Meditation Retreats, Talks, Summer Classes
and Requests for Input
offered by  Venerable Bhante Vimalaramsi and Reverend Sister Khema
And
News about Retreats and Talks at the Dhamma Sukha (Happy Teachings) Meditation Center
Annapolis, MO

[ongoing Edited 2008 Calendar- by sk]

Notes:
If you have questions about scheduling times for interviews at any of the locations mentioned below or if you wish to participate by offering organizing assistance, scheduling a talk, shelter, food, or contributing gas or making a donation for the development of the center, then,  you are encouraged to contact Sister Khema through email and she will do her best to direct you to the person who can assist you.
Before contacting her, please check the links off this page, at the bottom, which are connected on the dhammasukha website.   See “schedules”.

[TBA means "confirmation to be announced"]

• 
  NOVEMBER 2008
  
  5^th World Buddhist Summit Conference in KOBE, Japan

Dates:  Approx. date: Nov-5 through Nov 15 /TBA
This will be the first time the United States will have representation at this World Buddhist Sumit Conference  in Kobe, Japan. The First Representative for the United States of America has been confirmed to be Venerable Bhante Vimalaramsi, Abbot of Dhamma Sukha Meditation Center.

•  Some other Expanded information
  
  
   

• Independent Study requests: Attendants for the center forest program may come in for independent study from University comparative religious studies programs, if prearranged, year round. Attendance in this program is by approval of Bhante Vimalaramsi after interview and review by committee.
  A person will study Buddhism from the angle of strictly following the Pali Canon and Vinaya instructions, living in a remote forest area, and relinquishing outside life.

• Work Study programs may be arranged as well.

• Temporary Ordination programs are also available. 
  Write to sisterkhema@dhammasukha.org for more information.
  
  Much Metta to everyone.
  Venerable Bhante Vimalaramsi
  Reverend Sister Khema

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• FEBRUARY

  •  February 9- 17(Sunday), 2008
    Germany
    9-Day Retreat at Pauenhof Center
    
    This will be our first European retreat and is open for anyone to apply! If there are people from Germany or other countries in Europe who want to come to the retreat and wish to have a room, there are  single or group rooms available. Others may also apply from outside the country. They can register through the webpage of Pauenhof at www.pauenhof.de
    
    Further information will be announced later as a new Retreat webpage in created.
     

  • Bhante Vimalaramsi has granted "a 4-day optional attendance permissible" for this retreat to help as many as possible have a chance to attend this teaching. 2 X 2 days over the weekends WILL be acceptable. Please contact the Pauenhof website for information and assistance for this retreat.
    
    This should be a really good retreat. There will be 2 translators assisting Venerable during teaching and interviews.
     

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• MARCH- Further details on Joshua Tree Retreat III

•  March 1- 15, 2008
  14-Day retreat in Joshua Tree,CA 
  Joshua Tree Retreat III
  March 1-15th the retreat will be held in Joshua Tree CA. at Ruth Denison's Vipassana Center
  Contact person: Contact Antra Berger at antrapriede@pol.ne   
  or Mark Berger at bergger@cox.net  
  
  Open to beginners and experienced meditators.
  This is a wonderful location at Dhamma Dena Vipassana Center ( Ruth Denison's place! )
  The nature of the desert is unsurpassed and all around us. This year will be a little warmer too. Please consider coming to learn meditation from the suttas directly with the help of this wonderful clear guiding teacher, Venerable Bhante Vimalaramsi.
  Each year this retreat just gets better and better. Good food, fine company, and remoteness from daily life. Students have the perfect access to the teacher during this independent personal approach to doing the meditation.  This is a perfect setting to dig in and do the necessary work on this lovely Metta-Vipassana Meditation and learn from a pro how to do the Brahma Viharas , breaking down the barriers, in the most effective successful way precisely as they are presented in the texts. This is a practice you will take home and continue on with in life with a smile. Please join us.
  
   

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•  Retreat questions:  All questions should be addressed to the center through Rev. Sister Khema

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• Dhamma Talk requests- Requests for talks should be addressed to Rev. Sister khema

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•  Request for Discussions on "What is Buddhism and Buddhist Meditation?"- geared for Highschools, Civic Clubs, and churches.
  Contact  Rev. Sister Khema
   

• Request for Open Communication line to all Traditions-
  All Response appreicated.
  Communication and disucussion line for written Input about Buddhism in this century--->
  NEWS: The Fifth World Buddhist Summit Conference in Kobe, Japan is now scheduled for November 5-12th 2008. This will be the first conference where a United States representative participates. This is an interesting development for American Buddhism. Upon visiting many temples of various traditions across the United States over the past four years, without exception, lay women have noted to us their concerns about young people putting aside Buddhism or lay practitioners quitting meditation because of what they say is a lack of relevance to their daily life. Some Mothers tell us that there is a need to reclaim the vitality of Buddhism by finding out how a person can improve their everyday life through clearly understanding  and using Dhamma. It appears that young people leave because, as teenagers, they feel they cannot bring their English speaking friends from their school to their temple to learn about the meditation which is at the very heart of their faith. Some temples are taking individual actions to learn English to present things more clearly. This is so these young adults no longer feel isolated.  The  Buddhist Summit Council is interested in researching challenges just like this. They talk over ideas about reclaiming the original Buddhist practice that existed before cultural overtones were added in order to see if this can make a difference in the suffering people face in their daily lives. This does not mean eliminating a culture from any tradition. Rather, it means learning to openly identify the cultural aspects and separate these from the original practice of Buddhist Meditation itself.
  Do you feel that this would help Buddhism in this century?
  How do you feel about what is facing Buddhism in this Century?
  
  As the newly appointed representative from the U.S. to the Summit Council Ven. Bhante Vimalaramsi would very much like to hear input from teachers and students alike from various traditions practicing in the United States of America regarding what they consider to be "the biggest challenges facing Buddhism in the 21st Century".  Venerable wishes to open a line of cummunication between varioius sects of Buddhism and discuss how to relieve suffering in the world today. Let us know what is going well within your tradition and let us know what you see as the biggest challenges for individuals and families in the near future.  Ven. Bhante Vimalaramsi looks forward to hearing from you.
   Please write to  Sister Khema .
   

  Send Comments to sisterkhema@dhammasukha.org

  Much Metta and smiles to everyone.
  Sister Khema
  Assistant for Venerable Bhante Vimalaramsi, Abbot
  Chairperson for United International Buddha Dhamma Society
  Dhamma Sukha Meditation Center

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