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Event 

Vipassana with Ven. Antonio Satta
Title:
Vipassana with Ven. Antonio Satta
When:
May 03, 2012 - May 06, 2012 
Category:
Upcoming Events

Description


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Category: Contemplative Retreat
Level: Open to all levels
Level of silence: Full Silence

 
Already Registered? Prepare for your Group Retreat

Want to offer Service? Volunteer to be the Course Manager!

 

Get 10% off by booking all 3 Retreats. To purchase the Ven. Antonio Satta 3 Retreat Package please email office@vajrapani.org or give us a call +1-800-531-4011.


Five Special Cabin Package Deals are available for students who would like stay in between retreats. See 'Cabin Package Deal' tab for more information.


Retreat Overview

“Of all the retreats I have ever attended, this one with Ven. Antonio was by far the best….a real experience with non-conceptual insight into the mind…”

—Retreater from 2010

  • Develop natural mindfulness in every action
  • Disengage from unhealthy emotions
  • Relax body and mind
  • Understand the nature of mental activity

 

meditateThis retreat is part of a three weekend series in which one will learn to integrate the Early Buddhism approach of generating the correct view of the true nature of the mind, with the New Wisdom School (Mahayana-Mahamudra) view.  These weekends are structured for students to first meditate together in a conducive environment (starting with the first weekend), then during the week practice at home alone, returning back each weekend to develop the next progression of the practice together.

 

Ven. Antonio shares:
"In the presentation on how to generate the correct view (of reality) there are two different paths or approaches: 

1. 'Generating the view for the sake of meditation' - where one first generates the view (conceptually) and then meditates.

2. 'Meditation for the sake of generating the view' - where one seeks to generate the view through meditation.

In Insight Meditation one adopts the latter approach.

In order to generate the view that is based on meditation, one first trains in the practice of shamatha and then in the practice of vipassana. With shamatha we calm our confusion; with vipassana we understand why we are confused.

In the basic or 'Early Buddhism', shamatha is based on non-attachment, while vipassana is aimed at understanding its nature.

In the Mahayana or the 'New Wisdom School' shamatha is based on single pointedness while vipassana is aimed at understanding ultimate nature, particularly the nature of the mind, or more precisely, the non-finding of the mind.

In the 'Early Buddhism' type of practice one feels, FINDS and taste the mind. Having understood what the mind is (on a basic level) then one can begin to investigate it.

elephantshineFinding the mind, for those who wish to understand its empty nature, is very important, because as it is said - If one does not know what an elephant is, how can one then negate the existence of the elephant on a particular spot.

The practice of Vipassana, as taught in early buddhism helps us to understand what 'an elephant is,’ what the body and mind are and what the world is.  We may think that we could live in this world without being affected by it, if only we understand its illusion like nature. For those who have not reached that level yet though, the Buddha thought the practice of detachment - the essential method that teaches to experience the world with mindful-awareness dispassionately as it is, so illusion has a foundation (the world). As it is said in some Mahamudra texts "I prostrate to this very ordinary mind.....................

So what we call 'early and later buddhism' is nothing more than a gradual development of an individual’s mind experiencing the world and then transcending it."

 

Requirements to attending these events:

Students should be prepared to maintain full silence for the duration of the retreats, be able to sit on a cushion without a chair for the entire retreats (a few exceptions can be made with prior approval), and maintain the strict discipline of the retreats.

 

More information on Retreat Discipline and guidelines.

 

What to bring:

Students may bring their own personal cushions (we can also provide) and a meditation shawl for the gompa.  Nothing else will be needed while in the meditation hall.

Teacher Bio

Ven-Antonio

Venerable Antonio Satta was born in Italy in 1956. He was first introduced to Tibetan Buddhism at Lama Tsong Khapa Institute, Italy. After meeting Lama Yeshe and Lama Zopa Rinpoche in Italy he took ordination in 1979. He has studied Buddhism and the Tibetan language from various teachers, including 4 years at Tharpa Choeling Switzerland with Geshe Rabten and 4 years at Nalanda Monastery with Geshe Jampa Tegchok.      

Since 1991 he has been living in Australia, first translating and teaching at Vajrayana Institute, Sydney, then teaching and tutoring for the Buddhist Study Program at Chenrezig Institute. Over the last 16 years Ven. Antonio has been concentrating on leading Vipassana and basic Mahamudra retreats as a way to introduce students to the practice of meditation. 

Prices

To ensure maximum convenience and that  most of your money goes to Vajrapani Institute,  we encourage payment of deposits by CC and balance payments via Check or Cash on arrival. Small third-party processing fee’s apply for CC transactions.


Insight Meditation: Vipassana

May 03-05

 

 

Nights:

3

 

Fees (inclusive of accommodation, meals, retreat fees)

 

Non-Member

Member

 

 

10%

Camping $258.55 $233.05

Main Dormitory

$318.55

$286.70

Semi-Private Dormitory

$363.55

$327.20

 

 

 

Private Room

$513.55

$462.20

Private Room SHARE OPTION

$300.00

$270.00


FULL RETREAT COMMUTER PRICE: 180$
Includes Lunch and Teaching costs only

 


 

Package Insight Meditation (ALL 3 Retreats)

Nights:

7

 

NOTE: 10% Discount if you purchase all three retreats.

Fees (inclusive of accommodation, meals, retreat fees)

 

Non-Member

Member

 

 

10%

Main Dormitory

$665.05

$598.55

Semi-Private Dormitory

$843.55

$759.20

 

 

 

Private Room

$1,074.55

$967.10

Private Room SHARE OPTION

$630.00

$567.00

 

Financial Aid is Available!

See our FAQ for full Registration Policies.

Schedule

Arrival day

3:00- 5:00pm

Registration

5:15-5:45pm

Working Meditation Training

6:00pm

Dinner

7:00-9:00pm

Openning session

full retreat day(s)

9:00am-6:00pm

practice day

Last Day

9:00am-4:00pm

Half day of Practice with closing talk

4:30pm

Retreat ends


Cabin Package Deal

Five Cabins are being made available for students who want to stay in between group retreats to practice under the guidance of Venerable Antonio Satta. Students will have the opportunity to receive individual instructions from Venerable Antonio Satta.

To book, please email office@vajrapani.org or give us a call +1-800-531-4011

Please note, priority will be given to those who can attend all three retreats and in-between. Those who can only attend the first and second or second and third retreat will be put on a wait-list which will open up one month prior to the start of the program.


Member Non-Member
Option 1

Retreat 1/2/3 $1,602.18 $1,780.20



Option 2

Retreat 1/2 $1,002.78 $1,114.20



Option 3

Retreat 2/3 $1,061.10 $1,179.00

Program FAQ


Can I attend less than the full retreat? Can I attend as a commuter?

No partial attendance will be allowed.  A special exception has been made by Ven. Antonio to allow commuters for these weekend retreats, but you must attend every session of your chosen weekend retreat, including registration, orientation and the first night's introductory talk with Ven. Antonio.  See retreat philosophy.

 

Which Ven. Antonio Retreat(s) should I attend?

In deciding which weekend retreats to attend, please keep in mind the following:

  • Ven. Antonio's 3 weekend retreats build on each other and present a full experiential package.
  • Beginners must attend the first two weekend retreats, "Shamatha In Early Buddhism" and "Vipassana" in order to attend 
    "An Approach to Mahamudra", the last retreat.
  • Intermediate and advanced students may select from among the 3 weekend retreats.

 

I would like to attend all 3 retreats but can only do a "Cabin Package Deal (link to tab)" for the first 2 retreats.  How do I register?

All "Cabin Package Deals" must be booked by calling our Main Office, 800-531-4001, x1.  Priority for "Cabin Package Deals" is given to those who book all 3 retreats and who do a cabin stay in between the 3 weekend retreats.  For those who would like to book 2 retreats and who do a cabin stay in between 2 weekend retreats, they will be waitlisted for the "Cabin Package Deal" and will be notified about their booking 1 month prior to the Shamatha Retreat.  When there is no cabin stay in between retreats, you may register online for your chosen weekend retreat.


Can I stay in the dorms (or my semi-private room or my private room) or camp in between the retreats?
We can only accommodate people who stay in our ridge cabins in between retreats.  The dorm building and campgrounds are not open and available in between retreats.


Can I be put on a wait list for a cabin?

Yes, you can.  To be added to the wait list for cabins, please call us
at 1-800-531-4001 x1 or email us at office@vajrapani.org

How many cabins do you have?
We have six standard cabins and one deluxe cabin. Click here for our cabins.

For more registration information, please see registration FAQ.