Sri Lanka,  October  7—18, 2016
The Bound for Nibbana  10-day Retreat will be lead by Bhante Vimalaramsi and supported by Venerable Khanti Khema and Venerable Dhamma Gavesi. 

The center offers air-conditioned cabins that are now available. Please inquire for availability and prices.
Participants will be instructed and guided in the practice of tranquil wisdom insight meditation. This is the method taught by the Buddha and described in the earliest Buddhist texts. Tranquil wisdom insight meditation is ideal for beginning students or advanced meditators seeking to cultivate greater wisdom and insight. 
Bhante Vimalaramsi’s retreats are neither difficult nor a test of endurance, but rather a joy-filled journey on the middle path of clarity and wisdom. Each evening, he gives an instructional talk based on early Buddhist texts along with anecdotes of his personal experiences. A daily one-on-one personal teacher interview provides each participant with individualized guidance and instruction. ​The retreat program provides an integrated and supportive environment for optimizing meditation practice. Eight precepts comprising a code of moral conduct are maintained during the retreat, which is conducted in mindful silence with an emphasis on ease and lightheartedness.
This is a non-profit retreat. Bhante offers teaching and guidance freeiy. Retreat fees go to the center and minor overhead expenses.  Donations to Dhamma Sukha are welcome and necessary to support the monastery and meditation center in Missouri.
Registration
Application will be emailed to you upon receipt of your inquiry. Your registration will be processed and confirmed in the order received. With your confirmation, you will receive the mailing address to send the required $150 deposit. Credit card and PayPal payments include bank processing fees. ​
Deposits are fully nonrefundable, less any processing fees, until 30 days prior to beginning of the retreat. Balances in full are due 30 days prior to beginning of the retreat. 
Simplicity and Renunciation
Meditation retreats offer a sacred space that is protected and removed from the world. They allow participants a rare opportunity to look deeply inside, quiet the mind, and open the heart. Often the most beneficial and rewarding experiences of spiritual life happen at a meditation retreat. The sheltered and quiet setting is a key element that enables participants to develop patience, steadfastness, loving-kindness, generosity, joy, and wisdom.
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These are the seeds that grow insight, compassion, and happiness. Participants are requested to let go of concerns for daily life and embrace an attitude of simplicity and renunciation by adopting a traditional spiritual practice that is called “taking what is offered.”

Taking What is Offered
  1. Taking Any Residence – whatever quarters are offered. We ask participants to happily accept the accommodation assigned and continue to practice in this spirit throughout the retreat.
  2. Taking Food that is Offered – Happily accepting food that is offered is part of the practice. The cook lovingly prepares tasty and nutritious meals. Gluten-free alternatives will be available for those with medically required dietary restrictions. Participants with other special dietary needs may arrange with the retreat manager to bring supplemental food items with them to the retreat. Food items are prohibited in rooms and the meditation hall. The kitchen is restricted to St. Francis staff.
  3. Silence – In fostering an atmosphere of contemplation and meditation, participants are expected to embrace the practice of silence during the retreat. Living in silence is the practice of observing within and not communicating with others. This includes reading or writing, using telephones, computer, email, or text messages. Talking is permitted during the evening dhamma talks and teacher interviews when questions are encouraged. Inquiries about the retreat may be directed to a retreat manager or whenever necessary in the case of an emergency.
  4. Serving the Community – Participants may wish to volunteer for community work as a daily period of meditation in action. This activity acquaints yogis with meditation practice in daily activities and helps the retreat function move smoothly. A sign-up sheet for yogi jobs will be available during registration.
 
The retreat is organized and managed by volunteers as a community service. Bhante Vimalaramsi freely gives the teachings and his time to be of service to the Buddha, the Dhamma (the teachings), and the Sangha (the community).
 
Download the Simplicity and Renunciation print version
Bhante Vimalaramsi
Bhante is a distinguished American Buddhist monk with more than 40 years of meditation practice. He is regarded as a master meditation teacher leading Tranquil Wisdom Insight Meditation Retreats in Europe, Asia, and North America.
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​He founded the Dhamma Sukha Meditation Center near Annapolis, Missouri, after returning to the USA having practiced twelve years in Asia. He is the author of The Anapanasati Sutta: A Guide to Tranquil Wisdom Meditation, Breath of Love, and Moving Dhamma Volume 1. Bhante is the American representative to the World Buddhist Summit. ​
Practice Schedule
All retreatants are required to be present and seated in the meditation hall for the 5:30 AM and 6:00 PM sessions. A daily 10-minute teacher interview will be scheduled for each person. During practice periods, retreatants will balance periods of sitting and walking meditation to suit their individual needs. Indoor and outdoor meditation practice is encouraged.  

FIRST DAY______________
3:30 - 5:00   Registration
5:00 - 6:00   Dinner & Orientation
6:00 - 8:00    Introduction 
8:00 - 10:00  Self-directed meditation

DAILY SCHEDULE_________
5:00 am      Wake up
5:30 am      Sitting meditation
7:00 am      Breakfast
8:00 am      self-directed meditation
11:00 am     Lunch
1:00 pm      Self-directed meditation
5:30 pm      Tea time 
6:00 pm      Dhamma talk 
8:00 pm      Selfdirected meditation
10:00 pm    Further practice or sleep

LAST DAY_______________
5:30 - 7:00    Meditation & Closing
7:00 - 9:30    Breakfast, & Socializing
9:30 - 10:30   Departure
practice_schedule_2017.pdf
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Etiquette with Monks 
and Nuns
You will be interacting with a Buddhist monk or another Buddhist monastics. The attached summary includes helpful tips guide your conduct. 
etiquette_with_monks_and_nuns.pdf
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simplicity_and_renunciation.pdf
File Size: 52 kb
File Type: pdf
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