditions :

(1) Dates

Start : 22 Dec 2018 (Sat) 7pm

End : 30 Dec 2018 (Sun) 7am

Bonus: 30Dec - 1st Jan 2019 7am

Retreat venue check-in : 22 Dec 2018 by 5pm

Retreat commence : 22 Dec 2018 at 7pm

Free Bonus Extension: with organised program

31st December 2018-1st January 2019

Visit Hill Tribe schools and distribution of warm clothing.(Pang Ung, Bann Rak Thai)

Sightseeing of city & natural attractions as time permit.(Baan Ja Bo, Tam Lod, etc)

Evening New Year's Eve Party with the Foundation’s children.

New Year's Eve chanting and blessing ceremony

(2) Package

Teachings of the Dhamma is Priceless. Value one benefits is Immeasurable.

The Package is an estimated value for per person shared cost of the following:

• Board : 10 nights at Dhammagiri Foundation (single room, twin share or dormitory)
• Food : simple light breakfast, vegetarian lunch, afternoon beverage (pana) for retreat
• Transport : Retreat Venue Free pick up to & from MHS airport only
• Resources maintenance : Hall, use of facilities, setup
• Sangha Dana: Contribution of offerings to Teachers during retreat

Needy applicant is welcome to apply for dormitory stay FREE of charge.

FEMALE

Retreat Package Cost in Singapore Dollars Per Person

Dormitory common share

SGD $400

Alternative choice of twin-share or single occupancy (limited quantity) :

Room by the Hillside

Room by the Stream

Twin-share

SGD $700

SGD $1,000

Single occupancy

SGD $1,000

NA

MALE

Retreat Package Cost in Singapore Dollars Per Person

Dormitory common share

SGD $400

Single Occupancy

SGD $1,000

The organisers do not make any profit from organising this event.

All proceeds above cost shall be donated towards Tisarana Monasteries and Sangha of the SanghaRama.

Same gender room and dormitory allocation. All participants must be of a minimum age of 21 years old, physically mobile & independent with a stable emotional and mental state. Those between 18-21 years will be admitted only on a case-by-case basis.

Full payment is required only after your place is confirmed.

(3) Transport

Please arrange your own transport to the pickup point at MHS airport by 5pm, 22nd December 2018.

Free shuttle pick up to the Dhammagiri Foundation will be arranged at stipulated request time. The Retreat venue is 5km away from the airport.

Flights:

Daily flights by Bangkok Airways (& high season NokAir) to MHS are available from Chiangmai airport.

Cool Seasons booking for December commenced by end of October. Normally two flights daily will be available both ways CNX-MHS.

Vans:

Many passenger vans from Chiangmai to MHS are available throughout the day with cost ranging from 270 baht per person or 1500-2000 baht for the whole van.

http://premprachatransports.com/timetable/

Kindly keep us informed of your transport mode and confirmed flight details (both ways)by 30th November 2018.

All participants are required to start and end as a group. No late-comers, part-timers, early departures will be permitted.

(4) Format

This is an 8-precepts, noble silence retreat. All participants are to observe :

• Harmlessness: not intentionally taking the life of any living creature.
• Trustworthiness: not taking anything that is not offered. Honesty is all in words, deeds, thoughts.
• Chastity: refraining from any sexual activity.
• Right Speech: avoiding false, abusive or malicious speech and idle chatter, and, on retreat, keeping Noble Silence.
• Sobriety: not taking any intoxicating drinks or drugs that lead to heedlessness.
• Renunciation: not eating after mid-day and renouncing all communication devices and retreat within oneself
• Restraint: not wearing make-up, perfume, jewellery or immodest clothing; not texting, emailing, making telephone calls or using the internet; not playing or listening to music, or watching TV, or partake in forms of entertainment.
• Alertness: refraining from overindulgence eg sleep.

No usage of all mobile and communication devices during the retreat so that our minds will not be distracted.

Maintain Noble Silence : no verbal, visual, written communications during retreat.

All participants must commit and respect these precepts and observe them truthfully.

(5) Venue

Dhammagiri Foundation is the venue of this retreat.

http://www.dhammagiri.or.th

(6) Retreat reservation & payment policy

Registration closing date : When all available places are taken up or 28th August 2018, whichever is earlier.

Within 2 weeks of receipt of confirmation email from BDF of your place, 100% full payment is required. Delays may cause the forfeiture of reservation and the place will be given to the next waiting candidate in the queue.

(7) Withdrawal/Cancellation policy

Whilst we are hopeful of the non-event, we do understand that unforeseen circumstances may warrant a registered participant to withdraw before travel. Please inform BDF's co-ordinator immediately via email.

With the submission of valid reasons before 1 December 2018, we would be happy to consider a full refund of payment for land costs if the minimum group size has been met, otherwise the refund could be 80% of land costs.

We regret that cancellation after 1 December 2018 may be subjected to full forfeiture of payment.

(8) Sitting and walking meditation

There will be sitting and walking meditation sessions throughout the retreat.

For sitting sessions, you are encouraged to bring your own meditation cushion or kneeling stool.

All participants should be at all the sitting and walking meditation sessions.

(9) Attire

Warm clothing is a MUST.

Tops should be plain, all white, with minimal graphics, text.

Trousers, long skirts should be loose-fitting, black and ankle-length.

All are requested to be dressed modestly, and this includes:

• not wearing sleeveless tee-shirts, spaghetti tops, camisoles
• not wearing short or tight-fitting clothing or leggings
• not wearing low or plunging necklines or transparent/see-through clothing
• not wearing tattered, torn or clothing with holes
• not wearing shorts, skirts, or dresses which end above the ankles

(10) Pre-trip information

A pdf copy of the information booklet will be sent over to you via email at least one week prior to the departure date.

(11) Attitude of the practice

The law of nature (impermanence) is the order of the day; before, during & after the retreat. Program is subject to changes and uncertainties.

Patience, endurance, compassionate understanding would be useful throughout this period. Observe every moment as an opportunity of cultivating the paramis to help strengthen one's practice on the noble path.

BuddhaDhamma Foundation is run wholly by volunteers. Your full co-operation and support would be greatly appreciated. In the event of a regrettable situation that affects the well-being of the retreat, the participants and organizers, participants with misconduct may be asked to leave the retreat. Such incidents shall be non-refundable.

(12) Organizers

BuddhaDhamma Foundation's ("BDF") mission is to inspire a community of lives that accentuates the Noble Path through the cultivation of Sila, Samadhi and Panna ~ this is Our Practice ~ "The Path to Peace".

Our Real Home is the "Place in Our Heart".

The Buddha-Dhamma-Sangha is our noble refuge, our noble teachers, our noble protectors, our noble companion. Entering the stream and to be free from all samsaric sufferings ~ that is the ultimate noble goal of all on this Noble Path.

The BuddhaDhamma Foundation is supported by a philanthropic family of dhammafarers & volunteers encouraged to Preserve, Promote, Practice and Realize the true fruits of a rich inheritance left by The Lord Buddha. Its activities are wholly supported through volunteerism and shared motivations.

At BDF, we welcome you and your devoted strive of practice of the 8 Noble Path.

"Self-care and Omni-care" are central endeavors in BDF's Dhamma mission to actualize happiness, peace and a sense of liberating well-being and spiritual progress.

The mission of BuddhaDhamma Foundation is a life-long journey.

We can be contacted via

Facebook : Be our friend at “BuddhaDhamma Foundation”

Email : info@buddhadhammafoundation.org

Sadhu Anumodana!