In the months of August and September 2016, Pian Dei Ciliegi Meditation Centre will be hosting an experienced and knowledgeable Dhamma teacher, Brother Dassana from Malaysia. He will assist Bhante Sujiva during his summer retreat (Aug. 2-23) and will stay on at the centre until September 18th to guide those practitioners who wish to deepen their practice in an intensive way, but also for those who intend to begin the practice of Vipassana meditation. Participation to the retreat is flexible in terms of period of stay and daily schedule, but you should join for at least one week. You will be asked to do some yogi jobs during the retreat. Dhamma talks and interviews will be in English, and the teachings are based on the Satipatthana-Vipassana method. There will be two or three Dhamma-talks and individual interviews every week (according to the needs of the yogi and the decision of the teacher). Brother Dassana has been practising Vipassana meditation for more than 25 years. He was a Theravada monk for 16 years, which gave him the opportunity and time to do long intensive meditation retreats in Burma, Malaysia and Thailand and also study the Dhamma thoroughly. He practiced mostly in the Mahasi tradition, but has also explored other meditation techniques, which he shares and teaches in clear and acceptable ways for western students.

April 2014. Pian dei Ciliegi offers the precious chance for an intensive Vipassana meditation retreat according to the tradition of Mahasi Sayadaw. This year we have the privilege an honour of having with us Ven. Vivekananda, eminent scholar of the Dhamma, abbot of the  Panditarama International Meditation Centre in Lumbini (Nepal), and disciple of Sayadaw U-Pandita. He will guide the first period of the retreat (April 7 – 16), and will be followed by two qualified lay Dhamma teachers:Hannes Huber (April 16 – 24) Beate Gloeckner (April 24 – May 4),whom many of you have met and appreciated for their ability to integrate ancient Bhuddist teachings with the more modern approaches of western thinking.Partial participation in the retreat is possible, but you can only join on the first day of each period, that is from 2 to 5 p.m. on April 7, 16 and 24.We warmly encourage you to take this rare and valuable opportunity to deepen your practice or, if you’re new to meditation, to embark on your spiritual path from a solid and clear basis.

With Metta, Pian dei Ciliegi staff

Ven. Vivekananda is the resident teacher of Panditarama Lumbini International Meditation Centre in Nepal. He has trained under the Ven. Sayadaw U Panditabhivamsa since 1988 and has been teaching Vipassana in the Mahasi tradition and Loving kindness meditation at his center in Lumbini as well as abroad since 1998. With his profound knowledge of the Dhamma and his enthusiastic manner, yogis feel inspired and encouraged to progress in their practice. Hannes Huber, is an experienced teacher who has practiced Vipassana Meditation since 1985. His teachers include Godwin Samararatne from Sri Lanka, and Sayadaw U Pandita from Burma, who authorized him to give teachings. He has a training in Psychosynthesis with Sascha Dönges, Switzerland. He teaches Vipassana Meditation in Austria and other European countries, and is an MBSR trainer.Beate Gloeckner is a German teacher who started her meditation practice in 1986 and has a long experience of retreats in the Mahasi tradition under the guidance of Ven. U-Pandita and Ven. U-Vivekananda, who authorized her to give teachings. Thanks to her training as a psychotherapist, she belongs to that new generation of teachers that can pass on ancient teachings in such a way that western yogis will still find them meaningful for their lives.