Sri Lanka
February 2026
2026 Feb. 20th to March 3rd
10-Day Natural Samādhi Retreat
The Natural Pooling of Awareness
by Boundless Love & Somatic Release
With Bhante Ānanda
On this retreat, we will explore the Buddha’s teaching on how to develop mental collectedness (Samādhi), by uplifting the mind with love and joy, and relaxing bodily tension caused by mental distractions. This is what the Buddha called wise practice (Right effort). Starting by developing loving kindness meditation and learning to use the vehicle of Calm and Clarity (Samatha-Vipassanā), meditators will deepen in their experience of a happy and composed mind and drink deep the bliss of the higher mind (Adhicitta).
A Few Glimpses at the Teachings
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).
Retreat Experience
Sandun Arana, Kandy Mountains, Sri Lanka
Nestled at the foot of the Knuckles Forest Reserve, Sandun Arana Monastery is a truly unique and inspiring setting to pursue the training of the Higher mind and heart. The palpable loving energy of this natural beauty fosters exceptional conditions for deepening in meditation practice. A prime location, by the slow river side, to heal and grow. Contrary to other meditation centers, Sandun Arana is a monastery which is the house for monks. It is only made accessible to the general public during retreat. It is a unique chance for meditators to practice in this monastic environment.
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 many years of practicing and learning from a vast spectrum of different spiritual practices including, Hatha Yoga, Karma/Bhakti Yoga, Native American traditional wisdom, Ayurveda, Jin Shin Do acupressure, Traditional Chinese Medicine, Vipassanā and Samatha Buddhist meditations and more, Bhante Ānanda discovered the teachings of Bhante Vimalaramsi.
Deeply impressed with his teachings on meditation and his wisdom, he decided to cancel his travel plans and his arrangements to ordain in Burma, and decided to go forth (Pabbaja) at his center in the U.S. instead. During this time, he had the opportunity to attend closely on his teacher and to sit on meditators’ interviews by Bhante Vimalaramsi’s side, directly learning from him.
Bhante Vimalaramsi gave Bhante Ānanda his permission to teach, before he left for Canada. With his teacher’s consent, Bhante Ānanda then moved to Canada as a solitary forest monk and founded the HeartDhamma community and the Heartwood Hermitage in Nelson, BC.
Bhante Ānanda then received higher ordination (Upasampadā) in the leading forest tradition of Sri Lanka, Sri Kaliyāni Yogashrama. He then lived in the Sri Lankan jungle and learned the ways of Sri Lankan forest monks, while continuing his practice and sutta studies in the forest.
He was then invited to teach many meditation retreats around the world, from Canada, Sri Lanka, Australia, Costa Rica, the U.S., to India and also online. Now, Bhante shares his time between America and Asia, helping many in their meditation practice, teaching retreats, studying and translating the suttas from Pāli to contemporary English, while also dedicatedly attending to his own practice.
Begin the Journey
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: Buddha’s Path to Awakening & Mental Development
Pūjā: Recitals of Dhamma
Deeper Teachings
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 in various schools of meditation practice that he discovered the first modern translation of the the Majjhima Nikāya, the Buddha’s original discourses by Bhikkhu Ñāṇamoli and Bhikkhu Bodhi.
Reading and following the original words and instructions of the Buddha and going directly to the source, he became deeply inspired by his words and teachings. He then left for a cave in Thailand, where he started practicing, following only the Buddha’s own words as found in the suttas. His discovery was life changing and shortly afterwards, he started teaching what he experienced.
Teachings on 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. Thousands of meditators have now greatly benefited from Bhante Vimalaramsi’s teaching and have experienced profound levels of meditation, inner peace 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.
Morning Routine
Waking up early to make the most of the day, meditators gather in the meditation hall every morning to freshen their minds with renewing their virtue and remembering the highest refuges, and letting their minds soak in a few short essential sayings of the Buddha.
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.
Daily Interviews
Participants will receive personal guidance from the teacher, on meditators’ interviews. This ensures that each participant’s meditation is carefully nurtured by insightful advice and ensures good, steady progress. Since this meditation changes and evolves constantly, close monitoring is necessary and new meditation instructions are usually given during these personal interviews.
Food
Breakfast is served early and lunch is taken before noon to allow an optimal diet for meditation, following the Buddha’s advice. Tea is available in the afternoon and no evening meal is served in order for meditators to enjoy lightness and strength in their meditation. An exception is made for participants with a medical condition who require an evening meal.
Almsround on Retreat
At lunch, Bhante Ānanda comes for alms in the dining area. Participants may get a chance to practice their generosity and offer food in his bowl and receive well-wishes.
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 & 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.
Silence
This is a completely silent retreat. Kindly note that meditators will not be able to speak during the retreat, for everyone’s benefit.
Phones and Electronic Devices
No phone or electronic devices are allowed during the retreat. Phones will be taken and kept in a safe place for the whole duration of the retreat. Meditators can give the monastery’s phone number to their relatives in case of an emergency.
Reading and Journaling
There is no reading or journaling allowed on retreat. Meditators may take some light notes after daily interviews and evening Dhamma talks. This will greatly help the mind to quiet down and enjoy deeper meditation.
06:00 am – Wake up
06:30 am – Guided Meditation & Morning Chanting
07:30 am – Breakfast
08:00 am – Morning Meditation Block (8:00 am – 11:30 am)
09:00 am – Personal Interviews Start
11:00 am – Lunch for Monastics
11:30 am – Lunch for Meditators
12:30 pm – Afternoon Meditation Block (12:30 pm – 6:00 pm)
02:00 pm – Personal Interviews Start
05:00 pm – Tea
06:00 pm – Discourse
08:30 pm – Meditation
10:00 pm – Sleep or Personal Meditation
Beginning and Ending
Please note, the retreat will begin on the evening of February 20th (Day 0) with a light diner at 5 pm and an orientation at 6 pm. The retreat will end on the morning of March 2nd after breakfast. (Day 11)
Facilities
Rooms
Dormitory-style rooms with two bunk beds.
Up to four people are expected to sleep in a room.
Dining Hall
Small dining facilities. Meditators are expected to follow some of the Sri Lankan customs around eating food at the monastery. Eating food sitting either on the ground or on a stool on the verandah outside. Please be aware there are no tables for eating.
Monastic Sangha
Because of the very limited space for monastics available, we can only accomodate two or three monastic members of the Sangha in this setting. Monks and nuns are asked to please write to us directly to register. Online registrations for monastics will not be accepted as we will most likely have too many monastic registrations for the capacity of the monastery like the previous retreat. Please write to info@heartdhamma.love to register. Thank you for your understanding.
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 service to meditators who wish to attend our retreats. We ask for your kindness and understanding in this regard as we aim to become a completely donation-based, generosity-ran 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!
We welcome any help you can provide. If you would like to help and be a part of the HeartDhamma team, please feel free to reach out to us. Please note that only those who have participated to a minimum of two retreats with Bhante Ānanda will be able to volunteer for the HeartDhamma community. This ensures that we know who is helping and that the help comes from the right place: the heart. 🙂
We are deeply grateful for the generous support of Most Venerable Seelagavesi Thero for this retreat. His warm friendship and genuine heartfelt support, in the name of the highest good, are greatly contributing to the loving and peaceful atmosphere of this sanctuary. We are very fortunate to have him protecting us on this journey!
Our most sincere respects go to him. 🙏❤️☀️
Our genuine respects and gratitude to Ven. Sirinanda Thero, current abbot of Sandun Arana, for his dedicated help and efforts to host us in his monastery. 🙏🙏🙏