Date: 07 Jul 94 14:03:01 EDT

From: IMC-UK <100330.3304@compuserve.com>

To: "Barry Kapke, Director" <dharma@netcom.com>
Subject: Text file for upload into Dharmanet Library
Message-ID: <940707180300_100330.3304_BHB68-2@CompuServe.COM>
Status: RO
This is an information sheet about the International Meditation Centres in
the Tradition of Sayagyi U Ba Khin
--------------------------------------------------------------------------There are five Centres all with the same course structure in this Tradition.
IMC-UK, IMC-WA, IMC-NSW, IMC-USA and IMC-Austria.
The International Meditation Centres were founded to provide for the
instruction and practice of Theravada Buddhist Meditation. The Centres in
the West are direct offsprings of the International Meditation Centres of
Yangon, Myanmar (former Burma), which was founded by Sayagyi U Ba Khin. In
addition to being a highly respected meditation teacher, Sayagyi U Ba Khin
was the first Accountant General of Burma after Independence in 1948.
All Centres are guided by Mother Sayamagyi and Sayagyi U Chit Tin, two of
Sayagyi U Ba Khin's closest disciples, who have practised and taught
meditation for more than forty years and have carried on the tradition since
Sayagyi's demise in 1971.
Ten-day residential courses are held usually once a month at IMC-UK and
regularly at other Centres, beginning on Friday evening and ending early on
Monday morning. They are led by Mother Sayamagyi and Sayagyi U Chit Tin or
by a regional teacher.
The students who come to do courses at the Centres are from all walks of
life, professions, religions, cultural backgrounds, races and countries.
Anyone who comes with an open mind can gain the necessary confidence in the
technique and in himself or herself. Thus, all can attain benefits which
will be proportionate to the amount of balanced effort they make.
Buddhist meditation is the practice of the Eightfold Noble Path, as taught
by the Buddha, which can be divided into three parts. These are: higher
training in 1) morality, 2) concentration and 3)wisdom.
1. Morality is the common denominator of all religions. At our
Centres, students observe the five precepts of refraining from killing,
stealing, sexual misconduct, lying and the use of drugs or intoxicants. By
diligently observing this morality, we develop purity of physical and verbal
actions.
2. Beginning with this base, training in concentration is taught
(Anapana meditation-mindfulness of breathing). Through learning to calm and
control the mind during the first four days, the student quickly appreciates
the advantages of a steady and balanced mind.
3. The third training in wisdom or insight is introduced through
Vipassana meditation, which is practised throughout the remainder of the
period.
Vipassana is a process which enables the student to develop concentration
and awareness and, through personal experience, to gain an understanding of
the truths of impermanence, suffering and non-self. Practised with
diligence the gradual process of mental purification will lead to the end of

suffering and to full Enlightenment or Nibbana.

The emphasis is
the technique.
atmosphere, and
help to clarify
Teachers.

on experiencing directly the truth for oneself

Noble Silence (no unnecessary talk) provides a
discourses given in the morning and evening by
the practice. There are also daily interviews

by practising
conducive
the Teachers
with the

There has never been any charge for the Buddha's Teachings. The Teachings
have always been passed down from the Buddha, through the Teachers to the
students, without any expectation of payment, however, the Trusts/
Associations who are responsible for running the Centre ask each student to
contribute towards food and accommodation for a ten-day course (the expected
contribution varies according to the standards of each country, for example
in the UK it is 140 currently).
Wholesome and tasty vegetarian food in ample quantity is provided, and those
who follow a diet for medical reasons will be accomodated as far as
possible.
For a person who is genuinely interested, meditation (including Noble
Silence) is not difficult. The results of patient practice can be quite
astonishing. The day's schedule is neither too servere nor too relaxed but
follows the Middle Path. Sayagyi U Ba Khin taught his students to work with
"zestful ease".
People from many religions have found the meditation courses helpful and
beneficial in their day-today lives.
Please note that the course lasts for ten days. Students should plan to
remain for the full ten days without leaving the Centre.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------INTERNATIONAL MEDITATION CENTRE
The International Meditation Centres were founded by the Sayagyi U Ba Khin
Memorial Trust to promote the practice of Buddhist Meditation according to
the Teachings of the BUDDHA.
Ten-day residential courses are conducted regularly in the practice of
the Eight-Fold Noble Path as taught by the Buddha, which comprises three
stages of training: morality (sila), concentration or control over the mind
(samadhi), and wisdom or insight (panna). Instruction in mindfulness of the
breath (anapana meditation) is then given for five days, with the aim of
quieting and concentrating the mind. The remaining days are devoted to
insight meditation (vipassana), whereby students can experience at first
hand the essential elements of Buddha's Teaching: the impermanence of all
physical and mental phenomena (anicca), the unsatisfactory nature of all
conditioned phenomena (dukkha), the absence of a permanent enduring self or
ego in beings (anatta).
One should come with the understanding and intention to enter a ten-day
retreat. The training, if followed diligently, will result in a calmer mind
through the gradual eradication of impurities, and ultimately in the
realisation of the `Nibbanic Peace within'.
To achieve a state of mind perfectly attuned and in balance, it is
essential to start with a stable and sound base of conduct. For the duration
of the training therefore, each student is asked to observe the five

precepts as follows:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

To
To
To
To
To

refrain
refrain
refrain
refrain
refrain

from
from
from
from
from

killing
stealing
sexual misconduct (here total celibacy)
lying
the use of intoxicants and drugs

All these instructions are framed in accordance with those of the

International Meditation Centre, Yangon(Rangoon) Myanmar(Burma), as
established by Sayagyi U Ba Khin.
During the period of training students will have to give up their
previous practices, and all spiritual activities including those concerning
pseudo-sciences. Students should not wear or bring with them spiritual
objects or reading material of any kind.
Observance of noble silence throughout the training period will be very
beneficial and conducive to a better appreciation of the teaching. This
means that the students should not talk amongst themselves, but they may of
course speak to the teachers and managers at any time.
During the daily interview with the teachers students should give a
true and accurate account of their experiences.

TIMETABLE

4:00 AM

WAKE UP

4:30 - 6:30

MEDITATION IN HALL

6:30 - 8:00

BREAKFAST AND REST

8:00 - 9:00

GROUP MEDITATION IN HALL

9:30 - 11:00

INTERVIEWS AND MEDITATION

11:00 - 1:00

LUNCH & REST

1:00 - 1:45

MEDITATION

2:00 - 3:00

GROUP MEDITATION IN HALL

3:30 - 5:00

MEDITATION

5:00 - 6:00

TEA AND REST

6:00 PM

DISCOURSE

7:30 - 8:30

GROUP MEDITATION IN HALL

9:00 PM

TAKE REST

For a course schedule for the forth coming courses in our Centres, and an

application form please request for infos in USA at CIS: IMC-USA, 74163,2452
or any other country at CIS: IMC-UK, 100330,3304
---------------------------------------------------------------------------Worldwide Contact Addresses
in the Tradition of Sayagyi U Ba Khin
AUSTRIA:
International Meditation Centre, A-9064 St. Michael/Gurk 6, Austria; Tel:
+43 4224 2820, Fax: +43 4224 28204
EASTERN AUSTRALIA:
International Meditation Centre, Lot 2 Cessnock Road, Sunshine NSW 2264,
Australia; Tel: +61 49 705 433, Fax: +61 49 705 749
UNITED KINGDOM:
International Meditation Centre, Splatts House, Heddington, Calne, Wiltshire
SN11 OPE, England; Tel: +44 380 850 238, Fax: +44 380 850 833, Email: CIS,
IMC-UK, 100330,3304
USA:
International Meditation Centre, 446 Bankard Road, Westminster MD 21158,
USA; Tel: +1 410 346 7889, Fax: +1 410 346 7282, Email: CIS, IMC-USA,
74163,2452
Contact address California: Linda H. Kemp-Combes, 1331 33rd Avenue, San
Francisco, California 94122, USA.
WESTERN AUSTRALIA:
International Meditation Centre, Lot 78 Jacoby Street, Mahogany Creek WA
6072, Australia; Tel: +61 9 295 2644, Fax: +61 9 295 3435
GERMANY:
Sayagyi U Ba Khin Gesellschaft, Christaweg 16, 79114 Freiburg, Germany; Tel:
+49 761 465 42, Fax: +49 761 465 92
THE NETHERLANDS:
Sayagyi U Ba Khin Stichting, Oudegracht 124, 3511 AW Utrecht, The
Netherlands; Tel: +31 30 311 445, Fax: +31 30 340 612
SINGAPORE:
Sayagyi U Ba Khin Memorial Association, 10 Anson Road #24-04A, International
Plaza, Singapore 0207; Tel: +65 281 3381, Fax: +65 225 4021
SWITZERLAND:
Sayagyi U Ba Khin Gesellschaft, Greyerzstrasse 35, 3013 Bern, Switzerland;
Tel: +41 31 415 233, Fax: +41 61 691 8049
BELGIUM:

Address as for the Netherlands, Tel: +32 2414 1756

DENMARK:
Contact Address: Mr. Peter Drost-Nissen, Strandboulevarden 117, 3th, 2100
Kopenhagen, Denmark; Tel: 031 425 636
JAPAN:
Contact address: Mrs. Mindy Martin-Feng, 14-17-201 Aoki-cho, Akedia 21,
Nishinomiya-Shi,Hyogo - 662, Japan. Tel: 0798-74-4769
ITALY:
Contact address: Mr. Renzo Fedele, Via Eugena 94, 35033 Bresseo PD, Italy.
Tel: +39 55 603 333
Published by the Sayagyi U Ba Khin Memorial Trust, United Kingdom
Address as above, registered charity no. 280134
[end of file]