Concentration and Insight Meditation Retreat

with Sayalay Susila

8-Day Retreat: Dec. 28th 2012 – Jan. 5, 2013

Bodhi Monastery, Lafayette, NJ

In this retreat, Sayalay Susila will first teach lovingkindness meditation, mettā, to the meditators. Lovingkindness helps to soften one’s mind by developing love towards oneself and others. It also brings happiness to the mind, which serves as a proximate cause for concentration. We will then move on to mindfulness of breathing, ānāpāna-sati, in order to develop better concentration and serenity of the mind so that the dharma can manifest itself. Buddha said: “develop concentration, one with concentration sees things as they really are.” Armed with concentration, one can discern various mental factors associated with mindfulness of breathing. Finally, you will practice contemplation of mind, cittānuppassanā, using this more concentrated mind. All defilements arise from the mind, so learning how to watch one’s own mind is the “key to happiness.” Sayalay Susila will show meditators the profound way to train ourselves to be mindful of our own mind, gradually liberating it from identity view and grasping — in other words — freedom of the mind.

We ask that all meditators attend the entire retreat from start to finish. This will be a silent retreat. As well as sitting meditation, it will include daily Dhamma talks, periods of walking meditation, and interview sessions. All participants are required to practice the 8-precepts and abstain from eating after the mid-day meal unless for required medical reasons.

We ask that all meditators attend the entire retreat from start to finish. This will be a silent retreat. As well as sitting meditation, it will include daily Dhamma talks, periods of walking meditation, and interview sessions. All participants are required to practice the 8-precepts and abstain from eating after the mid-day meal unless for required medical reasons. Please review the detailed Retreat Guidelines and Online Registration will be available from November 18th to December 23rd.