*In the following content, “Hermitages” mean those retreat locations, i.e. Tusita Hermitage (Kuching), Dhamma Earth (Semenyih) and any other branches managed by Tusita Sangha Council.

The following Codes of Discipline is designed for the maximum benefit of nuns (students) and harmonious atmosphere of the Hermitages.  With best wishes for success we offer the following information.

Preface
The Teaching Style at the Hermitages is very Eastern Traditional.  All students are expected to come with a true-heart, flow along with the training, culture, and accept whatever comes to them.  Dhamma training means putting down one’s ego/pride and overcoming defilement.  Only those who can honestly and scrupulously follow the discipline should apply for admission. Those not prepared to make whole-hearted efforts will only waste their time and worse, cause a disturbance to those others who wish to practice seriously.

The Tusita Sangha Council may give a removal notice to any unsuitable resident.

Teaching & Training
At the Hermitages, there are only two types of residents: Teachers & students.  The focus of the Hermitages is to provide the best environment for meditation practice.  The Hermitages do not allow self-practitioners, or to give any teaching in the Hermitages.  All Teachers of Dhamma and Vinaya must be invited by the Tusita Sangha Council.  Through a unanimous resolution, the Tusita Sangha Council determined that all meditation teachings must be approved by the recognised group of Theravada Meditation Teachers from the Pa-Auk Tawya Monastery.

Acceptance of the Teacher
For the period of the retreat the student must obey the Teacher’s instructions (the Teacher here also includes Assistant Meditation Teacher, thus, the “Teacher” that will be mentioning thereafter refers to the Meditation Teacher or Assistant Meditation Teacher), rules and regulations, Codes of discipline and the retreat timetable.  Only with the attitude of full cooperation and true-hearted effort can one practise diligently and thoroughly.  Such confidence in the Teacher and technique is essential for the student’s proper guidance and protection.  Students joining a retreat will be expected to work exactly as they are instructed by the Teacher without subtracting or adding any step on their own.  Doubts or confusions should always be clarified by meeting with the Teacher.

10 days Probation Period
All new nuns who come to the Hermitages for the first time will undergo a 10 days probation period. They will need to request for extension of their stay from the Teacher. They will have to leave the Hermitages should the Teacher does not find them suitable to be trained in the Hermitages.

Management of the Hermitages
The Tusita Sangha Council chairs the management and administrative system of the Hermitages.  Its primary role is to provide an advisory role for the registered societies for Dhamma leadership[1] and ensure efficient operations of the Hermitages to provide the best meditation conditions for all students.

Issue Resolution Procedure
The following chart represents the hierarchy of how issues and concerns are managed at the Hermitages.

 

Breach of Regulations
It is the responsibility of all students to report any breach of the Hermitages’ rules and regulations as well as problems or improper behaviour to the Teacher, Tusita Sangha Council Member(s) or Dhamma Organizer(s).  Students are advised not to handle or manage violations of the regulations themselves but only report them to the Teacher, Tusita Sangha Council Member(s) or Dhamma Organizer(s).

Distribution of Dhamma Books, CDs, etc
Distribution of Dhamma books, CDs or related paraphernalia is strictly the prerogative of the Tusita Sangha Council.  Please do not bring such Dhamma material for distribution without the direct consent of the Tusita Sangha Council.

Purification of Virtue
All nuns must not handle money in all forms while staying at the Hermitages.  As the foundation for Samatha and Vipassana practice, all students should observe the Fourfold Purification of Virtue.  This purification consists of:

1. 10-Precepts for Nuns
2. Restraint of the Six-Sense Faculties of the eye, ear, nose, tongue, body and mind
3. Purification of livelihood (Right Livelihood) – livelihood that accords with the precepts
4. Reflection on (moderation in) the use of the four requisites: clothing, food, shelter and medicine

 
Daily Chanting
The daily morning chanting is mandatory for all students.  Chanting is a form of protection as well as reflections of the Suttas.

Noble Silence
Besides the Teacher and Dhamma Organizers, Students must observe Noble Silence from start to finish of the retreat. Noble Silence is silence of body, speech and mind. Any form of communication, whether by physical gestures, written notes, and sign language should also be minimised.

Yoga and Physical Exercise
Daily physical exercise is mandatory for all students.  One to two hours a day is recommended with a minimum of 30 minutes.  Although yoga can be complementary to meditation, please consult the Teacher to see which yogasanas are more suitable; the same for various qi-gong techniques.

Rituals, Healing Techniques and other Practices
For the period of the retreat it is absolutely essential that all rites and rituals, healing techniques and other meditation practices must be entirely suspended.  This includes reciting mantras, fasting, acupuncture or other intensive alternative medicines. Exceptions must be approved by the Teacher.

Personal Safety
The Students may have to ensure their own personal physical safety during the stay in the Hermitages and will absolve the Council and Hermitages from any legal responsibility arising from any serious injury or death to themselves due to their own fault or negligence.

Opposite Gender
A one to one meet up with opposite gender at any point of time is not allowed for monastics that includes meet up for outdoor activities such as exercising or taking a walk.

Electronic Devices
Electronic devices such as computers, hand-phones, personal digital assistants (PDA), and radios must be handed over to the Dhamma Organizer upon arrival.  These items can only be used with specific permission by the Teacher.

Accommodation, Requisite, Health & Travel Issues
Please consult the Teacher for all accommodation, requisite, health and travel concerns.

Outside Contact
Students will have to remain inside the Hermitages for the entire retreat. They may take leave only with the specific consent of Teacher. All telephone calls, letters and contacts with visitors will have to be suspended.  In any emergency a student should immediately contact the Teacher. Students are requested not to communicate with the respective Committee (MDS, DECOM), members or other devotees without the consent of the Teacher.

Food
The students are requested to wisely reflect, appreciate and make-do with the offerings made by the devotees.  If a student has been prescribed a special diet because of ill-health, one should inform the Teacher and registrar in advance at the time of applying for the retreat.  The Hermitages may or may not be able to fulfill special or unique needs.  For all nuns, the pindapata order goes according to age regardless of tradition background.  Students must carry IC or passport on village pindapata.

Reading and writing
During retreat time, students should not read or write with the exception of one’s meditation report.  At the end of the retreats, students are welcome to take home Dhamma books or materials that are for free distribution.

Supplemental Dhamma Talks
Students may request for and listen to recorded Dhamma Talks with the permission of the Teacher.  Please consult the Dhamma Organizer to obtain the MP3 recordings.

Leaving Personal Items Behind
Students may consult the Teacher if the need to store personal belongings arises, students need to get further permission from the Teacher. However, due to the limited capacity of the Hermitages, anything left behind without properly consulting the Teacher will automatically be regarded as relinquished.  The fate of these items will be left to the Tusita Sangha Council’s discretion.

May this information help you obtain maximum benefit from your meditation retreat!
May All Beings Be Happy!

 (Applicant who submit the student application form online will receive a copy of this ‘Codes of Discipline’ via email).

[1]  Unless otherwise mentioned separately, the “registered societies for Dhamma leadership” collectively include:

1. Malaysia Dhamma Society (MDS), an official owner and operator for Tusita Hermitage, Kuching; and
2. Dhamma Earth Club Of Malaysia (DECOM) for Dhamma Earth, Semenyih.