3 days meditation retreat (21st Aug. to 23rd Aug. 2010)

Led by Ven. Aggacitta and Melitis kwong

I have read a few books and attended many teachings in Australia on different topics about Buddhism. I was also regularly meditating. However, The Deer Park 3 day Meditation course led by Melitis Kwong and Venerable Aggacitta was the best introduction to both meditation and Buddhism. It covered technique and philosophy and has inspired me to learn more about Buddhism and continue my meditation practise. The support and guidance of Melitis and Venerable were encouraging and gentle and I really appreciated their openness and availability to answer the never ending list of questions I had! It was also good to do both walking and sitting meditation as it helped me to bring awareness into my daily life (when moving). The evening screening of teachings by Dzongsar Kyentse Riponche also really helped me understand some concepts that I have been struggling with for a while, such as dependent arising and emptiness( and were also good for a laugh). It has taken my practise and understanding of the philosophy to another level - for that I am very grateful. Deer park Institute it self is a beautiful peaceful place conducive to learning and the temple an inspiring place to meditate! The environmental policies (zero waste) and efficient use of resources also inspiring. Because the staff are also friendly and welcoming it has made coming back here for a yoga course, like a feeling of coming home to family. The library is also a wonderful resource to be able to access during my visit. I feel that I could still approach Melitis and Venerable with any questions I have, and that is a really wonderful feeling. Thank you to them both and to the founders and directors or Deer Park for creating and running such a wonderful institute.

- By Lisa Smith



The three day meditation course with Melitis Kwong and Venerable Aggacitta in August at Deer Park was a profoundly confirming experience for me in my path in Buddhism. Having spent many years practicing yoga, different forms of meditation, recently sitting a 10 vipassana course and having studied Asian philosophy as part of my Arts degree in Australia four years ago, I came into the course with an intellectual understanding of some of the concepts and a practical experience of the method of meditation. Despite this previous experience I was still unable to link the two. The three days was a much gentler method than the vipassana course, as it involved sitting and walking meditation and gave me the opportunity to learn more about the relationship between method and wisdom in Buddhism through the wonderfully comprehensive and easy to understand evening recorded lectures from Dzongsar Khyentse Rinpoche. Having daily interviews with Melitis enabled me to speak through any of my doubts, questions and and allowed me to begin to understand the interdependent relationship between method and wisdom in the Buddhist tradition. Thank you for a wonderful course, it has inspired me to continue on this path, particularly now that I have come to learn that Dzongsar Khyentse Rinpoche has a gompa in my home town Kyogle in Australia.

- By Sarah Daley