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The Experience of Retreats
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Retreat Daily Schedule
Answers to Frequently Asked Questions

"The Tathagatha… is the originator of the path unarisen before, the producer of the path unproduced before, the declarer of the path undeclared before. He is the knower of the path, the discoverer of the path, the one skilled in the path. And his disciplines now dwell following that path and become possessed of it afterwards.”
~ The Buddha
SN 22:58

(source)

Sutta Studies Retreat

Thursday, August 12 to Sunday, August 22, 2010
(10 Nights)

This retreat is currently full.
What does full mean?

Level: Intermediate
What does Intermediate mean?

Teacher: Bhante Gunaratana

This is not a silent retreat, although there will be several meditation periods.  Participants should have a basic understanding of Theravada Buddhist concepts, but previous experience with the suttas is not required.  There is however a list of required reading from Middle Length Discourses and participants should expect to bring a copy of this book with them.
All from The Middle Length Discourses of the Buddha: A New Translation of the Majjhima Nikaya, translated by Bhikkhu Nanamoli and Bhikkhu Bodhi, Wisdom Publications, Boston.



    Suttas to Be Read Prior to Arriving August 12-22, 2010


    1. Upanisā Sutta
    Ref: i. Aṅguttaranikāya, Ekādasako nipāta;
    Nissayavagga, 1. 3 - 11. 1. 5: PTS 314] - 317;
    ii. DN. II, #15 Mahānidāna Sutta, 59, Samyuttanikaya, II, Nidanavagga;
    MN, II, Cankı Sutta,

    2. Alagaddūpama Sutta
    Ref: MN. I, Sutta # 22.

    3. Madhupṇḍika Sutta:
    Ref: MN. I, #18

    4. Cūḷahatthipadopama Sutta:
    Ref: MN. I, Sutta # 27

    5. Mahāsāropama Sutta:
    Ref: MN. I, Sutta # 29

    6. Mahātaṇhāsankhaya Sutta:
    Ref: MN. I, Sutta # 38.


Note: First time people should be at Bhavana by 4:30 p.m. on the first day of the retreat. Everyone else should be here by 5:00 p.m.. All retreats end after lunch on the last day.
Although every retreat is slightly different here is a typical retreat daily schedule.
For those who would like to take them, the Lifetime Precepts are offered at this retreat.

Specifc infromation can be found here.

If you would like to take the Lifetime Precepts (not to be confused with the regular monastery precepts), be sure to bring a set of white clothes.

For an explaination of the meaning of the precepts and their practice, read Bhante G's article Taking the Eight Lifetime Precepts. To read about the history of the precepts at Bhavana and what the ceremony is like, read The Seeds of Dhamma Take Root.