'As a mother would give her life
to protect her only child,
So with a boundless heart
should one cherish all living beings.'

Metta is the unconditional loving-kindness that reaches out to encompass all beings. In metta meditation, we learn to be free from the shackles of selfishness that constrict our emotional capacity. This practical, step-by-step approach goes beyond mere words into a direct experience of boundless, universal love.

This retreat on the theme of metta will consist of meditation teachings, guided and silent meditations, Dhamma talks and possibly one-to-one interviews, for those who wish, with Ayya Vimala.

During the retreat, all retreatants are kindly asked to follow the 5 precepts and observe silence.

The five precepts are:

• 1. To abstain from killing living beings
• 2. To abstain from taking what is not given
• 3. To abstain from all sexual activity
• 4. To abstain from dishonest speech
• 5. To abstain from intoxicants

Retreatants desiring to deepen their experience might also be interested, at their own discretion, to follow the 8 precepts, the five above plus:

• 6. To abstain from taking food after mid-day
• 7. To abstain from singing, dancing, and from bodily adornments
• 8. To abstain from sleeping on luxurious beds

Venue: Seraph, 15 Heytesbury Street, Dublin 8 (near Camden Street) Map (http://www.seraph.ie/)

Date: Saturday, October 27th - Sunday, October 28th, 2018

Time: 09:30 - 16:30

Fee: No fees - Anonymous donations only. Donation baskets will be available.

Donation to IST: Any donation made to the IST will be used to cover the cost of retreats and events that IST organizes throughout the year. We also support mendicant monastics, when funds allow. The IST organizers are all volunteers and do not financially benefit from the IST funds.

Donations for the teacher. Any donations for the teacher will be transferred directly to Samita ABSL, the organisation supporting Tilorien Monastery.

Lunch: We will share a vegetarian lunch on both days. Please bring some pre-prepared food to share.

Registration: Please click here (or contact us at info@irishsanghatrust.ie)

• In order to make a secure booking, please complete the online booking form.
• Remember to pre-register before evening on the Friday preceding the retreat. Please do not assume there will be space available at the last minute.

On the day:

• Please be seated in the meditation hall at least 5 minutes before the session. Comfortable clothing is recommended. Dressing in layers is also a good idea.
• Please bring some food for a shared vegetarian lunch, if you wish to join us for the midday meal. 
• Refreshments, CDs and Dhamma books are available for free distribution.

Venerable Vimala

Venerable Vimala is a Dutch Buddhist monastic in the Thai Forest tradition and currenlty founding a Bhikkhuni monastery in Belgium. Initially trained in Anenja Vihara in Germany and in Santi Forest Monastery in Australia, she met the well-known teacher Bhante Sujato and worked together with him to establish the website SuttaCentral in order to spread the Buddhist teachings to a wider audience.