The Parable of the Burning House FY21
Friday 23 April 2021 – Monday 26 April 2021 at Vijayaloka Retreat Centre in Minto Heights
A wealthy man shouts at his children inside a burning house to flee! But the children, absorbed in their games, do not heed his warning, though the house is being consumed by flames. Sentient beings are like the children trapped in the house of the world, burning with the fires of old age, sickness and death. What will persuade us to leave the house, to give up unhelpful preoccupations? How does the house look from the outside? How can we respond creatively to the world as we find it today? Find out at this mixed mitra retreat – all genders welcome.
An introductory retreat will also be running at the same time as this retreat, although all activities will be separate meals will be shared providing a good opportunity to meet people who are new to the centre.
Come for all 3 nights (Friday - Monday: $265/$200), or 2 nights only (Friday - Sunday: $200/$145)
This retreat is open only to mitras (people who have had a Mitra ceremony at a Triratna centre) and Order members. Please only book on this retreat if you are already a mitra at the time of booking, or contact us if unsure.
We want everyone to have the opportunity to come on retreat. If you cannot afford the cost even with concessions, we may be able to help. Please contact us to discuss.
Already Paid a Deposit? Pay Balance NowTypical Daily Programme
| Time | Activity |
|---|---|
| 7am | Meditation |
| 9am | Breakfast |
| 10:30am | Dharma Teaching |
| 1pm | Lunch |
| 4pm | Meditation |
| 6pm | Dinner |
| 8pm | Meditation & Pūjā |
Frequently Asked Questions
How long do I need to have been coming? Do I need to be a Buddhist?
This retreat is only open to mitras (people who have had a ceremony to confirm their commitment to practising within the Triratna Buddhist Community) and Order members.
What does the cost include?
The retreat cost covers the full cost of the retreat, including all food.
When does the retreat start and end?
The retreat will begin with dinner on the Friday evening at 6:30pm. You are welcome to arrive any time from 5pm. It is normally not advisable to plan to arrive later than this. If you think you might need to, please contact us before booking.
We will finish on the Monday afternoon, around 3pm. However, if the Monday is not a holiday at your workplace, you can also stay until Sunday afternoon.
What will the accommodation be like?
Vijayaloka provides simple, but comfortable accommodation. Living communally is an important and enjoyable part of the retreat. We will be in shared single-sex rooms with 2-4 people in each, and will eat together communally.
Living communally means caring for each other. The team leading the retreat are volunteers who are on retreat as well and we will ask you to help out with simple chores. Working together is a good way of getting to know each other, and it also helps us keep the cost of the retreat to a minimum.
Can I have a single room?
Vijayaloka has two single rooms that can be allocated to people with special requirements. If you require a single room to be able to attend, please contact us before booking to ensure availability.
What will the food be like?
Many Buddhists eat a vegan diet as an expression of non-violence. As such, all food will be vegan.
If you have any allergies that aren't listed on the booking form, please contact us before booking to ensure we can cater for you.
What do I need to bring?
Unless you are coming a long distance we ask that you bring your own sheets and blankets or a sleeping bag (we have plenty of pillows).
It can be surprisingly cold in the early mornings and evenings, and quite hot in the middle of the day, so bring clothes suitable for all weather: we suggest you bring layers as well as a warm jumper or jacket. You'll also need a good sun hat and suitable shoes, especially if you want to bushwalk. There is a river that you can swim in, so you may also want to bring swimwear.
In addition you'll need to bring any toiletries you need including a towel, insect repellent, and sun block. It is also a good idea to bring a torch if you have one and you may also want to bring a notebook and pen.
The Team
Where to Find Us
The retreat is at Vijayaloka Retreat Centre in Minto Heights.
Driving
Vijayaloka's address for use in sat-navs is 36 Howard Road, Minto Heights NSW 2566. Travel time from central Sydney is about one hour.
There is a blue sign at Vijayaloka's entrance. Enter there and then park the car park immediately on your right.
If you are able to offer a lift to others travelling from Sydney, please let us know.
Train
Vijayaloka is very easy to access by train. The closest train station is Minto which is on the T8 Airport Line towards MacArthur and Campbelltown. Travel time is about 50 minutes from Central.
We can normally arrange for those travelling by train to be picked up from the train station. Please indicate when booking if you need to be picked up and aim to be at Minto around 5:30-6pm. We will contact you shortly before the start of the retreat to confirm. Alternatively you can take a taxi from the bottle shop across the road from the station, or an Uber.
If you are travelling from outside Sydney and don't have an Opal card, you can use any contactless credit/debit card to travel on Sydney Trains.