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General Retreat Information

 

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Short and long intensive vipassana retreats are organized yearly for the benefit of meditators who seriously want to practice the insight or mindfulness meditation taught by the Buddha and guided according to the Mahasi tradition at TMC.

 

For the general schedule of the retreats, please see the yearly schedule under the heading of “Yearly Schedule.” It is tentatively created so that meditators can plan accordingly as far as their time off for the retreat is concerned. The schedule is subject to change.

 

For detailed information on a specific retreat, TMC will announce it approximately two months before each retreat’s starting date so that interested meditators can have time to apply should they are interested in the retreat. Please go to the general “Announcements” or “Announcement under “Retreats” for more information on each announced retreat.

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Once accepted to the retreat, meditators need to do the following:

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  • Before coming to the retreat, please read the Retreat Manual as much as possible to have a general idea about the retreat. Please pay attention to meditation instructions, interview guidance, and rules and regulations in the Retreat Manual. They are also listed under “Retreat” here. With a prior knowledge of the instructions, meditators will absorb meditation instructions given by meditation teachers solidly during the retreat. With clear understanding of interview guidance, meditators know how to practice and then report his or her practice experience effectively and efficiently since each meditator has only ten minutes for each interview. With the familiarity of the rules and regulations, meditators avoid distractions during the retreat. 

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  • When coming to the retreat, meditators need to bring daily necessities, a small personal container (bottle) for drinking water, a blanket, and a bed sheet or sleeping bag.TMC can lend used but clean ones for meditators coming from far, i.e., taking airplane for their trip. The weekly laundry service is paid by TMC for meditators’ convenience. So meditators do not have to bring a lot of clothes if they do not want to.

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  • During the retreat, meditators must follow the retreat daily schedule listed in the Retreat Manual as well as under “Retreat” here. The daily practice schedule is designed in such a way that helps meditators to have a balance from sitting meditation and walking meditation practices for their benefit. As mentioned above, meditators are required to follow the rules and regulations to avoid distractions during the retreat and to help retreat corrdinators to run the retreat as smoothly as they can.

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The other items besides sitting and walking meditations of the daily schedule include taking eight precepts at 5 P.M. before the Dhamma talk, reciting a small excerpt from the Four Foundations of Mindfulness Sermon and sharing merits after the Dhamma talk, and reciting the Loving-kindness Sermon (Metta Sutta) at 9:40 P.M.  The eight precepts limit two meals a day, one at 6 A.M. and one at 11 A.M.  For yogis with health condition, they can take five precepts so that they can take medicine in the evening but they must take care of their light dinner since the center will not provide it.

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Meditators coming to the retreat need to focus on their practice and avoid distractions such as using phones for conversation or on-line ordering, talking, and association.

 

We wish all meditators good and productive retreats!

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Tathagata Meditation Center

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