Pāli Workshop with Sean Salkin

The aim of these workshops is to provide greater access to the words of the Buddha, which will enable a deeper understanding of the Buddha's teaching, the Dhamma. Goenkaji has emphasized that Pāli workshops such as these are very beneficial: they help meditators develop inspiration and understanding of the theoretical aspect of Dhamma. However, these workshops cannot take place at a Vipassana center, as centers are dedicated to the practice of Vipassana only. Therefore, a suitable off-center location is arranged for each course.

Sean Salkin studied Pāli for one year at the Vipassana Research Institute, Igatpuri, India, and then continued his Pāli studies at the University of Sydney. In his workshops he aims to give students a solid grounding in Pāli grammar and vocabulary so that they can continue their studies independently after the course. Emphasis is also placed on the correct pronunciation of Pāli words. The textbook for the workshop is A.K. Warder’s Introduction to Pāli. The beauty of this book is that it introduces the student to the Pāli language using examples taken directly from the Pāli Canon. The workshop also focuses on Pāli passages heard in the discourses and chantings of 10-day Vipassana meditation courses. Other texts studied include the Dhammacakkappavattana Sutta (the Discourse on the Setting in Motion of the Wheel of Dhamma, the first discourse of the Buddha).

Workshop Format

Vipassana meditation is an integral part of this Pāli workshop, which includes three daily group sittings and morning chanting. Participants will observe noble speech outside of meditation hours. There will be complete segregation of men and women during the workshop. The daily schedule of activities will be similar to that of a 10-day Vipassana course, however, there will be both study and meditation periods throughout the day. 

Eligibility

• Introductory workshop : Open to all old students of Vipassana as taught by S.N. Goenka who have completed at least three 10-day courses, served at least one 10-day course, and are trying to maintain their daily practice (if you are close to meeting the criteria and feel the workshop would benefit you, please contact us at pali-workshop@pariyatti.org about the possibility of enrolling). 
• Please note that we do not accept any monastics (monks or nuns) on the course.
• Please read the Code of Conduct for Pāli workshops (below) carefully before you apply for this workshop.
• Old students who do not meet the enrollment criteria may also sign up to serve the course.

May your Pāli Workshop prove most beneficial to you. With best wishes for success, we offer you the following information. Please read it carefully before coming to the workshop.

The Five Precepts

The Five Precepts are the foundation of the Code of Discipline:

1. To abstain from killing any being;
2. To abstain from stealing;
3. To abstain from sexual misconduct (meaning, at the Pāli Workshop, to abstain from all sexual activity whatsoever);
4. To abstain from wrong speech;
5. To abstain from all intoxicants.

These Five Precepts are mandatory for everyone at a Pāli Workshop and must be observed scrupulously at all times. It is expected that those attending or serving a workshop are also trying to seriously maintain the Five Precepts in their daily lives.

Separation of Men and Women

While absolute separation of the sexes is not practical for the students and servers of a Pāli Workshop due to the close living and working conditions, this situation should not be misunderstood as an opportunity for men and women to socialize unnecessarily. This rule is all the more important for couples.

Physical Contact

In order to maintain the pure meditative atmosphere and the introspective nature of the practice, all Pāli students and servers must avoid all physical contact with other students and servers.

Noble Speech

When speaking, servers must practice Right Speech, refraining from:

1. Speaking lies or anything less than the truth.
2. Harsh language or rude words. Someone practicing Dhamma should always be polite and soft-spoken.
3. Slander or backbiting. There should be no criticism of others arising from one’s own negative feelings. A problem should be brought to the attention of the person concerned or to the Pāli workshop teacher or course managers.
4. Idle gossip, whistling or humming.

Noble Speech is, without a doubt, much more difficult than silence. It is therefore a very important training for anyone following the path of Dhamma.

Personal Appearance

Nothing should be worn which is tight, transparent, gaudy or revealing, or that might attract undue attention (such as shorts, short skirts, tights and leggings, sleeveless or skimpy tops). This attitude of modesty prevails at all times.

Smoking & Intoxicants

It is assumed that one who has accepted Dhamma is no longer involved in the use of intoxicants such as alcohol, hashish, marijuana, and so forth. The use of tobacco in any form is also totally forbidden, indoors or outdoors, either within or outside of the workshop site.

Food

The workshop provides simple, wholesome, vegetarian meals, without subscribing to any particular food philosophy.

Because meals prepared and served at these workshops are completely vegetarian, food containing alcohol or liqueur, eggs or food containing eggs (some baked goods, mayonnaise, etc.), or cheese with animal rennet, may not be brought to the workshop site. In general, any food from outside should be kept to an absolute minimum.

Pāli students and servers observe Five Precepts and may therefore have a meal in the evening if they wish. Fasting is not permitted.

Reading

Study books and course materials will be provided at the workshop.

Outside Contacts

Pāli students should avoid outside contact as much as possible and remain on site during the entire period. Likewise, telephone calls, and emailing and use of internet should be kept to a necessary minimum as the focus should remain on the Pāli lessons.

Keeping the Pāli Workshop Site Clean

It is the duty of the Pāli students and servers to help keep the workshop site neat and clean. Besides the kitchen and dining hall, the residences, meditation hall, bathrooms, offices and other areas may need attention. Servers and students should also be prepared, if necessary, to do occasional chores unrelated to food preparation and cleaning.

Dāna

There are no charges at Pāli workshops, either for the teaching, or for board, lodging, or other facilities provided to students.

Food, accommodation and other facilities are offered as gifts made possible by the donations of students of the past. Pāli students and servers can develop their own dāna pāramī by giving donations according to their means, for the benefit of others. These Pāli Workshops are able to operate only by the donations of grateful students.

Location

Workshop in Germany

Location: Obersteinbach, Waldenberg, Germany.
Google Maps Link: https://maps.app.goo.gl/JmBz7q3h62TpYwSR9

The workshop will take place at the Otto-Weinmann-Haus, a self-catering facility located in the quiet, rural district of Obersteinbach near Waldenburg (Southern Germany). The venue is surrounded by nature and features extensive outdoor facilities, including a large lawn (camping would be possible if you bring your own tent) and a covered barbecue area (pergola). Indoors, the house offers a fully equipped commercial kitchen, a dining room, a spacious seminar room and a meditation hall. Accommodation is provided in simple but functional multi-bed rooms (mainly 2–4-bed rooms).

• Frankfurt Airport (FRA): The main international hub. From here, it takes approx. 4 to 5 hours by train to the course location.
• Stuttgart Airport (STR): Closer, but fewer intercontinental connections. Approx. 3 to 4 hours by train.

The destination station is “Waldenburg (Württ)”. Connections can be checked via www.bahn.com.

• Public Bus: There is a bus connection from Waldenburg station to the stop “Obersteinbach”. From the bus stop, it is a 700 m (approx. 10 min) walk to the house.
• Taxi: Taxis are available but usually need to be booked in advance in this rural area.

The location is easily accessible via the A6 motorway (Autobahn), exit “Kupferzell” or “Öhringen”.

Additional Information for Your Arrival from Waldenburg (Württ) Train Station to the Venue

Your destination stop is Obersteinbach/Württ, Obersteinbach.

Your personal timetable link: you can view and check live connections via the official link below. If the page loads in German, you can switch the language to English in your browser menu:

bwegt Timetable / Fahrplanauskunft

From the bus stop in Obersteinbach, you will need to walk the remaining distance to the Otto-Weinmann-Haus.

Since there are usually no taxis waiting at Waldenburg station, you may contact the local provider, Taxi Schöls.

• How it works: You can call them directly from the train (approx. 10–15 minutes before your arrival) to order a cab. If several participants arrive at the same time, the driver will group you together so you can share the vehicle.
• Cost: Approx. €25 (+/− €3) per ride.
• Travel time: Approx. 10 minutes.
• Phone number: +49 7940 4411

July in Southern Germany is generally warm and pleasant. Temperatures usually range between 15°C and 35°C (approx. 60°F – 95°F). While it is mostly sunny, rain showers or thunderstorms are possible, so bringing layers and a rain jacket is recommended.

In order to offer the gift or dāna of the Dhamma, no fixed fee will be requested from participants of this workshop. It will be organized on a donation basis, which will be the sole source of funding. Any former student, whether participating or not, may contribute to our General Pāli workshop fund to help finance future Pāli Workshops. For more information about online donations, please write to: pali-workshop@pariyatti.org.

All donations to Pariyatti are tax-deductible in accordance with U.S. tax law.

Upcoming Pāli Workshops

"Students on this course learn the Pāli alphabet and Pāli pronunciation. They learn the most important elements of Pāli grammar and are instructed in the use of Pāli dictionaries. By the end of the course, most students are able to read and understand passages from the discourses of the Buddha in Pāli. A part of the focus of the course is to give students the ability to continue with their study of Pāli after the course, to make further progress on their own, and to read more deeply in the discourses of the Buddha. The textbook for the course is Introduction to Pāli by A.K. Warder. The following lines from the foreword to Maurice Walshe’s Long Discourses of the Buddha provide some inspiration: “[The Pāli discourses] are not meant to be 'sacred scriptures' that tell us what to believe. One should read them, listen to them, think about them, contemplate them and investigate the present reality with them.’"

 

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