Order/GFR

Order Retreat

Friday 28 March – Sunday 6 April at Vijayaloka Retreat Centre in Minto Heights

This retreat is open only to Order members.

Thus have I heard… In April 1978, the Order gathered for a Convention at a school called Vinehall. It was the occasion of the 10th Anniversary of the first ordinations into the WBO.

At that convention, Bhante Sangharakshita presented a system of Meditation that became the foundation of meditation practice in the F/WBO and Triratna.

At the heart of that system we can place practices that may lead to the crucial realisation of Spiritual Death… all other aspects of the system draw from that. At the heart of Spiritual Death is the liberation from ego-centric view. Practices that lead to the realisation of Spiritual Death are generally oriented to the realisation of the śūnya nature of the experiences that create the false view of our personal, separate, identity; our existence as a Being!

On the retreat we will explore the conditioned nature of self and mind through the Contemplation of the Nidānas, Contemplation of the 6 Elements, Investigation of the 18 Dhātus, and the reflections on Emptiness.

The guidance in the practices will be supported by theory and practice notes, and short talks. Within the mandala of the five grounds of the Triratna system, you are invited to Spiritual Death, and the path to the deathless…

Led by Dharmananda

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the food at Vijayaloka like?

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.

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 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.

When does the retreat start and end?

The retreat will begin after the NOG ends on the Monday afternoon. You are welcome to arrive any time. We will finish on the Sunday afternoon, around 3pm.

About Vijayaloka

Our retreats are held at Vijayaloka Retreat Centre which provides simple shared accommodation for approximately 40 people in a beautiful bush setting on the George's River.

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.