It was quite a success, we had close to 300 people and at least 60 of my students were there, many of them shared with me how impressed they were with the talk. Thanks for arranging it.
Tony Toneatto, PhD., CPsych.
Associate Professor, Department of Psychiatry
Director, Buddhism, Psychology and Mental Health Minor Program
New College, University of Toronto
Dear Organizing Committe
I am greatly appreciative of the professionalism of the organizing committee and thank you all very much for the email notifications in this regard. Unfortunately I couldn’t attend to the meditation retreat because I became ill and didn’t want to disturb the stillness all other devotees or participants.
However I attended and enjoyed to his talk at Mahavihara in Scarborough. This was my second opportunity to listen to him thanks to Dr. Walpola. He was very practical, jovial and adorable person.
Thank you very much
Anand Kumar
Dear Piyal and Indi,
It is no secret that all who attended the retreat thanked both of you and also gave their blessings. It would not be fitting if we did not. Thus my wife and I wish to take this opportunity to say MUCH MERIT TO YOU for getting down this wonderful teacher. Once I completed the retreat I felt though a huge crane lifted me out of the mud which I was in. I learnt very much about the present moment silent keeping aside the steps of Ana Pana sathi. I believe the beginning is there.
I always was dreaming of getting him down for a good meditation session and as he said he laid the foundation. Above all the pleasant smile of his shows how happy he is.
Finally, much merit to both of you for that wonderful meditation session that you organised. I am sure the merits are huge and cannot be quantified.
Thank you very much for taking that photo and sending it to me.
With metta,
N and R
SABBA DANAM DHAMMA DANAM JINATHI
Dear Piyal,
First of all let me take this opportunity to thank you from the bottom of my heart for all the hard work you put into organizing this retreat, amidst your hectic life, fulfilling duties as a doctor and a householder.
I have been meditating for many years on and off trying many methods. There have been good times and bad times.
On many occasions I am so anxious to get up from the lotus position due to pain and discomfort in my body.
When I sat with Ajahn Brahm on the 6th of November and when he taught us to be kind and compassionate to ourselves first for the first time in my life I experienced the beautiful breath and wanted to be with my breath, not even wanting to get up for lunch.
Since Ajahn left I have been practicing what I learnt and is enjoying my journey with the beautiful breath, happily, calmly and compassionately.
My immense gratitude to Ajahn Brahm from the bottom of my heart for visiting us in Toronto and to you Piyal for taking the time and trouble to organize this retreat making sure you find a place for everyone, without disappointing anybody. May you have the strength to walk the path towards Nirvana in this very life for all the immense good karma you accumulated by organizing this retreat where so many benefitted.
May the blessings of the Noble Triple Gem always be with you and your family
...
I thoroughly enjoyed the November 8th talk.
Ajahn Brahm is a gift, no doubt about it.
He really is theMonk with Spunk!
Thank you Piyal and Indie for organizing such a
wonderful event. :-)
Linda Cousins
Dear Piyal,
We would like to express our appreciation to you and all of the volunteer who had helped to make the retreat a successful.
We had benefited so much from the retreat. Van could not attend but she had made herself a mini retreat at home and now could listen to all the talk you recorded.
Again thank you very much, may all the merit you have acquired will lead you to the true happiness.
With much metta
Dung & Van
Thanks Piyal and Indi.
I'm so happy that you were able to do this. Much merit to you two.
Thanks also for providing an opportunity for others to participate and help out.
Wish you all the Best.
E K
Dear Piyal, Indie & team,
Its with much gratitude that I write this e-mail to thank you for organizing the retreat with Ajahn Brahm. It was such a blessing to have a Ajahn over here in Toronto and to have his guidance.
May the good kamma that you and your team accumulated by organizing this event help you in your own search of Truth !
Metta
Ruvinie
Indi and Piyal
my deepest gratitude for
all the planning and hard work for the 3 day meditation
retreat in
Toronto.
I travelled from New York City
to attend. It was the experience
of a lifetime.
I learned so much about life and have many new tools to use in my meditation practice. The temple in Mississauga is beautiful and everyone there is so kind.
I wish that I lived closer so I could visit more often. Thank you to everyone who helped in organizing
this life
changing retreat.
Indi and Piyal,
you are amazing Sangha builders. (We say this in Thich Nhat Hanh's community - we sometimes use Sangha to
refer to the whole family of
monastics and laypeople,
because we are building
together- we can only build
together!) Really wonderful
and when it is so well done, it becomes
infectious and we just want to
help you and participate
more in future.
The temple in Mississauga is beautiful on the outside and
inside.
Sadhu, sadhu,
sadhu Mississauga temple.
"Thank you Doc couple for that wonderful experiance with AB, wish he lives here. Both of you did some amazing community service - Thun saranai. His donkey story, Holy shit, abortion eye opener, etc so relevant and so simple........thank you again
with AB, wish he lives here.
Both of you did some amazing
community service - Thun saranai.
I just wanted to let you know how grateful I am for
a. Letting me know about the Meditation program
b. Arranging it in the first place
... I sincerely hope that you both attain Nirvana soon ...
And please do keep in touch
Lots of love
IG
Dear doctor,
Thank you very much for providing us the opportunity to participate at the retreat. It was a mind calming experience. The insight venerable Ajahan Braham gave are invaluable...
We have done some good kamma to have the opportunity to associate with kalayana mittas like all of you.
Thank you once again.
With metta
Ravi
Dr. Piyal, thank you so much for arranging this retreat. I have been listening to Ajahn Brahm for years and it was such privilege to meet him in person and attend one of his retreats. I meditated, listened his talks and laughed a lot during those three days. Thanks again.
Dear Indi & Piyal,
Thanks so much for organizing a wonderful retreat,
3 days of full of niramisa happiness. 'Santhutti paraman danan' .
I shared the knowledge with so many of my non Buddhist friends
and I am pretty sure they have changed their attitude towards life.
May this meritorious deed help you achieve blissful nirvana in
this very life !!!
Sadhu.. sadhu... sadhu!!!
With metta,
M
Hi Dr Piyal and Indi
Thank you very much for organizing the meditation retreat. It was a wonderful awakening experience for me. I enjoyed it very much. Thank you also for being the compassionate dr and taking care of my medical need during such a busy day.
Theruvan Saranai
Malini
Indi & Piyal,
Thank you
both for the opportunity
to participate
in the meditation retreat. Much metta to you
both and the others
who made it possible.
RA
D wrote: "Indi and Piyal, Much merit and blessings of the Noble Triple Gem to you both and your families. Thank you for allowing us to participate in your meritorious deed. You made so many people happy and gave the biggest gift of all to each and every one of us-THE GIFT OF DHAMMA."
Dear Dr,
Ajhn Brahm's program was a wonderful spiritual boost. Despite its hectic nature the organization was excellent, thanks to your's and Indu's effort. Hope we can have another such event soon.
With Metta
u..
Dear Piyal and organizing committee
My deepest thanks for giving me a spot at the last moment.Thank you for the great
organization and all the work that went into it. May all the merits we accrued help us all see the
sublime reality of the Dhamma.
Metta
IP
Bhante S. wrote: "Dosthara Mahatthaya and Dosthara Nona, thank you so much for sponsoring his trip and organizing the retreat. Really appreciate your great interest in Dhamma. Much merit and many blessings !"
Dear Indi and Piyal:
I appreciate very much the effort you made to make it possible for me to participate in the retreat.
The retreat was very well done. Your tireless work paid off.
Everyone who was there looked so happy and contented. For me it was great to spend quality time like that away from the mundane things of life.
Thank you very much.
May the triple gem bless you always.
....Thank you so much for giving us the opportunity to participate in the wonderful retreat By Ajahn Brahm.I enjoyed every minute of it.I am totally inspired and decided to give up from now on even the occasional glass of wine which I do take sometime.
...
Thank you, Ajahn, for accepting the invitation and coming to our temple all the way from Australia to conduct this retreat. We learned so much from you. You are an inspiration to the many, including myself. By the grace of the Noble Triple Gem may you continue to serve the humanity with your wonderful wisdom. Blessings !
