Energy Rides the Winds

While we can no longer practice this retreat at the beautiful Wangapeka Centre, we can still offer a retreat, through the great compassion of our Teacher Bonni Ross, a committed Sangha of students and supporters.

Here is a revised “at-home” retreat outline and the Training Precepts. Please look at them closely and deeply contemplate your aspiration, and life-situation at this complex and fast-changing time.

We ask you to respond as soon as possible, before April 4th, if this is something you can realistically commit to for two weeks from April 10th. Understandably, in these new circumstances, this will be different for each of us.

We all find ourselves in uncharted waters right now, learning to live well with immense uncertainty. This is an attempt to craft a modified retreat situation for meditators who have supportive conditions in their homes to practice well. We feel it is very beneficial at this time of crisis and social isolation that we model awakening for the sake of all beings, in the midst of circumstances where anxiety levels will be very high. May we cultivate a virus of spaciousness, peace, kindness, and wisdom as a potent energy field that connects across time and space.

Duration of retreat: Two weeks, beginning Friday, April 10 at 8 am to Friday, April 24 after 8 am class NZ time zone

Where: your home, your computer screen

What conditions are ideal:

You should have your own room, your own bed. If you live with others, they are either in retreat too, or agree to respect your discipline. Some may wish to support your retreat by shopping, cooking etc. for you. This is fine. The strict discipline of retreat is silent, but in shared living situations, we will simply do our best to limited verbal interaction to what is absolutely necessary. You should have an outdoor space, ideally private, for exercise and walking meditation. Short walks outside (with or without a pet) are permitted, as long as an attempt is made to maintain focus. Easy access to supplies, ideally without having to drive. Verbal interaction necessary for friendly shopping kept to a minimum.

Who may join this retreat:

Retreat is a challenging time in the supportive environment of a meditation centre such as Wangapeka. To practice well in your own home can be even more difficult. For this reason, we feel the ideal meditator will have had some prior experience in supported, group retreats. Having said that, we will attempt to craft a way for those who lack this experience to participate, but at this point, we cannot make that promise.

Commitments necessary:

A donation to Wangapeka Educational Trust. Study and practice the Five Training Precepts. attached. Adhere to the guidelines and instruction given in daily classes. Refraining from reading and writing and all speech, with the exceptions noted above. Complete media fast, with the exception of morning Zoom class and other possible retreat- related communication.

Agreement not to record classes, to share content with others and specifically not to post content online through any medium.

FIVE TRAINING PRECEPTS

1. PANATIPATA VERAMANI SIKKHAPADAM SAMADIYAMI
   I undertake to train myself to abstain from taking the life of any living beings.
   I vow to train myself to support, enhance and appreciate the life of all living beings. I will train myself to live with a sensitive and responsible awareness of the whole ecology of life.

2. ADINNADANA VERAMANI SIKKHAPADAM SAMADIYAMI
   I undertake to train myself to abstain from taking that which is not freely given.
   I vow to train myself to dwell more and more in the mind of spontaneous generosity. Daily, I will train myself to give: material support, emotional support, an example to others of awakening in action.

3. KAMESU MICCHACARA VERAMANI SIKKHAPADAM SAMADIYAMI
   I undertake to train myself to abstain from sensual misconduct.
   I vow to train myself to use the senses to further awakening, explore Dharma, and to come to know the world more profoundly and more compassionately.

4. MUSAVADA VERAMANI SIKKHAPADAM SAMADIYAMI
   I undertake to train myself to abstain from unskillful speech.
   I vow to train myself to use verbal communication in a skillful and compassionate manner.

5. SURA-MERAYA-MAJJA-PAMADATTHANA VERAMANI SIKKHAPADAM SAMADIYAMI
   I undertake to train myself to abstain from taking substances that cause intoxication to the point of heedlessness.
   I vow to train myself to be ever more directly aware of how nutriment affects the mind and body. I will eat and drink in a way that is supportive of awakening

Dana

Dana is the first principle of the path. It opens us to receive Teachings and Blessings and allows the Dharma Teachings to be offered freely for all beings.

Bonni is very conscious of the precious Wangapeka Centre at this time and has expressed the need to support the Wangapeka to weather this storm and keep the centre afloat financially. For this reason we ask you to donate to the Wangapeka Educational Trust, in lieu of a “course fee”.

The Board of Trustees have made the commitment to continue paying our care-taking team and support our live-in volunteer, to remain at the centre. These beings have generously offered to self-isolate there, to practice the Dharma with us and continue giving service in this treasured place. Please give as generously as you are able to.

Dana for Bonni

We ask that you to offer Dana to Bonni, as generously as you are able. To support the unfolding of further Teachings and as a deep expression of your practice.

Making Donations & Dana

Donation to the Wangapeka Educational Trust

Please pay into:
Wangepeka Educational Trust: 03-0703-0156597-03 Reference “Donation ERTW”

If you are using PayPal, go onto the Wangapeka Website https://wangapeka.org/, click the yellow “Donate” button and make the payment using the reference “Donation ERTW” (or you can use this direct link to Wangapeka Paypal Donation Page).

Dana for Bonni

Please do this through online banking or through PayPal into the following account:
Bodhicitta 38-9011-0505734-00 reference: “Dana ERTW”

We will combine the Dana and offer it to Bonni from everyone.

To register

Please contact the course manager: Kath Mitchell [email protected] BEFORE APRIL 4TH
Include: Your full Name, email address, contact number, and an emergency name/contact number.
Feel free to ask any questions. Thank you for your patience and support.