10-Day Year End Meditation

Ten Day Year End Meditation

 Texas Buddhist Association (TBA) Insight Meditation Group (IMG) has our last retreat of the year from Dec 7th to Dec 16th 2013.  Venerable Katapunno lead the retreat in spite of the bitter cold and his sickness.  He continue the study of the book "In This Very Life" by Sayadaw U Pandita.  In addition, this time we welcomed three yogis from California participating in the retreat.  Let's hope that this trend continue, since one of the primary purpose of the American Bodhi Center is provide a place for everyone to conduct retreats.  You are welcome to contact the center if you are interested.

In addition to the rigorous schedule of walking, standing and sitting meditation.  There were two things that everyone appreciated and benefited a lot from are: the Dhamma talk by Venerable Katapunno and the every other day personal interviews by him.  Bhante spent hours, sometimes staying up till late hours (I know since my room is next to his), preparing for the class.  Just to make sure that all of us understand the meaning and the importance of the "Seven Factors of Enlightenment" (Pali: satta bojjhaṅgā or satta sambojjhaṅgā; Skt.: sapta bodhyanga) are:

1. Mindfulness (sati) i.e. to remember the Dhamma.
2. Investigation (dhamma vicaya) of the Dhamma.
3. Energy (viriya).
4. Joy or rapture (pīti).
5. Relaxation or tranquility (passaddhi) of both body and mind.
6. Concentration (samādhi) a calm, one-pointed state of concentration of mind.
7. Equanimity (upekkha), to be able to face life in all its vicissitudes with calm of mind and tranquility, without disturbance, with dispassion and detachment.

In meditation interviews every yogi get the chance to check his or her progress and opportunity to ask questions and get helps with difficulties.  Other the just as important consideration is that subconsciously, urges each of us to work hard in order that we take full advantage of the 10 minutes that we get every other day.

Sadu! Sadu! Sadu!