Meditation in Southeast Asia - Insight Meditation Center

Meditation method: Intensive Vipassana meditation in the tradition of the Ven.
Mahasi Sayadaw of Myanmar. Alternating sitting meditation and formal walking
meditation. Daily interviews and regular Dhamma talks in English, Burmese and
German.
Resident teacher: Venerable Vivekananda, a German bhikkhu (monk), has trained
with the Ven Sayadaw U Panditabhivamsa of Myanmar for nine years. Ven.
Vivekananda teaches meditation in English, Burmese and German. The centre is run
by volunteers. All long-term dhamma practioners, these volunteers do everything
from building the monastery to planting the vegetables to cooking the food for the
meditators.
Precepts: Lay meditators observe eight precepts and monks and nuns observe their
respective monastic vows.
Accommodation: Dormitory-style accommodation. Individual meditation huts are
planned.
Food: The Burmese/Nepalese food is rich, tasty and vegetarian. For breakfast
muesli with yoghurt, fruit and bread are offered; for lunch you can choose from rice or
noodles with several vegetables and tofu. For drinking coffee, tea, milk, Ovomaltine
and germfree water are available.
Duration of retreats: Meditators may schedule their individual retreat from a few
days up to three months.
Formal retreats: Two formal retreats are conducted per year in December and in
February.
Daily schedule und co-operation: The day starts at 4 a.m. and ends at 10 p.m.
Formal meditation alternates between of one hour sitting meditation and one hour
walking meditation, respectively. Breakfast is served between 6 and 7 a.m., lunch
break is from 11 to 12.30 a.m. In the evening there is a dhamma lecture and tea
break. Nearly all the work which comes up in the meditation centre is done by
volunteers. Meditators only have to contribute a small amount of help with cleaning
the sanitary facilities.
What to bring: Insect repellent, water disinfectant and medicaments should be
brought from home in sufficient quantitiy. A sleeping bag and a warm (fleece) jacket
are very useful. During the winter months night temperatures can go down to 5
degrees centigrade; and on misty days the temperature may not exceed 15 degrees.
As there is no heating system in the centre, you should bring enough warm and easy
86