I. About Retreat

Ven. Sayadaw-U-Aggañña

Venerable Sayadaw, was born in 1953 and graduated with a BSc degree in mathematics from Rangoon University. He started practicing as a lay Buddhist in1989 and was later ordained by his teacher, Pa-Auk Sayadaw U Acinna in1992.

From 1996 to 2001, He followed Pa Auk Sayadaw to Sri Lanka for Dhamma propagation. He was then appointed by Pa Auk Sayadaw to teach meditation at various centres in Sri Lanka. While in Myanmar, he taught meditation at the Pa-Auk Forest Monastery (Main) and International Buddhasassana Meditation Centre in Thanlyin.

Year 2000, He followed Pa Auk Sayadaw to Penang, Malaysia to teach meditation.

From 2005 to Current, He is appointed as the resident meditation teacher at BMSM-Pa Auk Dhammavijaya Meditation Centre, Dengkil, Malaysia. In year 2019, he was appointed as one of the teachers at Pa Auk Taiwandipa in Taiwan.

Sayadaw has given Dhamma talks and taught meditation retreat in Myanmar, Sri Lanka, Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, Thailand, Vietnam, Nepal, Australia, Taiwan, China, Nepal and America.

Sayadaw speaks Burmese and English.

II. Location and Date

     April 1-10, ( Extended training from April 11 to 26 )  2020

Organizer: Bodhi Monastery
Location: Bodhi Monastery
67 Lawrence Road
Lafayette, NJ 07848
Sign-Up Date: Start now until it’s full.
Check-in Date: Tuesday, March 31, at 3 p.m.
End Date: Saturday, April 11th, at 11am, An option of extended practice, from 11-26, is available during registration.
Quota limit: 40 person, Accept beginners to sign up
Language: In English with Chinese translation
Cost: We welcome your generous donation via online or check during the check-in time. All donations are tax-deductible.
Email: Contact Us
Phone: 973-940-0473(Bodhi Monastery)
Sign Up: Register Online

III. Registration Note

  • We kindly ask that all meditation participants attend the entire retreat from start to finish. Please read The Rules & Regulations at the bottom of this page and the retreat general guidelines for details.
  • Please submit your application here Online registration .
  • Admission is limited to 40 participants.
  • Meditation retreat will be conducted in English with Chinese Mandarin translation.
  • As a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt religious organization, we welcome your generous donation via online or check during the check-in time. All donations are tax-deductible.
  • Sign-in: March 31, 2020 @ 3:00- 5:00 pm
  • Retreat ends on: April 11th, 2020 @ 11:00am

IV. Time Schedules

Time 3/31(Tu) 4/1(Wen)- 4/10(Fri) 4/11(Fri)
04:30-05:00 Wake-up call
05:00-06:00 Meditation Sitting 1
06:00-06:30 Morning Chanting, Taking Eight Precepts
06:30-07:30 Breakfast、Cleaning up
07:30-08:30 Break Cleaning up
08:30-10:00 Meditation Sitting 2
10:00-11:00 10:00-10:30 INTERVIEW (if needed) / Walking Meditation Departure
11:00-01:30 Lunch、Break
01:30-03:00 Meditation Sitting 3 Extended
training
03:00-03:30 Sign-In Walking Meditation
03:30-05:00 Meditation Sitting 4
05:00-06:00 Briefing for yogis INTERVIEW/ Walking Meditation
06:00-07:00 Break
07:00-08:30 Dhamma Talk – Introduction Meditation Sitting 5 / Dhamma Talk & Sharing Merit
08:30-09:00 Nighttime Preparation/Light out

V. Rules & Regulations

We are very honored to invite Ven. Sayadaw-U-Aggañña to visit with Bodhi Monastery, host and guide this meditation. In order to ensure the smooth progress of meditation, I urge you to attend the trainees to pay attention to the following matters:

  1. Please read the retreat descriptions and the Daily Schedules for information about daily activities and the General Guidelines at Bodhi Monastery. The retreat will be held at Bodhi Monastery, and all participants are to stay in the dormitories on the premises for the entire length of the retreat.
  2. Retreat participants are required to attend the entire retreat from start to finish. In addition, participants are required to stay on the premises during the entire retreat unless permission is granted by the leading retreat instructor for legitimate reasons.
  3. Retreat participants are required to follow the daily schedules closely, including wake-up time, bedtime, meal time, and meditation sessions. Participants will also be asked to fulfill some assigned chores as a part of meditation practices while attending to daily activities.
  4. It is highly recommended that all participants observe the Eight Precepts.
  5. All participants are asked to observe the Noble Silence. Talking is prohibited unless it is absolutely necessary. In cases where oral communication needs to take place. It is recommended that concerns, questions or requests be communicated to monastery staff or retreat volunteers.
  6. Please bring your own sleeping bags, sheets, toiletries, clothes, slippers, loose and casual clothes for sitting, medicines, identity documents, and health insurance card. Please also bring your own water bottles and cups for the purpose of environmental protection. It is also recommended that you bring a pair of earplugs for quiet nighttime sleep.
  7. Please leave your valuables at home as Bodhi Monastery will not be responsible for the loss of any personal belongings.

Transporation:

  1. The closest airport is Newark Liberty Airport (EWR). It is a 60-minute drive from the Bodhi Monastery. On the days of arrival and departure, the monastery will provide a limited number of pick-up and drop-off car services.
  2. It will be greatly appreciated if some of those who would be driving could kindly offer carpools to others. Also, if you would be able and wish to help with airport pick-ups or drop-offs, please indicate so on your application form.
  3. For those coming from the New York City area, there is a bus line departing from the Port Authority Bus Terminal (Times Square). Please take Lakeland Bus (Route 80) to Sparta Police Station. Bodhi Monastery will be able to pick you up at the Sparta Police Station. Please call us at (973) 940-0473 once you arrive at the bus station.