Grounding the Mind: Reflections for a better meditation

Speaker: Bhante Ariyañãņa (Online, joining from Sri Lanka)

Wed 18 June | 7pm-8.30pm AEST

Location: In person at Western Sydney University, Parramatta City Campus (Entry at 1 Parramatta Square), Level 4 Room 1.4.33; or online (Zoom link below)Cost: Free

Brazilian monk Ven. Ariyañāṇa, a former flamenco dancer turned monk, shares four key steps to prepare your mind for a deeper meditation, a guided meditation to practice them, and a Q&A session to conclude.

About the teacher:

Bhante Ariyañāṇa, born Stefano Domit Cervo in Brazil, is a former flamenco dancer who captivated global audiences with his performances until 2015, when he embarked on a transformative quest as a Theravāda Buddhist monk.

Inspired by his mother, a flamenco dancer herself, he, at the age of 11, followed in her footsteps, initially playing percussion and then dancing, teaching, and choreographing. Later, at the age of 17, he moved to Spain, the homeland of Flamenco, where he achieved significant acclaim including first place at the Festival Flamenco de Almería (2013) and the “Premio Extraordinario de Danza de la Comunidad de Madrid” (2015). As choreographer and soloist, he participated in Heartbeat of Home, a production of the creators of the global phenomenon Riverdance. In collaboration with top-notch flamenco artists, he performed in venues ranging from traditional tablaos such as "Las Carboneras" in Madrid to iconic concert halls such as Amsterdam's Royal Concertgebouw. His short but dynamic career took him across the Americas, Europe, and Asia, with critics praising him as a dancer with “stately carriage” and “rapid-fire heelwork,” combining “incredible rapidity and precision” in “passion filled, fiery flamenco numbers” that were “truly captivating” and “incredibly moving and powerful".

Seeking deeper meaning and inner peace, in 2015, he embarked on a transformative inner journey. A retreat with Thomas Dhammadīpa in India introduced him to Theravāda teachings, leading him to the Pa Auk tradition in Myanmar (paaukforestmonastery.org). There, he spent approximately seven years, first as a layperson, and then as a monastic as Ariyañāṇa, under the guidance of Pa Auk Sayadaw, his preceptor, and other teachers such as V. Kumārābhivaṁsa.

Continuing his spiritual path, in 2022, Bhante Ariyañāṇa joined the Nissayamuttaka course in the International Institute of Theravāda in Sri Lanka (theravado.com) where he now deepens his traditional Theravāda Buddhist studies and leads the English Language studies for monastics.

Hybrid event: Attendees will have the opportunity to participate in an interactive session in person at the Metta Centre or online by clicking on this link to access the session: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83506489824?pwd=cmpNQ1ljSmFVYURLWVN1dWllYUN1dz09 Alternatively, you can dial in from your telephone (call charges apply): +61 2 8015 6011 | Meeting ID: 835 0648 9824| Passcode: 718905

If you are feeling unwell, please consider staying at home and joining online instead.