Chan Myay Myaing Forest Monastery Metta Retreat in Winter 2016

Chan Myay Myaing Monastery will hold its second annual Metta Retreat, as detailed in this flyer. In their own words:

"The practice of loving-kindness (mettā bhāvana) aims at the cultivation of a loving, benevolent attitude towards all living beings. Since the time of the Buddha, this form of meditation has been used as a practice in itself, and as a support for the development and deepening of insight.

In this special retreat for foreign meditators, Western yogis will have the unique opportunity to learn the practice of mettā meditation under the guidance of both a Burmese meditation master and Western teachers. Sayadaw U Indaka (who is renowned in Burma for his skill in teaching this practice) will be joined by Venerable Virañani and Ariya Baumann; together they will offer in-depth instructions and teachings for this practice."

Two retreats will take place in Pyin Oo Lwin in 2016; one in January and one in February. Enrollment and registration are still possible for those wishing to develop in the practice of metta-bhavana.

U Mandala arrives in Sydney

U Mandala, the disciple of Webu Sayadaw and vice-abbot of Webu Monastery in Ingyinbin, arrived in Sydney, Australia. Incredibly, at the airport just as he arrived was a Thai monk from Santi Forest Monastery, established by Ajahn Sujato for nuns. He was waiting for U Jagara, who resides in Burma and was coming to give a course at Santi, where Sayalay Anopama was already waiting. 

U Mandala will take several U Goenka 10-Day retreats while in Australia, and also answer questions during part of a work period at Dhamma Bhumi in Blackheath. As the Australian winter is just now approaching, the venerable Burmese monk will have to adjust to not only a different language and culture, but also an unfamiliar weather pattern! The editor of Shwe Lan Ga Lay is also in Australia, where he will be giving a series of presentations on the book and the last two years of research in Burma. Many threads are now converging Down Under!