Please note recent changes/updates to this site, below.
March 2014 - IMPORTANT NOTICE: Panditarama - Lumbini will be closed for the month of June 2014(June 1 to June 30, 2014) for major and minor repairs of the meditation center. All meditators will be asked to leave on May 31. Retreats will start again in early July 2014. Please note that these repairs can be noisy and loud which would have an adverse affect on meditation retreats. We regret closing the center for a short period, but think it is in the best interest of meditators. We look forward to seeing meditators returning from July onwards to learn the Dhamma in a more comfortable retreat center.
September 2013 - Vivekananda's Schedule Abroad for 2014 has been updated. He will conduct retreats in Italy, Israel, The Netherlands and the USA(Forest Refuge, Barre, Mass) in the Spring 2014. Click on "Teachings Around the World", above, for more details.
July 2013 - Recommended Minimum Retreat Duration - The Recommended Minumum Retreat Duration is seven(7) days. This is the minimum length of a retreat for residence at Panditarama-Lumbini. If you wish to do meditation at Panditarama for a shorter period of time(less than seven days) you may apply with us as a "part time retreatant". For this Panditarama does not provide food or accommodation. There are nearby village lodges and other monasteries that provide food and lodging. You will be able to meditate during the day and attend the evening Dhamma talk, following the daily meditation schedule and rules of the meditation center, Please contact us prior to arriving for acceptance as a part time retreatant.
March 2013 - New Office Hours for arriving retreatants at Panditarama are now from 8AM to 10AM and 12PM to 5PM everyday. Due to an increase in rereatants, we are asking retreatants to arrive at Panditarama from 8AM to 10AM and 12PM to 5PM seven days per week. If you arrive during the midday break, you may wait near the canal until noon. If you arrive after 5PM, we request that you find other accommodation for the night and arrive the next morning. There are hotels at the main gate and some nearby temples, which are not far from Panditarama, also accommodates guests.
Panditarama Lumbini International Vipassana Meditation Center is located in Lumbini, the birthplace of the Buddha and one of the four main places of pilgrimage for Buddhists. Lumbini is an international project including re-developing the ancient sites and constructing countless new monasteries. It is located in southern Nepal, near the Indian border.
Panditarama Lumbini International Vipassana Meditation Center was set up by Sayadaw U Panditabhivamsa of Myanmar in cooperation with the Venerable Sayadaw U Asabhacara and inaugurated on February 7, 1999.
Panditarama Lumbini offers a supportive, comfortable and peaceful setting for dhamma-students seeking practice. The meditation method is Intensive Vipassana in the tradition of the Venerable Mahasi Sayadaw of Myanmar, which consists of sitting meditation and formal walking meditation throughout the day. Almost daily interviews and regular Dhamma-talks in English. Meditators observe Noble Silence and keep eight precepts.
Panditarama Lumbini offers an ongoing retreat year-round. Meditators may schedule their individual retreat from a few days up to several months starting at any time of the year.
The resident teacher, Venerable Vivekananda, has trained with the Venerable Sayadaw U Panditabhivamsa of Myanmar since 1988. Venerable Vivekananda teaches meditation in English, Burmese, German and French.
The resident teacher, Sayalay Bhadda Manika, has trained under the Venerable Sayadaw U Panditabhivamsa of Burma for many years. Since the winter season of 2007, Sayalay Daw Bhadda Manika has joined interviewing meditators on six days a week.
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.
If you plan a retreat at the center please read carefully the guidelines for meditators and contact the retreat manager to schedule your arrival and duration of stay.
