Malaysia Satipatthana Meditation Retreat
Ajahn Prasan’s First Dhamma Propagation Trip to Malaysia
Day after day, we repeat the same lifestyle. From the moment we open our eyes in the morning till the time we fall asleep at night, we get lost in the world of thoughts. Even though we are physically awake, our minds remain asleep. All our emotions and experiences in life – happiness, sadness and sufferings, are hooked into the virtual world through our mobile phones. A comment or post is enough to trigger us to lose control of our emotions. What is happening to the world? It has become difficult for us to distinguish between the real world and the virtual world.
Our minds are unable to attain peace and tranquility. Instead, we are often overwhelmed by ecstasy, rage, sorrow, jealousy, arrogance, and agony. As such, we have moved further away from calmness and happiness. We are affected by what surrounds us, causing us to be lost in the vortex of desire – just like a pair of handcuffs tying us down and keeping us locked within the cycle of rebirth. Is this the life that we want? Can the cycle be broken?
Ajahn Prasan once shared: “In reality, what causes us the most suffering, is our body and mind, and not the people, issues or objects around us. If we depend on ourselves, we can achieve happiness and fulfilment, free from defilements and then no one can cause us suffering.”
Satipatthana meditation is the only path that allows us to transcend sadness and suffering, giving us a chance to be liberated in life.
Instructor
Ajahn Prasan
It is through transcending barriers of language and ethnicity, arranging meditation retreats and preaching series of teachings catering for the Chinese community, that his will to propagate the Dhamma for the Chinese-speaking world is created out of compassion. His aspiration to liberate sentient beings from suffering results in his commitment to propagate the Dhamma by providing systematic guidance to those lost in life.
It is no easy feat finding someone who helps without seeking returns, let alone meeting such a person.
Ajahn Prasan is the disciple of Thailand’s well-known meditator, Luangpor Pramote Pamojjo. His Dhamma propagation covers China and Thailand, including Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Khon Kaen, Nakhon Sawan etc. This is his first trip to Malaysia.
Ajahn Prasan once said in an interview: “On 23 August 2012, I had coffee with a business rival and when we talked about our clients, I was very worried and disturbed because I discovered that my client had been poached. At that moment, my mind arose and ceased twice, but I did not know what that meant and could not form any definition. Thereafter, I was aware of my mind saying, ‘Anything that arises, will definitely cease’. Subsequently, my mind was in a state of tranquility, harmony and happiness. My business rival was curious and asked, ‘Your client was poached by others, how can you be so calm?’ At that time, I did not know that I had seen the Dhamma. All I felt was tranquility and happiness which lasted for several days. Eventually, my mind returned to its normal state, but it was not the same as before. Since then, no matter what suffering I faced, I did not feel that it was ‘me’ that suffered, I only felt that mind was suffering. No matter what happiness I experienced, I did not feel that ‘I’ was happy, instead I understood it as mind being happy! When I had conversations with others, I would still use common expressions like ‘I am happy’ or ‘I am sad’. It was just that I no longer felt that ‘I’ am happy or ‘I’ am sad.”
Since then, Luangpor Pramote Pamojjo instructed Ajahn Prasan to guide everyone in their practice after he ended his Dhamma talks in the monastery. Ajahn Prasan’s teaching style is straightforward and lively and he will provide realistic and practical suggestions based on the conditions of different individuals. He is one of the distinguished Dhamma propagators under Luangpor Pramote Pamojjo and he has been assigned by Luangpor as a representative to China to teach meditation. Currently, he has two books translated into Chinese entitled “Dhamma Talk 1” and “Today we are that tortoise”.
Duration of Retreat (4 days 3 nights)
Registration: Friday 17 March 2023 at 8:00am
Retreat Begins: Friday 17 March 2023 at 10:00am
Retreat Ends: Monday 20 March 2023 at 16:00pm
Retreat language
The retreat is conducted in Thai.
Translation into English and Chinese is provided.
Quota for Admission to Retreat
80 pax
Conditions for Registration
- Participants must be interested in learning the teachings of Luangpor Pramote Pamojjo.
- Participants must be physically and mentally healthy and be able to stay at the venue throughout the retreat.
- Participants must commit to full participation in the retreat and be able to participate in the retreat independently.
- Upon Registration acceptance, participants will need to join pre-retreat cultivation sessions for one month to listen to Dhamma discourses. Participants may lose their eligibility to participate in the retreat if he or she fails to join the pre-retreat cultivation sessions for a specified number of sessions.
- If the participant is regarded as no longer suitable to participate in the retreat by the instructor, the participant should accept the organizer’s decision without any objection.
Registration – Points to Note
Registration Opens: 1 January 2023 at 00:00am
Registration Ends: 7 January 2023 at 23:59pm
- A notice of acceptance will be issued via email or through social media chat groups such as WhatsApp or WeChat by the end of January 2023.
- The instructor reserves the final right to determine whether or not to accept a student.
- During the retreat, layman devotees will not be expected to comply with the eight precepts, but will be required to observe the five precepts.
- During the retreat, recordings of voice and video will be carried out as a form of Dhamma giving. Applicants will need to ensure that he or she is willing to appear on camera and be recorded before registering for this retreat.
- Because of prevailing conditions, the organizer does not accept non-applicants and will not entertain requests for services which are not part of the meditation retreat (for instance: arrangement for family members to stay at resort, arrangements for local tours etc.)
Retreat Venue
Mines Beach Resort, Kuala Lumpur
The resort is approximately 50 minutes away from KLIA1 & KLIA2. If needed, the organizer may arrange transport to and from the airport for overseas participants.
Food and Accommodation Fees
- Participants will need to pay for their food and accommodation.
- All teachings are given free of charge.
- Food and accommodation fees will be released when registration opens.
Main organizer
Shi Ne Ling Monastery
The organizer reserves the right to make changes to the retreat. Should there be any dispute, Shi Ne Ling Monastery reserves the right to make the final decision.
Designated Contact Methods
For enquiries related to the retreat, please contact:
Email: shineling.retreat@gmail.com
WhatsApp: +6018-9199096