International Meditation Centre (IMC) - Sunshine N.S.W. Australia . 10 day retreat Nov. 25th to Dec 5th 2011

Some pictures taken on my mobile phone at the 10 day retreat that I have just returned from today.
No phone on for the 10 days but took a few shots of this beautiful place.
Exhausting but refreshing days of intense training in Buddhist meditation.


This Retreat was organised by the :-

  SAYAGYI U BA KHIN MEMORIAL TRUST

International Meditation Centre

54 Cessnock Road, Sunshine NSW Australia, NSW 2264

phone:  0249 705 433 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting            0249 705 433      end_of_the_skype_highlighting        fax:  0249 705 749              www.imcnsw.com

The pagoda

From the door of my bedroom in the women's quarters

I had the luxury of my own en suite

My comfortable bed area.

Around the pagoda at night....looking across to the meditation hall.

The meditation hall.

The pagoda lit up at night.

The guilt roof of the pagoda.

The pagoda on a stormy day.

Meditation hall by day.

View from the Bodhi tree

From the Bodhi tree

The surrounding bush.

Bodhi leaves - the yellow leaves were falling off and the new leaves were budding.

Meditation

A ten-day course in Vipassana meditation is the practice of the Eightfold Noble Path, as taught by the Buddha.

The Path can be divided into three parts, namely: higher training in morality, higher training in concentration and higher training in wisdom. 

Morality: Morality is the common denominator of all religions. At the Centre, students observe the five precepts of refraining from killing, stealing, sexual misconduct, lying and the use of drugs or intoxicants.

By diligently observing this morality, one develops purity of physical and verbal actions. 

Concentration: Beginning with the base of morality, training in concentration is taught using Anapana meditation (mindfulness of breathing).

Through learning to calm and control the mind during the first five days, the student quickly appreciates the advantages of a steady and balanced mind. 

Wisdom: The third training is wisdom (or insight).

This is introduced through Vipassana meditation, which is practised throughout the remainder of the period. 

Timetable

4:00 am	Wake up
4:30	Meditation in hall
5:30	Morning discourse
6:30 - 8:00	Breakfast and rest
8:00 - 9:00	Group meditation in hall (for all)
9:30	Individual instruction (for all)
11:00 - 1:00 pm	Lunch and rest
1:00 - 1:45	Meditation
2:00 - 3:00	Group meditation in hall (for all)
3:30 - 5:00	Meditation, and interviews for new students
5:00 - 6:00	Tea and rest
6:00	Evening discourse
7:30 - 8:30	Group meditation in hall (for all)
9:00	Retire

The Heart Sutra

Venerable Toby Gillies day retreat at Gisborne.

The Heart Sutra:  Meditations on Emptiness 

I am just home from a day retreat with Toby at Gisborne.

Tired and with my head slightly spun around on its axis from contemplating emptiness. Clear as a bell. The teachings from Toby were like arrows... hitting the bull's eye.

Thank you.

Thank you.

The Heart Sutra

Heart of the Prajna-Paramita Sutra, also called Heart Sutra, is the shortest and the most popular sutra in Buddhism. The Heart Sutra is regarded as the summation of the wisdom of Buddha. It explains perfectly the teaching of non-attachment, which is essentially the doctrine of emptiness. 

When Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva is practising the profound Prajna-paramita,
He sees and illuminates to the emptiness of the five skandhas, and
Thus attains deliverance from all suffering.

Sariputra, matter is not different from emptiness, and
Emptiness is not different from matter.
Matter is emptiness and emptiness is matter.
So too are sensation, recognition, volition and consciousness.

Sariputra, the emptiness character of all dharmas,
neither arises nor ceases, is neither pure nor impure, and
neither increases nor decreases.

Therefore, in emptiness: there is no matter,
no sensation, recognition, volition or consciousness,
no eye, ear, nose, tongue, body, or mind,
no sight, sound, scent, taste, tangibles, or dharma,
no field of the eye up to no field of mental consciousness,
no suffering, no cause of suffering,
no ending of suffering, and no path,
no wisdom and also no attainment.
Because there is nothing obtainable.

Bodhisattvas through the reliance on Prajna-paramita
Have no attachment and hindrance in their minds.
Because there is no more attachment and hindrance,
There is no more fear, and
Far away from erroneous views and wishful-thinking,
Ultimately : The Final Nirvana.

Therefore, realize that Prajna-paramita
is the great wondrous mantra,
the great radiant mantra,
the unsurpassed mantra, and
the unequalled mantra.

It can eradicate all suffering, and
It is genuine and not false.
Therefore, utter the Prajna-paramita mantra -
Chant: Gate Gate Paragate Parasamgate Bodhisvaha!

About The Venerable Toby Gillies

Venerable Toby Gillies has a unique and rare knowledge encompassing the full breadth and depth of traditional Tibetan Buddhism, having studied with a renowned Tibetan Geshe for 35 years. He has had the privilege of private interviews with his Holiness the Dalai Lama and received teaching from him. Venerable Toby Gillies has also discussed and debated Tibetan philosophy with many highly realised scholars and meditation masters.

Toby’s open enquiring mind, combined with the ability to listen, has led to a continued interest in interfaith discussion. This has resulted in joint retreats bringing together senior religious leaders from a variety of faiths.

What separates Venerable Toby Gillies from other teachers is his innate ability to meld, adapt and communicate the Buddha’s message through his personal experience as a westerner navigating and conquering the pathways of the mind as presented in Tibetan Buddhism.

By demystifying Tibetan Buddhism and bringing the philosophical elements into the 21st century, Venerable Toby Gillies shows by example how meditation, analysis of the mind and understaning can make life a happier, healthier, relaxed and more joyous experience.

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Interview Charlotte Joko Beck - She died yesterday - 15/06/2011