7-day International Retreat 2019:
East meets West
(Upul Gamage and Paul Van hooydonck)

Forgive yourself
For all mistakes in the past
Do not hold on to feelings of guilt or regret
So that the wounds can heal
 
Accept yourself as you are
And accept others as they are
Without a preconceived idea
About how you or they should be
 
                                              Godwin Samararatne                                                                  

Voor de Nederlandse versie klik hier

In cooperation with the accommodation center Cadzandië Ehipassiko organizes a retreat with Upul Gamage and Paul Van hooydonck.
Upul and Paul have known each other for more than 20 years and are both students of Godwin Samararatne (Sri Lanka). They dedicate this retreat to their teacher.

Upul Nishantha Gamage (1964) is the current residential meditation teacher of the 'Nilambe Buddhist Meditation Center' in Sri Lanka. He is a spiritual guide for thousands of people from all over the world who come to meditate in Nilambe. His meditation practice started at the age of 13. At a young age he founded the youth work of a Buddhist temple, near his parental home. He taught local children in the so-called 'Sunday Dhamma school'. His parental home is on the same road as Nilambe (Galaha Road). Very quickly he found the way to the center. Godwin Samararatne, the first meditation teacher of Nilambe, was his shining example. He chose a life of simplicity and spiritual practice, went to live in Nilambe and became Godwin's assistant.
In 1995 Upul and Paul got to know each other.
After the death of Godwin in 2000, Upul succeeded him.
Upul provides meditation programs in prisons, schools, monasteries and in people's homes. 

He leads retreats in Hong Kong, South Africa, Germany, Switzerland, Sweden, Italy, Spain and now for the third time in Belgium / the Netherlands. Upul sees the practice of meditation as a way to help ourselves, to better understand ourselves and as a means of becoming aware through growing in mindfulness of our daily activities. Upul speaks to the heart, not to the mind. His Dhamma teaching is simple, direct and practical. 'Meditation must lead us to a more joyful existence', he says, 'otherwise you would  better stop'. Upul speaks very simple and easily understandable English. He talks slowly. He is a man of few words. Like his predecessor Godwin, he embodies the silence. He breathes silence. He IS silence. Because his mind is largely free of concepts, the silences between the words are more important than the content of what he says. They carry you directly to the silence in your own heart.

When
Saturday June 8 to Friday June 14, 2019

Where
In the accommodation center Cadzandië, Cadzand (The Netherlands)

The retreat is completely in noble silence

Program
​
Saturday June 8

09.30-10.00 10.00-11.00 11.00-12.00 12.00-13.30 13.30-14.30 14.30-16.00 16.00-16.30 16.30-18.00 18.00-19.30 19.30-19.45 19.45-21.00 21.00-21.30

Arrival and tea Guided Vipassana meditation Welcome and practicals Lunch Karma yoga (working meditation) Sitting / walking meditation Tea Mindfulness yoga Dinner Chanting Dhamma talk / Q&A Metta Bhavana / Mindfulness Relaxation

​Sunday June 9 - Thursday June 13

06.00-06.30 06.30-08.00 08.00-09.00 09.00-10.00 10.00-10.30 10.30-12.00 12.00-14.00 14.00-15.00 15.00-16.00 16.00-16.30 16.30-18.00 18.00-19.30 19.30-19.45 19.45-21.00 21.00-21.30

Wake-up Beach walk / sitting meditation Breakfast Karma yoga (working meditation) Tea Sitting / walking meditation Lunch Walking meditation / polder walk Sitting meditation Tea Mindfulness yoga / individual meditation Dinner Chanting Dhamma talk / Q&A Metta Bhavana / Mindfulness Relaxation

​Friday June 14

06.00-06.30 06.30-08.00 08.00-09.30 09.30-10.30 10.30-11.00 11.00-12.00 12.00-13.30 13.30-14.30 14.30-16.00 16.00

Wake-up Beach walk / sitting meditation Breakfast Sitting / walking meditation Tea Sitting / walking meditation Lunch Karma yoga (packing & cleaning) Closing End and tea

Accommodation
We have chosen the Cadzandië residence in Cadzand (NL), a former Tibetan Buddhist institute, very quietly situated near the sea (+/- 30 min. by feet). As a former asylum center, it has been refurbished since 2005 and has been lovingly developed by a number of volunteers. See www.cadzandie.be
There are single and double rooms with single beds and shared sanitary. You can indicate your choice at registration. Bed linen is provided; we bring a pillowcase and sheets ourselves or they can be rented. After our stay we clean the rooms.
The provided meals are vegetarian and 95% organic and we eat together and in silence. We help with the dishes.
During our stay we are expected to practice karma yoga which means helping in the center with what they ask us.
Tea is available in every unit.
Meditation material and chairs are available. But you can also bring your own cushion or bench.
Yoga mats are available but you can bring your own, familiar mat.

Participation conditions
The registration applies to the full 7-day.
You can register by mailing to heidi@ehipassiko.be
You are only registered as:

• you have completed the online registration form

• ​Ehipassiko has received your payment

The account no. from Ehipassiko is IBAN BE15 0015 4344 7630 BIC GEBABEBB
Max. 60 participants.
The 30 available single rooms will be allocated in order of registration + payment.
When the maximum number of participants has been reached, a waiting list will be created in order of registration.
Questions can be mailed to heidi@ehipassiko.be

Cost price
Basic price 470 € pp in standard room
Single room 590 € pp
In these prices the transportation costs of Upul are included.
Linen package 11 € (locally)
People with financial difficulties can get a discount. You can request an interview with an Ehipassiko collaborator via heidi@ehipassiko.be

Dhamma teachings on DANA base
Ehipassiko is fully committed to the 2500-year-old tradition of the Buddha for this 7-day event. It was decided not to ask the participants a fixed contribution for the Dhamma teachings and the guidance, but to ply the age-old principle of DANA. The basic cost of 470 € covers only the accommodation, meals, tea, coffee and costs including the transport costs of Upul. 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 Dana principle. Each participant can decide for himself what contribution he or she wants to give. In other words, Ehipassiko offers 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 support by Upul Gamage and Ehipassiko. The amount you decide yourself. Can you provide the necessary cash for this.

Cancellation policy
At cancellation after registration, we count 40 € administration costs.
On the other hand, we give people with financial difficulties the opportunity to also take part in our retreats (see above).
From 10 days before the start of the retreat no refund is possible.

Transport
Carpooling is organized 1 week before the start of the retreat, to the extent that sufficient participants sign up for this (no guarantee).

Extra night
It is possible to book an extra night in Cadzandië on Friday 7 June.
This includes dinner and breakfast. 
Price: € 30 in standard room, € 50 in single room.

Practicals
General information, practical appointments and directions can be found here (in Dutch).

Participation in this retreat means that you make an effort to fulfill the following 2 agreements:
1. You intend to respect the silence.
2. You intend to participate in the entire retreat and to not leave the center before Friday at 4 pm.
This out of respect for all participants and to ensure the quality of the retreat.

Godwin Samararatne