Retreats Frits Koster

These vipassana or insight meditation retreats take place at Passaddhi Buddhist Retreat Centre in Adrigole, Beara, Co. Cork, Ireland. The retreats are residential, and in silence, under the guidance of Frits Koster from the Netherlands. The meditation technique taught by Frits is in the tradition of the Venerable Mahasi Sayadaw of Burma. There are alternating periods of sitting and walking meditation, and mindfulness of daily activities is stressed throughout the retreat.

Vipassana or insight meditation is a technique that originates in the Theravada Buddhist tradition of Thailand, Burma and Sri Lanka. Developing mindfulness is the key factor in this practice. It’s a direct way to see who we truly are, by observing without preference or judgement the arising and passing away of all experience. We are witnessing physical feelings, thoughts and emotions, and become participants in life, in the here and now, rather than being the victim of our experiences. The practice of mindfulness offers us tools to get the courage to face our human predicament, learning to cope with change and difficulties. We discover compassion, joy and wisdom, being at peace with ourselves and the world we live in.

In these retreats we practise according to a daily schedule, alternating walking meditation (outside on the patio, or in the sunroom) and sitting meditation as a group upstairs in the meditation hall. There are also periods of informal meditation after the meals, when it is possible to do (individually) yoga, tai chi, chi kung or prostration exercises, or going for a mindful walk on the Beara Way.
Every day there is the opportunity for private reflection – called ‘interviews’ in this tradition – with Frits on how the practice is going.

Information on Frits Koster

Frits Koster (1957) began practising insight meditation 23 years ago. He ordained as a Buddhist monk for six years, practising vipassana meditation and studying Buddhist scriptures in meditation centres and monasteries in Thailand and Burma. In 1988 he returned to the Netherlands, where he has been facilitating meditation retreats ever since. He disrobed, and now works part-time in psychiatric health care, as well as offering courses in Buddhist psychology and philosophy.
Frits has written several books, including Liberating Insight (Silkworm Books, 2004) and Buddhist Meditation as Stress Management (Silkworm Books, 2007).
He is presently following a course to become Trainer MBSR/MBCT. For more information on Frits and his work see www.fritskoster.nl.

Practical Information
Dates:	Saturday 20 - Sunday 28 September. Sunday 31 August – Tuesday 9 September 2009.
Start:	6.30 pm on the starting day with a light meal; please arrive at 6 pm.
Finish:	With breakfast on the last day of the retreat.
Facilitator:	Frits Koster.
Costs:	The retreats are offered on a donation basis. Please inform yourself what a similar retreat or workshop would cost at other venues, or contact Marjó for guidelines.
Please bring:	Meditation cushion or bench, umbrella, torch, warm clothes, alarm clock.
Transport:	Adrigole can be reached by bus from Cork-city, see www.buseireann.ie (public bus) or ring 027-74003 (private minibus) for details.
More info:	If you need more information, please ring Marjó at 027-60223 or click here for contact by email.
Booking:	To receive a registration form and directions to Passaddhi click here.