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This retreat is a collaboration of Samita asbl and IMA (inzichtmeditatie Antwerpen)
Amid the chaos of the world, it can be difficult to find peace and tranquility. However, it is precisely in these moments that Metta, or loving-kindness, can be most beneficial. As we delve into the concept of chaos, we recognize that the external world is ever-changing and unpredictable. By cultivating loving-kindness towards ourselves and others, we can learn to navigate the chaos with greater ease and grace.
During this retreat, we will explore the impermanence of life and the nature of suffering, gaining insights that empower us to respond to chaos with compassion and clarity. The practice of Metta becomes a guiding force, transforming the way we relate to ourselves and others. This practice invites us to embrace the chaos of life as a catalyst for spiritual growth, discovering the boundless power of Metta to bring harmony and well-being to our hearts and the world around us.
Join Mahathera Bhante Sujato, a renowned Buddhist monk and scholar, as he shares his insights and teachings on the ancient wisdom of the Buddha. Bhante Sujato will explore the theme of “Chaos and Metta” from various perspectives and guide us through practical exercises and techniques to develop and deepen our Metta practice, and to apply it in daily life. Whether you are new to Buddhism or a seasoned practitioner, you will benefit from Bhante Sujato’s lucid and engaging style and his wealth of experience and knowledge.
Bhante Sujato is an Australian Buddhist monk in the Thai Forest tradition. He was the Abbot of Santi Forest Monastery in the Southern Highlands of New South Wales for 10 years. Bhante Sujato is a Pali scholar and a highly respected meditation teacher. He brings a rare combination of humour, compassion and deep knowledge to his teachings which show us how to live our busy lives within core Buddhist principles.
Bhante Sujato founded the Buddhist website SuttaCentral, to provide access to early Buddhist texts in their original language and make translations available in modern languages. From 2015–2018, Bhante Sujato has made a new English translation of the entire four Pali Nikayas that can be found on SuttaCentral.
This retreat is designed to develop additional practical techniques and uncover deeper insights, building on your existing practice. Experience is not necessary but prior practice is still highly recommended. You can expect a strong focus on sitting and walking meditation for many hours a day, over the entire retreat, only interrupted by 3-4 hours of daily teaching, personal interviews and (vegetarian) meals. The bulk of your retreat time will be spent in solitude and silence, focusing on your inner states. We do not permit meditation methods that involve audible sounds and/or vigorous body movement as they disturb others. All participants must keep the meditation conditions advised by the Buddha and outlined below.
During the retreat, each participant should have a least one personal interview with Bhante Sujato to discuss their spiritual progress.
The retreat will be held in English.
Eight Precepts
This is an eight-precept retreat.
All who attend are asked to undertake the following precepts for the duration of the retreat:
1. To abstain from killing living beings
2. To abstain from taking what is not given
3. To abstain from all sexual activity
4. To abstain from dishonest speech
5. To abstain from intoxicants
6. To abstain from taking food after mid-day
7. To abstain from singing, dancing, listening to music and from bodily adornments
8. To abstain from sleeping on luxurious beds
Noble Silence
This is a “Noble Silence” retreat. This means that all participants are kindly asked to observe Noble Silence from the beginning of the retreat until the morning of the last full day. This applies as well for the public areas as for the rooms. Noble Silence means no talking or non-verbal communication of any kind, except of course in emergencies, interviews or discussion times with the Teacher. Noble Silence applies not only to speech but also to any signals and written notes etc. as well as to external contact by telephone or internet. The purpose of Noble Silence is to allow the mind to let go of outer distractions and to focus as much as possible on the inner world. In this regard it is also useful to minimize eye contact with other retreatants. Practicing restraint of the senses in this way provides an essential foundation for the powerful inner work which a meditation retreat facilitates. This Noble Silence will give the participants the maximum benefit from the meditation they learn and minimizes the disturbance to others. Therefore, please do not play musical instruments, radios, mp3 players, etc.
Program
All sessions are optional
Friday Jan 10
17:00 – Arrival and registration
18:00 – Evening meal
19:30 – Welcome, organization, introduction into the retreat, meditation
21:30 – Rest
Jan 11 – 18
6:00 – Morning meditation (Online on Zoom – click here to sign up for the iSangha Zoom link)
7:00 – Breakfast and work-period
9:00 – Meditation teachings and Q&A (Online on Zoom – click here to sign up for the iSangha Zoom link)
10:00 – Sitting / walking meditation
11:00 – Lunch
13.30 – Sitting / walking meditation
15:00 – Interviews
17:00 – Afternoon tea and “allowables”
17:30 – Sitting / walking meditation
19:00 – Dhamma talk with Bhante Sujato (Online on Zoom – click here to sign up for the iSangha Zoom link)
20:30 – Sitting / walking meditation
Sunday Jan 19
6:00 – Morning meditation (Online on Zoom – click here to sign up for the iSangha Zoom link)
7:00 – Breakfast and work-period
9:00 – Meditation / Q&A (Online on Zoom – click here to sign up for the iSangha Zoom link)
10:00 – Closing ceremony
11:00 – Lunch
12:00 – Finish and cleanup 
Costs on Dana basis
This retreat, including accommodation, food, and contribution for the Teacher, is organized on the basis of DANA (donation). All expenses for your accommodation, meals, etc. are paid for you with the kind donations of previous participants and other donors, who wish to give others the opportunity to experience the Dhamma. All work is done on a voluntary basis only; nobody receives any remuneration.
The table below lists the costs for the basic accommodation, meals, and expenses, depending on the type of accommodation you choose, and this does not include donations for the teachings by Bhante Sujato.
These costs also cover afternoon snacks and drinks, rental of the hall and kitchen facilities, travel expenses and accommodation for Bhante Sujato, etc. Every participant may contribute at their discretion and according to their means, so you can also contribute to spreading the Dhamma further.
Single room ensuite (own bathroom) – 880 €
Single room with shared bathroom – 700 €
Double room ensuite (own bathroom), per person – 650 €
Double room with shared bathroom, per person – 540 €
Shared room (4–8 people) with shared bathroom, per person – 450 €
Registration fee
We ask a 100 € registration fee when booking, 50 € of which are non-refundable in case of cancellation. If you have difficulties paying 100 € registration fee, please contact us for our support fund.
In order for Samita and IMA to organize retreats on donation basis, we need to have a reasonable cash flow so that we can pay for venues up front. If you consider making a small donation before the retreat to help us meet our obligations, this would be much appreciated. You can do so via the bank account BE36 3632 0274 3881, BIC-code BBRUBEBB from vzw IMA – 2600 Antwerpen, and please mention your name and “Sujato” as a reference. You can also use Payconiq.
Support fund
If you wish to support other participants who have difficulties to afford the registration fee you can make a donation mentioning “support fund Sujato retreat” in the reference line. Every donation helps us spread the Dhamma!
Registration
Click here to go to the registration.
Venue
The retreat takes place in the Tibetan center Yeunten Ling, Promenade Saint-Jean L’agneau 4, 4500 Huy, Belgium (in between Liège and 
Namur) – click here for Yeunten Lings website and directions.
The center has received the Dalai Lama several times.
The meditation center offers simple accommodation in various categories of bedrooms as listed above.
Please don’t contact Yeunten Ling if you have questions, but send them to [email protected]
Please bring
- Bed-linen (can also be rented from the house for 12 €) or sleeping bag and towels.
- A duvet and blankets are provided.
- Towels.
- Only biodegradable toiletries.
- Flashlight and umbrella.
Questions?
Please contact us for any questions you might have:
[email protected]