Metta Meditation – cultivating a benevolent and friendly climate of the heart
“Hatred does not cease by hatred, but only by love; this is the eternal law.” (Dhammapada 1.5.)
Metta describes a quality of the heart, which is characterized by non-egocentric love, benevolence and friendliness – independent of outer conditions.
The accepting and opening spirit of Metta is very conducive for vipassana insight practice, at the same time it is a practice in its own right for cultivating the heart.
28.11.2024 - 01.12.2024
Metta Meditation course with Hannes Huber and Bianca Blaickner
Hannes Huber
Practiced Vipassana Meditation since 1985 in Sri Lanka (Godwin Samararatne), as well as in Burma (Sayadaw U Pandita and Sayadaw U Vivekananda). He received a Yoga teacher training at the Yoga Institute Santacruz, Bombay. Training in Psychosynthesis with Sascha Dönges, Basel. MBSR Teacher training in Dublin; Ireland. He teaches Vipassana and Metta Retreats in Austria and internationally. He is co-leader of “Theravada School, Vienna” and is the spiritual guide of Piandeiciliegi Meditation Center, Italy.
Bianca Blaickner
Many years of practice in Vipassana and Metta Meditation, including several months of retreats in Buddhist monasteries in Burma, Thailand and Nepal. Her teachers are Ven. Ayya Viranani and Mae Chee Brigitte; she also practiced under the guidance of Bhante Pemasiri, Sayadaw U Indaka and Ven. Vivekananda. Bianca has many years of experience in working as a qualified social worker in the psychosocial field and holds a master’s degree in Intercultural Conflict Management, Berlin. She is a trained teacher of “Mindful Self-Compassion” (MSC).
Contribution
Contribution is: 120 € (35€/night) + 15 € electricity fee
The deposit for this retreat is 50 €
The Dána, or the supplement to the price is to be paid in cash at the centre. The price for the course consists of food, accommodation and partly the cost of transportation for teachers and his asistance.
Practical information
DIET
A vegetarian meal is served twice a day (breakfast, lunch). You are advised to follow eight precepts. If you find it too difficult, you can follow five precepts and have a light dinner (soup). For those who are allergic to certain food ingredients, a gluten-free or lactose-free diet is available. Please inform us of your dietary preferences in your application. Special dietary requirements announced upon arrival will be hard to accommodate.
ACCOMMODATION
Accommodation is in the main building, with 3 participants per room. You can indicate your interest in solo accommodation when filling in the registration form. Should the capacity allow it, we will try to meet your preference.
KARMA YOGA
We offer an opportunity for voluntary help to the centre, approximately 15 to 30 min. per day. A selection of chores will be posted on the notice board from which you can choose one, for example: helping in the kitchen (cutting vegetables, putting dishes in the dishwasher, etc.), cleaning the common areas, cleaning the dining room, ringing the gong and other activities according to current needs. Working meditation is an important part of the practice during the retreat.
At the end of the course, before leaving, we ask everyone to clean their room and help with the common areas (halls, dining room, toilets, etc.). Information will be given to you on arrival. Noble silence and mindfulness are observed during karma yoga.
According to Buddhist tradition, the Buddha's teachings cannot be expressed in money or material gifts. Dana to the Centre or teacher is an expression of the meditator's good will and financial standing. At the same time it is an opportunity to develop generosity as an inherent part of the practice.
Donations to support the meditation centre cover the running costs of the Centre and the travel expenses of teachers and his or her assistants. They do not include dána to the teacher. We would be grateful if you consider this and make a suitable donation to the teacher if it is in your power to do so.