Jhanathon is coming...

When? Saturday 8th October 2011 from 6:00pm to 6:00am on Sunday 9th October 2011.

Where? Santi Forest Monastery


To register for the Jhanathon click here


What's it all about?

A Jhanathon is like a marathon, except that instead of running, you sit still. Or walk slowly. Or a bit of both. For a very long time... 12 hours, to be exact. Friends and family sponsor the participants in this feat of meditative endurance, and the funds go to support the wonderful things that happen at Santi Forest Monastery.

The word comes from jhana, which means a meditative state of profound stillness and concentration. Instructions on how to attain this state come to us from the Buddha (with a few tips from Bhante Sujato on the night).

The Buddha did not give instructions on how to raise funds at the same time as getting into jhana. This is where Jhanathon is a brilliant Aussie innovation. But it should be admitted that in all the essentials, the Buddha was ahead of us: he gave many inspiring teachings on the value and benefits of generosity. Jhanathon could also be called Danathon (from dana, meaning giving). It gives sitters a special chance to aspire to reach a new level of meditation, and offers sponsors an opportunity to practice generosity.

And the money raised goes to support the existence of a place where anyone who seeks peace and inspiration from contact with a living renunciate monastic tradition can come, freely, and experience a way of life that seems a miracle in our modern, Western society.

Everyone is invited to participate in Jhanathon3 in whichever way you choose - by sitting, by sponsoring, by cheering (quietly) from the sidelines as the Jhanathon takes place (in a previous year a webcam beamed images of the event into the homes of supporters via the internet, although it's not expected to take off as a spectator sport).

From the first Jhanathon...