8-day City Retreat in Mechelen (Sister Virañani)
Metta in the City (in English)

                          Even as a mother protects with her life her child, her only child,
                           So with a boundless heart should one cherish all living beings
                         Lord Buddha (Karaniya Metta Sutta - Sutta on Loving Kindness)

A city retreat gives you the opportunity to practice intensively during the weekend and on weekday evenings, while you sleep at home and during the day you have your activities. This gives you the opportunity to integrate the meditation into your daily life. 

In this retreat we practice Metta meditation. We cultivate the heart's quality of friendliness. Metta opens our hearts and we develop a stable, calm mind, full of confidence. It can also be a good preparation for Vipassana (insight meditation). Guided and silent meditation, sitting and walking meditation alternate. There is possibility to ask questions and share experiences and we get a deeper insight into what Metta actually is. Individual interviews with the Sister are possible.

Venerable Sister Virañani is a Buddhist nun and comes from the US (Hawaii). She is deeply rooted in the Dhamma through practice, study and passing on the Dhamma. She has been meditating since 1979 in, among other things, the Burmese tradition of Mahasi Sayadaw, the Thai forest tradition, and has worked in the Insight Meditation Society in the US. Sister Virañani was ordained as Bhikkuni in 2006 in Myanmar with Sayadaw U Pandita as a teacher, and is now connected to a renowned meditation center (Chanmyay Myaing of U Indaka Sayadaw). For years she has been guiding retreats in many places in the world. She speaks with great compassion and makes the traditional texts accessible with many examples from daily life. One of her specialties is Metta meditation.
 
When
Saturday 16 June until Saturday 23 June 2018  
 
Where
We have opted for the atmosphere of tranquility in the historical-religious-cultural framework of the Groot Seminarie in Mechelen. There is a beautiful courtyard for walking meditation.
Hoviuszaal (3de verdieping, lift aanwezig), Diocesaan Pastoraal Centrum, Frederik de Merodestraat 18 te 2800 Mechelen.

Program
Cost price
Participation fee € 150
This amount covers the costs incurred by Ehipassiko (including room rent, accommodation and transport costs for the Sister, coffee / tea at the weekend, operating costs).
Guidance on the basis of DANA (see below).

Participation conditions
You can register here.
You are only registered as
  • you have completed the online registration form
  • Ehipassiko has received your payment
Het rekeningnr. van Ehipassiko is IBAN BE15 0015 4344 7630  met BIC GEBABEBB.
Max. 25 participants. Do not wait too long to register. Our retreats are often fully booked.
Priority is given to people who intend to follow the full program.
Questions can be mailed to heidi@ehipassiko.be
At the weekend we bring a picnic and drink. Coffee or tea are offered.
Meditation cushions, benches and chairs are available. Bring your own material if you have.

Cancellation policy
In case of cancellation after registration we ask € 25 as administration costs.
From 2 weeks before the start of the retreat no refund is possible.
On the other hand, we give people who are financially difficult the opportunity to also take part in our retreats.

Accessibility
The Diocesan Pastoral Center is easily accessible by public transport, click here.
Private bicycle and car parking available. Travel together and carpooling is organized 10 days before the start of the retreat, to the extent that enough participants sign up for this (no guarantee).
 
Dhamma education on the basis of DANA
Reverend Sister Virañani and Ehipassiko are fully committed to the 2,500-year-old tradition of the Buddha for this 8-day event. After all, it was decided not to ask a fixed price for the Dhamma teachings and the guidance, but to use the age-old principle of DANA. The basic price of € 150 covers only the costs incurred by Ehipassiko. Dana stands for the voluntary giving of material and immaterial matters to others. Unconditional giving is seen as one of the most important Buddhist virtues. The guidance and the Dhamma teaching will be done according to this Danaprincipe. Sister Virañani and Ehipassiko leave the initiative with each participant to decide for themselves what contribution he or she wants to give. In other words, they offer you the chance to practice the virtue of Dana. At the end of the retreat you will have the opportunity to make a financial contribution for the guidance. The amount of this amount you decide yourself. You can provide the necessary cash for this.

Important
In English without translation
Participating in this retreat means that you make an effort to participate in the full weekly program. This out of respect for all participants and to guarantee the quality of the retreat.
Sat 16 June
Sun 17 June
Mon 18 June
Tue 19 June
Wed 20 June
Thu 21 June
Fri 22 June
Sat 23 June
14.00 to 21.00
10.00 to 16.00
19.30 to 21.30 (open meditation evening)
19.30 to 21.30 (open meditation evening)
19.30 to 21.30
19.30 to 21.30
19.30 to 21.30
10.00 to 16.00