University of Mumbai - Introduction to Meditation 2023
December 14th - 16th 2023
3-Days Introduction
Meditation from the Suttas
Course for the students of the Pāli department only
With Bhante Ānanda
Natural Samādhi is the original teaching of the Buddha on how to develop mental collectedness (Samādhi), by way of uplifting the mind and relaxing bodily tension. This is what the Buddha called wise practice (Right effort). Learning to use the vehicle of Calm and Clarity (Samatha-Vipassanā), meditators deepen in their experience of a happy and composed mind, and drink deep, the bliss of the higher mind (Adhicitta).
For a mind well trained in this timeless wisdom and free from the five mental obstructions, there is no need to wish for happiness, since happiness pervades every moment of existence. The collected mind is happy, and a happy mind is collected (Sukhino cittaṃ samādhiyati).
Developing awareness of Loving-Kindness to Nibbāna, using right effort (6Rs). In the spirit of meditation as taught by Most Ven. Bhante Vimalaramsi, Bhante Ānanda’s teacher.
Meditation from the Suttas
3-Day Introduction
December 14-16, 2023
University of Mumbai
For the Department of Pāli
Course for the students of the department only
Retreat Experience
University of Mumbai
Department of Pāli
About the Teacher
Bhante Ānanda
Bhante Ānanda is a Canadian Buddhist monk trained in the teachings and the monastic way of life of early Buddhism. In 2018, after practicing and learning from a vast spectrum of different spiritual practices including Hinduism, Hatha yoga, traditional Native American wisdom, Ayurveda, Traditional Chinese Medicine, Vipassanā meditation and much more, Bhante Ānanda discovered the Teachings of Bhante Vimalaramsi.
Highly impressed with his meditation technique and his wisdom, he decided to go forth (Pabbaja) at his center, Dhamma Sukha Meditation Centre (DSMC) in Missouri, and spent a whole summer in the presence of Bhante Vimalaramsi. During his stay at DSMC, he had the opportunity to attend closely on his teacher and to sit on meditators’ interviews by Bhante Vimalaramsi’s side for the whole summer, directly learning from him for several months.
At the end of the summer, Bhante Vimalaramsi gave Bhante Ānanda his permission to teach. Bhante Ānanda then moved to Canada as a solitary forest monk and founded the HeartDhamma community and the Heartwood Hermitage. https://heartdhamma.love
Begin the Journey
Learn How to Meditate
Embracing the whole of the Buddha’s teaching, Bhante Ānanda’s approach tends toward Natural collectedness of mind (Dhamma Samādhi) through, what he calls the two wings of awakening; Joy and letting go. Which culminates in the direct experience of Nibbāna, by way of wisely developing the seven supports of awakening (Sambojjhaṅgas) and Boundless Love (Mettā).
He is the author of:
Open Heart
A Guide from Boundless Love Meditation to Nibbāna
Bhāvanā
The Buddha’s Path to Awakening & Wholesome Mental Development
Pūjā
Recitals of Dhamma
Most Ven. Bhante Vimalaramsi's Teaching
On his spiritual journey, Bhante Vimalaramsi practiced and learned from many renowned meditation teachers from Thailand, Burma, Sri Lanka and Malaysia.
But it is only after many long retreats that he discovered the first modern translation of the the Majjhima Nikāya, the Buddha’s original discourses by Bhante Ñāṇamoli and Bhikkhu Bodhi.
He was then so inspired by the Buddha’s own words that he left for a cave in Thailand, where he started practicing directly from the Buddha’s own words. His discovery was life changing and shortly afterwards, he synthesized a meditation technique which called Tranquil Wisdom Insight Meditation (TWIM).
TWIM teaches how to use the four immeasurable states of the heart: Boundless Love, boundless compassion, boundless joy and boundless calm, in a natural, gradual and linear sequence, using, as a compass, what he called the 6Rs (Recognize, Release, Relax, Re-Smile, Return, Repeat). The culmination of which leads to a perfectly clear and still mind and the direct experience of Nibbāna.
Since then, thousands of meditators have greatly benefited from Bhante Vimalaramsi’s teaching and have experienced profound levels of liberation, freedom and happiness.
Retreat Overview
Orientation:
The retreat welcomes you with a grounding orientation, along with beginning Loving-Kindness (Mettā) meditation instructions on the first day, as well as how to use the 6Rs.
Meditation Periods:
Meditation periods are flexible and alternate between sitting and walking meditation, as per everyone’s level. There are mainly two blocks dedicated for meditation, which allows advance meditators to sit for longer periods of time, without being disturbed and insures that those who begin on this path, have the freedom to follow their own needs, under the guidance of the teacher.
Evening Discourse:
Every evening at 7 pm, all meditators gather in the hall of a discourse on the Buddha’s teaching (Dhamma). The talks are framed around the original discourses of the Buddha (Suttas). Themes vary and include practical, down to earth meditation instructions, methods to let go of mental distractions, the development of the Buddha’s wisdom, the cultivation of wholesome, skillful mental states and so forth… Meditators will get to hear various suttas complimented with anecdotes, real life stories, relevant and inspiring poems along with a certain dose of good humor.
Rest and Sleep:
Bedtime is at 10 pm. Rest during the day is recommended, especially in the beginning, to ease the transition from the busy house life, to the purely meditative lifestyle of retreat. Feeling rested is essential in this practice.
08:00 am – Meditation
09:00 am – Personal Interviews
11:00 am – Lunch
01:00 pm – Meditation
07:00 pm – Discourse
08:30 pm – Meditation
10:00 pm – Sleep or Personal Meditation
At lunch, Bhante Ānanda and Ven. Mettānanda come for alms in the dining area.
Participants may get a chance to practice their generosity and offer food in his bowl and receive a good wishes.
Price
On a Donation Basis /// The Dhamma is priceless /// There is no fixed price.
Retreats organized by HeartDhamma are sponsored by the generosity of old students who have benefited from these retreats in the past and faithful donors who genuinely wish to see the teaching of the Buddha on mental development and meditation help as many as possible. Participants are invited to practice their generosity in order to make these retreats possible to all in the future! Without your support, these retreats cannot exist!
On retreat, meditators are expected to follow instructions precisely and practice sitting meditation for a minimum of 7 hours everyday, without any other activities than meditation, as taught by the teacher.
Please book a retreat only if you are certain to fulfill these conditions and are certain to attend. Those who do not follow these criteria will be asked to leave. This is not a free vacation. Please respect the donations of those who have truly benefited in the past and practice wholeheartedly!
Organizers
Please bear in mind that we are a small and humble organization with very limited financial means. What is offered to us, we give it back to our community in the shape of donation-based (free) retreats, books for free distribution only, and other freely offered Dhamma material.
Our small team cannot always provide the highest quality and immediate meditators’ service (Otherwise called “customer service” in the business world). We ask for your kindness and understanding in this regard as we aim to become a completely donation-based, generosity-run organization for all of our activities. Offering these wonderful retreats to all those interested makes us truly happy, yet our means are limited as we do not have any paid staff. We rely solely on inspired and faithful practitioners’ services and generosity. Thank you for helping us keeping the Dhamma freely accessible to all!