Tulasidalam Bodhi sattvo is open to all who practice meditation and who wish to experience it. You are welcome for meditation retreats for few days or weeks in silence to experience the calmness of the Inner Self. At Tulasidalam Bodhi sattvo visitors will find a beautiful nature with wonderful surroundings. There is also a small library with literature on philosophy.
This self exploratory journey of self transformation through self-observation.....through self consciousness dissolves mental impurities bringing out a balanced Positive and compassionate mind thus naturally moving into the state of calmness and peace.
Mini-Sesshin : at the beginning of each month a mini sesshin of three days duration takes place (1st-3rd).
Reservation:Please contact the management to reserve a space prior to your stay at Tulasidalam Bodhi Sattvo (Shared accommodations in 2 or 3).
Preferably send an E-Mail to the Tulasidalam Bodhi sattvo secretary@ :
Please write well in advance. E-Mail correspondence in Thelliyoor a remote village of Kerala can take considerable time. If you do not hear from Tulasidalam Bodhi Sattvo within a week, please send your e-mail a second time. If you intend to stay longer than the program please discuss your request with the master. For more information please call Tulasidalam Bodhi Sattvo office, (opening hours 10.00 am- 4.30 pm; please remember the time mentioned is in IST, Indian standard time)
Prices:Only accommodation and meals will be charged (south Indian kerala sattvic vegetarian food). The meditation sessions and all the meditation teachings are for free. The daily expense is 10 Euros.
Getting there: Journey to Tulasidalam Bodhi Sattvo
Location: Is in the central part of Kerala between THIRUVALLA and ARANMULA in South India. The closest village is Thadiyoor and the nearest township is Kozhencherry.
It is approximately 165kms south of Cochin airport and 155kms north of Trivandrum airport.
You can travel to reach Tulasidalam Bodhi Sattvo by the following means:
From Cochin or Trivandrum airports you can travel to Tulasidalam Bodhi Sattvo by road,
we recommend taxi. Or you can arrive a day before at Cochin or Trivandrum and travel by train to Thiruvalla from where you can either hire a taxi or take a bus or even contact the center with your arrival time so the pickup is arranged.
Daily schedule at Tulasidalam Bodhi Sattvo includes group meditation (Zazen), shared work (Samu), Kerala South Indian vegetarian meals and leisure time, providing the opportunity for self introspection. To learn about the routine please refer to daily schedule.
Routine:(daily schedule)
6.30am -9.00am : session (I)
9.55am:brunch
11.30am--1.30pm: session (II)
3.15pm-4.30pm: session(III)
4.30pm: tea & snacks
6.00pm-8.00pm: sessions with discourse from the master (IV)
9.05pm : light dinner
10.15pm:lights off.
Silence is maintained through out the retreat.
Besides collective meditation there are daily private interviews, (dokusan) where visitors can discuss elements of their spiritual practice or problems in their meditation practice with Sinduamma .
During Sesshins, Intensive meditation retreats, Sinduamma gives lectures about meditation.
SESSHIN: Every 5months an intensive meditation retreat, Sesshin, takes place. The duration of a Sesshin is 7 days and takes place in complete silence. You should have some experience in silent meditation before participating in a full Sesshin. Please register in advance for any Sesshin. For dates of Sesshin please contact.
Introduction: If you intend to participate in a Sesshin , but is not experienced we suggest attending an Mini-sesshin course. If you have enough time it is useful to attend a Mini-Sesshin first during which you will be familiarized with the techniques of Zazen.
The aim of Zen practice is to discover the Buddha-nature within each person, through meditation and mindfulness of daily experiences.
Zen is a school of Mahāyāna Buddhism. This word derived from the Sanskrit word dhyāna, which means "meditation". Zen emphasizes experiential knowledge, realized in the form of meditation, in the attainment of enlightenment. As such, it de-emphasizes theoretical knowledge in favor of direct, experiential realization through meditation and dharma practice.
The establishment of Zen is traditionally by the South Indian Pallava prince-turned-monk Bodhidharma, who taught outside the scriptures, that all sentient beings have Buddha-nature, the universal nature of inherent wisdom (Sanskrit prajna) and virtue, and emphasizes that Buddha-nature is nothing other than the nature of the mind itself. The aim of Zen practice is to discover this Buddha-nature within each person, through meditation and mindfulness of daily experiences. Zen practitioners believe that this provides new perspectives and insights on existence, which ultimately lead to enlightenment.
Very generally speaking, zazen practice is taught in one of three ways.
Concentration
Koan Introspection
Shikantaza(just sitting)
Shikantaza is usually associated with the Soto school, and koan practice with the Rinzai school. In reality many Zen communities use both methods depending on the teacher and students. Shikantaza can also be referred to as samatha-vipashyana based on Śīla, samadhi and prajna.
