Panditarama Lumbini International Vipassana Meditation Centre

Retreat Information:

    Retreat Setting

    Panditarama Lumbini International Vipassana Meditation Centre operates under the spiritual guidance of the Ven. Sayadaw U Panditabhivamsa of Myanmar. Panditarama offers a supportive, comfortabe and peaceful setting for dhamma-students seeking practice.

    Meditation Method

    Intensive Vipassana meditation is in the tradition of the Ven. Mahasi Sayadaw of Myanmar. Alternating sitting meditation and formal walking meditation. Almost daily interviews and regular Dhamma-talks in English and occasionally in Burmese and German.

    Precepts

    Lay meditators observe eight precepts and monks and nuns observe their respective monastic vows.

     Accommodation

    Accommodation is either dormitory style or in meditation cells for long-term meditators.

    Food

    Burmese, Nepali and European cuisine, clean and healthy.

    Duration of retreats

    Meditators may schedule their individual retreat from a few days up to several months. Ongoing retreat year-round.

    Formal Retreats

    Two formal retreats are conducted per year in December and February.

    Staff

    The resident monk, Ven. Vivekananda, has trained with the Ven. Sayadaw U Panditabhivamsa of Myanmar for nine years. Ven. Vivekananda teaches meditation in English, Burmese and German. The centre is run by volunteers. All long-time dhamma-practitioners, these volunteers and lay people do everything from building the monastery to planting the vegetables to cooking the food for the meditators.

    Dana

    For over 2500 years Buddhist monasteries and meditation centres have functioned on the principle of generosity (dana). This meditaion cedntre is no exception. While there are no set fees, your donations to maintain and further develop this meditaion centre will be warmly accepted.

    Directions

    Lumbini, Nepal, is located 22 km West of Bhairahawa which has a domestic airport. Lumbini is accessible from Kathmandu by bus via Bhairahawa (8 hrs.) or by plane (30 min.) and from Varanasi (India) by train and/or by bus via Sonauli and Bhairahawa (10 hrs.).

    Visas

    15 day, 30 day and 60 day tourist visas for Nepal are issued at the point of entry and can be extended in Kathmandu or Pokhara.

    For more information please contact:

    Panditarama Lumbini International Vipassana Meditation Centre, Lumbini Garden, Nepal. Tel. 00977-71-80118. E-mail: panditarama@mos.com.np ; Nepal Bank of Ceylon, Lumbini Branch, Account no. 0008601