Kopan FPMT Basic Program 2015 - Three Months Lam Rim Retreat
Application Form
*Please submit one form per person
Topic: Three month Lam Rim Retreat - an opportunity to fulfill the retreat requirement of the Basic Program and to meditate with leisure on the complete graduated stages of the path.
Time: During summer 2015, 02.July 2015 - 01.October 2015, Kopan is offering a three month lam rim retreat.
Teacher: The retreat will be guided by Ven. Fedor Stracke.
Schedule: The daily schedule will include meditation sessions incorporating practices for accumulating merits and purification, single pointed meditation and analytical guided meditations on Lam Rim topics, as well as one daily dharma talk on the topic or related to the retreat practices in general.
Participant: This retreat is suitable for you if you fulfill all of these requirements:
•Having taken refuge.
•Are a student of the FPMT Basic Program; i.e., you have completed some modules of the Basic Program and can show this with your completion card.
•Solid background in Buddhism, specifically the Lam Rim. This means as a minimum having received an extended teaching on the complete Lam Rim at least once. Extended means having received a complete teaching on the Great Lam Rim or Middle Lam Rim by Lama Tsong Khapa, or the Liberation in the Palm or your Hand, or a comparable text. Preferably you have also completed the Discovering Buddhism Series and/or some of the modules of the Basic Program of the FPMT.
•Enthusiasm for meditation.
•Stable physical and mental health.
•Want to meditate for three months on the path to enlightenment.
If you do not fulfill these strict requirements, or not all of them, please write briefly why you still feel that the retreat is suitable for you/ why you are suitable for the retreat.
Please indicate here that you have read the retreat description (Yes/No) and that you accept the retreat discipline as described there. (Yes/No)
Particulars
Name:
Nationality:
Date of Birth:
Mailing Address:
Street:
City, post code: Country:
Email Address:
Additional Personal Details
Contact person in case of emergency:
Contact Phone for emergency:
Are you planning to have a travel insurance? (we recommend this)
Have you read all the information about the course?
Are you aware of and accept the course discipline? (see appendix one please)
Do you have any physical health problems. If yes, please give details
Are you presently taking any medication? If yes, please give details:
Have you lately/presently experienced severe emotional stress or depression?
Have you lately/presently experienced mental problems, (such as acute anxiety, paranoia)?
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Kopan FPMT Basic Program 2014 - Three Months Lam Rim Retreat
Your Buddhist Background
How long have you been involved in Buddhism?
What lineage are you following?
Have you taken refuge and who is your refuge teacher?
Previous studies and retreats. Please give details:
Please outline in a few sentences your reason for wanting to attend the retreat (short generic answers such as “for all sentient beings, want to become enlightened for all sentient beings, etc.,” are not accepted):
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Kopan FPMT Basic Program 2015 - Three Months Lam Rim Retreat
General Information
1. Application and Registration
Please complete the application form. We will contact you if we need more information.
The application is not the registration for the retreat, which will open only four month before commencement. Once your application has been accepted, you are assured a place on the retreat and can make travel plans. To keep your place however, you will need to reconfirm at the time through the registration and payment of the deposit.
2. Course Cost
Cost of the retreat will be approximately US$ 1000 (subject to change)
3. Payment of Fees
A deposit of US$ 350 is required on registration for the course. Registration opens four months before start of the retreat, and you will receive an email at this time, if your application has been accepted before.
The deposit is no refundable. The remainder is payable in full at the start of the course. Some refund for the food part of the fee will be given if you decide to leave the course within the first three days.
4. Certificate
A certificate of completion of the retreat will be issued at the end, providing you fulfill the criteria of having kept the retreat disciplines and ethical requirements during the retreat.
This will help you when joining any other Basic Program offered within in the FPMT, to complete the nine necessary modules to qualify for BP final exam.
The certificate is issued by the course teacher and the monastery.
5. Accommodation
Three bed dormitory accommodation is included in the price. You also will have the option to choose single rooms with private bath and simple double rooms with shared bath.
6. Retreat Schedule
The daily program will start at 06.30 and end ca.21.30
The daily schedule will include meditation sessions incorporating practices for accumulating merits and purification, single pointed meditation and analytical guided meditations on Lam Rim topics, as well as one daily dharma talk on the topic or related to the retreat practices in general.
A more detailed schedule will be supplied closer to course time.
Appendix One
General Discipline for Staying in the Monastery Grounds
•Men and women are accommodated in separate quarters. You are requested not visit the rooms of the opposite sex.
•Respect the monks and their vows.
•Do not distract them from their studies. Donot visit the monks' rooms or invite them into your room.
•Keep for the duration of your stay the five precepts: no killing, stealing, lying, sexual conduct, and no mind altering substances such as alcohol. Also no tobacco inside the monastery grounds.
•Dress according to a monastic environment – modest, simple, comfortable and covering. So no need for sexy clothing, low-hanging jeans , etc. You know what we mean.
Some Aspects of the Course Discipline
•Attendance of all sessions.
•Follow the house rules of Kopan Monastery
•Remaining within the Monastery Grounds and Kopan Hill for the duration of the retreat.
•For most of the retreat silence will be kept till lunch time. Individuals are free to keep silence full time.
•Mobile phones need to be deposited at the office, where they will be kept for you for the duration of the course.
•You are welcome to use personal computers, e-books and the like.
•During the retreat there will be a three strike policy for not conforming to the retreat discipline such as silence during the appointed hours, or missing sessions. The first two will result in extra cleaning duties, and after the third strike you will have to leave the retreat.
Please note: more information regarding what to bring, how to get here etc, will be sent to you after the completion of the registration process.
Signature:
I agree to abide by the discipline of the course and follow the rules of the monastery.
Kopan Monastery reserves the right to accept or refuse registration of course participants in line with its rules and regulations.
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