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FIVE KHANDHA MEDITATION
One Day Oasis Workshop
Friday 5th December (national holiday)
With Bhikkhuni Santussika
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Overview:
We hold a one-day meditation workshop for 20 people with visiting Amarican Bhikkhuni (ordained nun) Ven. Santussika. Female ordained Buddhists are quite few, but offer a fresh perspective on meditation and the Buddhist tradition.
The meditation will focus on a very specific teaching – the 5 khandhas as a meditation object.
The workshop is open and suitable for everyone with an interest, though the topic is quite specific rather than being just general meditation.
The workshop cost is 600 baht per person, which includes a vegetarian healthy lunch.
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About the Topic
Vipassana, or ‘insight meditation’, is the method taught by the Buddha to teach systematic observation of ones own body and mind. With a few tools it starts to undermine the ‘I’ concept, and provide a different way to relate to yourself than simply being lost in thinking and identity. One develops patience and ‘letting-go’ along the way.
One of the means to this in the original suttas was reflection on the 5 Khandhas (aggregates). This is a specific teaching from Buddhism that many people won’t be familiar with, or else have never used as a primary meditation method.
If you are new to Buddhism, come explore the meaning and application of this ancient teaching. If you are an experienced meditator, chances are you did not use this particular method for meditating.
Interestingly, if you go back to the actual teachings of Buddhism, reflection on wither the 5 khandhas or the 6 senses was by far the most common form of meditation taught.
The workshop will delve into a little of the theory, together with sitting and walking meditation. We are limiting to 20 participants, so there will be chance to talk with the teacher directly.
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About Ven. Santussika
Bhikkhuni Santussika was born in the United States, near Chicago. She moved to California in 1987 after finishing a master’s degree in computer science at Indiana University. She worked as a software designer and engineer for 15 years, during which time her search for deeper meaning and greater happiness brought her to train as a minister.
During the four-year interfaith seminary program which led to a Master of Divinity degree, awarded in 2002, she also began visiting Buddhist monasteries in America and Asia, and learning from master teachers, particularly in Thailand. In America, she spent as much time as she could at Abhayagiri Buddhist Monastery, looking to Ajahn Passano has her teacher. In Thailand, she spent time at the monasteries where her son was living as a Bhikkhu: Wat Pah Nanachat, Wat Marp Jan, Wat Boonyawad and Wat Pa Baan Taad.
She ordained as an eight-precept nun in 2005 and trained at Amaravati and Chithurst Buddhist Monasteries in England, and at Aloka Vihara in San Francisco. She ordained as a samaneri (ten-precept nun) in 2010 and received full ordination as a bhikkhuni in 2012 at Dharma Vijaya Buddhist Vihara in Los Angeles. Currently, she lives and teaches at Karuna Buddhist Vihara in Millbrae, California (www.KarunaBV.org). She also lectures, teaches retreats, and offers spiritual counseling outside the monastery upon request. She serves on the Board for Buddhist Global Relief (www.buddhistglobalrelief.org)
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Friday 5th December
at Mai Kaidee’s Oasis
near Democracy Monument, Bangkok
Schedule:
- 9:15am Meet at May Kaidee Restaurant, behind Burger King on Kao San Road (if you’d like to join P.Pandit and V.Santussika at 8:30 you are welcome to come early)
- 9:45 Head over as a group to the Oasis
- 10:00 Morning session of Dhamma, sitting and walking, and eating meditation
- 12:15 Healthy vegetarian lunch from the world famous May Kaidee
- 1:15-4:00 Afternoon session of Dhamma, sitting and walking with instructions
- 4:15 finish
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May Kaidee’s Oasis
May is world famous for her vegetarian and vegan Thai cooking school – she even teaches in Russia, Czech Republic and New York! Her cooking books are big sellers too. We’ve had some great group lunches at one of her restaurants in the past. Now she has a new place, hidden away from all but the real locals. May Kaidee’s Oasis.
It is a bit tricky to get to, but that makes it all the more worthwhile. And we’ll be making this one of our regular venues, so it is worthwhile getting on your radar. Being hidden away there is no roaring traffic noise. Though there might be some building noise from nearby – good for mindfulness and patience!
We will have the two storey Thai-style house to ourselves.
To make it easy, we will meet up at the Mai Kaidee restaurant near Kao San Road, and then walk over to the Oasis as a group. If you are driving, see further down for the exact location.
Click the map to enlarge
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Booking
If you’d like to book for this event please enter your details below – and do double check them as many people enter the wrong details and then wonder why no one got back to them with confirmation. There’s plenty of space – we don’t anticipate being over booked. Please be very sure you are attending though as we have to pay for the food, including anyone who did not turn up.
If you would like to join but are short of funds, let us know, and we’ll arrange a free place for you.
After entering your details you will be returned to this page and someone will get back to you within a day or two. Your details won’t appear on the web page, or be given out to anyone. Should you not receive a reply within 2 days, please send a note via the CONTACT PAGE
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The Oasis Location
As it is a national holiday, you should find it very easy to taxi to the meeting point. Or you can take the MRT to HUA Lamphong Station, and taxi from there.
While we are keen to keep this Bangkok place secret, if you are driving yourself there, and looking to park your car near the venue, you can find it by the maps below. Here is a wide area view, and a closer view. Note the road does not go right up to the Oasis. You can park inside Wat Mahanop temple for a very cheap daily rate.
