Memorial Holiday 3-Day Retreat May 2013

"Unwavering Commitment- factor leading to the development of the controlling faculties is the quality of mind that keeps you walking straight to the end of the path without becoming sidetracked, without giving up your task."  these were the words from the Book "In This Vert Life" by Sayādaw U Pandita.

About thirty yogis spent the Memorial Holidays under the guidance of Venerable Katapunno experienced the meditation life of monastics.  Woke up 5AM in the morning and have nine sessions of meditation.  At the end of each sitting meditation we heard the inspiring Pali chant from Dhammapada Verses 277, 278 and 279 of our teacher ...

"Sabbe sankhara anicca ti
yada pannaya1 passati
atha nibbindati dukkhe
esa maggo visuddhiya.

Sabbe sankhara dukkha ti
yada pannaya passati
atha nibbindati dukkhe
esa maggo visuddhiya.

Sabbe sankhara anatta ti
yada pannaya passati
atha nibbindati dukkhe
esa maggo visuddhiya."
 

"All conditioned phenomena are impermanent"; when one sees this with Insight-wisdom, one turns away from suffering. This is the Path to Purity.

All conditioned phenomena are  unsatisfactory"; when one sees this with Insight-wisdom, one turns away from suffering. This is the Path to Purity.

All conditioned and unconditioned phenomena are without Self"; when one sees this with Insight-wisdom, one turns away from suffering. This is the Path to Purity."  (Dhammapada Verses 277, 278 and 279)

Ten Armies of Māra
Here are the lines the Buddha addressed to Māra, as recorded in the Sutta Nipāta:

1. Sensual pleasures are your first army,
2. Discontent your second is called.
3. Your third is hunger and thirst,
4. The fourth is called craving.
5. Sloth and torpor are your fifth,
6. The sixth is called fear,
7. Your seventh is doubt,
8. Conceit and ingratitude are your eighth,
9. Gain, renown, honor and whatever fame is falsely received (are the ninth),
10. And whoever both extols himself and disparages others (has fallen victim to the tenth).

At the end of each evening Ven. Katapunno leads us in Metta blessing and shared our merits in Pali before we retire to our room at 10PM.

The Chant of Metta Text
Aham avero homi (May I be free from enmity and danger)
abyapajjho homi (May I be free from mental suffering)
anigha homi (May I be free from physical suffering)
sukhi - attanam pariharami (May I take care of myself happily)
Mama matapitu (May my parents)
acariya ca natimitta ca (teacher relatives and friends)
sabrahma - carino ca (fellow Dhamma farers)
avera hontu (be free from enmity and danger)
abyapajjha hontu (be free from mental suffering)
anigha hontu (be free from physical suffering)
sukhi - attanam pariharantu (may they take care of themselves happily)
Imasmim arame sabbe yogino (May all meditators in this compound)
avera hontu (be free from enmity and danger)
abyapajjha hontu (be free from mental suffering)
anigha hontu (be free from physical suffering)
sukhi - attanam pariharantu (May they take care of themselves happily)
Imasmim arame sabbe bhikkhu (May all monks in this compound)
samanera ca (novice monks)
upasaka - upasikaya ca (laymen and laywomen disciples)
avera hontu (be free from enmity and danger)
abyapajjha hontu (be free from mental suffering)
anigha hontu (be free from physical suffering)
sukhi - attanam pariharantu (May they take care of themselves happily)
Amhakam catupaccaya - dayaka (May our donors of the four supports: clothing, food, medicine and lodging)
avera hontu (be free from enmity and danger)
abyapajjha hontu (be free from mental suffering)
anigha hontu (be free from physical suffering)
sukhi - attanam pariharantu (May they take care of themselves happily)
Amhakam arakkha devata (May our guardian devas)
Ismasmim vihare (in this monastery)
Ismasmim avase (in this dwelling)
Ismasmim arame (in this compound)
arakkha devata (May the guardian devas)
avera hontu (be free from enmity and danger)
abyapajjha hontu (be free from mental suffering)
anigha hontu (be free from physical suffering)
sukhi - attanam pariharantu (may they take care of themselves happily)
Sabbe satta (May all beings)
sabbe pana (all breathing things)
sabbe bhutta (all creatures)
sabbe puggala
all individuals (all beings)
sabbe attabhava - pariyapanna
all personalities (all beings with mind and body)
sabbe itthoyo
may all females
sabbe purisa
all males
sabbe ariya
all noble ones (saints)
sabbe anariya
all worldlings (those yet to attain sainthood)
sabbe deva
all devas (deities)
sabbe manussa
all humans
sabbe vinipatika
all those in the four woeful planes
avera hontu
be free from enmity and dangers
abyapajjha hontu
be free from mental suffering
anigha hontu
be free from physical suffering
sukhi - attanam pariharantu
may they take care of themselves happily
Dukkha muccantu
May all being be free from suffering
Yattha-laddha-sampattito mavigacchantu
May whatever they have gained not be lost
Kammassaka
All beings are owners of their own Kamma
Purathimaya disaya
in the eastern direction
pacchimaya disaya
in the western direction
uttara disaya
in the northern direction
dakkhinaya disaya
in the southern direction
purathimaya anudisaya
in the southeast direction
pacchimaya anudisaya
in the northwest direction
uttara anudisaya
in the northeast direction
dakkhinaya anudisaya
in the southwest direction
hetthimaya disaya
in the direction below
uparimaya disaya
in the direction above
Sabbe satta
May all beings
sabbe pana
all breathing things
sabbe bhutta
all creatures
sabbe puggala
all individuals (all beings)
sabbe attabhava - pariyapanna
all personalities (all beings with mind and body)
sabbe itthoyo (may all females)
sabbe purisa (all males)
sabbe ariya (all noble ones (saints))
sabbe anariya (those yet to attain sainthood)
sabbe deva (all devas (deities))
sabbe manussa (all humans)
sabbe vinipatika (all those in the 4 woeful planes)
avera hontu (be free from enmity and dangers)
abyapajjha hontu (be free from mental suffering)
anigha hontu (be free from physical suffering)
sukhi - attanam pariharantu (may they take care of themselves happily)
Dukkha muccantu (May all beings be free from suffering)
Yattha-laddha-sampattito mavigacchantu (May whatever they have gained not be lost)
Kammassaka (All beings are owners of their own kamma)
Uddham yava bhavagga ca (As far as the highest plane of existence)
adho yava aviccito (to as far down as the lowest plane)
samanta cakkavalesu (in the entire universe)
ye satta pathavicara (whatever beings that move on earth)

abyapajjha nivera ca (may they are free of mental suffering and enmity)
nidukkha ca nupaddava (and from physical suffering and danger)
Uddham yava bhavagga ca (As far as the highest plane of existence)
adho yava aviccito (to as far down as the lowest plane)
samanta cakkavalesu (in the entire universe)
ye satta udakecara (whatever beings that move on water)
abyapajjha nivera ca (may they are free of mental suffering and enmity)
nidukkha ca nupaddava (and from physical suffering and danger)
Uddham yava bhavagga ca (As far as the highest plane of existence)
adho yava aviccito (to as far down as the lowest plane)
samanta cakkavalesu (in the entire universe)

ye satta akasecara (whatever beings that move in air)
abyapajjha nivera ca (may they are free of mental suffering and enmity)
nidukkha ca nupaddava (and from physical suffering and danger).