Panditarama Lumbini, Nepal

Theravada Tradition, 20th Century.

Panditarama Lumbini International Vipassana Meditation Center is an international project including re-developing the ancient sites and constructing new monasteries. The Center offers a supportive, comfortable, and peaceful environment for those seeking meditation practice.

Panditarama Lumbini. Photo: Coro Sam

The meditation method follows the tradition of the Venerable Mahasi Sayadaw of Myanmar, which consists of sitting meditation and formal walking meditation, interviews, and regular Dhamma-talks in English. During retreats meditators observe Noble Silence and keep eight precepts.

Location

Lumbini ("the lovely") is a Buddhist pilgrimage site in the Rupandehi District of Lumbini Province in Nepal. It is the place where, according to Buddhist tradition, Queen Mahamaya Devi gave birth to Siddhartha Gautama at around 563 BCE.

Gautama, who achieved Enlightenment around 528 BCE, became the Buddha and founded Buddhism.

Lumbini is one of four main pilgrimage sites mentioned by Buddha himself and recorded in Digha Nikaya, Mahaparinibbana Sutta, Last Days of the Buddha.¹

History

Panditarama Lumbini International Vipassana Meditation Center was set up by Venerable Sayadaw U Panditabhivamsa (1921-2016) of Myanmar in cooperation with the Venerable Sayadaw U Asabhacara and inaugurated on February 7, 1999.

Features

Panditarama Lumbini is part of the “Lumbini Master Plan,” the work of Japanese architect Kenzo Tange, a layout of 4.8 by 1.6 km, with monasteries built by different countries or organizations which through their diverse architecture and art showcase different cultural and religious traditions.²

Panditarama Lumbini offers retreats year-round. Meditators may schedule their individual retreat from a minimum of seven days up to several months starting at any time of the year.

The resident teachers, Venerable Sayadaw U Vivekananda and Venerable Sayalay Daw Bhaddamanika teach meditation in English, Burmese, German, and French and give regular Dhamma-talks and guidance to retreatants.

Panditarama Lumbini is keeping the old tradition of Dana and has operated from its very beginning entirely on the principle of generosity. There are no set daily fees, and monetary donations are used to maintain and further develop the meditation center for the benefit of present and future meditators.

Travel and Visiting

Flights are available from New Delhi to Bhairahawa domestic airport, which is 22Km away from Lumbini.

Upon arrival retreatants will be assigned a room, go through the registration (8AM-10AM, 12PM-5PM, any day of the week) and orientation process, and read the meditation instructions. Then they can start the practice.

Meditation practice at Panditarama Lumbini International Vipassana Meditation Center consists of 12 to 14 hours of mindful sitting, walking meditation, and general activities each day, requiring a strong capacity to handle silence, being away from family and friends.

Upon arrival, a questionnaire is required to be filled out to identify meditator’s mental constitution and help the meditation teacher guide a meditator more effectively

Sources

• http://www.panditarama-lumbini.info
• https://visitworldheritage.com

Footnotes

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