We think this course is well worth your time and the take-away from your 5 days here can be life changing. Before you make that decision, however, please acquaint yourself with typical activities and some ground rules. If you feel that the ask is too much or what we offer are not quite what you are looking for, then this 5-day course is not the right choice.
Is this course right for me?
Teaching Method
The word meditation often leads people to a lotus pose with closed eyes, following by the “act” of meditating as a means to attain the point of peace – be it through breath, relaxation or even the manipulation of own mind to resemble the state of mindfulness. This course is not at all about the right ways to sit or the right ways to walk, for there is no one correct method. As all of us are different, the correct practice is the one that fits you best
If you are after a retreat filled with different poses of meditation throughout each day, then this course is not for you.
In this course, instead, you will learn about tranquility meditation, mindfulness and insight meditation and practices through teaching sessions, Q&As, small group discussions. There is one group Buddhist chanting or meditation session every afternoon; and personal time in the evening for your own meditation and practices.
During the Course
During these 5 days, the activities are built around common purpose rather than the different routines each of us is used to.
We request everyone to follow the guidelines below. Not only they are supporting the atmosphere and harmony of the overall experiences, they also mean to support the quality of your mind, ensuring its full capability and capacity. Beautiful fruits are yielded from the good balance of soil, water and sun. The mind, despite being uncertain and not under our command, requires right conditions to see.
The Five Precepts
These are the core moral code of Buddhism. Apart from being the ethical society norms, the five precepts altogether have the right impact for practitioners. The Pali version of these five precepts actually points out the direct relationship between the precept and stability of the mind.
1. Refrain from killing
2. Refrain from taking what is not given
3. Refrain from sexual misconduct
4. Refrain from false speech
5. Refrain from alcohol drinks
The quality of the mind is crucial for mindfulness practice. Precepts help keeping the mind to be at its right, natural state. Take notice of your mind when you break each of the precept in your daily life, the mind is obscured, jumbled, heavy or clouded.
For this reason, we ask all participants to follow the Five Precepts during the course, and encourage all serious mindfulness practitioners to adopt the precepts into their everyday life.
Be On Time and Follow the Schedule Through
Each session is meant to prepare you for the subsequent sessions. Please follow the schedule and be mindful of the time. Lateness can be disruptive to the progress of the course.
Remain in the resort to take full advantage of this experience. Please do not go out or invite friends over.
Be Mindful Not to Disturb Others
Remain as mindful as possible especially of your actions and speech. Smoking is also not allowed during the course
Thoughts versus Truth
From experiences, a good number of practitioners learn and then spend a lot of time pondering on the subjects instead of observing the phenomena as they arise. To have the full benefits of this course, try to remember this fact during your practices.