
Why must we undertake Vipassana meditation retreats? Because we search for happiness and want to liberate our mind from suffering - Ajahn Tong
The retreat starts with an introduction on Monday evening and follows the original stages of insight meditation for ten days. The aim of insight meditation is to understand reality, to see things as they really are. The main tool of insight meditation is mindfulness: mindfulness of body, feelings and mind. Ajahn Tong states that “attending a meditation retreat is training in the power of mindfulness. With intensive practice the wandering, struggling and chaotic mind can become composed, peaceful, refreshed and purified of negative hindrances.” Retreatants are required to practise approximately ten hours per day (between 5 am and 10 pm), follow the Buddhist precepts and maintain respectful silence throughout the retreat. The BRC staff and teachers will provide their whole-hearted support, which includes daily reporting, loving-kindness meditation (Metta) and Dhamma talks. This retreat will overlap with the weekend retreat (17-19) and the 4 day retreat (19-23) and will be limited to 12 participants.
Thoughts come and go. Feelings come and go. Find out what it is that remains - Ramana Maharshi
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Jonathan Preboy and Anna Scharfenberg trained in Vipassana meditation under the great Thai Vipassana master Ajahn Tong Sirimangalo. Jonathan worked as a clinical psychologist in private practice in Durban and Anna holds a Master of Arts in Buddhist Studies. They have taught meditation together at Wat Chom Tong Meditation Centre in Thailand, Mexico, Italy, Spain and for 10 years at the BRC Ixopo. They currently manage and teach at the Tisarana Vipassananusorn Meditation Centre in Prague