Klosterbeschreibungen (Malaysia)
Descriptions:
Name/Address:
SBS Monk Training Centre
Taiping, Perak
Malaysia
c/o: 28 & 30, 1st floor, Jalan Medan Taiping 4.
Medan Taiping 34000, Taiping, Perak, Malaysia
Tel : 05-8411198
Mobile : 017-5182011
Email : office@sasanarakkha.org
Web: https://sasanarakkha.org/
Effective March 2019
Teacher/Method: SBS was founded in the year 2543 (2000) by ven. Aggacitta Mahāthera. Current abbot (or, more precisely, saṅghanāyaka = leader of the saṅgha is āyasmā (venerable) Ariyadhammika (for a detailed biography see: https://sasanarakkha.org/2018/08/30/ariyadhammika/). Born in Austria in 2519 (1976), āyasmā Ariyadhammika ordained in the year 2548 (2005) with the ven. Pa Auk Sayadaw as his upajjhāya (Engl: preceptor). His first five years as a monk he spent at the ven. Pa Auk Sayadawa's main monastery in Mawlamyine, Myanmar (Pa Auk Forest Meditation Centre), where he established his own meditation practice under simple conditions in a solitary forest hut, as well as a formative understanding of the monks monastic discipline.
After five years in Burma, three subsequent years in Thailand, two years in Malaysia and three years in Sri Lanka, he felt that his original intention to explore the three main Theravāda countries and their respective meditation methods and monastic cultures was accomplished. In 2018, for the first time since his 5th vassa (2009), he said he eventually felt ready to settle long term and make himself available for taking up a formal position which is dedicated to offer support and guidance to fellow monastics. He kindly accepted an invitation to take over the role of saṅghanāyaka (leader of the saṅgha) at SBS Monk Training Centre.
Character: Recommends simplicity and has a flexible mind, which delights in helping others, especially monastics. He wishes and works diligently for the growth of SBS, the well-being of its inmates and the furtherance of the Buddhist religion in general. Wide Tipiṭaka learning and a purist advocate of ancient monastic discipline. Mellow in heart and rarely says no to wholesome requests. Not fussy about requisites. Wishes to help individuals realize nobility of heart.
According to his own explanation, Bhante Ariyadhammika's main interests these days are:
- Meditation: from the perspective of "Early Buddhism" (Pāli scriptures and their parallels)
- Dhamma studies: from the perspective of "Early Buddhism"
- Provision of guidance & training to like-minded monastics.
Ven. Ariyadhammika speaks Austrian German as a native speaker, is fluent in English and has a basic command of Pāli.
The teaching methodology draws primarily from the material found in the ancient Buddhist scrtiptures, the Tipṭaka, in a subsidiary manner also from later Buddhist material, such as the Visuddhimagga. Accordingly endorsed approaches in the cultivation of virtue, meditation and wisdom can vary considerably, as it is mirrored by the variegated teachings and approaches found in the scriptures themselves of our main authority, the Buddha – the suitability for the individual is attempted to be taken well into consideration.
The training layout at SBS Monk Training Center further consists of 14 synoptical points:
- Meditation theory and practice, which includes experimenting with and gaining proficiency in different meditation techniques which can then be skillfully used and applied for different purposes, times & situations
- Dhamma knowledge and proper attitude towards the scriptures
- Vinaya knowledge and proper attitude towards the Vinaya
- Abhidhamma knowledge and its scrutiny in the light of Early Buddhism
- Knowledge of important Chants (in Pāli & English)
- Development of practical skills (sewing robes, making brooms, living under a tree, going on tudong)
- Development of research skills with the use of modern technology and specialised software
- The mastery of basic level Pāli, sufficient for research purposes (advanced Pāli too, in case of individual interest)
- Development of right speech and conversation skills that go beyond mere noble silence (e.g. “Non Violent Communication” workshops)
- Development of verbal & digital presentation skills for giving Dhamma talks
- Development of writing skills for Dhamma/Vinaya essays
- Development of an online presence either on a personal website, blog, or a monastery website
- Development of administrative and leadership skills
- Development in other areas depending on demand and interest of the resident monastics
Dhamma Study: Dhamma studies are encoured and regarded as an essential part of the way to practical realization. Full-time studies are perfectly possible though not encouraged by default. An excellent library with numerous titles exists, varying from root material of the tipiṭaka (Pāli, English, Chinese, Myanmar) to secondary publications of purely Buddhist practical relevance to Buddhsit academic works to books on Western Psychology, Self-Help, Religion and Health, among other fields. The library hosts works in Pāli, English, Chinese and Myanmar.
Vinaya: Most common denominators are the rules and regulations as found in the Bhikkhuvibhaṅgha and Khandakas (Mahāvagga and Cullavagga) of the Pāli recension of the tipiṭaka. Additionally, on similar lines, the following is applied policy:
- Rejecting interpretations and practices of the Vinaya that contradict the scriptual tradition and entail the committing of offences (āpattiyo)
- Discouraging, but at best tolerating, interpretations and practices of the Vinaya that contradict the scriptual tradition but do not entail the committing of offences
- Encouraging contemporary interpretations and practices of the Vinaya that accord with the scriptual tradition but which have been overlooked in established Theravāda Buddhist Countries.
Schedule: The following is the default schedule. Individual exceptions are possible and have to be endorsed by the saṅghanāyaka (leader of the Saṅgha; ven. Ariyadhammika). The weekends are usually without schedule (except for the alms-walk in the morning) and regulation as to the place for taking ones meal. The chores might also be done alternativley in the morning.
A complete spritual retreat for monks, who may just join the communty for alms round and the fortnightly recitation of the monk's rules is possible under a limited and specific endorsement.
05:00—06:00 Sitting/Walking meditation (free choice as to locality)
06:00—06:45 Chanting (Sīma Hall)
07:30—09:00 Alms round
09:30—10:15 Sitting/Walking meditation (Sīma Hall and surroundings)
10:30—11:15 Sutta reading (Saṅgha Court)
11:30—12:15 Lunch (Saṅgha Court's veranda)
15:00—17:30 Sitting/Walking meditation (Sīma Hall and surroundings)
17:30—18:00 Afternoon drinks and allowable refreshments (Saṅg. Crt.)
18:00—18:45 Chores
19:30—20:30 Sitting meditation (Sīma Hall)
Costs/What to bring: Teaching, food, and accomodation are rendered free of charge, for monastics and laity. The center's expenses are met according to the Buddhist principle of voluntary charity. No one is anticipating a donation to be given (you are nonetheless warmly welcome to do so if you like), but just to stringently practice Buddhist dhamma.
Requisites are available on request for monastics. Lay guests are encouraged to look after their individual needs independently of SBS, though certain items might be borrowed from the saṅgha, such as blankets.
Food/Requisites: Food is taken at the Taiping Insight Meditation Center (TIMS) and brought back to SBS. One may chose from a healthy variety of foodstuffs served in buffet style. Vegetarian diet is feasible, vegan not impossible (Tofu is regularly served). Food is rich in carbs, protein, fat, sugar (sweets), vegetables and fruits and of more than sufficient variety. Items of daily use are sufficiently available and stored and special needs for certain requisites are usually easily met on request to the saṅgha procurement officer.
Locality/Facilities: SBS Monk Training Center and Retreat Center are located approx. four kilometers outside the city of Taiping in Northern Malaysia on a mostly very quiet and secluded forest hill. Behind the precincts is quite a vast expanse of virgin forest.
Approx. 25 huts mostly of two styles are on the grounds of SBS Monk Training and Retreat Center. The more spacious huts with attached bathroom, elcetricity and a balcony (interior around 16 m²) number a total of around 8 and are available mainly for male monastics, though exceptions are possible. The other style consists of huts of a much smaller scale, without electricity, and outside, shared bathrooms. They are mostly situated in deeply shaded and quiet forest though and have a certain charm to them, conducive for the development of meditation and the virtue of simplicity etc. These are intended mainly for junior monastics, postulants and lay guests.
Saṅgha Central Facilities with three store rooms, a health and a sewing room and several washing facilities, including three washing machines. The Saṅgha Court with a classroom, multimedia room, two offices (one for ven. Aggacitta), the library, an open veranda with benches, where the meal is taken together and sutta reading conducted, and several washing facilities, a stupa for deceased SBS monks and a Bodhi Tree.
Four halls (two open and two enclosed) and a pavilion are available for individual or group practice, though one hall is of the Retreat Center and might not be available during held retreats. Numerous meditation platforms just large enough to sit cross-legged upon are strewn over the precincts. A shrine dedicated to the devas of the four heavenly quarters exists at the Retreat Center and spacious doorms for male and female retreatants.
A stupa area build mainly due to the support of Myanmar devotees possesses a large golden stupa, a hall, three huts, one for individual retreat or a days sojourn near a picturesque stream, and several other smaller buildings.
One simple hut enclosed with only mosquito screens and equipped with running water and toilet facilities is currently planned to be used for a complete spritual retreat by one monk, who just joins the communty for alms round and the fortnightly recitation of the monk's rules.
Air conditioning exists in the library and the Sīma Hall.
A brook tinkles through SBS and a pool may easily be formed next to the Saṅgha Court, it might be used for bathing or swimming exercises. The brook issues into a larger stream down the hill. It's riverbed has several pools and many large boulders, which invite the meditator to sit upon – reachable from SBS in a few minutes only.
Climate etc.: Tropical climate. Temperatures range from approx. 22°—34° Celsius and rarely drop below or raise above. Malaria does not exist. Mosquitos and sandflies next to leeches are present in varying degrees as to place and species. At several localities it is well possible to stay outside without much or any harassment.