Retreat

Self Guided

on your own

“The stream of Dhamma, the stream of Dhamma, it is said.
But Bhante, what is the stream of Dhamma?"
Sāriputta: ‘It is this Eight-Spoked Path of the Ariyas.’”

Ten-day self guided retreat

Reference Material

About the Retreat

Below you will find reference materials for each day, including a sutta, dhamma talk (including reading that sutta) and a link to daily reflections.

Delson typically uses Bhikkhu Bodhi’s translation when reading suttas. These translations can be bought at various places (i.e. Amazon). Links to available public translations are chosen in following order: Bhante Ānanda (BA), Bhikkhu Bodhi (BB), Bhikkhu Sujato (BS). Udana translation by Bhikkhu Ānandajoti

The final column indicates a link to a &A session from an earlier retreat. Recordings of daily QA from previous retreat can be found under the table

Meditation Essentials by Delson

Metta Instructions

Guided Lovingkindness Meditation by Delson Armstrong

Day 0 - Prep

Intro Video

Transcript

Reflections

Day 1

Effective Choice and Effective Application

SN45.8 – Vibhanga Sutta (Section on Effective Choice) – BA
SN49.1-12 – Pācīnādi Sutta (Four Effective Applications) – BS

Dhamma Talk

Transcript

Reflections

Day 2

Effective Observation

MN10 – The Satipatthana Sutta (Effective Observation of the Four Aspects of Conditioned Existence) BA (with minor word changes by Delson)
MN10 – The Satipatthana Sutta (Effective Observation of the Four Aspects of Conditioned Existence) BS
SN46.35 – Yonisomanasikāra Sutta (How Proper Attention Brings About the Awakening Factors and Destroys the Hindrances) – BB
SN46.53 – Aggi Sutta (Balancing Mind with the Seven Factors) – BB

Dhamma Talk

Reflections

Day 3

Effective Collectedness

MN111 – Anupada Sutta (Levels of Mental Collectedness) – BS
SN46.54 – Mettasahagata Sutta (Brahmaviharas and the Four Spheres) – BA

Dhamma Talk

Reflections

Day 4

Effective Vision

MN9 – Sammaditthi (Effective Vision) – BB

Dhamma Talk

Reflections

Day 5

The Five Aggregates

MN109 – Mahāpuṇṇamasutta (Discussion of the Five Aggregates) – BS

Dhamma Talk

Reflections

Day 6

Consciousness and Rebirth

MN106 – Āneñjasappāya Sutta (Detaching Consciousness) – BA
MN106 – Āneñjasappāya Sutta (Detaching Consciousness) – BS – as read in the Dhamma Talk
SN12.39 – Dutiyacetanasutta (Intention and Rebirth) – BB
AN3.76 Pathambhava Sutta BS
AN3.77 Dutiyabhava Sutta (Fuel for Existence) – BS

Dhamma Talk

Reflections

Day 7

Kamma and Cessation

AN6.63 – Nibbhedika Sutta (Penetrating the Four Noble Truths) – BS
SN35.146 – Kammanirodha Sutta (Cessation of Kamma) – BB
AN3.74 – Nigantha Sutta (Cessation of Kamma) – BS
SN41.6 – Kamabhu Sutta (Formations and Cessation) – BS

Dhamma Talk

Reflections

Day 8

Eightfold Path of the Noble Ones

MN149 – Mahāsaḷāyatanika Sutta (The Path and Fruition) – BB

Dhamma Talk

Reflections

Day 9

The Arahant

MN112 – Chabbisodhana Sutta (The Perspective of the Arahant) – BS
Udana 1.10 – Bahiya Sutta (Destroying Conceit) – BAn
SN28.1 – 9 – Sariputta Vagga (How An Arahant Meditates) – BS

Dhamma Talk

Reflections

Daily QA from 10-day online retreat Nov-3:

Day 0

(transcript)

Day 1

(transcript)

Day 2

(transcript)

Day 3

(transcript)

Day 4

(transcript)

Day 5

(transcript)

Day 6

(transcript)

Day 7

(transcript)

Day 8

(transcript)

Day 9

(transcript)

Forgiveness Meditation

If you are advised by the teacher to do Forgiveness practice,

Forgiveness Practice Background

Guided Forgiveness Meditation

Breaking Down the Barriers

If you are advised by the teacher to do ‘breaking down the barriers’, you can find instructions here

Recommended schedule during the self retreat:

Time

Schedule

05:30 am

Wake up

06:00 am

Morning Meditation

07:30 am

Taking Precepts (on your own)

08:00 am

Breakfast

09:00 am

Meditation

11:00 am

Lunch

12:00 pm

Rest/Walking Meditation

01:00 pm

Meditation

02:00 pm

Dhamma Talk (on your own)

04:00 pm

Meditation

10:00 pm

Rest

About Delson and Free Dhamma​

“The Dhamma is for free. At all times. For everybody”

Delson dedicates his life to the Dhamma. He is either teaching retreats online or physically or sharing his profound understanding of the path somewhere on the globe. Delson lives by the Dhamma; he does not ask for money. But of course, some things need to be provided for him to live: Food, shelter, clothing. Same as monks.

Please help us support him and take this incomparable opportunity to practice an exceptional kind of generosity and goodness. We are deeply and forever grateful to your magnanimous hearts. Sādhu Sādhu Sādhu.

You can send dana directly via Paypal to delson@suttavada.foundation