THE HEART-MIND TRAINING
~ a psychospiritual education for personal and societal well-being ~
This extensive two-year psychospiritual training (2000+ hour) with Whit is designed for serious practitioners, teachers, therapists/councillors and/or anyone driven to expedite the evolution of consciousness on an individual level, as a tool for social change and the much needed evolution of the collective conscience.
This training is a dedicated commitment, both experientially and intellectually, to understanding the path of Buddhist mind-training (meditation) through an empirical investigation of the heart-mind and the awakening of human consciousness. Built upon the The Teachings Whit shares this experience is designed for the purpose of individual and in-turn social healing.
Our time together will include the intellectual study and experiential understanding of the following fields:
Buddhist Psychology
Buddhist Philosophy (BuddhaDhamma)
Buddhist Suttas (Scriptures)
Pali Language Studies
Buddhist Mind-Training (meditation/mindfulness/vipassanā)
Cognitive Neuroscience
Neuroanatomy
Neurochemistry
Evolutionary Psychology
Anthropology
Primatology
Through the awakening of the heart-mind on an individual level, this training is designed to expedite the path of awakening for the purpose of healing our society and world. For at this pivotal point in the history of our species and planet there is no time to waste. We rise and fall together as one and this experience will catalyze each of us to become the change our heart-minds seek.
This life-changing experience will gift each being their birthright to blossom into the fullness of their human potential and to live a life free from suffering, transforming our own lives, the lives of those around us, our communities and the world from the inside out.
Over an extensive and inspiring two-years of study and practice each of us will heal, balance and beautify the heart-mind, gifting ourselves what is considered a human life from the perspective of the Buddha - a life free from suffering, conflict and problems, systematically eradicating greed, anger and delusion within the world.
This process will radically shift the lens through which each of us experiences life, reawakening the innate Buddha-nature with which we are all born, catalyzing the empirical understanding of the science of consciousness for the purpose of taking full advantage of this preciously ephemeral human life and supporting others to do the same.
The end result will be a heart-mind that operates on a previously unexperienced level of clarity, wisdom and concomitant unconditional peace and happiness, efficiently and effortlessly in flow with life, serving and contributing to the healing of society and humanity through the altruistic thoughts, speech and actions intrinsic to the true nature of the newly re-awakened human heart-mind.
“Without having practiced Dhamma personally. Without having experienced and realized it in a personal way, to claim to be a teacher in meditation, to preach and write books about it after just learning from the texts on meditation methods is most incongruous and improper.”
Please note that the completion of this training does not automatically make one a meditation teacher. There is no such training/education that can lay claim to instilling such conventional titles.
However, for those inspired to begin sharing the The Teachings as a means to serving others and the healing of society, this undertaking will create a very solid foundation upon which to do so.
Following the completion of the training participants will be able to continue their development, working closely with Whit through optional continued mentorship under his guidance, refining one’s ability to guide and support other’s healing through the framework of The Teachings.
*This two-year training is only offered once every 3 years.
*In order to be considered for the training a prerequisite of at least one silent vipassanā retreat with Whit is strongly recommended.
*All education (training & retreat) modules are offered by Whit via the traditional Buddhist practice of giving/generosity or dāna/donation.
*All residential training modules require prior deposits/payment for accommodation and food - pricing information found below.
THE LOCATION
EARTHSPRING SANCTUARY RETREAT CENTRE
Vancouver Island, Canada
Each training group is limited to maximum 16 practitioners
Once registered, each practitioner will be required to complete all three 14-day retreat/training modules in one location only - either Canada or Portugal.
8-day retreats can be attended in either location.
THE STRUCTURE
On Location:
2 x 14-day Residential Training Modules (2024 & 2025)
1 x 14-day Vipassanā Retreat Module (2026)
2 x 8-day Vipassanā Retreats (Between Modules)
Total: approximately 800 hours
Online:2 x 12-month Online Courses
Monthly Training Group/Community Meditations
Group Discussion Board / Forum
Bi-Monthly Individual One-on-One Check In with Whit
Daily Meditation Log
Final Written Thesis
Total: approximately 1250 hours
TOTAL TRAINING: 2000+ hours
THE DATES
14-DAY RESIDENTIAL TRAINING DATES:
Training Module 1: July 24 - August 6, 2024
Training Module 2: July 24 - August 6, 2025
Retreat-Training Module 3: July 2026 (dates to be announced)
8-DAY RESIDENTIAL RETREAT DATES:
Two x 8-day retreats modules are required.
Following the 14-day Training Module Part 1 (2024) and Part 2 (2025) each practitioner must complete one 8-day silent vipassanā retreat with Whit within the 12-month window between Training Module Part 1 and 2 and again between Training Module Part 2 and 3.
The 2 x 8-day retreats can be attended in either location (Canada / Portugal) at any time throughout the year between trainings.
THE INVESTMENT
14-DAY RETREAT/TRAINING MODULES
Shared Twin Room (ensuite bathroom / shared shower)
$1575 CAD (per module - 3 total)
Shared Cabin (composting toilet / kitchenette / shared shower)
$1675 CAD (per module - 3 total)
Shared Dorm (shared bathroom / shared shower)
$1475 CAD (per module - 3 total)
Private Treehouse (shared bathroom / shared shower)
$1575 CAD (per module - 3 total)
Private Room (ensuite bathroom / shared shower)
$1950 CAD (per module - 3 total)
*Prices include all meals (3x per day)
* 5% tax not included - will be applied in final payment instalment (see below)
8-DAY RETREATS
Shared Twin Room (ensuite bathroom / shared shower)
$885 CAD (per retreat - 2 total)
Shared Cabin (composting toilet / kitchenette / shared shower)
$975 CAD (per retreat - 2 total)
Shared Dorm (shared bathroom / shared shower)
$825 CAD (per retreat - 2 total)
Private Treehouse (shared bathroom / shared shower)
$885 CAD (per retreat - 2 total)
Private Room (ensuite bathroom / shared shower)
$1095 CAD (per retreat - 2 total)
*Prices include all meals (3x per day)
* 5% tax not included - will be applied in final payment instalment (see below)
***All educational aspects of the formal training, both on-site and online, are offered by the teacher by way of the traditional Buddhist practice of dāna (generosity/giving).
***The price shown covers accommodation and meals (vegan/vegetarian) only.
Following each training module, retreat module and online offering, each practitioner will be required to practice dāna, offering support to the teacher and the people/monastics of Myanmar through the offering of dāna/donation, developing a deep experiential understanding of the practice of dāna, which forms one of the three major pillars upon the Buddhist path of spiritual awakening, and its potential to transform our heart-minds and the current socioeconomic paradigm.
Please make sure that you have read the dāna page and understand this practice before applying for the training. If you have any questions about the practice of dāna please let us know.
We thank you, in advance, for your generous support to allow Whit to continue sharing the teachings of the Buddha in the way they have been passed down for 2600 years.
*Residential training modules and retreats require upfront payment for accommodation and food.*
THE PAYMENT STRUCTURE
Owing to the extensive and committed nature of this training, including the 58 days of accommodation and food included in the price, a systematic payment structure has been implemented to support each practitioner in their financial investment.
For both practitioner and teacher this is a serious investment of time and energy. Once the training has begun any practitioner that decides to dropout of the training cannot be replaced. Owing to the by-dāna/donation model of transmission offered, this situation would have a major impact upon the teacher, the by-dāna model and the future of such offerings in this way. As such, all deposits/payments are non-refundable. We (teacher, retreat owners, cook, staff, monastics/laypeople of Myanmar) thank you in advance for your understanding and support of this model of transmission.
*ALL DEPOSITS / PAYMENTS GO TO ACCOMMODATION / FOOD COSTS*
FIRST INSTALMENT
Upon registration a non-refundable deposit is required:
$1500 CAD
Three-months prior to the start of Training Module Part 1 the remaining balance for Part 1 and full payment for Retreat 1 are required:
Shared Twin Room
$75 (Pt. 1 Balance) + $885 (Retreat 1) = $960
Shared Cabin
$175 (Pt. 1 Balance) + $975 (Retreat 1) = $1150
Shared Dorm
$25 Credit (Pt. 1 Balance) + $825 (Retreat 1) = $800
Private Treehouse
$75 (Pt. 1 Balance) + $885 (Retreat 1) = $960
Private Room
$450 (Pt. 1 Balance) + $1095 (Retreat 1) = $1545
TRAINING MODULE PART 1 AND RETREAT 1 PAID IN FULL BY APRIL 24th, 2024
SECOND INSTALMENT
Six-months prior to the start of Training Module Part 2 a non-refundable deposit is required:
$1500 CAD
Three-months prior to the start of Part 2, the remaining balance for Part 2 and full payment for Retreat 2 are required:
Shared Twin Room
$75 (Pt. 2 Balance) + $885 (Retreat 2) = $960
Shared Cabin
$175 (Pt. 2 Balance) + $975 (Retreat 2) = $1150
Shared Dorm
$25 Credit (Pt. 2 Balance) + $825 (Retreat 2) = $800
Private Treehouse
$75 (Pt. 2 Balance) + $885 (Retreat 2) = $960
Private Room
$450 (Pt. 2 Balance) + $1095 (Retreat 2) = $1545
TRAINING MODULE PART 2 AND RETREAT 2 PAID IN FULL BY APRIL 24th, 2025
FINAL INSTALMENT
Six-months prior to the start of Retreat-Training Module Part 3, a non-refundable deposit is required:
$1250 CAD
Three-months prior to the start of Part 3 the remaining balance for Part 3 (with all tax (5%) applied) is required:
Shared Twin Room
$325 (Pt. 3 Balance) + $324.75 (tax) = $649.75
Shared Cabin
$425 (Pt. 3 Balance) + $348.75 (tax) = $773.75
Shared Dorm
$225 (Pt. 3 Balance) + $303.75 (tax) = $528.75
Private Treehouse
$325 (Pt. 3 Balance) + $324.75 (tax) = $649.75
Private Room
$700 (Pt. 3 Balance) + $402 (tax) = $1102.00
TRAINING MODULE PART 3 PAID IN FULL BY APRIL 1ST, 2026