AIBMC RETREAT

Sponsored by the Arizona International Buddhist Meditation Center   (a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization)   432 South Temple Street, Mesa, Arizona, 85204

Email   info@meditationforyou.org    Phone: 480-626-4153

December 8th - 9th , 2012 - A weekend retreat with Venerable Yogavacara Rahula

Bhante Ruhala image Bhante Yogavacara Rahula was ordained in Sri Lanka in 1975. He was a part of the Bhavana Society, West Virginia since 1987 and served as the vice-abbot. He regularly teaches and conducts retreats, including retreats integrating yoga breathing and exercise with vipassana. His approach to meditation emphasizes mindfulness of the body. Bhante Rahula conducts retreats in the United States, Canada and Germany. He also regularly goes to India to teach Buddhists and give talks in remote villages.

As a self-described “confused youth”, Bhante Rahula served a three-year stint in the army, then traveled in Europe and Asia. He spent much of this time living as a hippie, experimenting with a variety of recreational drugs. Eventually, he encountered Tibetan Lamas in Nepal and, after a month-long meditation course, began earnestly seeking a spiritually fulfilling life. He studied yoga in India, then traveled south and began learning about Theravada Buddhism. He ordained at Tapovanaya Buddhist Monastery under the tutelage of Late-Venerable Vangeesa Maha Thero in Sri Lanka and lived there for 11 years, practicing in solitary caves and huts, learning dhamma, and eventually leading retreats. Bhante Rahula describes his transformation from a young hippie and army dropout to a Theravadan Bhikkhu in his autobiography, One Night’s Shelter.

He has also written a number of other books. Most recently Meditation: Body and Mind Connection, a manual about the integration of simple yoga and movement with vipassana meditation which is not available because it is out of print now. Bhante Rahula has also written two other meditation manuals, Cutting through the Self-Delusion and The Way to Peace and Happiness , and a chronicle of his hiking and travels as a bhikkhu in India and Nepal, Traversing the Great Himalayas which you can order online. http://www.bhavanasociety.org/main/teacher/bhante_yogavacara_rahula/

Schedule

Saturday
7.30am — Arrival, light breakfast
8.30 — Introduction; Meditation instructions
9.00 - Meditation in sitting, standing, walking, sitting
11.30 - Lunch and break.
1.30pm - Dhamma talk, questions.
2.30 - Meditation in sitting, standing, walking, sitting
5.00 - Yoga
6.15 - Tea
7.00 - Metta and Meditation
8.00 - 8.30 - Q and A
Sunday 7.30M - Breakfast
8.00 - Instructions and meditation
11.30 - Lunch and break
1.30 - Dhamma talk
2.30 - Meditation in sitting, walking, sitting
3.30 - Closing talk, Q and A
4.30 - Finished

Facilities

The retreat will take place at Spirit in the Desert Retreat Center in Carefree, Arizona. Please learn more about this beautiful retreat center, including location information, from their website at Spirit in the Desert Retreat Center  If you wish to stay over on Saturday night at the retreat center you may call the center directly and book a room.

Contact Information

Phone:  480-626-4153    
Email: info@meditationforyou.org

How to Register

For registration information please click here: Dec 2012 AIBMC retreat registration.pdf