11 - 13 Aug17 Weekend Retreat

Weekend Meditation Retreat: The Seven Factors of Enlightenment

Enlightenment is very approachable and achievable if we learn how to cultivate the right qualities within us. We will learn to practise sitting & walking meditation and listening the Dhamma talk of these seven ingredients of inner peace.

Dear Everyone,

Thank you so much for your diligent participation in this weekend’s retreat.

Venerable Phra Mana, LuongPo Sawat and all the volunteers were very pleased to see everyone practice so well, and kindly participate in teachings and duties to help the monastery.

Attached please find the group photo, and the chanting book, as a few people have enquired about it.

If you would like to ask about any specific chanting, or any further explanation of the teachings, please feel free to email.

Also we love to hear your feedback J

Bojjangha or 7 Factors of Enlightenment, which was the theme of the retreat, is on page 69.

However the English translation is not the best.

If you search teachings on our website, you should find more explanation.

With metta,

Kim

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Thank you so much for sharing! 

Thank you for all the hard work you all put in to enable people like me to experience, learn and enjoy the Buddhist teachings in a truly beautiful setting.

 It has been and hopefully will continue to be a life changing experience.

 Yours sincerely

David

 Thank you Kim,

 

I apologise for ducking away a few minutes before officially saying goodbye and having the group photo, and especially before i had an opportunity to fully thank everyone. In particular, i wanted to thank the volunteers, but also yourself, Phra Mana and LuongPo Sawat. 

 In so far as feedback, i have nothing but positive things to say. A weekend is not enough, a week is not enough, a year would not be long enough. So i will, with pleasure, have to make do with bringing a piece of Sunnataram  home with me, in the form of the teachings and lessons learned. 

 Thank you again,

 Jacqui

 

 

Hi Kim

 Just wanted to say a HUGE thank you, to you all for the weekend – all the effort, organisation and thought put into the retreat is truly appreciated.

 The instruction – the food – absolutely everything was just amazing.

 Hope you feel even better today and again thank you all so very much.

 Sadhu.

 Warm Regards,

Sam

 

Thank you Kim, the venerable Phra Mana, LuongPo Sawat and all the volunteers for your generosity of time and spirit.

It was a wonderful introduction to meditation and my first retreat at Sunnataram.

Warmest Regards, Brian

 

Dearest Kim

 Ajay forwarded your email on to me.

 Thank you so much for the wonderful hospitality and kindness from all at the monastery.  I left feeling so grateful and overwhelmed by the selfless service and joyful humour of Venerable Phra Mana.  He really was such a wonderful,  gentle and inspiring teacher and made the experience at the retreat so much more interesting and engaging.  Many of his stories and examples surely helped people to relate to life and in a light way. This will surely help remind to take things more joyfully along the mindfulness path.  Please would you personally pass Ajay and my gratitude for his time, energy and teachings of wisdom over the 2 days.  Also the work of LuongPo Sawat, the volunteers and organisers such as yourself goes without saying.  To look after such a large space, feed so many retreaters and organise and maintain everything was really appreciated by everyone and so for this thank you so very much. 

I loved the incorporation of Tai chi as well as the wonderful mindful walks.  The movement piece was really important as long periods of sitting can be really tough on the body particularly if you are used to lots of movement or even for those not used to long periods of sitting.  Even between talks/meditation/chanting a quick stretch would be great.  I feel I learnt so much and the real journey or path ahead will be the most important to put mindfulness into practise in day to day life. Thank you and with heartfelt gratitude for this wonderful opportunity.

Hetal

Hi Kim,

Last weekend retreat was one of the best experience of my life, I felt enriched, relaxed and I am absolutely thankful for everything everyone did to make this happen. 

I want to keep reading and learning, especially about buddhism and mindful meditation, I was wondering if you could suggest me some books about those topics. 

Thank you!

Cristina 

Dear Kim

Thank you so much to Venerable Phra Mana, LuongPo Sawat  yourself and all the volunteers for a really inspiring and meaningful retreat .

It was such a calming experience in a beautifully tranquil setting.

 Best wishes 

Helen

 

 

Dear Venerable Phra Mana, Kim, LuongPo Sawat and all the volunteers

 Thank you so much for a very special weekend. There are moments in our lives when wise and inspirational people help us towards inner peace for ourselves, which increases our ability to share this with and be part of lessening the suffering for others. This retreat was this and so much more for me. Thank you for this beautiful gift you give.

 Kind regards

Carey

 

Dear Kim,

Thank you so much for this lovely photo, it is a beautiful reminder of an extraordinary weekend.  I was so impressed with the kindness and level of trust at the Monastery. The monks were so giving and the teaching just made so much sense. A huge thank you also to you and all the wonderful volunteers, what an amazing job you all do. This week I have found myself meditating for longer and trying to practice mindfulness in my day to day life, with very varying degrees of success I'm afraid. At least I have more understanding and direction than I did before, for which I am very grateful. I have told my family all about the experience of Sunnataram Forest Monastery and we are planning to come to a Sunday session soon.

This comes with my great appreciation.

Emma

 

Dear Kim

 Back home and picking up dad next week.

 Just wanted to thank you, the monks and volunteers for another wonderful weekend, even without power or heat!!!!

 No doubt I will see you again for another….it brings so much peace into my heart and reminds me of the tools I have to maintain balance in the caring role.

 Thank you

 Maggie

 

Hi Kim,

 Belated thanks for the photo, the chanting book and most especially all the work done by yourself, the volunteers and, of course, the monks to make the retreat truly amazing. For me, it was a very much-needed reboot and re-grounding. I will be back!

 Christine

 

Please click here to see more photos in google drive