Issue 1 Spring 2007 Newsletter Introducing Dhamma Bell Newsletter Dhamma Bell Newsletter shares news twice a year of Tathágata Meditation Center (Nhu’ Lai Thiên Viên), which was formed in 1987 as the Vipassaná Meditation Group under the spiritual guidance of the late Sayádawgyi U Sìlánanda. In 1991, the group founded a meditation center and named it Tathágata Meditation Center. All are welcome to come to Tathágata Meditation Center (TMC) and practice Satipaþþhána Vipassaná meditation. TMC Biographies Saya¯dawgyi U Pandita is a world-renowned meditation teacher. He has taught Vipassaná meditation for well over 50 years, in the tradition of his teacher, the late Mahási Sayádaw. He began to teach meditation to the Vipassaná Meditation Group in 1989 and has been coming to conduct retreats at Tathágata Meditation Center since its founding. Sayádawgyi U Pandita is the founder and head monk of Panditarama Monastery in Burma. He is the author of two books, In This Very Life and The State of Mind Called Beautiful. Venerable Khippa Panno was ordained in Vietnam. After studying Vipassaná meditation in Burma with the late Mahási Sayádaw, he came to the United States to teach Vipassaná meditation, and is now the abbot of Ky Vien Temple in Washington, D.C. and the chief meditation teacher at Thich Ca Thien Vien Meditation Center in Riverside, California. He has been leading a special retreat every year since 1987, first with the Vipassaná Meditation Group and then at Tathágata Meditation Center. Beelin Saya¯daw (U Paññádìpa) is the abbot of Tathágata Meditation Center. He is a former lecturer at Hitakaryi Saògha University in Burma. After practicing Vipassaná meditation with U Sanvara Sayádaw, Beelin Sayádaw taught Vipassaná meditation in Burma to monks and laypeople and for approximately three years in Liverpool, England. He has been leading a special retreat every year since he came to Tathágata Meditation Center in 1999. Saya¯daw U Jatila taught Vipassaná meditation at Panditarama Meditation Center from 1997 until 2002, when Sayádawgyi U Pandita assigned him to Tathágata Meditation Center. Sayádaw U Jatila assisted Beelin Sayádaw in guiding Vipassaná meditation retreats and leading the Youth Buddhist classes and retreats every year until 2005, when he returned to Panditarama Meditation Center after leading the November special retreat. Sayádaw U Jatila returned briefly to Tathágata Meditation Center to lead the November special retreat in 2006. Tatha¯gata Tet Vietnam Schedules: 2007 Meditation Center Celebration 2007 Special Retreat Schedule Welcomes Saya¯daw Every year at Tathágata (Tentative) U Kavainda Meditation Center, the May 5 – June 17 Forty four-day retreat with Sayádawgyi U Pandita Ordained in 1986, Dhamma community Sayádaw U Kavainda celebrates Tet Vietnam: September 3 – 16 Fourteen-day retreat earned the government the Vietnamese Lunar with Beelin Sayádaw (U Paññadìpa) New Year. This year Tet Dhammacariya degree in November 10 – 24 Fourteen-day retreat Vietnam was celebrated in 1993, placing with Sayádaw U Jatila eleventh nationwide the newly built Dhamma hall on February 18, 2007. among monks and novices 2007 Young Adult and Children’s Devotees started to arrive that year. He spent the Retreat Schedule (Tentative) early in the morning to next four years attend- August 11 – 15 Young Adult retreat ing the World Buddhist prepare for the celebra- Meditation Institute in Yangon, where he tion. Bay Area Theraváda Saògha were August 16 – 19 Children’s retreat studied English and assisted his teachers invited to join the center’s Saògha, and at A M 2007 Weekend Retreat Schedule in publishing Dhamma books. Starting 11:00 . ., lunch was offered to all of the in 1998, he studied at Sampuranand Saògha. Lunch for the Saògha and for the July 7 – 8 September 29 – 30 TMC Dhamma community was provided Sanskrit University in Varanasi, India, July 28 – 29 October 13 – 14 earning a Ph.D. in comparative religion. jointly by kitchen volunteers at TMC and August 25 – 26 October 27 – 28 In 2003, Sayádaw U Kavainda returned by devotees who brought dishes that they had prepared. to Burma, where he spent four months 2007 Youth Class Schedule The Tet Vietnam ceremony, led by of intensive Vipassaná meditation (9:30a.m. – 2:00p.m.) practice at Hse Main Gon Forest Center. Tathágata Meditation Center’s Saògha, June 24 Sayádaw U Kavainda came to Tathágata started at 12:30 P.M. During the ceremony, Meditation Center in 2006 from Hse the Dhamma community paid respect July 22 Main Gon Forest Center, where, at the to the Saògha, took five precepts, lis- September 23 tened to Dhamma chanting, and listened request of Sayádawgyi U Pandita, he October 21 had been carrying out a variety of duties to a Dhamma talk delivered by Beelin since the end of his intensive retreat, Sayádaw (Sayádaw U Paññadìpa). They November 25 including instructing yogis and teaching offered dana and requisites to the Saògha, classes to children. wishing them to be well, happy, peaceful, 2007 Events and free of danger. July 29 Vassa Projects at Tatha¯gata They extended thoughts of loving- August 26 Appreciation Day kindness—boundless heart—to all beings, Meditation Center October 28 Kathina that they may take care of themselves hap- In addition to the newly built Dhamma pily; that they may be free from mental hall, which had its grand opening in and physical pain; that whatever they 2007 Beautification Days October 2006, the following projects had have gained not be lost; and that all beings April 22 been completed by early 2007: be well, happy, peaceful, and free of dan- August 5 • A new metal gate at the front entrance ger. The Dhamma community also shared November 3 • Male yogis’ quarters merit with their parents, their relatives, and all beings. • Saògha dining hall and kitchen Also, some renovation of the Saògha’s quarters’ has begun, including a reno- Dhamma Bell is a free publication of vation of the room where Sayádawgyi Tathágata Meditation Center, which U Pandita will stay during the forty- takes sole responsibility for its contents. four day retreat that he will be leading The volunteer editors for this issue are from May 5 to June 17. Theikdi and Maureen O’Brien. The These are additional projects scheduled graphic designer is Marianne Wyllie. for 2007: Nhu Lai Thiên Viên • Expansion of the Saògha’s quarters Tathágata Meditation Center • Expansion of the yogis’ dining hall 1215 Lucretia Avenue San Jose, CA 95122 • New parking lots (408) 294-4536 www.Tathagata.org What has made all of these projects If you would like additional copies or if possible is the open-hearted generos- you would like an issue sent to someone ity of this Dhamma community—their else as a gift, please let the Tathágata financial contributions and their contri- Meditation Center know. If you would like butions of labor. to help support the ongoing work of the Tathágata Meditation Center, please feel Tathágata free to offer dana. Meditation Center’s May sati be your friend. new Dhamma Hall Issue 1 ~ Spring 2007 Take this weapon and go back to the Let one’s thoughts of boundless love same place and practice meditation. This pervade the whole world—above, below, Metta¯ Sutta is the only place for you.” and across—without any obstruction, Part 1 Transcribed by Sarah Marks The weapon the Buddha gave them without any hatred, without any enmity. (from a Dhamma talk given on July 24, was this teaching of universal love, mettá. Whether one stands, walks, sits, or 1984, during a 15-day reterat at Lafayette, After the Buddha had taught this sutta lies down, as long as one is awake, one California by the late Sayádawgyi U to them and they had learned how to should maintain this mindfulness. This, Sìlananda, adapted for Dhamma Bell) practice loving-kindness meditation, they they say, is the sublime state in this life. HIS SUTTA IS ON UNIVERSAL LOVE. went back to the forest. Not falling into wrong views, virtuous, The Pá¿i name of this sutta is Actually this sutta is very short. You can and endowed with insight, one gives up Mettá Sutta. It is often called recite it in less than three attachment to sense TKaraóìya Mettá Sutta because it minutes. However, the Just as a mother desires. Verily, such a begins with the word “­karaóìya.” This is meanings contained in man does not return to a very popular sutta, recited by Buddhist this sutta are great and would protect her only enter a womb again.” monks on almost every occasion and at varied. I will first read In this sutta, the every ceremony. this sutta to the end, child even at the risk Buddha first gave the The Buddha delivered this sutta to a and then I will give you qualities of a monk, group of monks who had gone to the some explanation. of her own life, even qualities that a monk Buddha to ask that he give them a subject In the past, I have told so let one cultivate should have before of meditation. (It is not stated what kind you that most suttas he practices loving- of meditation the Buddha gave to them.) begin with the words a boundless heart kindness meditation. After studying and learning the sub- “Thus have I heard.” However, this does not ject of meditation, the monks went to a This sutta, however, towards all beings. mean that a monk must place in the forest to practice meditation. does not begin with have these qualities This was just before the Vassa or Rainy these words because it is a short sutta, before he can practice loving-kindness Season. recorded in the Collection of Small or Short meditation.