BEGIN:VCALENDAR VERSION:2.0 PRODID:-//wp-events-plugin.com//7.4//EN TZID:Europe/London X-WR-TIMEZONE:Europe/London BEGIN:VEVENT UID:1751@anukampaproject.org DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London;VALUE=DATE:20240618 DTEND;TZID=Europe/London;VALUE=DATE:20240621 DTSTAMP:20240609T170157Z URL:https://anukampaproject.org/events/ajahn-brahm-ven-canda-the-wisdom-of -silence-a-3-day-online-retreat/ SUMMARY:Ajahn Brahm & Ven Canda 3-Day Online Retreat: “The Wisdom Of Sile nce” DESCRIPTION:\n\n \;\n\n"Ajahn Brahm and Ven Canda create a really safe\ , supportive and nurturing environment. It softens the heart. The teaching s are wise and profound but delivered in a way that is funny\, sensitive a nd warm hearted. They lead by example in how to act through love\, accepta nce and compassion. I am glad I have found such teachers."  ~ Patricia\, a participant in Ajahn Brahm &\; Ven Canda's "Bliss Upon Bliss" online retreat\, November 2020\n\n \;\n\n \;\n\n \;\n\nSilence is wha t we develop through stillness. It is not merely the absence of noise\; si lence is a gateway to profound insight. When we are still\, the mind becom es tranquil and we move beyond the boundaries of conventional knowledge. A s we learn to trust the silence and release the clamour of the five-sense world\, the mind energises and becomes blissful and bright. In deep\, medi tative stillness\, the Dhamma ~ timeless truth ~ reveals itself and you se e things as they truly are. You may even end up blissing your "self" out o f samsara!\n\n \;\n\n \;\n\nIn this retreat\, our wise and compass ionate guides will gently lead us into the heart of silence.  Like skille d gardeners\, they will tend to the soil of our minds\, nurturing seeds of happiness and peace. The retreat will include guided and silent meditatio ns\, engaging Dhamma talks and opportunities for questions and responses. It is suitable for every level of experience and requires that you have a reasonably quiet and safe place to stay where you can caringly tend to you r body and mind. Ven Upekkha will be also be present and may hopefully off er some Dhamma as well!\n\n \;\n\n \;\nTentative Daily Schedule (T ime zone BST):\n \;\n\nPlease note the retreat begins at 08:00 on the first day and 06:15 on the second and third day. The day programmes end a t 20:30 on the first two days\, and at 17:30 on the last day. \n\n \; \n\n \;\n\nTuesday 18th June:\n\n08:00 – 10:00  Dhamma Talk\, Prec epts &\; Guided meditation  (Ajahn Brahm)\n10:00 – 12:15  Walking m editation &\; Lunch break\n12:30 – 14:00  Guided Meditation &\; Q &\;A  (Ajahn Brahm)\n14:00 – 16:30  Personal practice period (encou raging walking and sitting meditation)\n16:45 – 17:30  Silent Meditatio n\n17:30 – 19:00  Tea break or snack\n19:00 – 20:30: Short talk\, gui ded meditation and Q&\;A (Ven Canda)\n\n \;\n\n \;\n\nWednesday 19th June:\n\nChange: 06:15 – 07:00  Morning Silent Meditation &\; Metta Sutta Chanting with Ven Upekkha\nChange: 08:30 – 10:00  Dhamma T alk &\; Guided meditation (Ajahn Brahm)\n10:00 – 12:15  Walking medi tation &\; Lunch break\n12:30 – 14:00  Guided Meditation &\; Q&am p\;A (Ajahn Brahm)\n14:00 – 16:30  Personal practice period (encouragin g walking and sitting meditation)\n16:45 – 17:30  Silent Meditation\n17 :30 – 19:00 Tea break or snack\n19:00 – 20:30: Short talk\, guided med itation and Q&\;A (Ven Canda and/or Ven Upekkha)\n\n \;\n\n \;\ n\nThursday 20th June:\n\n06:15 – 07:00  Morning Silent Meditation & \; Metta Sutta Chanting with Ven Upekkha\n08:30 – 10:00  Dhamma Talk & amp\; Guided meditation (Ajahn Brahm)\n10:00 – 12:15  Walking meditatio n &\; Lunch break\n12:30 – 14:00  Guided Meditation &\; Q&\;A   (Ajahn Brahm)\nChange: 15:00 – 15:45 Silent Meditation\nChange: 16:00 – 17:30 Closing Session ~ Talk\, meditation and Anukampa discussion (Ve n Canda)\n\n \;\n\n \;\n\nCheck the retreat schedule against your country time zone here.\n\n \;\n\n \;\n\nFull attendance is ideal to make the most of your retreat. Please apply only if you can give yours elf the very best opportunity for developing the beauty of silence!\n\n&n bsp\;\n\n \;\n\nAs this is an online home-retreat\, you are free to ch oose whether you wish to observe the Eight Precepts or the Five Precepts. \n\n \;\n\n \;\n\n\n\n \;\n\n \;\nThe Ethical Precepts \n  \;\n\nVenerable Ānanda once asked the Buddha:\n\n“Venerable\, what is the purpose and benefit of skillful ethics (sila)?” The Buddha answe red\, "So\, Ānanda\, the purpose and benefit of skillful ethics is not ha ving regrets (avippati). The purpose and benefit of not having regrets is joy (pamojja). The purpose and benefit of joy is bliss (piti). The purpose and benefit of bliss is tranquillity (passaddhi). The purpose and benefit of tranquillity is happiness (sukha). The purpose and benefit of happines s is stillness (samadhi). The purpose and benefit of stillness is seeing t hings as they truly are. The purpose and benefit of seeing things as they truly are is revulsion (nibbida). The purpose and benefit of revulsion is dispassion or fading away (viraga). The purpose and benefit of dispassion is knowledge and vision of liberation (vimuttinyanadassana). So\, Ānanda\ , skillful ethics progressively leads up to the highest.” (Anguttara Nik aya 11.1) \n\n \;\n\nHere we can see how practicing ethical precepts creates a strong foundation for the development of deep meditation. We the refore strongly encourage you to take the precepts – and you may choose whether you wish to observe the five or the eight\, during the retreat.\n\ n \;\n\n\nThe Five Precepts – Pañcasīla\n\n \nI undertake the tra ining-precept to abstain from killing living beings.\nPāṇātipātā ver amaṇī sikkhāpadaṃ samādiyāmi.\n \nI undertake the training-precep t to abstain from taking what is not given.\nAdinnādānā veramaṇī sik khāpadaṃ samādiyāmi.\n \nI undertake the training-precept to abstain from sexual misconduct.\nKāmesu micchācārā veramaṇī sikkhāpadaṃ samādiyāmi.\n \nI undertake the training-precept to abstain from false speech.\nMusāvādā veramaṇī sikkhāpadaṃ samādiyāmi.\n \nI unde rtake the training-precept to abstain from alcoholic drink or drugs that c loud the mind and cause heedlessness.\nSurā meraya majja pamādaṭṭhā nā veramaṇī sikkhāpadaṃ samādiyāmi.\n\n \;\n\n\nThe Eight Pre cepts – Aṭṭhaṅgasīla\n\n \nI undertake the training-precept to a bstain from killing living beings.\nPāṇātipātā veramaṇī sikkhāpa daṃ samādiyāmi.\n \nI undertake the training-precept to abstain from taking what is not given.\nAdinnādānā veramaṇī sikkhāpadaṃ samād iyāmi.\n \nI undertake the training-precept to abstain from sexual condu ct.\nAbrahmacariyā veramaṇī sikkhāpadaṃ samādiyāmi.\n \nI undert ake the training-precept to abstain from false speech.\nMusāvādā verama ṇī sikkhāpadaṃ samādiyāmi.\n \nI undertake the training-precept t o abstain from alcoholic drink or drugs that cloud the mind and cause heed lessness.\nSurā meraya majja pamādaṭṭhānā veramaṇī sikkhāpada ṃ samādiyāmi.\n \nI undertake the training-precept to abstain from ea ting at the wrong time (after solar noon).\nVikāla bhojanā veramaṇī s ikkhāpadaṃ samādiyāmi.\n \nI undertake the training-precept to absta in from dancing\, singing\, music\, going to see entertainments\, wearing jewellery\, using perfumes\, and beautifying the body with cosmetics.\nNac ca gīta vādita visūkadassanā mālā gandha vilepana dhārana maṇḍa na vibhūsanaṭṭhānā veramaṇī sikkhāpadaṃ samādiyāmi.\n \nI undertake the training-precept to abstain from using high or luxurious bed s and seats.\nUccāsayana mahāsayanā veramaṇī sikkhāpadaṃ samādiy āmi.\n\n \;\n\n \;\nHow To Have A Home Retreat\n \;\n\nPracti cing on a home retreat can be a very rewarding experience. One of the most powerful ways in which it differs from watching online talks\, is that yo u carve out a space dedicated to silent practice with none of the usual di stractions and disturbances. Essentially\, you take “time out” of ordi nary life to delve deeply into your inner world. To support yourself in th is process\, Noble Silence is encouraged throughout the retreat: to remain in silence as much as possible and to not use any electronic devices like mobile phones\, other than the one you would use for the online Zoom sess ions (only!). To help you decide whether this would suit you\, we offer so me thoughts about the benefits of a home retreat and consider some of the potential challenges – as well as possible solutions – so you can make the best use of your time.\n\n \;\n\n \;\nBenefits:\n\n Continui ty of practice which helps you get more benefit from meditation\n Safety\ , intimacy and support of an enclosed group\n Opportunity for personal gu idance through questions to the teachers\n Renewed confidence in your abi lity to practice wherever you are\n The food that suits your tummy and no one snoring in your dorm!\n\n \;\nChallenges and solutions:\n \;\ n\nIf you are living alone\, you have the ideal hermitage! Turn off your phone\, put on the vacation responder and do your weekly shop in advance. Use ear plugs if it is especially noisy and take a walk at the quietest ti mes of day. This will help you immensely in observing Noble Silence and cu ltivating sense restraint\, which inclines the mind toward inner happiness and facilitates quietening the mind.\n\n \;\n\nFor most however\, hom e retreat may pose the challenge of living with others who are not on retr eat! In this case\, you may need to put a few extra measures in place (if they will not join you!)\, to enable you to observe Noble Silence and mai ntain your inward focus. You might ask them to support you while you are o n retreat by keeping interactions to an absolute minimum and having a note system for anything absolutely unavoidable. Perhaps there is a room in th e house that you can retreat into and someone kind may cook your favourite food and leave your meals outside the door\, or negotiate times to use th e kitchen alone! If you have children or teens it might be difficult to ke ep the noise down\, so\, if you are able\, you might even decide to book into a quiet hotel or apartment  and tune in to the sessions from there.\ n\n \;\n\n[caption id="attachment_9873" align="aligncenter" width="120 0"] Flooded fields near the River Thames at Iffley Lock\, February 2024[/c aption]\n\n \;\n\n \;\nRegistration Fees\n \;\n\nThe retreat t eachings are offered on a donation basis to make the Dhamma accessible to all. Our volunteers have generously organised this in their own free time and neither they nor the two teachers receive any remuneration. To honour the wisdom\, time and commitment of our teachers\, you will be invited to offer donations at the end of the retreat. Your donations will help us sup port the running costs of our new Anukampa Grove Bhikkhuni Monastery\, whi ch will be the physical hub of our community and a haven of peace\, and pr ovide for the monastics requisites. Please give with a heart of generosity and joy\, whilst respecting your own personal financial situation.\n\n&nb sp\;\n\nThe registration fee ensures your commitment to attending the retr eat\, as we generally experience a 25% no-show rate to online events. When this happens others may lose a potentially life changing opportunity to p ractice. The registration fee contributes towards our admin and the runnin g expenses of our monastery. If you are unable to afford this\, please con tact us. Alternatively\, you can listen to the teachings later on our You Tube channel.\n\n \;\n\n \;\n\nPlease note that the registration f ee is NON REFUNDABLE.\n\n \;\nApplication Procedure\n \;\n\n1. *P lease ensure you have read all the above information carefully before you fill the application form below!\n\n \;\n\n2. After submitting your a pplication form\, you should receive email confirming that we have receiv ed your application within a few minutes. Please check your junk mail inbo x if you do not receive it. We advise you to add our email address\, boo kings@anukampaproject.org\, as a contact to prevent emails from us going into your junk folder. \n\n \;\n\n3. If it is not in your junk mail p lease contact us\; you might have submitted a wrong email address. Please also be aware that emails that we send to non-gmail\, hotmail or outlook e mail account outside the UK (e.g. .pl\; .gmx etc)\, are often rejected as 'undelivered' for unknown reasons. Please therefore contact us from a gmai l\, hotmail or outlook email account where at all possible\, to save disap pointment.\n\n \;\n\n4. We aim to approve your application within a da y or two. Once your application is approved\, your registration fee is nee ded to secure your place. Upon receipt\, your ticket will be automatically sent to you.\n\n \;\n\n \;\nJoining from the same household\n&nbs p\;\n\nIf more than one person from the same household wishes to join the retreat\, please make separate bookings and log in from separate computers . This ensures our numbers are manageable for the Q&\;A sessions and en ables you to practice as though alone.\n\n \;\n\n \;\n\n~ IMPORTAN T ~ Before you fill in the application form YOU MUST REFRESH your browser by pressing F5 or clicking the ↺ reload sign. This will update the form to show the current number of spaces available.\n\n \; ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://anukampaproject.org/wp-content/uploads/2 022/01/Screenshot_20220114-095523_YouTube-e1709094071955.jpg CATEGORIES:2024 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VTIMEZONE TZID:Europe/London X-LIC-LOCATION:Europe/London BEGIN:DAYLIGHT DTSTART:20240331T020000 TZOFFSETFROM:+0000 TZOFFSETTO:+0100 TZNAME:BST END:DAYLIGHT END:VTIMEZONE END:VCALENDAR