Nirodha is organizing a three day non-residential meditation retreat in Helsinki with Ajahn Brahmali from the evening of Friday 31.10.2014 to the evening of Sunday 2.11.2014. The retreat will be conducted in English.
Theme: ‘Practising the Buddha’s Way’
The weekend program consists of teachings from the Suttas and silent meditation practice. The Sutta teachings will be of a practical nature and will relate to meditation practice. The retreat will start on Friday evening with a general introduction to meditation. On Saturday and Sunday Ajahn Brahmāli will present two Suttas each day along with guided meditations. The days will end with Q&A sessions.
Personal interviews may be available, time permitting, for those who are interested. The Sutta material will be made available prior to the start of the retreat to allow familiarity with the texts. Also during the retreat, students will have the opportunity of chanting the Metta Sutta at the start of both of the full days, and will also be provided with the opportunity to ‘take the five (moral) precepts’ from Ajahn Brahmali at the end of the retreat.
Who’s teaching?
Ajahn Brahmāli was born in Norway in 1964. He first became interested in Buddhism and meditation in his early 20s after a visit to Japan. Having completed degrees in engineering and finance, he began his monastic training as an anagarika (keeping the eight precepts) in England at Amaravati and Chithurst Buddhist Monasteries. After hearing the ’Word of Brahm’ he decided to travel to Australia to train at Bodhinyana Monastery with Ajahn Brahmavamso. Ajahn Brahmali has lived at Bodhinyana Monastery since 1994, and was ordained as a Bhikkhu, with Ajahn Brahm as his preceptor, in 1996.
Ajahn Brahmāli teaches the monastic rules and gives Pali classes to the monks and anagarikas at Bodhinyana Monastery. His clear and thoughtful talks make the teachings of the Buddha accessible to all and are very popular downloads on the BSWA website. He teaches regularly at BSWA and in Singapore. Ajahn Brahmāli has also published a number of articles on important points relating to the Dhamma.
Where’s the retreat venue? When do we start? What to bring?
The retreat will start on Friday at the Helsinki Zen Centre (2nd floor of Kalevankatu 4, Helsinki) with an introduction period from 18:30 – 20:00.
On Saturday and Sunday the program will run from 09:00 to 17:00 in Snellman-korkeakoulu, Puuskakuja 14, Helsinki.
Please arrive with time to allow yourself to settle and to avoid rushing. Please also note that this is a non-residential retreat, and accommodation can not be provided by the organisers.
During the Saturday and Sunday meal times (at 11.30) you will have the opportunity to participate in the traditional Theravada practice of offering food to the ordained Sangha. Although students on the retreat should bring their own food to eat during the lunch times, if you wish to participate in this traditional practice, you will be invited to offer food to Ajahn Brahmali for his lunch. Any food that he does not take will then be offered back to the retreat students. Any food that is not eaten after this can then be taken home by the retreat students at the end of that day. This practice of offering food (and other requisites) to the ordained Sangha is a practice that has occurred since the time of the Buddha.
Tea and instant coffee will be available during the tea breaks. The organisers will provide meditation mats, cushions and benches for the participants. If you prefer, you may sit on a chair or on the floor.
How much does it cost? How can I register?
The retreat fee is 45 euros. This sum is used to pay for the rent of the retreat venues and the other related costs. At the end of the retreat there will be an opportunity to offer a donation to a fund that supports the teacher.
You can register by paying the retreat fee into Nirodha’s account (IBAN FI6012483000213060, BIC NDEAFIHH, reference number 1120141) and completing the registration form.
We feel that difficult financial circumstances should not prevent anybody from participating. If the retreat fee is beyond your means, please contact us at ilmo@nirodha.fi and we can discuss a possible reduction in the fee.In the case of cancellation, the retreat fee is not refundable, but is transferable to cover the payment for a replacement retreat student.
If you have any questions, contact us at ilmo@nirodha.fi.