Self, Consciousness
and Namarupa: A Study Retreat (BAT1)
Saturday 10th –
Saturday 17th March 2012
Sine Cera Retreat
Centre
This retreat will focus on revealing the distinctive way in which
the Buddha understood the human condition and how this vision
provides the basis for his ideas about the way to resolve its
fundamental questions and challenges. Contrary to the widespread
view that the Buddha taught there was no self, we will look at
sutta texts from the Pali Canon that suggest a far more nuanced
and complex approach to the issue of human identity. We will
argue that the Buddha saw the self as an unfinished project to
be realized rather than an obstacle to be transcended. Key to
this analysis will be a consideration of the relation between
vinnana (consciousness) and namarupa (name-form). Time will be
divided between talks, meditation and discussion. The retreat
will be in silence apart from the group discussion periods, the
talks and any necessary communication. Eligibility for this retreat
is dependent on prospective participants having completed at
least 3 x one week of silent retreat in the Buddha’s tradition.
Please ensure this information is included in your registration
form.
A Secular
Buddhist Retreat (BAT2)
Sunday 18th –
Sunday 25th March 2012
Sine Cera Retreat
Centre
This retreat
will explore what kind of Dharma practice might emerge in a Buddhism
divested of the religious, dogmatic and patriarchal features
that have often characterised its role in traditional Asian societies.
What is truly distinctive in the Buddha’s teaching
that sets it apart from mainstream Indian religious tradition?
Combining reflections on classical Pali discourses with the practice
of mindful awareness, concentration and questioning, we will
seek to answer this question by uncovering what lies at the radical
heart of the Buddha’s teaching and considering how such
ideas might be interpreted and put into practice in today’s
increasingly secular and interdependent world. This is a silent
retreat apart from the talks, group sessions and any necessary
communication. The retreat is open to people new to mediation
and to experienced practitioners.
 |
Stephen
Batchelor is a
Buddhist teacher, writer and translator known for his secular
views and his bestselling book Buddhism without Beliefs.
He was a monk for 10 years, first studying and pacticing Tibetan
Buddhism and then Korean Zen. He travels widely, teaches regularly
in North America and Europe, leads pilgrimages to Buddhist sites
in India, takes very
distincitve photos, is one of the guiding teachers of Gaia
House and continues to write. His other books include The
Faith to Doubt, Living with the Devil: A Meditation on
Good and Evil and the recent Confession of a Buddhist
Atheist. |
 |
Martine
Batchelor is also
a writer, translator and meditation teacher. Her most recent
book is The Spirit of the Buddha. She was a Buddhist nun
for ten years studying Zen in Korea, Taiwan and Japan and she
now lives with her husband Stephen in France and teaches worldwide.
Her books include A Women's Guide to Buddhism, Principles
of Zen, the illustrated Meditation for Life and
Let Go: A Buddhist Guide to Breaking Free of Habits. |
These retreats will be held at the Sine
Cera Rainforest Retreat. The accommodation will be in a variety
of rooms including rooms holding six or seven people. People
can also bring a tent or campervan and camp. Vegetarian food
will be provided and people who eat gluten-free or dairy-free
food can be catered for. The retreat will start with registration
between 3 and 5 pm on Saturday the 10th March and will finish
by 2 pm on the 17th March. If you are attending both retreats
it is fine to stay overnight on 17th March. The silent retreat
will start with registrations between 3-5pm on Sunday 18th March
and will finish by 2pm, on 25th March.
We will co-ordinate rides. For those not driving to Sine Cera
we will try to co-ordinate share rides for people travelling
to Sine Cera from Northern NSW and possibly from Brisbane.
We will also hire a bus
from (and then to) Gold Coast (Coolangatta) airport. There will be some cost for people
taking this bus. You will need to arrive at Coolangatta by 1.30pm
on the arrival days to get this bus and have a flight leaving
no earlier than 5.30pm on the leaving days to catch the bus back
to the airport.
The cost of each seven day retreat is $500 standard rate.
There is an assisted rate of $400 for full time students or Health
Care Card holders. There is also a benefactor rate of $600. The
assisted rates are funded by the benefactors and the number of
assisted places will correspond with the generosity of benefactors.
If you have a healthy income, please consider contributing to
the possibility of others attending.
The standard cost covers meals,
accommodation, use of the facilities and a contribution to the
cost of the Batchelor's airfares from France. It doesn't include
any payment to Stephen or Martine. They, like many Buddhist Dharma
teachers choose to teach on a dana (generosity) basis, as has
been the tradition for over 2500 years. There will be a dana
box at the end of each retreat for offerings to the teachers.
(Please bring cash or cheques for this purpose – there is
no ATM handy). Stephen and Martine rely on these offerings to
cover their living expenses.
| RETREAT COSTS
TABLE for your information |
Standard Rate
(covering one’s own costs for retreat) |
Benefactor’s
Rate (contributing to others) |
Assisted Rate
(others contributing to your costs) |
| BAT1 Study
retreat |
$500 |
$600 |
$400 |
| BAT2 Silent
retreat |
$500 |
$600 |
$400 |
| BAT1N2 both
retreats |
$1000 |
$1200 |
$800 |
There will be a work period each day of 45 minutes to one hour.
One of the requirements in participating in the retreat is to
help in three or four of these work periods during the week.
The work could involve chopping vegetables, putting out food,
cleaning up after meals, washing up, cleaning rooms, cleaning
toilets or ringing bells. Having this work period allows us to
offer the retreat cheaply and helps the retreat run smoothly.
To secure a place on one or
both retreats, please fill out the two
forms (Word format or pdf
format for printing) and then send the forms by email to:
or by mail to:
Nicky Lumb
Dharma Cloud
84 Cathcart Street
Lismore NSW 2480
along with a deposit of $100
or full payment.
The deposit can be made by a funds transfer to:
Account name: DharmaCloud
BSB: 124-001
Account Number: 90414051
or it can be sent as a cheque
or money order made out to DharmaCloud.
If you do a funds transfer,
on the deposit details include your name and BAT1 (for the study
retreat) or BAT2 (for the silent retreat) or BAT1N2 (if you are
attending both retreats)
Please pay the final amount so that it reaches us at least four
weeks before the first retreat starts (i.e. before Saturday 11th
February 2012).
If you're applying for an assisted
place, please provide a copy of your student card or Health Care
Card.
Cancellation arrangements:
deposits and full payments up to four weeks before the start
of each retreat will be returned minus a $25 administration charge.
For further information please
email
or call Nicky Lumb on 02 6621
6207.
Stephen and Martine will
also be four
day-long programs in Sydney from the 2nd to the 5th March.
dharma.org.au
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