Vassa 2016 Pa-Auk MayMyo

Hello everyone,

It's been a while since my last posting and before I enter the annual rains retreat( Vassa) for three months I thought it might be a good idea to give you some news. As some of you already may know, since January 2016, I've been practicing at a new Pa Auk meditation center(only 1 year old) in the Northern hills of Myanmar near Pyin Oo Lwin(May Myo). Previously, for two years, I was meditating at Shwe Oo Min centers in Myanmar practicing what is often called mindfulness(insight meditation or vipassana)with the excellent meditation teacher; U Tejaniya. Here at Pa-Auk, the meditation approach(strong concentration preceding insight) and monastic culture(strong faith, strict monastic rules) are quite different from what I was used to before. At times, it has been challenging and the transition was abrupt but after a couple of months I felt progressively more at ease. The very friendly and supportive monks, teachers, sayalays and lay yogis make all the difference! ;)

The Center

The main purpose of this particular meditation center is to train international monks. So, extra effort has been made to provide conditions that are above Myanmar standards. Without to much exaggeration, one could say it is a kind of "VIP vihara" or "VIP monastery". Let me describe a few featutes for you. First of all, the center is located in a forest( a little young but growing) and therefor is very quiet. In Asia silence is truly golden because of its scarcity. Also, due to high altitude of this region, the climate is much cooler (about 10°C cooler then Mandalay) and dryer then most places in this hot-humid tropical country. For the same reason, there are also less diseases( no malaria, no dengue, less bacteria...). For lodging, almost all meditators get a private kuti(cottage) equipped with a private bathroom. The food is vegetarian buffet and relatively healthy. We get to choose from wholegrain and or white rice, fresh fruits and veggies, a few veg curries, beans, sometimes tofu, nuts, green tea, coffee for breakfast, simple desert and whatever other yogis(meditators) offer at the end of the line. 

The Community

In total, there are about 240 meditators 100 of them sayalays(nuns) and 100 monks, about 20 non-monastic meditators and 20 workers. The meditation teacher is the renowned Pa-Auk Tawya sayadaw(82 years old and very active!). Meditators get interviews every other day with him. We also get weekly classes about the Buddha's teachings(Dhamma) by various competent monks and also classes on monastic rules(Vinaya) with U Kumarabhivamsa( the main Dhamma teacher at this center). There are 2 meditation halls(one for men, the other for ladies). There is chanting at 4am and 6pm(if our mamma is good, preceded with a cup of juice!). The remainder of the time is for meditation which means in my case mindfulness of breathing.

So, very dear friends, my hope is that you will be contented with these few words and let me now refocus my attention from writing to breathing so that I may get enlightened... and come visit you ASAP! :)

I would like to wish you all:

- Good health

- A happy mind and heart

- And that you may live your life fully! 

With love, 

Your "not so...   far     ...away" friend

U Viveka

:)

Panoramic view of Pa-Auk meditation center Pyin Oo Lwin (extended)
Female kuties(cottages) on the left, male's on the right

Monks walking to male's residence

Male's kuties and pond

This is my kuti

Inside: bed, table, meditation area
I spend a lot of time meditating here.

the other side: screen door, sink, bathroom is behind the wall

Pa-Auk sayadaw and monks during Chinese new year

Chinese new year: This is the Vietnamese group. They invited me since there is no Canadian group. :D 

4 Monks:
 Indonesia, Canada, Indonesia, Vietnam

Bottom right:U Kumarabhimvamsa (Dhamma-Vinaya teacher)
Giving the precepts(rules) to novice monks.
U Adhicitta is the smiling monk. 

Future Buddha...
Temporary novice monk sitting in meditation hall

Stairway to Peace
Because the center is built on hills there are many stairways...which one leads to the highest happiness?
As the saying goes; take it one step at a time.
Happy climbing!

Kalaw 2

Dear friends,

I'm back in Kalaw the coolest place in Myanmar, litteraly. It's a nice change from the very humid and hot climate of Yangon where I stayed for the last 4 months.  I've been in these beautiful Kalaw mountains for about two weeks now and will spend Vassa(3 months rains retreat) here at the Mahasi meditation center.

It's been 19 months since I took the robes. I'm constently learning about the monk lifestyle , rules and practice(s) of meditation. The Buddhist tradition is very old(2600 years) and very rich. There is enough to explore both in theory and practice for many lifetimes...  But I keep it simple. Sticking to the basics and ajusting with what seems most helpful in the moment... in this life!

As I have probbaly already said on this blog, the people in Kalaw are amazingly generous. Sayamaji(a retired shcool principal) comes on her scooter to deliver a home cooked meal everyday at the door of my hut. We talk about meditation practice and Buddha's teachings and then she asks if I need anything else (soap, blankets...) and then leaves with a big smile on her face.

In this meditation center, there are about 20 nuns and 6 monks. It's built on a mountain side in a staircase fashion. The views are beautiful, the air is fresh and flowers and trees are very diverse and lush. Every morning we go on alms round(collecting food in our bowls) down in the valley for about 1 hour and a half. The sloped roads and paths insure that we get our daily exercise. So pysical heatlh is good and mental health as well.

May you all be healthy in mind and body
and live a meaningful, fulfilling life!
Be good(to yourself and others;))!
I'll do the same on this side of the world:)

Viveka
:)

Ps. The internet connection is extremely slow that's why I couldn't post pictures. I will try in the coming days...

Zayawaddy (part 3)

 Here's Chandan, hauling freshly cut bamboo to build us roofed meditation stands, He doesn't stop for a minute which explains his blurred silhouette in the photo.

They built a total of three bamboo meditation stations within a week. The roofs were later covered with dried fern strips(see in a few pics below).

 These are my two teachers:
Slo and Stedy!

 U Indapala (A Vietnamese friend) who shares the same taste in fashion.:) 

It doesn't show in this picture but he's really very funny.

Can you see the fern roof? Very nice for shade.

Stepping into Beauty! ;)

Hello friends!

So, I have survived my first year as a monk! It was quite an intense ride. Full of wonderful discoveries, mysterious health issues, scorpions, snakes and mosquitoes... also meeting many new beautiful friends, travelling, pilgrims, oily food(Myanmar style), silent retreats and much, much more... 

But out of all these experiences, what seems most worthy of mention is the understanding that has grown about myself(that is: this mind, this body and their relationship). If your wondering what I'm doing here in Myanmar... that is it. Observing this mind, this body all the time (well, almost all the time). What might seem obvious but that is of increasing interest and value to me is that by gaining understanding on how this mind-body works, I get to understand other people much better and nature as well. Really, this whole meditation business seems much more like a scientific experiment (on oneself by oneself) then a religious or spiritual endeavor. And for now, it seems to bring Peace, Freedom and Happiness in the mind.  Not too bad of a deal:)

So, as you might be able to guess at this point, I`m very happy with this lifestyle. I've never met so many people (which is surprising for the life of a recluse) and I feel more then ever that this human life is very meaningful and full of potential. I will definitely continue wearing these maroon robes for a while whether it`s in Asia or in the West...or both:) Who knows...it all depends on conditions!

Most importantly, I would like to thank all of you who have encouraged and supported me in this extraordinary voyage into self-discovery. I feel immense gratitude to all of my friends in Montreal, Moncton and everywhere on the globe, also to my meditation teachers(especially Pascal Auclair who encouraged me to fly over here). Thank you to my father who sends me words made of gold and dipped in love, to my mother who sends me letters the size of small books, thank you to my sister who`s heart is filled with loving kindness and hands always ready to help,  and all the family members who have inspired me and given me support). It is largely because of your generosity and friendship that I am here today. Really. every thought and gesture makes a difference!    

Thank you!!   Merci!    Jaizu daibadai! 

A guy with a happy heart!

Viveka (Christian)

Vassa

Vassa means rains retreat. It is a Buddhist tradition that monks should find and stay in one monastery(or suitable place) for the whole of the rainy season(July-Sep). For the monks, it's a good time to study and practice the teachings and also to bond with our fellow brothers and sisters.

Get ready, set...

This is only part of the monks that stayed for Vassa. In total we were more then 35 monks.

Kalaw

Here's the place we come to escape the hot season(April-May). Kalaw is a small town located about 12 hours north of Yangon and it is on top of a plateau(about 1000 meters above sea level). It is the coolest and maybe the greenest area in Myanmar. Nature is beautiful and the people are very friendly.

Every morning, we walked up and down this road to gather food in our bowls.

People stand on the side of the road waiting to offer us rice, curries...

This lady would walk out every morning with a cane in one hand and food offerings in the other.

New name, same great taste!

english mesage below

Boujour les amis!

Ca fait quelques temps depuis ma dernière publication sur ce blog alors voici quelques miettes d'info pour votre curiosité affamé.

Donc je suis toujours dans ce pays à la fois chaud et accueillant dans le même centre de méditation ''Shwe Oo Min'' à Yangon. Ca fait maintenant environ 5 semaines que je suis moine et tranquillement devient de plus en plus habile à porter les robes rouges(qui tombent de moins en moins) et me raser le coco régulièrement(avec moins de zones manquées...comme en arrière des oreilles et de la tête!). L'expérience est extraordinaire. Vraiment, je suis comblé et mon coeur est emplie de gratitude en particulier pour tout les gens au Canada, au Myanmar et un peu partout sur le globe qui mon supportés pour que cette expérience soit possible et qu'elle se poursuive. MERCI! ;)

Dans environ deux semaines, je partirai méditer dans un chalet à deux heures au Nord d'ici, appartenant au même centre de méditation et ou un jeune moine Américain sympathique est déja installé depuis quelques semaines. Ca seras une très belle occasion de rentrer dans un silence plus profond. J'y resterai probablement jusqu'à la fin Avril pour ensuite aller dans les collines plus fraiches de Kalaw(environs 8 h de route  vers le Nord) dans un autre centre affilié à Shwe Oo Min. Je viens aussi d'apprendre hier que mon extension de visa (6 mois) fut non seulement accepté mais également prolongé des 3 mois additionnelles donc valide jusqu'au 30 Novembre 2014! D'ici là, je serai de retour de temps en temps au centre principal Shwe Oo Min près de Yangon afin de rencontrer mon guide de méditation(U tejaniya)et afin de poursuivre mon traitement d'orthodontie. Alignement des dents et de l'esprit! C'est aussi aussi un facon pratique de m'identifier en Birmanie: Avez-vous vu un moine bouddhiste Canadien-français portant des broches dans le coin?

Avec Metta! (Amour bienveillant)

Sukhi Hotu! (Soyez heureux!) :)

Bikkhu Viveka
(c'est mon nom de moine. ''Bikkhu''(prononcé Bikou) veut dire moine et ''Viveka''(prononcé Vivéka) veut dire quelque chose comme: celui qui a l'esprit stable, concentré).



Hello dear friends!

Hope you are all well and keeping up with your practice of happy mindful living! I've been practicing meditation at Shwe Oo Min in Burma for the last couple of months and things are going fine. I felt so confident in this ``open awareness`` approach that during the second week of the retreat I decided to take on the robes... and am still wearing them(a bit crooked sometimes but getting better everyday)! The meditation teacher(U Tejaniya) is not what you would expect from a traditionnal Burmese forest monk. He likes his Iphone, candies and to laugh but he is surprisingly wise and probably knows your mind better then yourself and your mother!

Also, I was very happy to learn that my 3 month visa was extended for an extra 9 months. So, I will probably stay in Burma till at least the end of November 2014. I'll be moving around 2 or 3 Swe Oo Min meditation centers mostly to escape the hot weather and meditation crowds.

Sukhi Hotu (be happy) dear friends!

Bikkhu Viveka
(this is my monk name. ''Bikkhu''(prononciation: Be-koo, means monk) and ''Viveka'' (prononc.: Vee-vai-kaa, means One who has stability of mind (...Working on it!) :)

Ordination

This is the day of our monk ordination. I was a bit nervous and excited but the ceremony turned out to be quite quick and painless. We even shared some joy and laughter.

This is the moment in the ceremony when a series of critical questions are asked to the monks-to-be:

Do you have leprosy?

Are you free from government service?

Are you a human being?

etc.

Here we are, fully equipped monks. 2 sets of robes, a bowl and a sitting cloth.

This is called Pindabata(alms round). It's when the monks go out into the village every morning to receive food offerings from the villagers.