Contents
Meditation Courses
The following is a general course outline for meditators at our meditation centre. All courses follow the meditation tradition of Mahasi Sayadaw, Ajaan Tong Sirimangalo and Yuttadhammo Bhikkhu as found in our booklet on how to meditate.
For more information on coming to practice at our centre, please see our information page.
Foundation Course – 21 days (approx.)
Newcomers to our meditation tradition are required to undertake a 21-day Foundation Course in Satipatthana Vipassana Meditation as their first course. Meditation techniques include mindful prostration, one- to six-step walking meditation, sitting meditation based on the rising and falling of the abdomen, the sitting posture, points of bodily contact, as well as contemplation of daily activities from morning to night.
The emphasis in this course is on learning the basic technique of recognition (sati – a.k.a. mindfulness) of the body, feelings, mind, and dhammas (meditation objects) in the present moment. The course follows, as its technical outline, the sixteen stages of insight knowledge found in primary Buddhist texts and commentaries; no formal instruction in the stages of knowledge, however, is given in the foundation course and not all meditators will obtain the same results from the course.
Course content includes daily interviews with a teacher and regular group lectures. No previous experience is required, but advanced meditators in other meditation techniques may request a streamlined course to suit their needs.
Advanced Review Course – 10 days
The ten-day advanced review course is essentially a condensed version of the founadition course. Each day, however, meditators will not only receive instruction and advice on their practice, they will additionally receive teachings on the stages of insight knowledge, and will make a resolve to experience each stage according to the teacher’s instruction.
The emphasis in this course is on refining the knowledge gained in the foundation course, building confidence and familiarity in regards to the higher stages of insight knowledge. This course is a prerequisite for the instructor course; meditators will be assessed by the teacher after each review course as to their acquired level of insight knowledge. Those wishing to undertake instructor training may be required to repeat the advanced review course several times before being accepted for the instructor course.
Prerequisites: Successful completion of the foundation course above; completion of any intermediate practice or reading material required by the teacher.
Instructor Course – minimum 30 days
For students who have completed both the foundation course and at least two advanced review courses, we offer advanced meditators the opportunity to deepen their involvement in the meditation practice by learning the basics of guiding meditators as an instructor. Note that this course is available only to those meditators who are assessed as qualified by our centre based on their proficiency and progress in their own practice at our centre. This course includes both theoretical and practical instruction in teaching meditation as well as observation of meditator reporting sessions and interaction with foundation course meditators. The course lasts thirty days and can be extended into an apprenticeship under our centre’s head teachers, subject to their approval.
Prerequisites: Successful completion of the foundation course and at least two advanced review courses, as well as any additional practice or reading material required by the teacher.
Study Courses
Below is a list of some of the study courses we conduct for long-term residents (mainly monastics). All courses are run according to need and predisposition of the students; there is no fixed schedule for start of finish, and these courses are only available to long-term meditators who have finished both the foundation and advanced meditation courses above. Study courses may not be taken concurrently with the above meditation courses.
Introduction To Pali
Study of Pali based on the original Pali grammar method. Emphasis is on gaining a comprehensive understanding of Pali grammar without excessive attention to detail. Lessons include the Pali alphabet, sandhi, nama, kriya, compounds, and derivation.
Yuttadhammo