11 Day 50-Hour Buddhist Meditation Teacher Training in a Buddhist Monastery

Metta Pilgrims Buddhist meditation teacher training is specially designed for spiritual seekers, meditation practitioners, Yogis, healers, researchers, mindfulness coaches, therapists, and curious pilgrims who want to learn the art of Buddhist meditation and discover the healing power of Metta Bhavana - an ancient Buddhist practice of loving-kindness and compassion.

The training will take place in one of the most beautiful monasteries on the planet - Thiksey monastery. You will start each day with a morning prayer, meditation, and gentle yoga. After breakfast, you will be immersed in an in-depth exploration of various practices of Buddhist meditation and the most essential teachings of Tibetan Buddhism.

In the afternoons, you will be practicing "kindness in action" by offering selfless service in the monastery school. During the last few days of the training we will visit the majestic Pangong lake and participate in Green Tara Ruja - an ancient sacred ritual that helps to heal the body, purify the heart, and remove both personal and spiritual obstacles.

What is Metta?

In the Buddhist tradition, Metta is a practice that allows you to cultivate (or re-awaken) your natural capacity for unconditional love, compassion, and forgiveness. With Metta, you'll learn how to love and be compassionate to your own selves, and how to love and be compassionate to other living beings.

Metta is one of the most transformative and therapeutic practices known to mankind today. The cultivation of Metta helps to awaken you from the delusion of separation, heal your physical bodies, emotions, and relationships, and create a life infused with love, joy, compassion, and forgiveness.

Education

• More than 50-hour of Buddhist meditation and philosophy taught by a Buddhist monk
• Ffoundations of mindfulness, sitting meditations, walking meditations, mindful breathing (anapanasati), insight meditation (vipassana), unique Tibetan Buddhist meditations, mantra meditation, etc.
• Yoga classes, movement therapy, psychology, and healing sessions with amazing teachers
• Certificate of completion of a 50-hour Buddhist meditation teacher training

Karma yoga and contribution

• "Kindness in action", Karma yoga, and selfless service in the monastery school

Experience

• Participation in Green Tara Puja
• Visiting mystical Pangong Lake
• Visiting local villages and towns

Other benefit

• Language of the retreat: English
• Intimate group: maximum 12 people
• No previous experience required!

Itinerary

Day 1: Leh

• 11:00 - 13:30 Gathering at The Lodge (Leh)
• 13:30 - 14:30 Welcome lunch
• 14:30 - 16:00 Introduction of the program, Q&A
• 16:00- 18:00 Free time
• 18:00 Dinner

Day 2: Departure for Thiksey

• 09:00 - 10:00 Breakfast
• 11:00 Departure for Thiksey monastery
• Afternoon program: lunch upon arrival, yoga and meditation with Lola
• Dinner

Day 3 to 7: Training at Thiksey (five days)

• Morning begins with a cup of cleansing Tibetan medicinal herbal tea
• 05:45 - 06:15 Morning prayer
• 06:15 - 06:45 Silent meditation in the meditation hall
• 06:45 - 08:00 Gentle morning yoga led by Lola
• 08:00 - 09:00 Breakfast
• 09:00 - 10:30 First study session led by the main teacher - Mr. Geshe Chamba Tongyut
• 10:30 - 11:00 Break
• 11:00 - 12:30 Second study session led by Mr. Geshe Chamba Tongyut
• 12:30 - 13:30 Lunch
• 13:30 - 14:30 Free time
• 14:30 - 16:30 "Kindness in action" or selfless service in the monastery school: teaching English, giving workshops, cleaning, cooking, etc.
• 16:30 - 18:00 Q&A with Mr. Geshe Chamba Tongyut
• 18:00 - 19:00 Dinner
• 19:00 - 20:00 Free time for self-reflection, journaling, meditation, and rest
• 20:00 Lights off

Day 8: Last day at the monastery - special program

• The morning begins at 7:00 am with a cup of cleansing Tibetan medicinal herbal tea
• Guided meditation and walking meditation or circumambulation (Kora)
• After breakfast, you attend a special Green Tara Puja (Dolchok) to remove personal and spiritual obstacles in life
• After lunch, you will participate in one more meditation session and have some time for contemplation and rest
• Dinner will be served as usual at 6 p.m.

Day 9: Spangmik village

• 09:00 - 10:00 Breakfast
• 11:00 Departure towards Pangong lake
• Afternoon - arrival at Spangmik, a lovely village with amazing views of the mountains and glaciers
• Lunch and exploration of the local life
• 18:00 Dinner - accommodation at Pangong Sarai camps

Day 10: Pangong lake

• Early morning breakfast
• Visiting lake Pangong (4,267 meters above sea level)
• Lunch picnic at the lake
• Afternoon - free time to enjoy the wonderful landscapes, swim in the lake, meditate, and practice yoga
• Evening - return to Leh, dinner, and overnight in a monastery hotel

Day 11: Closing ceremony

• 07:30 - 08:30 Breakfast
• 09:00 Certification ceremony and closing circle

• Leh - the capital of Ladakh
• Majestic Pangong Lake
• Spangmik village - a beautiful remote village near Pangong lake

Thiksey Monastery is one of the most beautiful monasteries in the Himalayas. It resembles the Potala Palace of the Tibetan capital Lhasa. The monastery is located on top of the hill in Indus Valley and is surrounded by breath-taking panoramas. The beauty of this place is truly surreal!

The monastery has 10 temples, an assembly hall, precious stupas, amazing statues, and traditional Tibetan thangkas. Yet, the real treasure of the monastery is the world-famous statue of Maitreya Buddha - an embodiment of boundless compassion and infinite Metta, or loving-kindness.

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During your stay in Leh and Pangong lake, the meals will be rich and delicious. During your stay in the monastery, you will have healthy vegetarian meals according to the monastic diet. The monastic food is simple but very tasty and always made with love.

• 10 nights accommodation on a twin sharing basis
• Healthy vegetarian meals
• Complimentary Tibetan herbal tea
• 2 mineral water bottles per person per day
• Transfers mentioned in the itinerary
• Green Tara Puja
• Study sessions led by a Buddhist teacher
• Sessions and workshops led by Lola
• Study materials
• 1 CST treatment by Ondra during free time
• Certificate of completion

• Flight tickets
• Medical and travel insurance
• Indian visa
• Transfers and pick-ups not mentioned in the itinerary
• Personal expenses
• Laundry
• Telephone charges
• Any type of natural crises or flight delay charges
• Optional tours and personal transfers
• Anything not mentioned in the inclusion

Recommended Airports

• A reservation requires a deposit of 50% of the total price.
• The deposit is non-refundable, if the booking is cancelled.
• The rest of the payment should be paid 30 days before arrival.