One-day Workshop: Sun 29th Aug

Sunday August 29th, 2010

One Day Meditation Workshop

Topic:

Awareness Meditation through the Six Senses

With British monk Phra Pandit

in English

in the cool, quiet and spacious YBAT facility, Petch Kasem Road (map/details below)

Originally this event was booked for Sat. 28th – but we had to move it to the Sunday due to clash of schedules….

Overview:

On Sunday 29th August, we will hold a meditation workshop for the morning and afternoon. Event will be in English only, though some Q&A can be in Thai too if necessary. Day will be spent with instructions, training in sitting/walking meditation exercises, Dhamma talk, and of course, eating lunch! The YBAT facility is spacious and quiet, in a new air-con hall, on the Thonburi side of Bangkok – don’t worry ~ it is very easy to get to, and we’ll arrange shared taxis back afterwards. Cost including food/refreshments and room hire 300 baht per person. (There are a few free places in case anyone would like to attend, but is short of funds).

We already did one very successful workshop at this venue with Ven Pannyavaro; photos here.

Schedule:

• • Meet 8:30am at the YBAT facility for registration and coffee
  • 9:00 am : opening meditation instructions based on Minfulness and the 6 senses
  • 9:30 – 11:30 Sitting/walking meditation. Some short Q&A
  • 11:30 – 1:00 Lunch, meet some new people ….
  • 1:00 – 2:00  Dhamma talk on the Six Sense Model (Ayatana 6)
  • 2:00 – 2:30 Q&A
  • 2:30 – 4:30 some practical meditation exercises in sitting/walking for daily living
  • 5pm Finish – Taxi pooling, refreshments for those not rushing off for their Saturday Night out

Topic:

These days there are many teachings around meditation and Buddhism. Some might be better than others … some are way out there…!

Mindfulness ‘guarding’ the six sense doors is the most common meditation practise given in the Suttas. This is directly, as best as we can ascertain from the historical record, exactly the way the Buddha himself taught. The method is vivid and clear when presented properly. This direct sutta practise can be easily grasped by anyone, of any religion, of any age/gender/personality, though it takes a bit of effort and practise to do it.

Which is exactly what the workshop is for. You should have all the tools to take home and keep up a meditation practise of your own.

Speaker:

41 year old Phra Pandit is a British monk, ordained for 14 years. Since 2007, due to the shortage of English language Dhamma and meditation in Bangkok, he has been organising, as best he can, regular events for the English speaking community, under the banner Little Bangkok Sangha.

As a speaker, the topic is always presented crisply and clearly, with an emphasis on the practical understanding and application of the different teachings and methods.

Facility:

The YBAT facility in Thonburi should be well known to Thais – known as ‘Yuwaphut’ in Thai this group arrange continual insight meditation retreats throughout the year for tens of thousands of people.

We will be in the brand new Boonyong Wongwanij Building which is spacious, air-conditioned for both sitting and walking meditation rooms, and very quiet. There is a great sound system too, so it is easy to hear. There are plenty of sitting mats, and chairs for those who need them.

The place is very easy to get to – don’t be afraid of crossing the river !!  Easiest is to take the skytrain to Wong Wien Yai, and there take a taxi to Petch Kasem 54. The roads are wide and empty on this side of the river,  so it should only take 10 – 15 minutes. Perhaps 80 baht taxi fare from Sathorn. On the way back we will arrange car/taxi pooling.

If you take a taxi all the way, it should be very quick on a Saturday morning. You can come via any of the main bridges, from Pinklao, Saphan Phut, Sarthorn, or the extra speedy Rama III. From Central Sukhumvit area should take about 35 minutes, and cost about 140 baht.

All taxis will know Petch Kasem Road. Entering soi 54 go to the end of the soi, and turn right. You will see the big new YBAT facility right in front of you!

YBAT do run occasional retreats in English also, so it is worthwhile getting to know this venue (their main hall can hold 2000 people!) If you are coming from outside Bangkok you can hire a bedroom at YBAT and stay overnight – please let us know via the form below (room rate is about 600 baht/night – we’ll confirm this if anyone wants to book)

Click the map below for an even larger version:

Booking:

All participants must book a place in advance. We are limited to 50 people and expect a waiting list. So please be very sure you will be attending. Book your place in the box below.

Please give your name, nationality, and phone number. Our bookings manager will email you back within a day or so, and confirm your place. If there are any other details you would like.

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