Metta
(loving kindness) meditation retreat
31 July - 9 August 2009 (dates to be confirmed)
From 31 July - 9 August
2009
a metta or loving kindness meditation retreat will take place at Passaddhi
Buddhist Retreat Centre in Adrigole, Beara, Co. Cork, Ireland. The retreat is
residential, and in silence, under the guidance of
Visu Teo.
Metta or Loving Kindness Meditation
Metta is a Pali word which means
lovingkindness, goodwill, and friendliness. In this intensive metta retreat we
will be spending all our time radiating loving thoughts and good wishes to our
loved ones, friends, teachers, acquaintances, difficult ones, and all beings.
The intensity of the practice can bring about a profound and lasting
transformation of the mind. We’ll find that we won’t get angry or irritated so
easily and will have more patience and tolerance. Metta develops and strengthens the
qualities of love, kindness, friendliness, goodwill, and patience in us while
weakening the tendency to anger, hatred, ill-will, irritation, and annoyance. In
addition one gains deep concentration and tranquility of mind during the
meditation sessions as one’s mind gets more and more absorbed in the radiating
of metta.
The practice of metta has a very positive effect on both oneself and others. We
feel better and happier as we fill our mind with thoughts of goodwill and lessen
our anger and irritation. Others will find us pleasant to relate to and will
appreciate our friendship and presence. Our relationships with each other will
greatly improve with the regular practice of metta. We will come to be more
patient, tolerant, understanding, loving, friendly, and kind to each other.We will be spending the day alternating
between the sitting and walking posture while all the time radiating metta in an
atmosphere of noble silence. We will continue to cultivate metta in the standing
and lying down posture and in all other activities. In addition, we will daily
devote one meditation session of an hour to vipassana (insight meditation)
practice. Cultivating both samatha and vipassana meditation enables us to learn
flexibility in switching meditation objects, that is, from radiating metta to
observing body and mind states.
The teacher will give daily Dhamma talks and discussions to elucidate the
practice of metta both as a meditation practice and in everyday life situations.
The objective is to gain both tranquility of mind and improved, enriched, and
meaningful relationships with our loved ones, friends, and all other beings.
There will also be personal interviews and consultations with the teacher during
which more guidance and clarification will be given.
The teacher
 |
Visu Teoh is a Malaysian Chinese born
in Penang, Malaysia, in 1953. He has been practising meditation since
1982 and was a Buddhist monk for 17 years till he resumed the lay life
in 2003. He is married to Barbara, a German national, and together they
travel to lead retreats in various countries.
Visu was a journalist for 12 years before he became a monk under the
tutelage of Sayadaw U Pandita of Myanmar in 1987. He spent three years
training under the guidance of Sayadaw U Pandita at the Mahasi
Meditation Centre in Yangon, Myanmar and nine months at Wat Tamaoh
Monastery in Lampang, Thailand under Sayadaw U Dhammananda before
returning to Malaysia in 1991 where he continued his meditation practice
and the study of the Buddha’s teachings. Visu has also learnt from
various other teachers including Sayadaw U Lakkhana, Sayadaw U Jatila,
Ven Sujiva, Sayadaw U Thondara (deceased), Sayadaw U Wayarmeinda
(deceased) and Sayadaw U Pannathami.
Visu has led retreats in Malaysia, Singapore, Australia, Hong Kong, Sri
Lanka, Italy, Holland, and Czech Republic. He is the author of several
books including ‘Curbing Anger Spreading Love,’ ‘Loving and Dying,’
‘Hello with love and other meditations’ and ‘Metta – the practice of
lovingkindness for a happier life.’ |
|
Practical
Information |
| Dates:
|
Monday
31 August - Wednesday 9 September 2009. |
| Start:
|
6.30 pm on Monday
31 August with a ight meal; please arrive at 6 pm. |
| Finish:
|
With breakfast on
Wednesday
9 September. |
| Facilitator:
|
Visu Teo. |
| Costs:
|
The
retreat is 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. |
Click
here
for information about other retreats
