Vassa Retreat 2024
Dear Friends,
The Vassa Retreat period for 2024 began on Sunday 21st July.
Many of you have attended the Vassa Retreat Days that I have offered over the last few years, finding them most beneficial for developing and deepening our Meditation Practice.
The Vassa Retreat period from the Full Moon of July until the Full Moon of October – a period of 3 months (12 weeks) becomes a time to dedicate more care and attention to developing our Meditation Practice, our understanding of Buddhism and the Buddha’s Teachings as well as engaging any other healthy practices that could be worthwhile.
You are invited to attend one, some or all of the 4 Sunday Vassa Retreat Days.
This year we are offering the possibility for those that live at a distance to attend via ZOOM. The Retreat Day sessions will also be recorded so those that miss a Retreat Day can also catch up and share in the Vassa Retreat period experience.
Places still remain to attend any of the Vassa Retreat Days in person – so please register your intention to attend any of these days (listed below).
Email: info@wellawareness.com.au
If you are not able to attend in person but will connect via ZOOM please register with us as well as I will be sending out by email further information, resources of articles, pdf books, web links and YouTube clips to look at – to help support our practice over the 3 month period.
Zoom Link below for Vassa Retreat Days
This will stay the same so we can use it for every retreat day.
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/82020665739?pwd=JPNtDW7SQder6vomcWj0eZTjDaQ7Gz.1#success
The Vassa Meditation Retreat Sessions for 2024 –
Retreat Day 1. Sunday 21st July 9.30am – 3.00pm
Retreat Day 2. Sunday 18th August 9.30am – 3.00pm
Retreat Day 3. Sunday 15th September 9.30am – 3.00pm
Retreat Day 4. Sunday 20th October 9.30am – 3.00pm
The theme this year is: Meditations and Reflections on the Practices and Appreciations of Early Buddhism.
We will particularly focus on The Four Noble Truths which is an expression of Right View – the first of the eight factors on the Buddhas Eight-Fold Path of Practice and Samma Samadhi (Right Meditation) which is the eighth factor on the Buddhas Eight-Fold Path of Practice
Our Next Retreat Day 2 : August 18th 2024
Time: Arrive at 9.15am for 9.30am start – 3.00pm finish.
Venue: Ratanagiri
11 Double View Road, Farrants Hill NSW 2484
Led By: John Barter
Practice: Samma Samadhi
Cost: Dana – your expression of Generosity for the Teachings and Guidance
In keeping with the Buddhist tradition and practice of generosity, teachings are freely given to support the wellbeing of those interested in spiritual practice. In the spirit of generosity those that have received teachings are free to offer financial support for the continuation of such opportunity.
As a guide suggestion of $50 – $100 for teachings and guidance for the Day Retreat and also to support the admin and mail out of resources.
Please bring cash for your Dana contribution for the day and a Donations Box will be provided on registration.
Bring: Lunch for yourself, Notepad and pen, water bottle, warm clothes, shoes for walking meditation outside.
On the 21st July that just passed was both the Full Moon of July and the start of the Vassa Retreat 2024 – around the world.
As noted this is a special period of 3 months which was designated by the Buddha as a retreat period to develop and deepen Meditation Practice and undertake study of Teachings.
The Vassa Retreat is one of the oldest and longest running Retreats in the history of humanity, now occurring yearly for 2,600 years.
Whilst the Vassa Retreat is especially for Buddhist Monastics (monks and nuns) it can also be take up by lay people that wish to use this special time for their practice.
This is generally done in a Buddhist Monastery, Temple or Centre where one determines to stay there for the 3 months period of the Vassa.
The first of these 4 Retreat Days here at Ratanagiri had 22 people in attendance and about 10 people connecting online through Zoom.
There were also a number of participants for our Vassa Retreat that for various reasons were not able to join us for this first day either physically or online, but are still doing the Vassa Retreat and may join us for the further sessions. For this day we had wonderful weather, cool and clear sky making it a delight to do Walking Meditation in the sun after the sessions of Sitting Meditation inside our Meditation Sala (Hall). Participants enjoyed their own picnic lunch sitting in the sun on the grass or on the wooden benches and chairs outside.
As noted in my readings on our Retreat Day, Bhikkhu Analayo relates ‘Early Buddhism to a bygone time, a precious fossil that can provide much inspiration but it cannot be revived’. However, I feel that Early Buddhism does continue in the teachings of Theravada Buddhism as found in the Pali Cannon. Further by understanding what the specific teachings of the Buddha are, and the specific practices, especially the form of Meditation, we can return to a more fundamental practice of Buddhism without becoming lost in cultural additions. This can be particularly important so the Teachings and Practices of the Buddha are not mis interpreted, watered down or even lost in time. As Buddhism develops in Western / Westernised countries, we have a responsibility to uphold and practice what is and what the Buddha stated as his teachings and Path of Practice towards Full and Final Freedom – Nibbana.
The weblink to a great source of information from Ajahn Sujato is: https://suttacentral.net/introduction?lang=en
Over the 3 months of our Vassa Retreat 2024, I will send out by email various articles for your reading and reflection. It is very much up to you whether you take the time to look into them and also to what degree.
Obviously the main thing over the Vassa Retreat period is that we maintain our ongoing Mindfulness, practice our Meditation, engage some extra healthy practices and make good use of this period of time, together with attending as many of our 4 Vassa Retreat Days as you can.
The Vassa Meditation Retreat
For over 2,500 years since the beginnings of the Buddhist Tradition, Buddhist Monastics are required to do the Vassa Retreat. This traditionally is the three month ‘Rainy Season’ (Vassa) in Asia, which becomes a suitable time staying in one place and not travelling around with the challenges that rain may bring. It is a time for developing and deepening Meditation Practice, making a commitment to extra practices of restraint or renunciation, as well as time for further study and learning of Dhamma Teachings.
Buddhist Monasteries and Retreat Centres during the Vassa Retreat, accommodate both Monastic and Lay Practitioners. Through this time connections to other practitioners are developed and a ‘Practice Community’ is strengthened.
Such a period of time – 12 weeks, also allows neurological patterns to change and grow to a much greater extent than a seven or ten day retreat period allows.
For most of us that are not monastics, stopping work and regular home responsibilities for a three month period to be away at a retreat place would be near impossible. However in the ‘spirit’ of the three month Vassa Retreat, the Vassa Retreat 2024 offers a great opportunity to maintain Meditation practice as a ‘Non-Residential’ retreatant. The Vassa Retreat 2024 will involve four One Day Meditation days at Ratanagiri Retreat Centre at Farrants Hill under the guidance of John Barter a Buddhist Psychologist and Meditation Teacher with over 40 years of meditation practice.
As John is a Psychologist, these Retreat Days can be used as Professional Development Training Points for Health Care Professionals.
Please enjoy my verse below.
Kind Regards with Metta,
John B. and the Admin Team
EARLY BUDDHISM APPRECIATION AND PRACTICE – By John B.
Early, early Buddhism ! A time of old,
What the Buddha practiced, taught and told.
A time of practice so pure with clarity,
Where practitioners of old lived and learnt with no disparity.
Free from complexity and confusion,
Perspective and practice beyond delusion.
Sila – Samadhi – Pannya; This trinity so right,
Maintain this Practice to bring joy and insight.
The Four Noble Truths as the foundation Path,
Ending all stress and struggle with no aftermath.
With Samma Samadhi Meditation as the Way,
To bring Clarity, Calm, Wisdom and Peace to the day.
Such Teachings and practice do inspire,
And those that fulfill them we do admire.
Don’t get lost in dogmas and a blind belief,
Realise the Buddha’s teachings and find relief.
Keep things simple, succinct and pure,
This is where the Path to Freedom will endure.
When Peace and Freedom are our yearning,
The fundamental Teachings of the Buddha become our need for learning!
While customs and culture may change in time,
The Buddha’s Teachings will always remain!
