July 2016 NEWSLETTER International Meditation Centre IN THE TRADITION OF SAYAGYI U BA KHIN TEACHERS Mother Sayamagyi: IMC United Kingdom IMC Australia (NSW) IMC Australia (WA) IMC Austria IMC USA U Khin Zaw: IMC Yangon (Myanmar)
COURSE SCHEDULE 2016 2017 Course dates are correct at the time of publishing this Newsletter. Please check www.internationalmeditationcentre.org for the most up-to-date schedule before applying for a course or making any travel arrangements. IMC United Kingdom Courses under the guidance of Mother Sayamagyi assisted by Mr Roger Bischoff: August 19 29, 2016 September 23 October 3, 2016 October 21 31, 2016 November 25 December 5, 2016 December 23 January 2, 2017 January 13 23, 2017 February 10 20, 2017 March 10 20, 2017 April 7 17, 2017 May 12 22, 2017 June 9 19, 2017 July 21 31, 2017 August 18 28, 2017 IMC Australia (NSW) September 30 October 10, 2016 November 25 December 5, 2016 Dr Mark Peterson Mr Richard Walsh January 13 23, 2017 Mr Michael Fraser April 7 17, 2017 Dr Mark Peterson May 26 June 5, 2017 Mr Richard Walsh July 7 17, 2017 Mr Michael Fraser September 22 October 2, 2017 November 24 December 4, 2017 Dr Mark Peterson Mr Richard Walsh
COURSE SCHEDULE 2016 2017 continued IMC Australia (WA) August 12 22, 2016 Mr Douglas Solomon November 25 December 5, 2016 Mr Gregory Solomon IMC Austria August 26 September 5, 2016 Mr Franz Neuner October 28 November 7, 2016 Mr Hubert Knaus December 29 January 8, 2017 Mr Franz Neuner February 10 20, 2017 Mr Franz Zelsacher April 28 May 8, 2017 Mr Franz Neuner July 7 17, 2017 Mr Franz Zelsacher August 4 14, 2017 Mr Renzo Fedele October 27 November 6, 2017 Mr Hubert Knaus IMC USA August 19 29, 2016 Mr Michael Kosman October 7 17, 2016 Mr Craig Storti December 9 19, 2016 Mr Craig Storti March 24 April 3, 2017 Mr Michael Kosman May 12 22, 2017 Mr Michael Kosman June 9 19, 2017 Mr Michael Kosman July 14 24, 2017 Mr Craig Storti August 18 28, 2017 Mr Michael Kosman October 6 16, 2017 Mr Craig Storti December 8 18, 2017 Mr Craig Storti Germany Weekend Courses: September 30 October 3, 2016 Mr Horst Jughard April 28 May 1, 2017 Mr Horst Jughard September 29 October 3, 2017 Mr Horst Jughard
COURSE SCHEDULE 2016 2017 continued Italy August 4 14, 2017 Mr Renzo Fedele (at IMC Austria) Japan August 5 15, 2016 Mr James Emery (Aomori) April 28 May 8, 2017 Mr James Emery (Osaka) Weekend Courses: October 28 30, 2016 Mr James Emery (Osaka) February 10 12, 2017 Mr James Emery (Osaka) Netherlands February 3 13, 2017 Mr Matthijs Schouten Russia November 4 14, 2016 Mr Roger Bischoff 2017 Two courses to be taught by Mr Roger Bischoff. Dates to be announced. Switzerland April 12 22, 2017 Mr Eugen Jung Weekend Course: September 2 4, 2016 Mr Eugen Jung Ukraine September 2 12, 2016 Mr Roger Bischoff 2017 Two courses to be taught by Mr Roger Bischoff. Dates to be announced.
SPECIAL DAYS 2016 2017 October 12, 2016 October 16, 2016 Anniversary of the Teachers arrival in the West Abhidhamma Day (Full Moon of Thadingyut) November 14, 2016 Festival of Lights (Full Moon of Tasaung Mon) December 15, 2016 Saya Thetgyi s Demise Day January 19, 2017 March 12, 2017 March 16, 2017 March 23, 2017 April 13-16, 2017 April 17, 2017 May 10, 2017 June 9, 2017 July 8, 2017 October 5, 2017 October 12, 2017 November 3, 2017 December 4, 2017 January 19, 2018 Sayagyi U Ba Khin s Demise Day Full Moon of Tabaung Mother Sayamagyi s Birthday Sayagyi U Ba Khin s Birthday Water Festival Burmese New Year Buddha Day (Full Moon of Kason) Mahāsamāya Day (Full Moon of Nayon) Dhammacakka Day (Full Moon of Waso) Abhidhamma Day (Full Moon of Thadingyut) Anniversary of the Teachers arrival in the West Festival of Lights (Full Moon of Tasaung Mon) Saya Thetgyi s Day Sayagyi U Ba Khin s Demise Day
Right Speech is Always Truthful and Beneficial Before going to sleep in his little room at the back of the Dhamma Hall every night U Hla Htun, the cook at the IMC in Yangon, always re-took the precepts and then recited the parittas (the Mettā and Maṅgala suttas) until he, still mumbling, dropped off to sleep. When we asked him why he was taking the precepts every night, he replied that he felt quite certain about not having broken four of the precepts, but about the fifth one, right speech, he was not sure. One says so many things during a long day without being very clear in the mind all the time. We asked Sayadaw U Pavara about this precept of Right Speech. He replied that this precept consists of four parts, four verbal actions to be avoided: 1) I will abstain from speaking lies. 2) I will abstain from divisive speech and false accusation. 3) I will abstain from rough and harsh speech. 4) I will abstain from frivolous talk. The Sayadaw said that all four sections are of equal importance and that the Buddha never singled out one of the four types of wrong speech as being worse or more difficult to keep, just as he did not single out any of the five precepts as being more difficult to keep. Unlike in some other religions, where only lying constitutes wrong speech, in the teachings of the Buddha this moral precept is broken just the same if one resorts to the other three types of wrong speech. If someone shouts and abuses he has broken the precept and has to undertake it again, just like U Hla Htun did every night. Shouting is just as bad as lying or divisive speech. If this is not understood, this moral precept is broken habitually and without restraint and no Samādhi can come about. In Burma children grow up with this understanding and that is one reason why Sayagyi did not need to impose noble silence during the courses at his Centre.
The very famous Burmese Sayadaw U Janakabhivamsa gives some additional details concerning this precept: 1) Lying: When there is the intention to deceive and a lie is spoken, the precept is broken. In the kamma-patha 1 way of reckoning, considering the kammic effect, if others do not believe the lie, the kammapatha is not fulfilled. Even if others do believe the lie, if they are not harmed by the lie, the kamma-patha is not fulfilled. 2) Divisive speech: Divisive speech destroys harmony and friendship between people. The motivation can be either to set people against each other or to win someone s affection by destroying his affection for another person. 3) Rough speech: Rough speech is unpleasant and improper speech such as shouting and abusing. Even if the speech is sweet, if it is spoken with ill will, it is rough speech. For example, if a judge imposes the death penalty with a smiling face and civil words, it is still rough speech as the mental volition is cruel. The commentaries say that if parents or teachers shout to correct wayward youngsters, it is not rough speech, although, if anger arises momentarily, for that moment the precept is broken. 4) Frivolous talk: In essence, one only breaks the precept if one speaks about improper, wrong subjects that just destroy the good fortune and happiness of people. If one mentions improper subjects as examples to make a point for the benefit of others, it is not frivolous talk. If one talks about good subjects, even without the aim to benefit others, it still does not amount to frivolous talk. We should always keep these four parts of wrong speech in mind, if we are aiming at achieving good Samādhi. 1 Course of action, the tenfold bodily, verbal, and mental wholesome actions and tenfold bodily, verbal, and mental unwholesome actions.
I n t e r n a t i o n a l M e d i t a t i o n C e n t r e IN THE TRADITION OF SAYAGYI U BA KHIN To locate websites for all countries, see www.internationalmeditationcentre.org IMC UK IMC NSW IMC WA IMC Austria IMC USA Canada Germany Italy Japan Netherlands Belgium Singapore Switzerland Splatts House, Heddington, Calne, SN11 0PE, UK T: +44 1380 850 238 E: imcuk@internationalmeditationcentre.org PO Box 3059, Bonnells Bay, NSW 2264, Australia T: +61 2 4970 5433, F: +61 2 4970 5749, E: 10days@imcnsw.com 1525 Jacoby Street, Mundaring, WA 6073, Australia T: +61 8 9295 2644, F: +61 8 9295 3435, E: imcperth@iinet.net.au St Michael 6, 9130 Poggersdorf, Austria T: +43 4224 2820, F: +43 4224 2820 32, E: mail@imc-austria.com 4920 Rose Drive, Westminster MD 21158, USA T: +1 410 346 7889, E: info@internationalmeditationcenter.org IMC Canada, 4 Old York Crescent, Kitchener, Ontario, N2B 3G3 T: +1 519 896 0533, E: pattip.lp@gmail.com Sayagyi U Ba Khin Gesellschaft, In der Wann 39, 35037 Marburg T: +49 6421 34 660, E: h.jughard@web.de Mr Renzo Fedele, Via Euganea 94, 35033 Bresseo PD T: +39 049 9900 752, E: renzo1fed@yahoo.it Sayagyi U Ba Khin Memorial Trust, 2-2-22 Minato-Machi #209, Naniwa-ku, Osaka City 556-0017 T/F: +81 6 6649 2105, E: emery@waltz.plala.or.jp Sayagyi U Ba Khin Stichting, Centrumlaan 10, 6869 VE Heveadorp T: +31 26 33 32 554, E: secretaris@ubakhin.net Address/Email as for Netherlands T/F: +32 2 351 4559 Sayagyi U Ba Khin Memorial Association, 522 East Coast Road, #12-03 Ocean Park, Singapore 458966 T: +65 66693608, E: limsongteng@gmail.com Sayagyi U Ba Khin Gesellschaft, c/o Eugen Jung, Abendstrasse 30/119, 3018 Bern T: +41 31 991 6141, E: eugen.jung@hispeed.ch Ukraine Mr Oleksandr Nosov, Glushkova ave, h. 45, app. 37, Kiev 03187 T: +380 63 154 2077, E: alexandre8n@gmail.com USA (West Coast) Mr Joe McCormack, 23 Via Capistrano, Tiburon, CA 94920, USA T: +1 415 789 0153, F: +1 415 789 0193, E: mccormack23@comcast.net Published by the Sayagyi U Ba Khin Memorial Trust, United Kingdom, address as IMC UK above. Registered charity 280134