Our Spiritual Programme 2013-2014. (updated June 6th) 
Tibetan Buddhist Meditation and Philosophy Courses
All courses and dates are subject to change, please check for updates and additions
| Dates | Upcoming Courses (Click for more information) |
|---|---|
| November 4-10 | Tools for Happiness:
|
| November 19-21 | Medicine Buddha workshop
with Ven. Tenzin Dekyong |
| November 22-25 | Nyung Nay Retreat
with Ven. Tenzin Dekyong |
| December 6-15, 2013 | Shamatha Retreat
with Glen Svensson |
| December 16-25, 2013 | Experience Buddhism at the Root
with Jimi Neal |
| January 1-10, 2014 | Tara Retreat
with Jimi Neal |
| January 12-21, 2014 | Experience Buddhism at the Root
with Kay Cooper and Gordon McDougall |
| February 2-7, 2014 | The Heart Sutra
with Ven. antonio Satta |
| February 14 - March 1, 2014 | Insight Meditation Retreat
with Ven. Antonio Satta |
| April 2014- September 2014 | This is the low season in Bodhgaya, so no courses in English will be available now. Our Hindi Dharma Programme runs year-round. We do remain open all year, so please see below for what activities are available during the summer. |
Root Institute provides an excellent environment for people of any nationality and any religion to explore their minds and develop their positive qualities through study and meditation on the teachings of the Buddha.
Each winter, October to March, we offer a series of courses and retreats on Tibetan Buddhist meditation and philosophy in English. These courses cover a wide range of Buddhist topics and are designed to complement each other. Taught by experienced Western teachers and visiting Tibetan Lamas, all of our courses and retreats emphasize practical application of the Buddha’s teachings in order to increase compassion, wisdom, peace and happiness in one’s daily life. Most of these courses qualify as part of the FPMT Discovering Buddhism Programme. Courses taught in Hindi for our Indian students are offered year-round.
And more...
In addition to our courses and retreats, the following are available all year (even during the low season April - September):
- Meditate in our two beautiful meditation halls and gardens.
- Join one of our regular pujas (group practices) including: Guru Puja, Tara Puja, Medicine Buddha Puja, light offerings, offering robes to the Mahabodhi Buddha Statue, sutra recitations, and more. More...
- Visit our excellent library and bookshop of Dharma books and videos, including extensive information on the Buddhist holy sites, the preliminary practices (ngondro), and the best practices to do at the Mahabodhi Stupa. Browse quality Dharma items in our gift shop: thankgas, semi-precious malas, mandala sets, altar cloths and much more. More...
- Accommodation and personal retreat facilities including clean, comfortable rooms and retreat houses in a lovely garden setting with delicious vegetarian meals available for individuals and private groups. More...
- Root Institute's Shakyamuni Buddha Community Health Programme provides free health care to some of India's most impoverished people in our on-site clinic, in villages reached by our mobile team, in our 8-bed on-site hospital, and through our integrated health and development programme. You are welcome to observe our work in the on-site clinic and the village health programme. Volunteer nurses and physiotherapists are always welcome (preferably for a minimum stay of 3 - 6 months). More...
Residential Introduction to Buddhism Courses (DB3)
8 or 10 Day Courses available
These residential courses provide an overview of the entire Tibetan Buddhist path to enlightenment through teachings, guided meditations and discussion groups. You will...
- Learn how to meditate
- Explore Buddha’s philosophy on the nature of the mind, karma, rebirth, love, compassion, ultimate reality and more
- Experience directly how Buddhism’s practical, step-by-step teachings and meditations can increase peace, happiness and compassion in your own daily life
PRE-REQUISITES: There are no pre-requisites to join these courses; you do not need to have any previous experience with meditation or Buddhism. Those with previous experience will also enjoy these courses in order to review and contemplate more deeply the essential points of the path. (When teachings and guided meditations are heard from different teachers, their varied perspectives and styles--combined with one’s own personal experiences acquired since one’s last course--can stimulate fresh insights for even the most experienced students.)
Note: The 10 day courses qualify for the FPMT Discovering Buddhism Program (Subject Area Three). Please click here for more information about Discovering Buddhism.
Note: No deposit is required to register for these introductory courses.
Approximate 10-day Course Schedule
During the first six full days of the course, the daily schedule combines teachings with various styles of meditation and discussion groups. The course ends with a two-day intensive meditation retreat to give you the chance to familiarize yourself with and gain insight into the topics that were covered in the teachings.
Day 1
1.30 - 3.00pm: Check in
4.30 – 6.00pm: Orientation talk
6.00: Dinner
7.30pm: Introduction to Meditation
Day 2 - 7
6.00am: Wake up
6.45 - 7.30am: Mindfulness Meditation
7.30am: Breakfast
9.00 - 11.00am: Teaching
11.15 – 12.00pm: Optional Simple Yoga
12.00 – 2.00pm: Lunch
2.00 – 3.00pm: Discussion Groups
3.30 – 5.00pm: Teaching
5.30 - 6.15pm: Guided Meditation
6.15pm: Dinner
7.30pm: Evening Meditation
Day 8 - 9 (Meditation Retreat)
6.00am: Wake up
6.45 - 7.30am: Mindfulness Meditation
7.30am: Breakfast
9.00 – 9.45am: Guided Meditation
10.15 - 11.00am: Guided Meditation
11.15 – 12.00pm: Optional Simple Yoga
12.00 – 2.15pm: Lunch
2.15 - 3.00pm: Guided Meditation
3.45 - 4.30pm: Guided Meditation
5.15 - 6.00pm: Guided Meditation
6.00pm: Dinner
7.30pm: Evening Meditation (Day 8) or Light offering meditation at the Mahabodhi Temple(Day 9)
Day 10
6.00am: Wake up
6.45 – 7.30am: Mindfulness Meditation
7.30am: Breakfast
8.30 – 10.30am: Now what? Advice, resources and inspiration for further study and daily meditation
10.45 – 11.45am: Tour and final meditation at Root Institute’s charitable medical clinic
12.00pm: Farewell Lunch
1.30 – 2.30pm: Check out
Course discipline
We ask our guests to observe the following discipline in order to create an atmosphere conducive to inner reflection and meditation.
All guests are asked to:
- Respect all life: do not intentionally kill any living being, even small insects
- Respect others’ property: do not steal or take anything not freely given
- Be honest and straightforward: do not lie or intentionally deceive others
- Be celibate: no sexual activity
- Be alert and mindful: avoid intoxicants such as cigarettes, alcohol, and drugs
- Be considerate of others’ silence: no singing or playing music
- Be considerate of the monks and nuns: dress respectfully (please no shorts above the knee, tank-top shirts, or tight and revealing clothing)
Additionally, during courses students are asked to:
- Not leave Root Institute property for the duration of the course. Therefore, all your business in town (travel arrangements, e-mails, phone calls, etc.) must be completed before the first session begins at 4.30pm.
- Maintain silence during the course, except during the daily discussion group, question/answer sessions, and other prescribed "talking times" as outlined during the course introduction.
- Since many of the ideas presented during the course may be new or different from one's own beliefs, we ask everyone to keep an open mind and be prepared to analyze and contemplate not only the teachings, but also one's own views.
- As this is a group course, everyone’s participation is important. Therefore, all students are expected to attend all sessions of the course and come to sessions on time.
Meals and Accommodation
Root Institute serves delicious Indian and Western vegetarian meals three times per day. These include wheat, dairy, eggs, nuts, sugar and salt; although we will do our best to accommodate special health-related dietary needs, we are not able to guarantee this in all cases.
During courses, men and women must have separate accommodation and couples or family members are strongly encouraged to stay in separate rooms to help support your silence.
Please be aware that we will note the room preference listed on your registration form, but we cannot confirm any specific room bookings until you arrive for the course. We will at least offer you a dormitory bed and will do our best to fulfil any other requests when you arrive.
Special Retreat (prerequisites apply)
-
Insight Meditation : The Path of Purification of Satipatthana - with a Drop of Mahamudra
14 February - 1 March 2014 with Ven Antonio Satta
- Ven. Antonio Satta’s Insight Meditation retreats started in Root Institute and became immensely popular in FPMT centres worldwide. Ven. Antonio has very kindly agreed to lead such a retreat again at Root Institute, February 2014. The retreat is unique and effective; many people attend one retreat after another. Registrations are individually screened and approved by Ven. Antonio and participation is subject to quite stringent conditions – all this being necessary to create a conducive environment and opportunity for a genuine meditation experience.
- The retreat is in total silence.
- Students who commit to starting the retreat should commit to finishing the retreat.
- Participants will not be able to leave the property during the retreat (except of course in an emergency.)
- Chairs cannot be used during the sitting sessions in the meditation hall, although meditation stools are acceptable.
- Students will be required to hand into the office, before the start of the
retreat, their computers, mobile phones, ipads etc etc. - There is a limit of 50 participants so please register soon!
