"All compounded things are subject to vanish. Strive and bring about completion by being heedful."
(Dīgha Nikāya 16 - Mahāparinibbāna Sutta)
Who can participate?
Everybody who is interested, with or without previous meditation experience, is most welcome to participate. The development of mindfulness and the attainment of insights through one's own experience are independent of one's origin, age or gender.
During course periods everybody can register individually for the following course options:
- 15-17 day Basic Course
- 15-17 day Advanced Course (prerequisite is the completed basic course)
- 12- to 15-day Retreat (prerequisite is the completed Basic and Advanced Course)
- several days of practice / meditation weekend
- daily retreat (see below)
- introduction into Buddhism and Vipassana meditation (meditation introduction)
- personal talks with the teacher
The recent course periods can be found => here.
Exclusion of liability
The "Dhammanikhom Vipassana-Meditationszentrum e.V." as well as any meditation teacher and the volunteers assume no liability unless this is due to intentional acts or gross negligence or injury to life, body or health by intentional or negligent breach of duty.
The participation in a course is always at one´s own responsibility. The offered courses are not therapeutic and therefore do not replace professional treatment of people with mental disorders or physical illnesses. In cases of severe physical or mental illnesses, the doctor´s or therapist´s consent is needed.
No liability is assumed for personal items or valuables.
The teacher and the "Dhammanikhom Vipassana-Meditationszentrum e.V." reserve the right to deny participation in a course or to send the participant home earlier if he / she does not follow the rules and instructions or endangers himself / herself or others.
Daily routine
Every day starts at 4 a.m. and ends at 10 p.m. During that time one practices continuously the meditation exercises. Participants receive individual guidance in daily reports with the teacher. Part of the course is one hour working meditation per day.
During the course the focus lies on formal meditation practice in order to use the opportunity of gaining experiences directly from the practice. Participants refrain from reading, even Buddhist literature, as well as from mobile phones and other media. The course is conducted in Noble Silence.
Breakfast is served at 6.30 a.m. and lunch at 11 a.m. All meals are vegetarian. During the day drinks such as water, tea, hot chocolate and coffee are provided. Unfortunately we cannot be considerate of allergies and food intolerances.
More details about the daily schedule will be given at the beginning of the stay.
During their stay, meditators are asked to follow the Eight Buddhist precepts:
I will train myself…
- …to abstain from killing any living creature.
- …to abstain from taking what is not given.
- …to abstain from all sexual activity.
- …to abstain from speaking what is not true.
- …to abstain from all intoxicants (alcohol, drugs).
- …to abstain from eating solid food after 12 o´clock noon-time (drinks and certain liquid goods like yoghurt, soymilk, juices etc. are allowed).
- …to abstain from sensual entertainment (dancing, singing, reading, listening to radio) and bodily decoration (jewels, perfume, cosmetics)
- …to abstain from sleeping on high or luxurious beds.
Daily retreat (only for retreats after completing the Basic Course)
For persons who already have completed the Basic and Advanced Course as well as one to two retreats here in the center, there is the possibility of integrating the course in their everyday lives over a period of 8 weeks.
Prerequisites/Commitments:
- willingness to participate for 8 weeks
- adherence to the Five Buddhist rules of virtue (1.-5. as mentioned above, but no. 3 means no unwholesome sexual activities instead of celibacy)
- meditation practice for 2 hours every day
- once a week personal report (discussion) with the teacher
- at the end of the course a stay of 6 days at the meditation center
Registration, further information and questions:
Dhammanikhom Vipassana-Meditationszentrum
Hauptstr. 18
03185 Heinersbrück
Germany
email: dhammanikhom@gmail.com
phone: 0049 (0)35601-803804