FAQs
If you do not find an answer to your question below send us
e-mail.
What is the
Dhamma Vihara?
What does “Dhamma Vihara”
mean?
What is the “Centro Mexicano del
Buddhismo Theravada A.C. (CMBT)?
What does the “A.C.” mean?
Who are the spiritual leaders of
the Dhamma Vihara?
Where is the Dhamma Vihara
located?
Why is the Dhamma Vihara
located in the state of Veracruz, Mexico?
When was the Dhamma Vihara founded?
What do I need to do in order to make a
day visit to the Dhamma Vihara?
What is a meditation retreat?
What are the benefits of a meditation retreat?
What do I have to do in order to
attend a retreat or visit for more than one day?
What is the best time to arrive?
How much will it cost to stay at the
Dhamma Vihara?
How many days should I plan for
my visit to the monastery?
Am I going to have an instructor
during my stay?
Is there anything I should read before coming to the Dhamma
Vihara?
Is there any special type of
clothing I will need fro my stay at the Dhamma Vihara?
When talking to the Monks, how
should I address them?
Can the monastery provide
transportation from Coacoazintla or Xalapa?
What will I need during my stay?
Is there anything that the
Dhamma Vihara needs that I can bring to donate?
How can I make a donation to the
Dhamma Vihara?
Is it possible for groups to visit the
Dhamma Vihara?
Can I bring Children to the Dhamma
Vihara?
What special holidays does the Dhamma
Vihara celebrate?
What is the
Dhamma Vihara?
The Dhamma Vihara is a Theravada Buddhist
Monastery.
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What
does "Dhamma Vihara" mean?
The “Dhamma” is the teaching of the Buddha and
“Vihara” is a place where monks reside.
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What is Centro
Mexicano del Buddhismo Theravada A.C. (CMBT)?
Centro Mexicano del Buddhismo Theravada A.C.
(CMBT) [Mexican Center of Theravada Buddhism] is a non-profit organization founded
in 1997 and dedicated to the diffusion of the Buddha’s teachings throughout the
Spanish speaking world.
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What does the
“A.C.” mean?
The letters “A.C.” is an abbreviation for
“Asociacion Civil” which means, in Spanish, a non-profit organization.
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Who are the
spiritual leaders of the Dhamma Vihara?
Venerables U Silananda and U Nandisena are the
spiritual leaders of the Dhamma Vihara.
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Where is
the Dhamma Vihara located?
The Dhamma Vihara is located near the city of
Xalapa, Mexico --the capital of the State of Veracruz.
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Why is
the Dhamma Vihara located in the State of Veracruz?
The Dhamma Vihara is located in the State of
Veracruz because the founding members of the CMBT are from the State of Veracruz.
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When was the Dhamma
Vihara founded?
The Dhamma Vihara was founded on January 30,
1999.
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What do I need to do
in order to make a day visit to the Dhamma Vihara?
In spite of the fact that many visitors arrive
unannounced we advise and request (for your convenience and for ours) that you
contact us beforehand in order to plan your visit.
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What is a
meditation retreat?
A meditation retreat consists of alternating
periods of sitting and walking meditation. During a retreat one is instructed to
maintain and develop mindfulness in every activity one does (i.e.
eating). During retreats noble silence is observed. A meditation retreat can
last for a day, a weekend or a week or more.
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What are the
benefits of a meditation retreat?
The intensive practice carried
out during a retreat is quite beneficial for developing good concentration and
calming the mind. Proper concentration is essential for the development of
wisdom and knowledge. The environment provided by a retreat offers an excellent
opportunity to experience by oneself the true nature of reality.
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What do I have to
do in order to attend a retreat or visit for more than one day?
We require that you first read the
orientation sheet and then fill out the
visitors form. After we will contact
you to give you more information.
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What is the best
time to arrive?
We ask that you arrive between 9:00 a.m. and
5:00 p.m. If it is you first visit to the Dhamma Vihara we advise that you
arrive between 9:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m.
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How much will it cost
to stay at the Dhamma Vihara?
We rely solely on donations for the maintenance
and everyday costs of the monastery. We do not charge for the teachings you
might receive during your stay at the Dhamma Vihara.
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How many days
should I plan for my visit to the monastery?
If you do not have previous experience with
meditation practice we recommend you plan on spending only 2-3 days at the
monastery. If you are an experienced practitioner you may want to spend more
time. Stays longer than two weeks (for meditation purposes only) require that
you fill out the
extended visitor form.
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Am I going to have
an instructor during my stay?
Yes, you will have an instructor. Also
interviews with a resident monk to discuss meditation/Buddhism are possible.
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Is there anything I
should read before coming to the Dhamma Vihara?
Yes, you may read the following articles:
Introduction to Vipassana,
Questions and Answers about Vipassana,
Meditation Instructions
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Is there any
special type of clothing I will need fro my stay at the Dhamma Vihara?
The clothes you bring should be loose fitting
and comfortable to facilitate your meditation practice. Also please remember
that footwear is not permitted inside except for the kitchen. Because of this a
pair of sandals is useful because they are easy to put on/take off. For more
information on this subject see the
orientation sheet.
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When talking
to the Monks, how should I address them?
We ask that you please use either the term
“Venerable Sir” or “Bhante” when addressing one of the resident monks.
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Can the
monastery provide transportation from Coacoazintla or Xalapa?
The Dhamma Vihara can pick you up in
Coacoazintla. However, we ask that those requesting this service to please make
a donation to help cover the cost of transport. if you will need a ride from
Coacoazintla please contact us in advance.
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What will I need
during my stay?
First of all, we advise you to bring any
medicine that you might need. In addition we recommend the following personal
products: toothbrush and toothpaste, flashlight, batteries, insect repellent,
alarm clock, sandals, a sleeping bag or other bedding and clothing adequate for
a rainy and cool climate. We have a limited supply of meditation cushions and
mats. If you are able, please bring your own as we cannot always guarantee that
we will have enough for all visitors.
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Is there
anything that the Dhamma Vihara needs that I can bring to donate?
Yes. We have prepared a list of articles that
are currently needed by the monastery (List
of Articles).
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How can I make a
donation to the Dhamma Vihara?
You can make a donation to one of our bank
accounts. Also you can leave your donations in the donation box in the
meditation hall. Also donations of goods, work and service are welcome. Click
here for more information on making a donation.
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Is it possible for
groups to visit the Dhamma Vihara?
Yes, groups are welcome. However we ask that
you contact us beforehand to plan your visit.
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Can I bring
Children to the Dhamma Vihara?
Children are welcome for daytime visits.
However if you would like to bring your child fro and overnight visit please
contact us beforehand.
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What special
holidays does the Dhamma Vihara celebrate?
We celebrate two holidays. The International
Day of the Buddha (May) and the Day of the Lights (October).
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