Wangapeka School of Living Dharma 2007

Integration -
an exploration of body, speech and mind
January 26 - June 24, 2007

This page includes all the information currently available for 2007:

Announcing the 2007 Program
Themes for 2007
Study and Retreat Schedule for 2007
Important Considerations for All Potential Participants
Costs
Application For Attendance of Longer than Two Weeks
Preparation Work for the 2007 School

To be considered for a course or part of the School requires a completed Registration and appropriate deposit to be received at the Wangapeka (along with a signed Application Form for those attending for longer than two weeks). Forms are available from the Wangapeka, and in the pdf package and rtf form from this website (see below).

All the information on this page plus the Registration Form is available here for download as a pdf package suitable for printing. You will need Adobe Acrobat to read and print pdf files, available free here. The package is also available by email from the Wangapeka. Please check this page for updates since 14 November 2006.

It is also possible to obtain the information by reloading this page in a printfriendly version, ready for downloading and printing, and by downloading the Registration Form here, and Application Form here (both in rtf format) to complete the package.

This information will be updated as new information comes available so check the website frequently. To be advised of major updates by email bulletin you can join the website mailing list.

For further information please
e-mail us at retreatcentre@wangapeka.org
or phone 03-522-4221
or fax 03 522-4980
or write to
The Wangapeka Study and Retreat Centre
R.D.2 Wakefield
Nelson 7096
New Zealand

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Announcing the 2007 Program
Integration -
an exploration of body, speech and mind
January 26 - June 24, 2007

The Wangapeka School of Living Dharma provides an opportunity to study and practice non-sectarian buddhadharma in a residential situation. The school, which runs for five to six months of the year, draws on classical Buddhist practices of Theravada, Mahayana and Vajrayana teachings. It weaves these together with science, humanities and fine arts. The curriculum blends outer and inner exploration, introduces a wide range of meditation skills, and investigates many paths of healing and awakening. In particular, it helps participants explore, in an experiential way, the profound interdependence of body, speech and mind, of self and other, of humankind and the rest of nature.

In 2005, which was first year of the program, the emphasis was on awakening through exploring the interconnectedness of body and mind. In 2006, the emphasis was on communication and mind and the flowering of compassionate activity. This third year, 2007, will extend the first two and particularly focus on the exploration of mind and the integration of all the facets that compose our lives.

A School of Living Dharma is an opportunity to both study the dharmas of living and to learn how to live the dharma rather than just intellectually thinking about it. Because of this, the way we engage in study and practice is just as important, if not more important than the subjects of study. With this in mind, the School aspires to:

* nourish a well rounded sense of groundedness in nature and the world.
* cultivate a wide ranging curiosity about all expressions of life.
* encourage a quality of vivid, bright, attentiveness in everything that we do.
* bring forth a spontaneous warm hearted flow of compassion along with the practical skills that will enable one to help others.
* integrate the four functions of thinking, feeling, sensing and intuiting, in all our explorations.

Although the School of Living Dharma is conceived of as a multi-year program, each year will stand on its own so that people should gain great benefit in attending even if they did not do the preceding year. A certain amount of prior experience however will be needed to enter the program. If you have any questions about the suitability of your attending, please contact the Centre. For this third year, all participants are urged, if possible, to attend from the beginning even if they are unable to do the entire program.

Teachers:
The primary teacher and director for the 2007 program will be Tarchin Hearn. Sonia Moriceau, Mark Webber, Leander Kane, Robert Sinclair and others, yet to be announced, will contribute various segments. See the links for biographical details on the teachers for 2007.

Study Program for 2007:
The teaching and study schedule will be two tiered. There will be an on-going flow of exploration and study, called "Sangha Explorations", particularly for the long term students. This will be punctuated by shorter courses which will be open for anyone to participate in, depending on availability of accommodation. For more specific details please refer to the "Study and Retreat Schedule for 2007" and for a sense of the ongoing themes of exploration for the core group, "Themes for 2007 School of Living Dharma"

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Themes for 2007 School of Living Dharma
Integration -
an exploration of body, speech and mind
January 26 - June 24, 2007

These are some potential themes for study and exploration in 2007. We will inevitably fine-tune the program, adding some things and deleting others. This list is just to give a general flavour of how it might go, especially for the long term students. The aspiration for the overall program is to give a comprehensive training in many forms of Buddhadharma especially Theravadin, Mahayana, Vajrayana and what we might call 'Experimental Eclectic'. The last part of the 2007 program will be a six week silent meditation retreat.

The entire curriculum will be 'student based' in order to address the needs and interests of the students. With this in mind, the final flow of topics and the level of teaching and study will be adjusted at the time depending on who attends.

These topics or themes are not in any order. Some will be given in the form of courses or retreats and some will be ongoing explorations for the residents.

Liberation Through the Body (body awareness explorations) - with Leander Kane
Prajnaparamita studies
The Heart Sutra and different approaches to the understanding of 'Emptiness' (Sunyata)
Cell Biology
Nature studies
Gentle, Firm, Vividly Awake; Flowering the Mind of Compassion - with Sonia Moriceau
Stargroup Meditation
Space Kasinas
Vajrayogini and the Nature of Mind - with Mark Webber
Mahamudra/Dzogchen
Compassionate Activity in the World
Demchog (the Union of Bliss and Emptiness) - whether this happens or not will depend on the experience of the attending students.
The Colour of Mind: Seeing with your Heart (watercolour painting) - with Robert Sinclair
The Way or Path of the Mystic Scientist
Learning to support the best in each other; further explorations and deepenings of sangha,

Classical Studies in Buddhism
Pali, Sanskrit and Abhidhamma studies

Students will be expected:

* to engage in ongoing craft work,
* to give occasional talks or classes on areas of their own expertise and areas that are assigned for them to study,
* to help develop curriculum and study programs

If you are intending to participate in one particular course or segment, the aspiration to unfold for the benefit of yourself and others is sufficient. If, however, you are seriously considering being a longer term participant (two weeks or more), please carefully read and reflect on the following considerations.

Our experience with the school has shown that for the smooth running of the program and the well being of everyone on the property, it is very important that you are in agreement with the following considerations. Everyone applying for periods of more than two weeks will be required to sign the application form to indicate that they have seriously considered these points and feel they are willing and able to work with them.

1 Your Aspiration
It is essential that you already have a passionate involvement with awakening and a strong commitment to unfold skills and abilities that will help you be of service to others. This program is not a retreat from the world. It is not merely living together in a dharma based community. It involves lots of exploration, meditatively and materially and intellectually and emotionally; both individually and in group situations. You will undoubtedly experience many unexpected challenges, both to the way you see yourself and to the way you relate with others. You need to be prepared to embrace these challenges as opportunities for you to deepen in compassion and understanding.

2 Health
Physical health. As the Wangapeka Study and Retreat Centre is located in mountainous terrain and the paths are up and down on uneven ground, it is important that you are sufficiently healthy to be able to walk up and down the hills to classes and other activities, a number of times per day. If you have any doubts about your health, please check with a doctor before coming. Keep in mind that Wangapeka is an hour and 20 minutes from the nearest medical care.

Emotional health. Please realise that this program is not psychotherapy. Everyone has their ups and downs. That's unavoidable. The important thing is that you have sufficient trust and confidence to be able to stay with difficult emotional states in a meditative way; to touch them with an enquiring mind and lots of kindness and forgiveness and, at the same time, continue to participate in the communal activities.

Medication. If you are on any medication, or were on medication immediately prior to the retreat, please let Tarchin know as this can help him understand your situation.

entre. It is important that you have sufficient strength and stamina to do this on an ongoing basis.

4 Accommodation, Shifting and Sharing
During the Mahamudra Retreat the Centre will endeavour to give each person their own room. At other times you should be prepared to occasionally share accommodation space. If you feel you must have your own space, the only way to guarantee this is if you bring your own tent, caravan or trailer home. The Trust has a number of tent and trailer sites. If you are thinking of tenting, your tent needs to be large and sturdy. The Trust will do its best to make everyone feel at home but long term participants should be prepared to occasionally shift around to help accommodate new arrivals and to give a larger number of people the opportunity to use the huts.

Although some people request specific accommodation, please remember that accommodation at Wangapeka is limited, so there is no guarantee you will get your request.

5 Diet
The food at Wangapeka is generally vegetarian though during the longer programs, meat is occasionally served. We do our best to supply organic produce. If you have dietary requirements for health reasons, we will try to cater for you. However, part of practising buddhadharma involves cultivating equanimity and learning to accept what comes up and that especially includes food. Planning and preparing food for large numbers takes a lot of organization and effort. Out of courtesy to the people cooking as well as to cultivate your own practice, please ensure that any special requests are definite health requirements, such as allergies, and not merely a passing enthusiasm.

If you do have special needs, please clearly indicate them on the registration form so appropriate plans can be made.

6 Interpersonal Relationships and Precepts
In a long residential study program like this there will be lots of interaction between people so interpersonal relationships become a natural consideration. There is no reason why already established, stable wholesome relationships should be any problem in a program such as this. The relationship is mutually supportive and such support is usually supportive to others as well.

Entering a new interpersonal and possibly sexual relationship however, can be a different case. The energies are sometimes very ambivalent and can spill over and affect others, often becoming a distraction from the studies. Sex and relationship is part of being human. Learning how to engage in these activities in ways that support the flowering of wisdom and compassion for all beings is part of the work of buddhadharma. In a long term program such as this, the question of relationships will inevitably arise. When they do they may become part of the group explorations, raising question about how we live well together in a community dedicated to awakening.

While on property at Wangapeka we ask all the participants to take the Five Precepts and the Bodhisattva Vow as their constant practice. These disciplines which are common to all schools of Buddhism are to help support the development of fluid, easeful presence, coupled with bright interest and awakeness.

At Wangapeka we practice the precepts both in traditional form and in a form of positive expression. When you are in a very clear calm wholesome state, be guided by the positive expression. If you lose your clarity and calm and are experiencing confusion, allow the traditional format to be your guide. By contemplating these precepts and putting them into practice in everything that you do, you will surely have a good experience during your stay.

Five Training Precepts in Traditional Form

1. I undertake to train myself to abstain from taking the life of any living being.
2. I undertake to train myself to abstain from taking that which is not given.
3. I undertake to train myself to abstain from sensual and sexual** misconduct.
4. I undertake to train myself to abstain from unskilful speech.
5. I undertake to train myself to abstain from taking substances that
cause intoxication to the point of heedlessness.

1. I will train myself to support, and appreciate the life of all living beings. I will live with a sensitive and responsible awareness for the whole ecology of life.
2. I will train myself to dwell more and more in the mind of spontaneous generosity. Daily I will give material support, emotional support, and an example to others
of awakening in action.
3. I will train myself to use the senses to further awakening, explore Dharma, and to come to know the world more profoundly and more compassionately.
4. I will train myself to communicate in a skilful and compassionate manner.
5. I will train myself to be ever more directly aware of how nutriment affects the mind and body. I will eat and drink and nurture myself and others in a way that supports awakening.

However innumerable beings are,
I vow to meet them with kindness and interest.
However inexhaustible the states of suffering are,
I vow to touch them with patience and love.
However immeasurable the dharmas are,
I vow to explore them deeply.
However incomparable the mystery of interbeing,
I vow to surrender to it freely.
From this time forth, with wisdom and compassion as my lamp and staff
I dedicate all my life energies to the welfare of all beings.

8 Registration
To register send in a completed registration form along with the appropriate deposit. If you are applying to come for longer than two weeks, you must also send in a completed Application Form. Forms are available from the Trust or from the website.

9 Deposits
Deposits payable to The Wangapeka Educational Trust are:
$50 NZ for each individual course (not including the 6 week retreat). Be sure to say which courses you are applying for.
$150 NZ for one month or longer. Please state when you wish to arrive and how long you wish to stay.

Acceptance will be confirmed 6 weeks before a course and 8 weeks before a longer stay of one month or more. Numbers will be determined mainly on accommodation availability so there is a possibility of having more people on property if any are prepared to caravan or tent for the duration.

If for whatever reason your application is not accepted then your deposit will be refunded in full.

If you decide to withdraw from the program after you have been accepted, then your deposit will not be refunded.

10 Further Information
For further information and updates please keep checking this web page. You can also join the website mailing list and be notified of major updates by email bulletins.

For further information please e-mail us at retreatcentre@wangapeka.org
or phone 03-522-4221
or fax 03 522-4980
or write to
The Wangapeka Study and Retreat Centre,
R.D.2 Wakefield,
Nelson,
New Zealand

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Costs
Integration -
an exploration of body, speech and mind
January 26 - June 24, 2007
Costs as of 14 November 2006

The cost of attending the School will depend on a number of factors so please read the following carefully.  All costs will be on a sliding scale in order to help people who will be staying for longer lengths of time. If you are not sure of anything please feel free to contact the Wangapeka with your questions.

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Application For Attendance of Longer than Two Weeks

If you wish to come for more than two weeks we require a signed Application as well as the Registration Form.

Please make sure that you have read all the information about the School, particularly the section "Important Considerations for Potential Participants". Having read this, if you still wish to attend then send a letter to the Wangapeka containing the following details. If there are any details that you wish to remain confidential, you can send them directly to Tarchin. His email address is available from the Wangapeka.

If you attended more than a month of the program in 2006 then you need only fill in your name and any new information that you think would be helpful and sign below to indicate that you have freshly read and contemplated the "Important Considerations for Potential Participants".

1. Name
2. Gender
3. Age
4. Address
5. Period of time applied for.
6. Are you currently in a long term stable relationship or not.
7. Do you have children. What age?
8. Your occupation, talents, interests, hobbies
9. What experience has led you to wanting to participate in the program?
10. What aspirations do you have concerning this program and concerning your life in an overall sense.
11. Are you currently on any medication and have you had any ongoing medical or emotional problems that we should know about?
12. Please read the "Important Considerations for Potential Participants", and include the signed statement below:

I have carefully read the "Important Considerations for All Potential Participants" and feel that I am willing and able to live by them.

signed ______________________ date ___________________

If there is any doubt about the suitability of the program for you, we may want to ask you more questions. Also, if you have any doubts then you should ask us questions.

Acceptance will be confirmed 8 weeks before a stay of one month or more. Numbers will be determined mainly on accommodation availability so there is a possibility of having more people on the property if there are any prepared to caravan or tent for the duration.

If for whatever reason your application is not accepted then your deposit will be refunded in full.

If you decide to withdraw from the program after you have been accepted, then your deposit will not be refunded.

Please check that you have responded to all the questions and signed the statement, and that you have also sent a Registration Form and your deposit payable to the Wangapeka Educational Trust (NZ$50 for less than a month or NZ$150 for a month or more).

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Preparation for the 2007 School
Integration -
an exploration of body, speech and mind
January 26 - June 24, 2007

Please note that all of these preparations (1) - (6), are requirements, not merely suggestions.

There will be a two tiered preparation, one for everyone and some extra requirements for students who have already attended significant sections of the second year. This is in keeping with Tarchin's expectation that students will really throw themselves into this program hence a greater demand on the more committed students.

1) Between the end of the second year and the beginning of the third year you should do a daily practice of some kind of body awareness exploration for example; liberation through the body, or kum nye or any other mindful body exploration.

2) During this time you should have an ongoing meditation practice of foundation work, either the Tibetan Ngondro, or Satipatthana and Anapanasati, or combinations of both.

3) Pre-study and familiarise yourself with the book Progressive Stages of Meditation on Emptiness by Ven. Khenpo Tsultrim Gyamtso Rinpoche - this is available from Wangapeka Books.

4) Read and familiarise yourself with the following books:
Sangha Work by Tarchin Hearn available from Wangapeka Books and as an e-book here.
The Tree of Knowledge: The Biological Roots of Human Understanding - Humberto Maturana and Francisco Varela, Shambala 1998
From the Zen Kitchen to Enlightenment: Refining Your Life - Dogen and Uchiyama, translated by Thomas Wright.

Further recommended but non-required reading:
The Great Work by Thomas Berry, Bell Tower, NY 1999
A Manual of Abhidhamma by Narada Maha Thera, Buddhist Publication Society, Sri Lanka
The Mahamudra: Eliminating the Darkness of Ignorance by The Ninth Karmapa, published by the Library of Tibetan Works and Archives
Clarifying the Natural State by Dakpo Tashi Namgyal, Rangjung Yeshe Publications, 2001

Extra Requirements for Long Term Students:
Please note that all of these (1) - (6), are requirements, not merely suggestions.

5) Review and restudy and deepen your understanding of the material in The Tree of Knowledge: The Biological Roots of Human Understanding - Humberto Maturana and Francisco Varela, Shambala 1998

6) Review and restudy the book From the Zen Kitchen to Enlightenment: Refining Your Life - Dogen and Uchiyama, translated by Thomas Wright. In addition, you should write a short essay inspired by some aspect of this book. In the essay you should address the relevance of the particular aspect that you chose, both for yourself and your life, and for the wider society. This paper will be brought to the first week of sangha work and will become a basis for discussion and exploration. Closer to the time when we know how many will be attending, we will let you know and you should bring enough copies so that everyone in the group can have one.

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