Entering the Dhamma - Retreat
“The stream of Dhamma, the stream of Dhamma, it is said.
What is the stream of Dhamma?
Sāriputta: ‘It is this Eight-Spoked Path of the Ariyas.’”
-SN 55.5
1. Retreat Overview
Audience: Accessible for anyone
Experience: No experience required
‘Entering the Dhamma’ is a retreat formulated for anyone desirous of taking their first step into the Dhamma, the Teaching of the Buddha, at its very root, as preserved in the original discourses of the Buddha (the Suttas).
This retreat is a progressive approach to what the Buddha called ‘Bhāvanā’ or Wholesome Mental Development. Cultivating the Higher Mind (Adhicitta) which directly correlates to happiness here and now. Meditators will be guided on a journey to understand what the Buddha awoke to on his own path to happiness.
This means the threefold training in:
Virtue (Sīla),
Collected Mental Harmony (Samādhi)
Discernment (Pañña).
Which includes understanding and practicing:
- Boundless Love Meditation (Mettā) & the Brahmavihāras
- The nature of mental states and wholesome mental development
- The essential role of Virtue and generosity on the path to happiness.
- Collectedness of mind through Joy and Letting go. (Dhamma Samādhi)
- The Four Steps of Wise Practice (Sammā vāyāma)
- The Four Awakened Understandings (Ariya Sacca) in actual practice
- The Seven Supports of Awakening.
- The Eight-Spoked Path of the Awakened (Ariyo Aṭṭhaṅgiko Maggo)
- Wise Awareness: Four Resting Places of Awareness (Satipaṭṭhāna)
- Wise Samādhi: Navigating the blissful stages of meditation (Jhāna)
- The experience of Release & Nibbāna here and now.
- Entering the Dhamma
2. Guidelines and Requirements
- Undertaking the 5 or 8 virtues***
- At least 4 hours / 7hours is recommended
- Read at least ‘Part 1’ of the book Open Heart.
- Read Ariya Dhamma Retreat Booklet
- Attend to the morning Pūjās (When is flexible)
- Attend to the Evening Dhamma Talks
- Attend to the guided meditations (Optional)
- Smiling mandatory
As much as possible:
- No other activities.
- No phone, no computer, no television…
- No reading except Open Heart & Ariya Dhamma***
***Meditators who follow the guidelines for the guided retreats as close as posible will greatly benefit. The amount of devotion that goes into the retreat will correlate directly with the results derived from it.
3. Schedule
This schedule is flexible.
The first days of the retreat should be relaxed.
Then, as the mental energy clears and picks up,
meditators are invited to follow more closely.
- 6:00 am Morning Meditation
- 7:30 am Pūjā & Recital
- 8:00 am Breakfast
- 9:00 am Meditation & Interviews
- 10:00 am Meditation
- 11:00 am Lunch
- 12:00 pm Rest/Walking Meditation
- 1:00 pm Meditation
- 7:00 pm Pūjā & Dhamma Talk
- 8:00 pm Meditation
- 10:00 pm Rest or personal practice.
*Interviews are on Zoom.
20 min/participant
Book a time for interview, day-by-day.
Out of respect for the teacher’s limited personal time on retreat,
please sign up one slot after the other, without gaps.
Free Dhamma
“The Dhamma is for free. At all times. For everybody.
Bhante Ānanda is a monk (and hence a member of the Saṅgha) and is dedicating his life to the Dhamma. He is dependent on others for his modest livelihood. He does not need a lot, but as pointed out by the Buddha himself, food, shelter, clothing and medicines are the minimum requisites for life and to practice in peace. Monks do not (and cannot) handle money, and do not ask for anything.
Monks practice contentment and to be happy with what is given to them. They can only accept what is given out of generosity by others. All that is offered to them is property of the order of monks, even food, therefore, nothing is ‘theirs’, monks possess nothing. This is pure dhamma. No personal gain possible, no money involved.
All donations will go 100% to the support of the Saṅgha’s livelihood and thereby, Bhante’s. Since the meager needs of monks are rapidly and easily met, what is given will go directly to offering the Dhamma to as many other people in the community as possible, in the shape of retreats, both online and physical, publication of Bhante’s Dhamma books for free distribution only and much more…
We are deeply and forever grateful to your magnanimous hearts.
Sādhu Sādhu Sādhu.
You can make a donation via Paypal in CAD or USD to heartdhamma@protonmail.com. If you’re based in Canada you’re welcome to make an e-transfer/interac to heartdhamma@protonmail.com
Practice Generosity
