A New Start: Leaping Between Life and Death - with Bhante Tejadhammo

A New Start: leaping between Life and Death, cultivating appamāda or care and letting go of pamāda, carelessness.

‘Don’t run back to the past, don’t anticipate the future. What’s past is left behind, the future has not arrived; and any present phenomenon you clearly discern in every case. The unfaltering, the unshakable: having known that, foster it. Today’s the day to keenly work!

~ Bhaddekarattasutta MN. 131

This retreat will focus on developing some practical strategies for change in a changing world. The retreat is open to all. We shall observe Noble Silence for the most part.

The retreat will start on Thursday night (17th), with guests free to arrive anytime from 4pm, and conclude at 3pm on Monday (21st)

Bhante Tejadhammo will be your guide along the path.

Venerable Tejadhammo Bhikku – Bhante to his community – is the Spiritual Director of the Association of Engaged Buddhists. Bhante teaches most Thursday nights at the Buddhist Library in Camperdownand conducts regular courses and retreats which are open to the general public, and is regularly invited to teach other groups of ordained Sangha. Apart from these teaching and retreat activities, Bhante works with people who are seriously ill in various hospitals, hospices and their homes in and around Sydney, teaching healing meditation, providing spiritual support and assisting people in dealing with the end stages of life.

Venerable Tejadhammo Bhikku was ordained by Venerable Tanchaokhun Phra Visalsalmanagun, Chaokhana Changwat, Phuket, in Thailand. Bhante has a background in Western Philosophy and Theology, and has studied and taught at Silpakorn University, Thailand. Before returning to Australia he taught in Thai universities and jails. Although ordained in the Theravada tradition, he has also studied with Tibetan and Mahayana teachers and has a commitment to the Dharma that he believes encompasses all traditional expressions of it. He is a founding member of Australian Monastic Encounter which seeks to promote inter-religious and inter monastic dialogue.

Vejjasala, located just outside the village of Wingello in the Southern Highlands of NSW, is the retreat centre of the Association of Engaged Buddhists (AEB). The name, Vejjasala, means a place for healing.

Tickets are assigned on a first-come, first-served basis via Eventrbite.

This retreat is catered with three vegetarian meals per day. Please indicate if you have any allergies or dietary requirements. We may not be able to accommodate all requests.

The standard cost (twin-share or kuti) for the retreat is $400. Members and Friends of the Association of Engaged Buddhists should use the Promo code AEBMEM to receive the member discount of $75. The annual membership fee for AEB is only $60.00 so it is well worth joining or renweing your membership if you wish to attend the retreat! To join AEB, visit our membership page.

This cost covers food and accommodation. If the cost is prohibitive, please talk to the organisers, as individual circumstances can be considered.

Dana to the teacher is traditionally made by donation (dāna) after the retreat.

Please note: Most accommodation at Vejjasala consists of well-appointed and spacious twin-share rooms. All shared rooms will be allocated to people of the same gender (please indicate on the form if you are booking a shared room and this is not suitable for you). Couples are not permitted to share rooms during Buddhist retreats. You can read more here about the accommodation options.

Vejjasala is fully wheelchair-accessible including one of the rooms with an accessible, wheelchair-friendly bathroom. Please contact us at [email protected] if you are interested in making use of this facility.

Full details about Vejjasala, accommodation options, directions, and information about what to bring can be found on the website: https://engagedbuddhists.org.au/vejjasala-retreat-centre/

There is a train station in Wingello, however trains do not frequently stop there. We will attempt to organise carpooling. Please indicate on the signup form if you require a lift or are able to offer lifts to others.

Due to its rural location in the bush, Vejjasala Retreat Centre is ‘not to be occupied’ on days with an ‘extreme’ or ‘catastrophic’ fire danger rating (per Wingecarribee Shire Council DA for the property). During the bushfire season, if the forecast before the retreat is for an ‘extreme’ or ‘catastrophic’ fire danger rating, the retreat will not be able to proceed. We will monitor the fire danger, and in the case of 'extreme' or 'catastrophic' fire danger rating, we will advise all participants as soon as possible and provide a full refund. The on-site retreat manager, caretaker or other AEB committee member will monitor the fire danger rating for the duration of the retreat.

This retreat will be conducted in silence (you can talk to the teacher as required). This may not be a good environment for you if you are experiencing mental health issues, or if you have experienced recent or severe trauma. While meditation retreats are generally beneficial, intensive meditation practice can lead to distress or adverse effects. The teacher and volunteers will do their best to support you but they are not qualified to provide mental health support. Please consider your own situation and discuss with the organisers and teacher if you have any concerns. The teacher may ask to arrange a phone call prior to the retreat to make sure they understand your situation and how they can best support your meditation practice.

It should be noted that participants attend these retreats entirely at their own discretion and should consider their own risks and responsibilities in regard to their own health needs. While reasonable efforts will be taken in regard to providing a safe environment, the Association takes no responsibility for individuals’ behaviour or health consequences arising from attending a retreat.

If you are experiencing any symptoms of COVID please take a RAT or PCR test and notify the organisers at [email protected]. If you test positive for COVID you will not be able to attend the retreat and we will arrange a refund. If you have a negative result you may still be able to attend, depending on the severity of your symptoms and in discussion with the organisers.

PLEASE NOTE: Bookings may be cancelled at no charge 14 days prior to the event with a full refund (minus booking fees). As catering materials need to be purchased in advance by the Association, bookings cancelled less than 14 days prior to the event will incur a 50% fee, unless the space is able to be filled by another retreatant, in which case a full refund (minus booking fees) will be issued.

Vejjasala is a safe and inclusive space for LGBTQIA+ people.

If you have any questions about the retreat, please contact us on [email protected]

Event Venue & Nearby Stays

Vejjasala, 219 Forest Road, Wingello, Australia