RULES
FOR FOREIGNERS AT PA-AUK TAWYA MEDITATION CENTRE
Introduction
There is one basic rule of conduct at
Pa-Auk Tawya Meditation Centre, which embodies the spirit and essence of all
the other rules that follow: to act properly at all times, showing respect
and consideration for one another. In the words of the Buddha, let us live
"in concord, with mutual appreciation, without disputing, blending like
milk and water, viewing each other with kindly eyes."
Rules for Everyone
1.
Upon arrival and departure, everyone must register with
the monastery kappiya (U Aung Myint)
at the Lower Monastery Office and with (the Ven.) U Kuõķadhāna or (the Ven.) U
Candimā at the Upper Monastery Office.
2. Upon
departure, lock your kuti and return the key to U Kuõķadhāna, U Candimā or the
appropriate person at the Office. (This applies also if the kuti is your own
offering to the Centre.)
Meditation
1.
Formal group sittings are held in the meditation halls
at the following times: 4:00-5:30 am, 7:00-9:00 am, 12:30-2:00 pm, 3:00-4:30
pm, and 6:00-7:30 pm. A wooden sounding block is struck at 3:30 am, 6:45 am,
12:15 pm and 5:45 pm to notify meditators of the next sitting. Meditators are
welcome to continue sitting in the meditation halls during non-scheduled times.
2.
Meditators should attend formal group sittings unless
the Ven. Pa-Auk Tawya Sayadaw has given them permission to meditate in their
kutis.
3.
All meditators must practice the meditation subject
given by their meditation teacher. Do not engage in other meditation practices
that you learned from other teachers or at other meditation centres. Do not
discuss these practices with other meditators here, as this may confuse them
and could create obstructions in your own practice.
4.
Meditators should commit to a regular schedule of
interviews with their meditation teacher. Daily interviews are required for new
arrivals.
5.
Out of respect to your teacher, please describe your
meditation experiences with absolute honesty. The report should be brief and to
the point, and should reflect your personal experience.
6.
Do not discuss your meditation practice with others or
speak about your attainments. Questions about your meditation practice should
be directed to your meditation teacher only.
7.
Practice mindfulness. Move slowly and quietly when
entering and leaving the meditation hall, while going to your seat, sitting
down and in making any other movements. Please be considerate of others. Do not
bring extraneous books, bottles, plastic bags, etc. that may make a noise when
handled. Do not make noise when handling items such as keys or one's meditation
manual. Although the need for silence applies particularly during scheduled
meditation hours, one should make an effort to observe it at all times, as
there are meditators who practice beyond the scheduled hours.
8.
Do not talk in or around the meditation hall. If you
must talk, then do so quietly, off in a corner or out on the balcony where you
cannot be heard. Loud talk, noisy whispering and particularly laughter can be
distracting to other meditators. Remember that even after the formal meditation
period has ended, others may still be meditating. Please be respectful of their
efforts.
9. Do
not use strong smelling balms, beeping clocks or noisy watches in the
meditation hall.
>Kutis
1.
Please accept the kuti that has been assigned to you.
If you are asked to change kutis, please do so without demanding an
explanation. Any problems with your kuti should be addressed to U Kuõķadhāna or
U Candimā. Do not change kutis without first consulting them.
2. Kutis should be kept clean and tidy, swept free of leaves and
checked for termites.
3. If
you are planning to be away from your kuti for even one night, you must ready it for another occupant, wash
and clean what you have made use of, return all borrowed items to the Saīgha
Store, lock your kuti
and return the key to the Office. Do not leave the grounds overnight with the
key to your assigned kuti or take any Saīgha supplies, books, tapes or other
materials with you.
4. If you wish to add window screens, a screen door, or repair
or renovate your kuti (at your own expense and supervision), please discuss
this with the Sayadaw, U Kuõķadhāna or U Candimā.
1.
Smoking cigarettes, cigars, cheroots or pipes and
chewing tobacco or betel nut are strictly prohibited. If it is discovered that
you have been using any of these products, you will be asked to leave.
2. Please
be mindful of the environment, avoid littering and be economical in your use of
water and electricity.
3.
Do not talk while waiting in the piõķapāta line for
alms.
4.
Do not accept more food than you expect to eat, so that
no food is wasted.
5.
The following items are allowable after midday:
hot and cold water; fresh strained fruit juice diluted with cold water; and
sugar (including jaggery) diluted with hot or cold water.
The following items are not allowable after midday: solid food; boiled
or otherwise processed juices made from fruits or vegetables; and beverages
(tea, coffee, Milo, milk, soft drinks, chocolate, cocoa, etc.). If you are sick
or feeling weak or tired, you are allowed to take butter, ghee, oil, honey,
sugar and medicine.
6.
If you arrive barefoot, according to the Vinaya,
you should wash your feet before entering Saīgha property.
7.
Between 4:30 and 6:00 pm, residents should clean their
kutis and sweep the surrounding paths and areas. Those who wish may also join
the local Saīgha in cleaning their meditation hall, sweeping paths and
walkways, cleaning pagodas, collecting rubbish and cleaning public lavatories.
8.
Male meditators are not permitted to receive women in
their quarters without direct permission from the Sayadaw, U Kuõķadhāna or U
Candimā. The same rule applies to female meditators receiving men in their
quarters. Conversations between men and women must be conducted in public
places. No woman should approach a monk without another man nearby who
understands what is being said.
9.
For the benefit of all, meditators should make a strong
effort to be mindful in thought, speech and action, not to find fault with
others and to avoid causing conflict or dissension in the community. When
misunderstandings arise, please discuss them with your meditation teacher.
10. Yoga,
Chi Gong and other acceptable forms of exercise may be done in private, but not
in public. Do not teach physical exercise to other yogis unless you have
received permission from the Sayadaw.
11. Meditators
should speak only when necessary. The rest of the time they should keep noble
silence and attend solely to their meditation practice.
Seclusion
1. Silence and seclusion are the best aids to meditation.
Meditators are
therefore encouraged not to leave the monastery grounds. If it becomes
necessary to leave, first check with the Sayadaw or your meditation teacher. If
he approves your request, please inform U Kuõķadhāna or U Candimā. If you plan
to be away overnight or longer, please also inform the monastery kappiya when
you are going, your means of transport, destination and the likely time and
date of return.
2. Please
avoid mingling with villagers and local Myanmar people while outside the
Monastery.
1.
If a Pa-Auk sponsorship letter has been issued to you,
you should not use it for visits to other centres or tourism. This would
constitute abuse and could create problems for the Monastery.
1.
Sãla: Any Theravāda monk who wishes to
meditate at Pa-Auk Tawya must observe the 227 rules of the Pātimokkha,
as well as all the other Vinaya rules.
2.
Unallowable items: Should a bhikkhu or sāmanera
be in possession of unallowable items, he is to relinquish them fully before
taking up residence here. Unallowable items are cash, checks, credit cards,
gold, silver, jewelry, etc. and items that have been obtained from unallowable
sources, e.g. items that he himself (or another Theravāda monk) has purchased.
The Monastery cannot accept relinquished items. Upon relinquishing his
unallowable items, the monk is to understand that relinquishment is not
temporary - the unallowable items will not be returned upon his departure.
Check with U Kuõķadhāna or U Candimā if you have questions.
3.
Nissāya: Bhikkhus with less than 5 vassa
must take nissāya, i.e. they should be under the tutelage of a senior
bhikkhu.
4.
Requisites: Do not request requisite items
(except medicine when one is ill) from anyone other than a blood relative. This
rule does not apply to persons who have previously made an invitation for you
to request items from them.
5.
Piõķapāta: Foreign monks must collect piõķapāta
at the Piõķapātasālā and are not allowed to go on piõķapāta in the village
unless they have received permission from the Sayadaw.
6.
Piõķapāta Etiquette: Foreign monks are
privileged guests and are invited to receive alms ahead of even the most senior
Myanmar Bhikkhus. In order to show respect for other bhikkhus, please arrive at
the Piõķapātasālā on time. If you are late, do not rush to the front of the
piõķapāta line. If the line has already begun to move and you are unable to
reach the foreign bhikkhu section, you should enter the Myanmar Bhikkhu line
according to your vassa age. Do not cut in front of senior bhikkhus. Mahāyāna
monks cannot join the Theravāda line. If late, they should wait until the
Myanmar Theravāda line has passed, and then may join at that point. On no account should anyone enter the
line beyond the point where it turns left after the stairs.
7.
Mealtimes: Monks and nuns, without exception,
are not to eat after midday.
8.
Food Storage (Bhikkhus Only): Bhikkhus should not
store food overnight or keep tonics longer than seven days. The five tonics are
butter, ghee, oil, honey and sugar, plus a mixture of some of these tonics
known as catumadhu (four sweets). On the seventh day all tonics must be
relinquished to a sāmaõera or kappiya, without expecting to have them returned.
To avoid waste, the best procedure is to take the exact amount you need
for seven days. Be aware that medicines which contain oil or sugar are also
subject to the seven-day rule.
9.
Incoming Parcels (Bhikkhus Only): If a package
that might contain food, tonics or medicine has been sent to you, do not touch it until it has been
opened and examined by a kappiya (or sāmanera). The kappiya will then
personally offer you any food, tonic or medicine that is acceptable and will
keep any food, tonic or medicine that is unacceptable (at this time). If you
touch any of the above items before they
have been offered to you, you will have to permanently
relinquish them.
10. Ordination:
A candidate for ordination as a bhikkhu must study and thoroughly familiarize
himself with the 227 rules of the Pātimokkha before taking ordination. A
Mahāyāna monk must fully and permanently relinquish Mahāyāna ordination prior
to taking Theravāda ordination.
Rules for
Bhikshunis, 8/10-Precept Nuns and Laywomen
1.
The queuing order for alms is according to vassa for
bhikshunis and according to age for 8/10-precept nuns and laywomen. Once the
piõķapāta line has begun to move, bhikshunis and 8/10-precept nuns may not
enter the line in front of other bhikshunis or nuns, but must wait until they
have passed and then enter at the rear of the nun's queue.
2.
If female meditators want to meditate in the meditation
hall at the Piõķapātasālā in the Upper Monastery, for their security, they
should walk with at least one companion between the monasteries.
3.
A female meditator should not have an interview alone
with a male teacher. If she is alone, she should excuse herself and find a
companion or await a suitable occasion.
4.
During interviews, female meditators should maintain a
proper distance from the male interpreter/teacher and observe decorum.
Rules for Laymen and Laywomen
1. For
the sake of communal harmony, as well as for your own practice, please memorize
the eight precepts and observe them strictly. Exception to the sixth precept is
given by the Sayadaw only in cases of very severe gastric problems.
2.
Dress modestly. For women: no bare shoulders, no bare
midriff, no short skirts, no shorts, no thin, transparent, tight, brightly
coloured or otherwise revealing and improper attire. For men: the same (where
applicable). Shirts must always be worn.
3.
You are responsible for providing yourself with a bowl,
mosquito net, blankets and other necessities.
4. You
may go to the market twice a month once you have obtained permission from your
teacher.
5. Should
you wish to offer a meal dāna, please arrange it directly at the Lower
Monastery Office and make sure to obtain a receipt.
Revised July 7, 2003
Ph. 057-22853
Pa-Auk Tawya Meditation Centre
Mawlamyine, Mon State,
Myanmar. Ph. 057-22853
information for
foreign meditators
Pa-Auk Tawya Meditation Centre is a forest monastery
in the Theravāda tradition where both Samatha and Vipassanā
meditation are taught. The number of residents varies seasonally from
approximately 500 to 1000 and includes monks, nuns, yogis (lay practitioners)
and volunteers.
- All sincere meditators are welcome to
practice here.
- The requisites and services available at this monastery are
offered by dayakas (supporters), kappiyas (stewards) and donors for the
maintenance and benefit of meditators who support the Centre's lifestyle and
are willing to abide by its rules and regulations.
- Out of
respect for the Ven. Pa-Auk Tawya Sayadaw (the abbot and spiritual leader of
this monastery), meditators are expected to follow the methods taught at this
centre. Other meditation methods should not be practiced here.
In General
- All
meditators must strictly observe
the four parisuddhi
sila during
their stay at Pa-Auk Tawya.
The four parisuddhi sila are:
i. The 227 rules of the Patimokkha for
bhikkhus (Theravādin monks); the 5, 8 or 10 precepts for yogis and nuns
ii. Restraint of the six sense faculties
iii. Purification of livelihood
iv. Reflecting on the use of the requisites (food,
shelter, clothing and medicine)
Make
the removal of Lobha (greed), Dosa (hatred) & Moha (delusion) the goal of
your Dhamma practice here.
Meditation
-< Meditators
must follow the Centre's daily meditation schedule.
- All meditators must attend group sittings,
which are held in the meditation halls.
- Interviews
with Pa-Auk meditation teachers are an important aid to one's meditation
practice. In the beginning, meditators should come for interviews every day.
Later on, they can reduce the number of interviews to twice a week, as their
teacher permits.
Smoking and Chewing Tobacco
- Smoking cigarettes, cigars, cheroots or
pipes and chewing tobacco or betel nut are strictly
prohibited.
- One must
stop smoking and dispose of all smoking materials before entering Pa-Auk Tawya. There are no exceptions to this
rule. Smokers will be asked to leave.
Diet and Pindapata
- Breakfast almsround - approximately 6:00 am
(depending on the time of dawn) in the Pindapatasala (Alms Giving
Hall).
- Lunch almsround - approximately 10:15 am in
the Pindapatasala.
- The kitchen prepares and offers a vegetarian
diet only.
- No special diets (fruit, meat, etc.) are
offered at Pa-Auk Tawya.
- Meditators who are seriously ill may consult
with the monastery kappiya or (the Ven.) U Kundadhana to arrange for other suitable food recommended by their doctor.
- Boiled and
filtered drinking water are available at various locations throughout the
Monastery.
Attire
- Bhikkhus
should wear only allowable robes, slippers, etc. Robes must be kept clean.
Highly colorful robes (red, bright yellow, etc.) are not acceptable.
- Yogis should dress modestly at all times. For women: no bare
shoulders, no bare midriff, no short skirts, no shorts, no thin, transparent,
tight, brightly coloured or otherwise revealing and improper attire. For men:
the same (where applicable). Shirts must
always be worn.
- Please do
not wear unclean or unsuitable attire (undershirts, shorts, etc.) to pindapata.
Clinic Hours
- Western
Medicine: Upper and Lower Monastery
hours are currently irregular. Burmese Traditional Medicine: Upper
Monastery - alternate Saturdays 2:00-4:30 pm;
Lower Monastery - alternate Saturdays 12:00-1:30pm.
Valuables
- Be aware
that some kutis (meditators' huts) have been broken into by thieves. To avoid
theft and make sure important documents are safe, it's best to leave your
valuables at the office. When you leave your kuti, always remember to lock your
door and windows. Make sure they are both securely shut.
Mail
- Please remember that Pa-Auk Tawya is a forest monastery.
Volunteers here cannot offer the level of mail and telecommunication services
available in a town monastery. In addition, correspondence can be an obstacle
to seclusion and meditation. For the above reasons, meditators are requested to
keep their correspondence to a minimum.
- Outgoing mail should be passed to the monastery kappiya in the Lower
Monastery. To ensure safe delivery, international letters should be registered.
- Important incoming mail should always be
sent registered. Unregistered letters sometimes go missing.
- The Mawlamyine Post Office does not ship or
receive international parcels. International parcels addressed to meditators in
Mawlamyine must be picked up in Yangon by the addressee. Pa-Auk does not
provide a parcel service in Yangon. If you have parcels sent to you or wish to
ship them, please make your own delivery arrangements.
- Parcels are subject to customs formalities,
censorship and duties.
- Be aware that while unregistered or
uninsured parcels are waiting to be picked up in Yangon, misplacement and
damage are not uncommon.
Telephone
Service
- There is only one telephone at Pa-Auk Tawya, located in the Lower
Monastery. Incoming telephone service is intermittent and of low quality.
Monastery office staff have priority.
- Outgoing
international telephone service is available only outside the Monastery. It is quite
expensive, averaging $4 US or FEC per minute, paid in advance.
E-mail and Internet
No e-mail
service is provided to meditators here. In an emergency, telex/telegram service
is available in Mawlamyine.
Visas and Formalities
- Meditators should provide the volunteers who handle visa
extensions with 9 passport-size photos, plus all government and service fees in
FEC or US dollars in good condition (worn, torn, nicked or questionable bills
are unacceptable).
- Visa extension is an optional service
provided by volunteers who have kindly donated their time and energy. Should
you choose to take advantage of this service, please be aware that visa
extension regulations change frequently. Pa-Auk volunteers cannot be held
responsible for any changes in policy. It is possible that you may only receive
a 3 or 4 month extension, even though you have applied and paid for a full
year.
- Foreign meditators who stay longer than
three months must obtain an FRC (Foreigner's Registration Certificate) and a
Departure Form (before leaving).
- Please apply for all extensions and forms at
least one month in advance of the expiration date.
- You are responsible for any and all fees incurred in these
transactions.
- You may consult the monastery kappiya for more information.
Monastics
and Money
- Prior to Ordination: Theravādin Bhikkhus, Sāmaneras and
10-Precept Nuns are not permitted to use or handle 'money' in any form (cash,
credit card, checkbook, electronic transactions, gold, silver, jewelry, etc.)
or to keep it in their possession. This must be taken care of prior to
ordination. Please
check with U Kundadhana or U Candima concerning the proper arrangements.
- Ordained Monastics: Theravādin Bhikkhus, Sāmaneras and 10-Precept Nuns must
arrange for allowable requisite funds to be transferred to the monastery
kappiya or another reliable person who has agreed to act as their kappiya.
Transfer of funds must follow the
prescribed procedure in the Vinaya (see The Buddhist Monastic Code,
Nissaggiya Pācittiya, rules #10, 18, 19 & 20). [Bhikkhus and
Sāmaneras: Any money handled or improperly acquired is unallowable and
must be permanently relinquished
before entering the Monastery. There is no exception to this rule.]
Sponsorship Letter
-
A sponsorship letter grants permission
for you to reside at this monastery - nothing more. all financial requirements (including medical, dental,
transportation, visas, FRC, departure forms and requisites) are your personal responsibility. Please
arrive with sufficient funds (in US dollars) for the duration of your
stay. In the event that you find yourself without funds, you may contact your
embassy. Pa-Auk Tawya cannot be responsible for your financial needs.
- As a
precondition to sponsorship, meditators must commit to staying at this
monastery for the full duration of their visa. This is due to recently
tightened visa restrictions.
What to Bring (Recommended but not Required)
- The
following list was compiled by foreign meditators here: vitamin and herbal
supplements; a sleeping mat; dental floss; extra passport photos (10-12); a
quick-dry camping towel; talcum/medicated powder; light easy-to-wash clothing;
a large umbrella; earplugs; wool/polypro socks; water resistant sandals;
flashlight; battery-powered alarm clock; mosquito repellent; meditation mat and
cushion; yoga/exercise mat; a spare pair of prescription glasses and a copy of
your prescription; get dental work done before coming. [Note: Many name brand
items are unavailable in Myanmar; electrical appliances must adapt to 220-volt
power.]
Seasons
- There are 3
seasons in Myanmar: a hot season (March through May); a rainy season (June
through Oct.); and a cold season (November through February). Temperatures
range from 19° to 40° Centigrade (66° to 104° Fahrenheit).
How to get to Pa-Auk Tawya from Yangon (Yangon →
Mawlamyine → Pa-Auk)
- Mawlamyine is
187 miles southeast of Yangon. The Centre is another 9 miles southeast of
Mawlamyine. Air-conditioned overnight buses to Mawlamyine depart daily from the
highway bus station in Yangon. Tickets can be purchased along the south side of
Aung San Stadium, opposite the central train station. There is also a
once-a-week flight from Yangon to Mawlamyine. Contact information for
volunteers in Yangon who can help you get to Pa-Auk Tawya is available on
request from the Centre.
Local Transportation
- Meditators
are responsible for making their own travel arrangements to and from Pa-Auk
Tawya. Monastery vehicles do not provide a
service to Mawlamyine. Bus and taxi services may be arranged in advance (check
with the monastery kappiya for details).
BBangkok: Myanmar Embassy 132 Sathorn Nua Road Bangkok,
10500 Tel. 233-2237
United States: Tempel Smith 2731 Folsom Street San Francisco, CA
94110 Tel. 415-643-8338 [email protected]
Sri Lanka: Ven. Ariyadhamma Mahāthera Nā Uyana Āranya Senāsana
Pansiyagama 60554 Tel. 0722-564999
Singapore: Cakkavala Meditation Centre Block 10 Pandan Loop
#01-152 Singapore 128228 Tel. 65-98528046 www.Buddhastation.org
IIn Myanmar: International Meditation Ctre. (Pa-Auk Branch)
Thilawar Rd. (near Kyaik-khauk Pagoda) Thanlyin, Yangon Div. Tel. 056-21927
We will do our very best to ensure your stay
is beneficial and productive. Please be patient - things take time in Myanmar.
May you be happy. May you
realize the Dhamma.
Sadhu! Sadhu! Sadhu!
Revised June 30,
2003 Pa-Auk Tawya Meditation
Centre