COURSE INFORMATION ABOUT THE CENTRE Thank yu fr yur enquiry abut attending a curse at Bdhi Tree Frest Mnastery and Retreat Centre. The Centre is a nn-prfit charity rganisatin funded fr the study and practice f satipatthàna vipassanà (insight meditatin) in the traditin f Mahàsi Sayàdaw f Burma. We are part f the Theravàda traditin f Buddhism, the traditin fllwed by the peples f Sri Lanka, Myanmar (Burma), Thailand, Cambdia and Las, as well as by many in western cuntries. Bdhi Tree Frest Mnastery and Retreat Centre is n ninety five acres, five minutes nrth f Lismre in the Rainbw Regin f Nrthern NSW near Byrn Bay. The prperty has tw permanent creeks fed by fresh water springs, large rck pls suitable fr swimming, substantial pckets f remnant rainfrest as well as lush rlling green fields. We share the prperty with kangars, wallabies, kalas, platypus, echidnas, turtles, gannas and water dragns are all cmmn sights arund Bdhi Tree, as well as a large array f birdlife frm the small azure kingfishers and blue wrens, t the clurful king parrts and crimsn rsellas, the large wedge-tailed eagles and black cckats, and the water bird herns and cranes. The Centre ffers a variety f different curses, varying in length frm ne day and weekend intrductry wrkshps, t ten, twenty and thirty day intensive retreats, as well as the ptential fr lnger term accmmdatin fr meditatrs willing t assist with the running f the centre. The shrter curses are designed fr beginners and intermediate practitiners. If yu are new t meditatin we suggest that yu begin with a ne day r weekend wrkshp befre cnsidering a lnger retreat. Experienced meditatrs may als find it useful t renew their understanding f the basics f insight meditatin by attending an intrductry wrkshp. ABOUT THE COURSES Intrductry Wrkshps: Wrkshps run fr ne r tw days and n prir experience f Buddhism r meditatin is required. They are therefre suitable fr beginners r experienced meditatrs wh wish t refresh their understanding. A twday wrkshp wuld nrmally be dne in silence. A typical day wuld begin at 9:00 a.m. and finish at 5:00 p.m., and include pprtunities fr grup discussin f any issues that arise frm meditatin practice, as well as a chance fr a ne n ne interview with the teacher during the tw day wrkshps. Vipassana Retreats: Retreats can run fr tw, ten r twenty days. Retreats are cnducted in silence, which includes n talking (including n use f mbile phnes r email), n cmmunicating thrugh bdy language, n listening t music, n reading, and n writing except fr brief ntes recrding yur meditatin experience. Hwever, there are pprtunities t discuss the practice with the teacher thrugh individual cnsultatins r grup discussins. A typical retreat day begins arund 6 am and ends arund 10 pm, with a rest perid in the middle f the day. The whle day is spent practising sitting and walking meditatin, cultivating cntinuus attentin t the changing nature f ur mment-t-mment experience. There is als a Dhamma Talk every evening.
Lng Term Retreats: We hpe t ne day be able t ffer serius Vipassana meditatrs the chance t cnduct lng term self retreats at Bdhi Tree in a kuti (meditatin hut) in the frest with meals fully catered fr, maximizing the time the ygi can cmmit t the intensive practice free f distractins. At present, psitins frequently becme available fr experienced meditatrs t live and wrk at the centre. Lng Term retreatants prvide a much needed service such as gardening r cking in exchange fr accmmdatin and fd and the pprtunity t deepen their practice at Bdhi Tree with the ability t cnsult with an experienced teacher n a daily basis. COURSE CONDUCT A meditatin retreat is a serius undertaking which requires great effrt and selfdiscipline. A retreat is nt merely a chance t escape the pressures f daily life, nr a means f vercming a psychlgical crisis, nr time ut in which t d yur wn practice. Rather, it is a unique pprtunity t cultivate the Buddha s way f liberatin first taught tw and a half thusand years ag thrugh the practice f genersity, ethics, meditatin and understanding. Walking this path, we can learn t abandn actins f bdy, speech and mind that bring suffering t urselves and thse arund us, and cultivate actins that bring true happiness t urselves and thse arund us. The cultivatin f sila, r ethics, is fundamental t the practice, as it allws the student t develp a firm fundatin f cncentratin, frm which insight and understanding can mature, and prvides a cnducive envirnment fr meditatin. All meditatrs at the Centre fllw the five basic Buddhist precepts. The five basic Buddhist precepts are: 1. T abstain frm intentinally killing r harming living beings (including insects). 2. T abstain frm taking what is nt given r ffered. 3. T abstain frm sexual miscnduct (abstentin frm all sexual activity n retreat). 4. T abstain frm dishnest r harsh speech (nble silence while n retreat). 5. T abstain frm intxicants that clud the mind. The five basic Buddhist precepts expressed in psitive terms: 1. T act with cmpassin and lving-kindness twards all sentient beings. 2. T be pen hearted and generus. 3. T practice stillness, simplicity, cntentment and self-restraint. 4. T speak with truth, clarity and peace. 5. T live with mindfulness. ACCOMMODATION AND FOOD Accmmdatin at present is bunk style in separate rms fr men and wmen, sme experienced meditatrs may be allwed t stay in tents if given permissin by the teacher. Mattresses, pillws and blankets are prvided. Sitting mats, cushins and chairs are als prvided in the meditatin hall althugh mst meditatrs find it beneficial t bring their wn equipment. Ear plugs can be beneficial fr light sleepers. The Centre is lcated n 95 acres in a semi-rural setting, and unfrtunately is nt currently suitable fr wheelchair r disabled access, r fr the very frail elderly. We serve simple, healthy, predminantly rganic, vegetarian fd, with the main meal f the day at lunchtime. Mst retreats will als have a light supper served in the evening. Meals are ften cked by vlunteers r dnated, and due t the numbers t be catered fr, we are generally nt able t cater fr special dietary requirements.
CHECKLIST OF WHAT TO BRING A suggested list f items t bring: Sheets r Sleeping Bag, Pillw Case, Twel, Trch, Insect Repellent, Sunscreen, Hat, Umbrella, Slip On Shes r Sandals, Watch/Clck, Meditatin Cushin r Stl (ptinal), Ntepad and Pen, Tiletries, Ear Plugs, Swimmers (swimming nly at the end f the retreat), Water Bttle, Apprpriate Clthing (mdest, quiet, cmfrtable and warm r cl depending upn the seasn nights can get cld). COURSE COSTS All curses at Bdhi Tree are run n a dana (dnatin) basis. The Bdhi Tree Frest Mnastery and Retreat Centre is run by mnks and vlunteers as a part f the Buddha Dhamma Educatin Assciatin, a nn-prfit rganisatin which als runs www.buddhanet.net, all f ur expenses and running csts are cvered by generus dnatins. They d nt include any charge fr the teachings, which are given freely in accrdance with the Buddhist traditin. As the mnks and teachers are nt paid fr their teachings and guidance, they rely slely n the genersity f their students fr their livelihd and basic requirements. Similarly, the Centre relies n dnatins t cver its nging maintenance and future building prgrams. Genersity, r dana, is the fundatin practice f the Buddha s way f liberatin, and helps t break the mind s tendency tward attachment, s we encurage students t make an ffering t their teacher and/r the Bdhi Tree Centre. An ffering t the Centre culd als be in the frm f vlunteer labur, fr example as a ck r ck s assistant during the retreat, cleaning, general maintenance f equipment, r maintaining the prperty itself, requisites fr the mnks, r cvering grcery bills and fd fr the retreat. HOW TO BOOK FOR A COURSE As the Centre is small, with a maximum capacity f abut 20 students, please bk as far in advance as pssible t avid disappintment, sme retreats during peak times are very busy while thers, at nn-peak times, generally still have a few last minute places left. Please first check with us that there is a place available in the curse yu re interested in. If the curse is full, we can put yu n a waiting list t be ntified in case any cancellatins cme up. If a place is available, yu will then need t cmplete the curse registratin frm and send it t us t cnfirm yur place. CANCELLATION As we d nt charge a depsit and rely n dnatins, there have been instances in the past f ygis abusing this traditin either by nt turning up at all, r cancelling at the last minute. This causes the centre many prblems bth with the rdering f fd quantities, as well as the rganisatin f ther ygis t fill the vacancy at the last minute. Please give us as much ntice as pssible if yu need t cancel yur bking, s that we can ffer yur place t anther student r amend catering requirements. Remember if yu d leave early, there were prbably several peple n the waiting list wh culd have dne the curse in yur place. Out f cnsideratin fr them, as well as yur wn practice, please make a cmmitment t attend the whle curse.
CONTACT DETAILS Thank yu fr taking the time t read this infrmatin, if yu have any questins please feel free t cntact us n (02) 6628 2426 r webmaster@buddhanet.net r write t: Bdhi Tree Frest Mnastery and Retreat Centre, 78 Bentley Rad, Tullera NSW 2480, Australia. We hpe t see yu sn, and wish yu an enjyable stay at the Bdhi Tree Frest Mnastery and Retreat Centre. With metta and blessings, Venerable Bdhicitta
PERSONAL DETAILS (All infrmatin is strictly cnfidential) Applying Fr Retreat Dates: Name Address Twn/Suburb State Pstcde Hme Phne Wrk Phne Occupatin Email Mbile Phne Birth year Female Male D yu understand English well? Yes N Natinality In case f emergency, please cntact (name): Relatinship: Mbile: Hme: Have yu previusly attended a curse at Bdhi Tree? Yes N If s, please give details: Hw did yu find ut abut us? Friend Newsletter Buddhanet Buddhist Organisatin Phnebk Pster/Flyer On cmpletin f the curse we wuld like t add yur details t ur database, s we can email yu ur newsletter. N infrmatin will be given t third parties, and n infrmatin whatsever wuld ever be shared r used fr cmmercial purpses with any cmmercial rganisatins. D yu wish t be added t ur mailing list? Yes N Hw will yu be cming t the Centre? Own Car. Bus/Train Car Share/Lift Plane D yu require a lift frm Lismre? Yes N Please nte we have limited ff-street parking facilities, s if pssible please share transprt - we are always happy t cllect yu frm the bus r train statin r the dmestic airprt in Lismre abut 5kms away. A full car cver r dash bard screen may help prtect vehicles parked at Bdhi Tree during the lnger summer retreats.
INFORMATION FOR THE TEACHER (All infrmatin is strictly cnfidential) The infrmatin requested here helps yur teacher t better understand yur backgrund and any difficulties yu might encunter during the curse. 1. What experience d yu have f vipassanà (insight) meditatin in the Màhàsi traditin, r the brader Theravàda traditin? Wh were yur teachers? 2. D yu practise any ther kind f meditatin? If s, what kind, and fr hw lng have yu practised it? Hw lng d yu sit fr? 3. D yu have any physical r psychlgical prblems that may be aggravated by intensive sitting and walking meditatin, r in any ther way interfere with yur ability t participate in this curse? Please give details. 4. Are yu currently seeing a psychlgist/psychiatrist? Yes N If s, d they apprve f yur participatin in this curse? Yes N (Apprval must be sught frm yur psychlgist/psychiatrist t attend a Vipassana retreat. Meditatrs with depressin fr example can ften find Vipassana retreats can assist with their recvery, while in a small number f cases such as schizphrenia, Vipassana retreats are usually nt recmmended please check with yur Dctr and btain the relevant apprval first). Psychlgist/Psychiatrist s Name: Cntact Phne Number: 5. Are there currently circumstances in yur life that may make meditatin difficult fr yu at this time (fr example, jb stress, family difficulties r relatinship lss)?
COURSE CONTRACT I have read the curse infrmatin sheet and I agree t make a cmmitment t attend the whle curse, keep the training precepts, maintain silence and cmmit myself fully t the practice f meditatin as instructed by the curse teacher. I als accept, that the Bdhi Tree Frest Mnastery and Retreat Centre has nly shrtly been established and is at present limited in the scpe f activities that can functin under the limited public liability plicy it currently has, and as such, I take full respnsibility fr my wn actins and agree t indemnify the Buddha Dhamma Educatin Assciatin in full shuld an accident r persnal injury ccur during my stay at Bdhi Tree Frest Mnastery and Retreat Centre. Signature Date