Far South Coast
Dharma Yatra 2010
A pilgrimage / walkabout through
the Mimosa Rocks and Biamanga National Parks to Mt Gulaga in
the Far South Coast of NSW
Saturday 10th - Sunday 18th
April 2010
Mimosa
Rocks National Park
About the Far South Coast Dharma Yatra:
Yatra is the Sanskrit word
for pilgrimage. A Dharma Yatra is a pilgrimage which offers an
opportunity to explore Dharma teachings in the company of like-minded
people while travelling together through different inner and
outer landscapes. The Dharma Yatra is based on a spirit of simplicity
and in that we let go of the usual luxuries of life and simply
walk on the earth, step by step, moment to moment, without a
destination in mind, enjoying the countless wonders in nature.
Apart from the walking time there will be daily sitting meditation
periods (some silent, some guided), basic meditation instructions,
a guided basic yoga practice, meetings in small discussion groups,
dharma teachings, kayaking and guided observations of nature.
This Yatra will start at Tanja,
near Mumbulla mountain and end at Tilba. Our journey will travel
along the coast through Mimosa Rocks National Park, camping in
National Park sites and private property, then through the Bermagui
Nature Reserve to The Crossing Land Education Centre at Bermagui.
There'll be a day of silence when we stay at The Crossing. The
following day there'll be a 3 hour kayak trip across Wallaga
Lake to the (Tibetan Buddhist) Dzogchen
Community, "Namgyalgar" and on the final full day,
a walk up Mt.
Gulaga, a sacred area for the Yuin people. We finish early
on the Sunday.
Mimosa Rocks National Park
is located 20 kilometres south of Bermagui, 22 kilometres north-east
of Bega and 413 kilometres south of Sydney. It's a habitat for
endangered animals, it has rough coastal headlands with cliffs,
rock stacks and what looks like volcanic rock sculptures.
The daily walking distance
will be around 12 kilometres but sometimes much less. Some sections
will lead through steep and bushy terrain while others will be
along coastal rock formations or long sandy beaches. Two estuary
crossings may require swimming/wading across and a kayak trip
will be preceded with instructions. A medium level of fitness
will be required at least. An accompanying support team will
take care of meals and luggage. We will be accommodated in our
tents and only some places will have shower facilities. The Yatra
is an all weather event. The weather in the area could vary between
hot and dry days to continuous days of rain.
The Dharma Yatra will start
on Saturday the 10th April at 3pm for registration at the Tanja
Community Hall and end on Sunday the 18th April at Namgyalgar
at 9am. A bus will then transport walkers to their cars at Tanja.
Transport can be arranged to the Merimbula Airport. Earlier transport
can be arranged for people catching buses to Canberra or Sydney.
Helping:
The Dharma Yatra is based on
an active participation. The support team will need help with
food preparation, washing up, luggage, setting up and packing
up the camp site, toilets and showers and driving the support
vehicles (valid driving licence needed for this).
Active support on the Yatra makes it possible to keep the costs
low. It also lifts spirit of the group as we come together in
a functional team. Some participants might choose to spend a
day with the support team and not to walk. There will be only
24 places available on the Kayaking section.
Dharma teachings and practice:
The pilgrimage will be conducted
under the shelter of the Five Ethical Precepts, which create
a safe, caring and conscious environment for spiritual practice.
On the walk the precepts invite us to restrain from harmful speech
and actions, sexual expression and intoxicants. The walking periods
will be in silence. The meditation instructions are based on
the Insight Meditation (Vipassana) Tradition. The yoga exercises
are suitable for beginners and are designed to support our physical
condition and our meditation practice on the yatra.
Teachers:
Victor von der Heyde has been practicing meditation for
over twenty-five years. He studied with a wide range of teachers
in India, Nepal, the US and Australia and these included teachers
from different Buddhist traditions as well as non-aligned teachers.
He's been teaching meditation for fifteen years and is a founding
member of the Insight Teacher
Circle Australia. He is also chairman of the Bodhgaya Development
Association, an aid organisation that supports literacy and self-sufficiency
programs in India.
Ronny Hickel is an affiliated teacher of the Satyananda
Yoga Academy who has studied and taught in various traditions
of Yoga and Insight Meditation for over fifteen years. He facilitates
classes, workshops, retreats and yatras in the Northern Rivers
area. Ronny is also trained in Hakomi Psychotherapy. He is presently
involved in a sustainable lifestyle project at the Cloud Mountain
Homeland in Northern NSW where he lives with his partner Emma
and his two children Lara and Jay.
Cost:
$400. This covers all meals and catering, hiring
of support vehicles and transport, accommodation, kayaks and
some administration expenses.
Dana - Donation:
In the Insight Meditation tradition,
teachers do not receive payment for teaching the dharma. There
will be a donation box for the teachers and organisers and donations
will be gratefully received. Dana not only supports individual
teachers and organisers for the time they have spent on this
event but also makes future dharma events possible. Note: The
route of the Yatra does not go near an automatic teller!
What to bring:
- tent (at certain camp sites
some tent sharing may be
necessary due to limited space)
- warm sleeping bag
- Thermarest or camping mat (NO MATTRESSES PLEASE)
- sun hat and rain coat
- appropriate clothing for hot, cold and wet weather
- good (walked in) walking boots or hiking shoes
- daypack for walking
- water bottle(s) for 2 litres or more
- cup, bowl/plate, cutlery
- lunch container (like a plastic lunch box)
- sun screen, insect repellent, blister plasters (optional)
- torch and spare batteries
- toiletries, towel, swim wear, etc
- any personal medication or supplements if required
Getting to Tanja Community Hall:
People who have registered
will receive a confirmation letter and a map with instructions
on how to get to Tanja. Through a carpooling network we will
try to arrange lifts for those who cannot or wish not to drive
themselves. A pick up service from Merimbula Airport 10.40am
or 1.15pm can be arranged.
Those people travelling from
Canberra will need to catch the Countrylink bus service to Bega
which leaves Canberra Station at 4.45pm and arrives in Bega at
9.00pm As this is fairly late to come to the Yatra, those travelling
this way are welcome to stay at Janey and Peter's in Tanja on
the Friday night. Those travelling by Premier bus from Sydney
to Bega (nearest town) will be picked up at 6.20pm and transported
direct to camp.
It is important that you arrive
at the Tanja Community Hall for registration between 3 and 4pm
on Saturday the 10th April (unless you're on the bus from Sydney).
How to book:
Fill in the three
registration forms and send your completed forms with full
payment to:
"Far South Coast Yatra"
Lot 20 Barrabooka Rd.
Tanja NSW 2550
Payment:
· by cheque or money
order made out to "Far South Coast Yatra"
· (Please note that cheques won't be banked before February)
or
· by money transfer (direct credit) to:
Account Name: Far south coast Yatra
Account No: BSB 732682 Acc. 555487
Please state your name and "Yatra" in the reference
box.
You will receive confirmation
by email to confirm your booking.
Your place will be allocated only after we have received your
completed registration forms and full payment. Please do not
make any travel arrangements before your place on the yatra has
been confirmed.
Note: There are only limited
(23) places available and the Yatra might book out quickly.
Cancellation:
Cancellations before the 10th
March will receive a full refund minus a $30 handling charge.
Please inform us early if you need to cancel so that you can
receive a refund and your place can be offered to someone else.
For more information:
Please contact Janey or Peter
Email: 
Phone: 02 64940248
Mob: 0458544915