Year 2001 Retreat Hse Main Gon Panditarama Forest Meditation Center Myanmar (Burma) December 1, 2001 to January 31, 2002 Verily, from meditation arises wisdom. Without meditation, wisdom wanes. Knowing this twofold path of gain and loss, let one so conduct oneself that wisdom may increase. - Dhammapada, verse 282 Saddhamma Foundation 5459 Shafter Ave Oakland, CA 94618 (510) 420-1039 www.saddhamma.org email: retreat@saddhamma.org
Dear Dhamma Friend, Thank you for your interest in attending the year 2001 retreat. The Saddhamma Foundation is happy to be facilitating another retreat with the Venerable Sayadaw U Pandita in Hse Main Gon, the new Panditarama Forest Meditation Center. The retreat will begin on December 1, 2001 and formally end on January 31, 2002. This retreat will be a rare opportunity to practice with the support of Ven. Sayadaw U Pandita and some of the most respected meditation teachers in Myanmar. We hope you will join us. LOCATION: THE FOREST CENTER Panditarama Forest Meditation Center is located in Myanmar (Burma) about forty miles north of Yangon (Rangoon) on over 80 acres of secluded landscaped forest. This region of Burma has a special connection with Sayadaw U Pandita s early spiritual training. He first studied as a young monk at the nearby Mahabodhi Forest Monastery. For many years Sayadaw had thought of building a forest meditation center in this area, and now due to generous donations from Sayadaw s local and international devotees, Hse Main Gon (pronounced say mine goan ) promises to be a major practice center for both foreign and Burmese yogis. TEACHERS Sayadaw U Pandita Sayadaw U Pandita entered the Mahabodhi Monastery at the age of seven. He became an accomplished Buddhist scholar even before studying meditiation under the late Ven. Mahasi Sayadaw. (The Venerable Mahasi Sayadaw is famed for reviving and teaching the practice of Satipatthana meditation to lay people as well as monks and nuns.) Sayadaw U Pandita is now considered one of the leading authorities in the practice of Satipatthanna as taught by his intructor the late Venerable Mahasi Sayadaw. He possesses extensive knowledge in both theory and practice of Samatha and Vipassana meditation. Sayadaw serves as spiritual advisor to retreat centers, monasteries and Buddhist organizations throughout the world. Since 1951, he has traveled to many countries to lead meditation retreats. Formerly the head abbot of Mahasi Sasana Yeiktha, he is now the Ovadacariya Sayadaw (head preceptor, highest rank for monks) of Panditarama monastery in Yangon, Myanmar. Sayadaw U Pannadipa Sayadaw U Pannadipa was one of the main teachers at the 1998 inaugural retreat. He is a Niyaka Sayadaw (considered the highest and most respected level of a qualified teacher, one level below Ovadacariya Sayadaw) and very experienced in teaching western yogi s. Sayadaw U Pannadipa has lived and taught in England for a number of years and is currently the resident Sayadaw at Tathagata Meditation Center in San Jose, California.
Sayadaw U Sasana Sayadaw U Sasana, another Niyaka Sayadaw, was very well received at his first American retreats in 1997 given in Dexter, Oregon and at Tathagata Meditation Center in San Jose, California. He completed the teaching degrees of Sasanadhaja Dhammacariya and Vinaya Paliparagu and has been a meditation teacher for the past 25 years, teaching at renowned meditation centers such as Jeyyavati Sasana Yeiktha, Mahasi Sasana Yeiktha and Panditarama. He currently teaches at Panditarama Meditation Center in Yangon and is also the Abbot of his own center, Gangomyaing Sasana Yeiktha, also in Yangon. Sayadaw U Pannathami Sayadaw U Pannathami, also a Niyaka Sayadaw, has practiced meditation under the guidance of the late Venerable Mahasi Sayadaw, and Venerable Sayadaw U Pandita. He speaks excellent English, and has guided meditators in retreats in Malaysia, Singapore, Australia, Canada, Switzerland, Nepal, the U.K., and the USA. Sayadaw U Dhammika Sayadaw U Dhammika has been a meditation teacher for 15 years and has written several books on the teachings of the Dhamma. He is also a Niyaka Saydaw and has conducted retreats in America and Malaysia. He is currently the resident Sayadaw instructing all yogis at Hse Main Gon Panditarama Forest Meditation Center. STYLE OF PRACTICE The retreat will be taught in the Buddhist tradition of Satipatthana Vipassana (Insight) Meditation using the Mahasi method. This practice emphasizes continuity of awareness through noting of mental and physical objects as they arise on a moment to moment basis throughout the entire day. Instruction and guidance for all students will include discourses every day and individual meetings with the teachers three or more times per week. In this method, yogis are expected to practice continuous mindfulness through out the day including during daily activities and meals as well as fourteen hours of alternating sitting and walking meditation. ACCOMMODATIONS & MEALS Participants will also be expected to observe the eight precepts, which includes abstaining from eating after 12:00 Noon until sunrise of the following day. Juices without pulp, herbal teas, and sodas are permitted and will be served in the late afternoon. Burmese food is served for breakfast and lunch. It typically consists of white rice with assorted vegetables, meat dishes, and seasonal fruit. The monastery can accommodate vegetarians but yogis should not count on fulfillment of other special food needs. Purified drinking water is available at all times and a thermos of hot water is provided daily. Each yogi will be given individual rooms or a small meditation hut. Each room has a bed, foam mattress, pillow, bedding and mosquito net. A bucket and detergent for washing your own clothes will also be provided (only cold water is available).
Hse Main Gon is a rustic, but wonderful place to practice in Burma. The secluded meditation center is being re-landscaped and is neighbored only by rubber tree plantations. In December and January the nights and early morning can be chilly with temperatures in the high 50 s. Afternoon temperatures range from 80 to 90 degrees Fahrenheit. Little or no rain is expected. The stillness, clean air, freshwater springs and fertile land combine to create almost perfect conditions for a meditation center. COSTS A US $200 registration fee is requested when you apply. If you can only afford a smaller amount, you may still register for this retreat. The Monastery provides the yogi (at no charge) with food, lodging and basic needs. However, there are many unanticipated needs that we cannot expect them to make. This donation allows Saddhamma Foundation to provide these needs as well as for the costs of organizing the retreat. If there are donated funds left over after the retreat, it will be donated to Syayadaw U Pandita. Yogis are responsible for their own airfare, transportation, hotel costs outside the meditation center, as well as any personal needs or items they find necessary beyond what is already supplied. Note: This fee is not necessary for Theravadan Monks or Nuns There are no further fees, the teachings are offered freely. The monastery provides lodging, food and other essential services without charge. Translators and staff volunteer their services. All of this is made possible by the dana (generous giving) of teachers and supporters who recognize the priceless value of the teachings of the Buddha and the invaluable opportunity for intensive meditation. However, yogis are also invited to give dana before or after the retreat, but only in keeping with their wishes and their means. HOW TO APPLY Enclosed at the end is a two-page application questionnaire, which is required for the registration process. Please be thorough and honest in your answers so that the Sayadaws can more skillfully guide your practice. Meditation practice in this style can be an intense and powerful experience. Since this setting is far removed from your normal support system, it is helpful that we have a full understanding of each person s background. This information will be kept in the strictest confidence. PLEASE NOTE: People with serious psychiatric conditions occasionally come to retreats with the expectation that the retreat will cure or alleviate those conditions. Meditation practice may be of benefit, but a period of silent, intensive retreat is not recommended in this situation. A meditation retreat is not a substitute for medical or psychotherapeutic treatment, and we do not recommend this retreat for people with serious psychiatric or psychological problems. The Saddhamma Foundation is only facilitating this retreat and cannot be responsible for yogis health and conduct during the retreat. If you have questions about this, please call and speak with one of the organizers. Upon acceptance, you will receive a detailed information package containing complete retreat information on accommodations, a packing list, clothing requirements, weather,
transportation within Burma, necessary vaccinations and preventive medicines. We will also include some additional pertinent information that we feel may be helpful to you. The Hse Main Gon Year 2001 retreat will be offered internationally and slots will be allocated for each country, therefore space will be limited. Preference will be given to those who attend the entire retreat. We will notify you once your application has been approved.
THE APPLICATION Your completed application will be forwarded to Sayadaw U Pandita. Please be thorough and honest in your answers so that the Sayadaws can most skillfully guide your practice. Make sure you fill out both pages. You can return the application to the Saddhamma Foundation by mail, fax, email or by completing the application on our website. The registration fee of US $200 should be made payable to Saddhamma Foundation and mailed when you return your completed application to the address below: Saddhamma Foundation 5459 Shafter Avenue Oakland, CA 94618 Fax/Phone: (510) 420-1039 Email: retreat@saddhamma.org Web: www.saddhamma.org DANA All donations are welcome to help us cover retreat organizing costs and unanticipated yogi needs during the retreat. Any dana not spent on the retreat will be directly donated to Sayadaw U Pandita. Donations for this retreat should be made payable to the Saddhamma Foundation and mailed to the address above. The gift of Dhamma excels all gifts. The flavor of Dhamma excels all flavors. The delight of Dhamma excels all delights. The eradication of craving overcomes all suffering - Dhammapada verse 354 Sadhu! Sadhu! Sadhu!
APPLICATION FOR THE YEAR 2001 RETREAT We appreciate you taking the time to completely answer the following questions on both pages. Please print clearly. Full Name (as shown on passport) Sex: Female Male your email: Address City, State, Zip Code Country Phone: Occupation Date of Birth: Passport No : Country on Passport : Emergency contacts: Name Relationship Address Tel.( ) Name Relationship Address Tel.( ) Please attach additional sheets of paper if you need more space to answer the questions. 1. DO YOU HAVE ANY PREVIOUS MEDITATION EXPERIENCE? YES? NO? If yes, please give detailed information on the following, listing each retreat: Date Teacher Location Length of retreat Tradition/method
Please be thorough and honest in your answers so that the Sayadaws can most skillfully guide your practice. 2. Do you have any history of physical illness, limitations or special needs, which might affect your stay in Burma? If so, please be specific. Including but not limited to such conditions as TB, (tuberculosis), AIDS, hepatitis, or an illness that requires constant treatment such as diabetes. This information is important for us should a situation arise in which you need medical care. 3. Are you taking any drugs or medications? Please list each medication and the condition being treated. 4. Have you ever been diagnosed with a psychological condition? Please describe the diagnosis, treatment given, (including medications), and the dates. 5. Have you ever experienced or been treated for moderate or severe depression or a nervous breakdown? If yes, please list the date(s). Has the condition been resolved? 6. Have you ever attempted to take your life? Yes No If yes, please describe the circumstances and dates. 7. Please include a few lines to let us know why you wish to take part in this retreat? PLEASE READ CAREFULLY AND SIGN BELOW: I hereby certify that all of the information contained in this application is complete and accurate to the best of my knowledge. I understand that, if accepted, omissions or false statements on this application shall be considered sufficient cause for dismissal. I will not hold Saddhamma Foundation responsible for any liability during my travel or stay for this retreat. SIGNATURE OF APPLICANT DATE SIGNED