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Retreat for relaxation in MN
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2012 Meditation Retreats Minnesota Buddhist Vihara, Inc. (MNBV) 3401 N. 4th Street, Minneapolis, MN 55412 (612) 522-1811 www.mnbv.org _____________________________________________________________________________________
Free and Open to Everyone. All retreats are free of charge. All are Welcome! For beginner and intermediate level practitioners. No prerequisite required. All retreats are conducted by Buddhist Monk(s) and/or Nun(s) from the Theravada branch of Buddhism.
Location for all Meditation Retreats: Meditation Retreat Center - Rosemount, MN
Dates: Sunday, May 6, 2012 Sunday, September 9, 2012
Sunday, July 15, 2012 Sunday, October 20, 2012
Sunday, August 12, 2012 All retreats are Full-Day, 8 AM - 4 PM
Space is limited to 15 people per retreat so reservation is required. Please RSVP to [email protected] and be sure to include your full name, contact information, and the date(s) you would like to participate. Reservations are taken on a first-come first-served basis until full. If you have a question(s) regarding the meditation retreats you may forward them to the above email.
We look forward to all of you joining us. Thank you. ____________________________________________________________________________________
If you are a new participant please read the following.
Not all meditation retreats are the same. There are many different styles and approaches to meditating from various religions, cultures, and countries throughout the world. It's important to note that, within Buddhism alone, meditation takes on many forms. Here at MNBV we teach according to the Theravada branch of Buddhism. Theravada means "the Teaching of the Elders" or "the Ancient Teaching", is the oldest surviving Buddhist school. The doctrinal foundation of Theravada Buddhism comes from the Tipitaka scriptures (aka Pali Canon), which is believed to be the oldest surviving Buddhist canon with direct teachings from the historical Buddha. Our meditation retreats are designed for all levels of practitioners with an emphasis to keep things basic and simple. Question and answer sessions are offered throughout the retreat, but unnecessary talk must be refrained at all times. We call this Noble Silence. Many times we invite monastics from outside our temple to conduct retreats and they are allowed to change the agenda and teachings according to their preference. Usually a detailed agenda is made available for each retreat about a week in advance, respective of the teacher's theme and outline. Tea breaks are allowed and lunch will follow a late morning blessing by the Monk(s )and/or Nun(s). Lunch is always a vegetarian style potluck. Those on a strict diet are encouraged to bring their own lunch. Part of the day will be spent on doing walking and sitting meditation outdoors - weather permitting. We advise you to bring sun tan lotion and bug spray, particularly during the summer months, since the retreat center is located on a farm. A small blanket is helpful during colder months. Meditation cushions are provided, but you are welcome to use your own. Appropriate clothing is required. We ask that you dress comfortably as to be able sit on a cushion on the floor for most of the day. We have a few small chairs/stools for those physically unable to sit on the floor - accommodations are limited. Please do not wear shorts, skirts, and noisy fabrics. Also, be conservative with heavy perfumes/colognes and noisy jewelry. All unnecessary electronic devices should be left at home. Though, we welcome everyone, young children are discourage to attend full-day retreats. All retreats are free of charge. Although not required, donations of any size are welcome to help cover expenses. We hope this gives you an idea on what to expect and how to better prepare when attending an MNBV meditation retreat. We welcome your questions, comments and participation.
