Uposatha Meditation Retreat

by Burleigh Custis

In mid-November of last year I undertook the Eight Precepts for the first time at Sitagu Vihara in observation of an Uposatha Day weekend meditation retreat. Since the arrival of the meditation cottages, this retreat was the first one to be made at the Vihara.

Altogether I spent three nights there, passing the days in sitting and walking mediation, reading about the Dhamma, and reflecting on the qualities of the Buddha. Despite the fact that at the time I was suffering from a bad head cold, I count the retreat among one of the best experiences of my life.

Ashin Pandita administered the Eight Uposatha Day Precepts to me and expounded the basic sitting and walking meditation methods to me. Before this retreat my mediation experience had consisted almost entirely of sitting meditation. This was my first serious attempt at walking mediation. I found this experience very helpful to my practice overall.

As an upasaka who had never previously undertaken the Eight Precepts, I had some concerns going into the retreat about how difficult it would be to maintain the precept not to eat after noon. To my surprise this precept posed no problem to me at all. Awakening at six a.m. and taking breakfast after the monks, then taking lunch again after the monks at 11:30 proved ample nurishment for the whole day. At that time in November the weather had become rather cold at night. Because of this I did not actually sleep in the mediation cottage, but at the monks' insistance stayed inside the monastery itself. During the day however, while the temperatures were more hospitable, I did make use of the cottage as a mediation space. Using the cottage for sitting mediation and the woods behind it for walking meditation, the retreat provided a welcomed respite from the hectic world and great opportunity to deepen my practice and understanding of the Dhamma.

Prior to my making this Uposatha retreat, I had often read of Uposatha Day observances in Myanmar and other Theravadan countries. These accounts relate how many people come to the monasteries to undertake the Eight Precepts, to hear dhamma talks and the practice meditation. Having now experienced the Uposatha observance for myself, I still look forward to a time when many people, both Burmese and non-Burmese alike, will come together at Sitagu Vihara for these observances. Sitagu Vihara aims to be one day a center for the propagation of the Dhamma and of Buddhist meditation practice. At the present time it has already realized that potential in some small measure. It only awaits those eager to partake of its offerings.

I encourage anyone who is interested in deepening his understanding of the Dhamma, or in expanding his meditation practice to come to Sitagu Vihara for a mediation retreat of any length. A retreat of even but one day is a benefit to those eager for the Dhamma. We all have here in Austin a great opportunity near to hand. Let those with but a little dust in their eyes come and see.

Burleigh Custis
Austin, Texas