The final program

Ajahn Brahm in Toronto, November 6th-8th, 2012

The Final Program

Ajahn Brahm in Toronto, November 6th-8th, 2012

6th November 2012

08:00 -09:00 A.M:  Sign in

09.00 - 09.45 A.M: Instructions on meditation

09.45 - 10.00 A.M: Questions on meditation

10.00 - 11.00 A.M: Group Sitting meditation

11.00 - 12.00 P.M: Lunch: Please practice mindful eating*

12:00 - 02:00 P.M: Rest/Walking Meditation*

02:00 - 3:00 P.M: Group Sitting Meditation

03:00 - 03:30 P.M: Rest/Tea Break*

03:30 - 04:30 P.M:  Group Sitting Meditation

04:30-05:00 P.M: Rest/ Tea Break*

05.00 - 06.00 P.M: Interviews

06.00 - 07.00 P.M: Public Talk: "Samatha and Vipassana meditation practices: Are these two different methods or two aspects of the same technique?"

*Please observe noble silence at all times.

Please note: Ajahn Brahm will be participating in most sessions. However we will allow him to rest as much as he needs to catch up with the jet lag (12hour time difference) as he is coming to Toronto directly from Western Australia, via USA. We also have to consider that he will have to give a public talk each evening after the retreat and he is leaving on the 9th morning to Las Vegas for another retreat.

7th November 2012

09.00 - 09.45 A.M: Instructions on meditation

09.45 - 10.00 A.M: Questions on meditation

10.00 - 11.00 A.M: Group Sitting meditation

11.00 - 12.00 P.M: Lunch: Please practice mindful eating*

12:00 - 02:00 P.M: Rest/Walking Meditation*

02:00 - 3:00 P.M: Group Sitting Meditation

03:00 - 03:30 P.M: Rest/Tea Break*

03:30 - 04:30 P.M:  Group Sitting Meditation

07.00 - 08.00 P.M:  Public Talk: "Buddhism and Science"

At the University of Toronto, William Doo Auditorium, 45 Willcocks St., Toronto, M5S 5C7. Organized by New College, University of Toronto: Buddhism, Psychology and Mental Health Program. This talk is sponsored by Nalanda College of Buddhist Studies.

*Please observe noble silence at all times.

Please note: Ajahn Brahm will be participating in most sessions. However we will allow him to rest as much as he needs to catch up with the jet lag (12hour time difference) as he is coming to Toronto directly from Western Australia, via USA. We also have to consider that he will have to give a public talk each evening after the retreat and he is leaving on the 9th morning to Las Vegas for another retreat.

8th November 2012

09.00 - 09.45 A.M: Instructions on meditation

09.45 - 10.00 A.M: Questions on meditation

10.00 - 11.00 A.M: Group Sitting meditation

11.00 - 12.00 P.M: Lunch: Please practice mindful eating*

12:00 - 02:00 P.M: Rest/Walking Meditation*

02:00 - 3:00 P.M: Group Sitting Meditation

03:00 - 03:30 P.M: Rest/Tea Break*

03:30 - 04:15 P.M:  Group Sitting Meditation

04:15 - 04:30 P.M: Closing

07.00 - 08.00 P.M: Public talk: "The Right View: What is it and how can we get there?"

At the Toronto Mahavihara,

4698 Kingston Road

Scarborough, Ontario

M1E 2P9, Canada

*Please observe noble silence at all times.

Please note: Ajahn Brahm will be participating in most sessions. However we will allow him to rest as much as he needs to catch up with the jet lag (12hour time difference) as he is coming to Toronto directly from Western Australia, via USA. We also have to consider that he will have to give a public talk each evening after the retreat and he is leaving on the 9th morning to Las Vegas for another retreat.

Please wear loose comfortable clothing. White or light colour clothing is encouraged.  Please bring your own meditation cushion (if you have one). Limited number of cushions are available at the temple. 

All meals and beverages will be provided to the Yogis by the volunteers of the temple.

The public talks poster

The three-day meditation retreat, Rules and Guidelines

Ajahn Brahm in Toronto, November 6--8, 2012. The three-day meditation retreat, Rules and Guidelines

All participants are expected to follow the rules and guidelines of the temple AT ALL TIMES during the meditation retreat.

1. Please note that NOBLE SILENCE is to be observed throughout all meditation sessions.

2. NO CELL PHONES are allowed in the meditation hall. If you need to bring one for emergency use please have them completely switched off (not on vibration). Please go outside of the meditation hall if you need to make a call.

3. During the lunch and tea breaks MINDFUL EATING/DRINKING* Practices need to be observed as a part of the training.

4. ALL OTHER ACTIVITIES* including, walking, entering the hall, sitting and getting up from sitting position, use of washrooms, SHOULD BE DONE WITH FULL MINDFULNESS maintained at all times. Complete Silence should be maintained throughout all these activities as much as possible.

*….when walking, the monk discerns, 'I am walking.' When standing, he discerns, 'I am standing.' When sitting, he discerns, 'I am sitting… however his body is disposed, that is how he discerns it…. when eating, drinking, chewing, & savoring... when urinating & defecating... remaining silent, he makes himself fully alert…(EXTRACT)" Maha-satipatthana Sutta: The Great Frames of Reference" (DN 22), translated from the Pali by Thanissaro Bhikkhu. Access to Insight, 15 October 2011, http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/dn/dn.22.0.than.html . Retrieved on 28 September 2012.

The public talks

Ajahn Brahm in Toronto, November 6--8, 2012. The public talks

Ajahn Braham will be in Toronto from November 6-8, 2012. He will be giving a series of public talks at three different venues as given below. All are welcome to attend and no prior registration is necessary.  Please note that the space will be limited at these venues.

November 6th, 2012

06.00 - 07.00 P.M: at Halton Peel Buddhist Cultural Society, 3133 Cawthra Road

Mississauga, ON L5A 2X4

Phone:    (905) 891-8412  [New Temporary Contact Number: 905 566 9741]

E-mail:    info@westendbuddhist.com

Topic: Samatha and Vipassana meditation practices: Are these two different methods or two aspects of the same technique?

November 7th, 2012

07.00 - 08.00 P.M: Talk at the University of Toronto, William Doo Auditorium, 45 Willcocks St., Toronto, M5S 5C7. Organized by New College, University of Toronto: Buddhism, Psychology and Mental Health Program. This talk is sponsored by Nalanda College of Buddhist Studies.

Topic: Buddhism and science

November 8th, 2012

07.00 - 08.00 P.M: Public talk at theToronto Mahavihara,

4698 Kingston Road

Scarborough, Ontario

M1E 2P9, Canada

Telephone : (416)208-9276

E-Mail : torontomahavihara@rogers.com

Topic: "The Right View": What is it and how can we get there?

Please Note:

There will be a brief book-signing event after each session.

We regret to inform you that we cannot arrange any private meetings or house danes (offering of meals) out side the schedule above. Your understanding is greatly appreciated. All talks are free of charge.

A book signing event

A brief book signing event will be held after each public talk.  These two books are available for sale.

Registration is now closed.

We regret to in form you that the registration for the meditation retreat is now closed due to the limited availability of the places.  However we are now preparing a wait-list incase some people decide to cancel their registration.  Please do not hesitate to send your information if you wish to be added to the wait-list. We will re-confirm all the final participants who have registered up to now in early October. We will let you know if a place becomes available as soon as possible.  You are most welcome to attend the public talks. Prior registration is not necessary for these talks.

Registration information for the meditation retreat

The registration for the three day meditation retreat will begin on the 1st of August at 9 a.m.  Please send an e-mail to  info@westendbuddhist.com indicating the following:


1. The name(s) of the participant(s)
2. The number of participants (if applicable) 
3. The contact phone number 
4. The e-mail address
5. The dates of participation (All three days/November 6th/November 7th/November 8th)


Thank you for your patience.


Halton Peel Buddhist Cultural Society