Journey Towards Inner Peace
PPL Causas

Journey Towards Inner Peace

Intensive training trip to Thailand in order to deepen our meditation practice, understanding of Buddhist wisdom and ability to grow the Inner Peace Club in the University of Li...

  • 2510

    raised

    100% of 2 500€

    37 backers

  • 12/06/2023

    Expired on

  • Completed

    This project has been successfully funded

Intensive training trip to Thailand in order to deepen our meditation practice, understanding of Buddhist wisdom and ability to grow the Inner Peace Club in the University of Lisbon.

Hello! We are Alex and Martim, two students who love to meditate and coordinate an Inner Peace Club at the University of Lisbon. As volunteers of The Middle-Way Meditation Institute (MMI - www.mmipeace.org), this summer we are going to Thailand to deepen our practice and increase our ability to help more people as well. Join us on this journey towards inner peace!

Sessão semanal no jardim Lago dos Barcos, Campo Grande

We found in Buddhism a simple and direct path to access our inner peace and true happiness that springs from within and becomes accessible at all times. Visiting such a rich asian country, where traditional culture is still kept alive through the communities of practitioners, makes this a sacred journey, enhancing an enormous enrichment of our being. We are not going for conventional tourism at all, but rather to diligently cultivate ourselves, develop good habits and do wholesome deeds so that we will grow wiser and return better people.

Cerimónia de Ordenação

We urgently need to shine our light and be the change we want to see in the world, something we can all contribute to. Here in Lisbon, we created an Inner Peace Club in partnership with the Academic Association of the University of Lisbon (https://www.instagram.com/pazinterior.ulisboa/), contributing to the well-being and mental health in academia. We encourage the practice of Inner Peace Education, a systematic and scientific platform of Buddha's teachings developed by MMI, with regular meditation sessions and activities that promote the achievement of the SDGs and world peace. In this first semester, we already held two retreats, opened a new weekly session in two faculties and organized several thematic events on Happiness Day, Earth Day and Freedom Day. We are also planning another summer retreat and big candlelight celebration on May 21st, World Meditation Day. Stay tuned and come along!

Evento no Dia da Felicidade

We are thus creating bridges between East and West so that the wisdom of the monks can effectively reach everyone, through new, more creative and captivating approaches. And nothing better than drinking directly from the source to recharge ourselves and be more capable and motivated to continue helping all beings towards the realization of our full potential.

Retiro Carnaval '23

In June, we are going to train ourselves more intensively by visiting Thai temples, doing retreats and even ordaining as Buddhist monks. Our plan is to start by celebrating Vesak Day (June 3rd), the biggest Buddhist celebration of the year, and participate in various volunteer activities with the locals and MMI staff in the first week. Then we will visit Bangkok, the temple of the founding master of Middle-Way Meditation - Wat Paknam - as well as the sacred places of his life, and the historic capital of Ayutthaya. Then, we will do several retreats within the lineage of Middle-Way Meditation, passing by iRetreat in Pak Tong Chai, another retreat center on the island of Koh Samui (south) and then, already in Chiang Mai (north), the PaPae Meditation Retreat until finally ordaining as monks at an international forest monastery - iMonastery - in July.

Meditação no iMonastery

While Martim will stay at the monastery for 2 months, before starting a new semester in September and assuming the leadership of the Inner Peace Club, Alex will stay until the end of the rainy season (4 months total), returning in November. As students with no income beyond our parents' allowance (which we are saving up too), we humbly ask for your support to help cover travel costs and donations to the places we pass through. We invite you to be a part of this merit!

Celebração no Dia da Terra

It is our intention to cultivate the maximum of good energy and virtues, training our mind and doing good deeds in service of humanity, and sharing the fruits of our practice with all beings, especially those who support this journey (even if spiritually), with an enormous sense of gratitude and compassion. So please consider donating to our campaign. And if you need any specific support, please let us know and we'll send our best intentions and wisdom. Thank you, may all be well.

About the author

We are both students of General Studies, seeking to complement our academic education with a virtuous character. While Alex is in his 3rd year, finishing the bachelor's degree (with two minors in philosophy and translation), Martim is in his first year.

Alexandre Seguro, 21

Intenção de Purificação

I was born in Lisbon in 2001. I started meditating in 2018, and since the first time I was ordained as a novice monk, in 2020, I saw the tremendous impact it had on myself and others around me, falling in love with the mostic way of life. Aspiring to be a monk for life when the time is right, I decided to enter university first in order to further develop my academic skills and thus reach more people in the future. Since then, I've made a resolution to return to Thailand every summer to ordain as a monk, and when I return to my studies, I try to integrate the monastery's wisdom into my daily life. I've been waking up early (around 5am) and meditating at least 2 hours a day since last summer, for example. I also skip dinner, study the Dhamma and recite buddhist chantings daily

1º Retiro no Alentejo

My biggest intention for this trip is to develop my skills as a meditation instructor so that I can better carry out my duties at the club when returning to Portugal in November. Since I will have completed my degree, the plan is to take another gap year to nurture various initiatives: support the Inner Peace Club; take Inner Peace Education to more schools, universities and offices; translate some Buddhist content and books; develop the family meditation retreat in Alentejo and even undertake a digital app that we are already prototyping to support the transition movement. My dream is to organize a mass meditation at historical Praça do Comércio to promote New Discoveries by sailing inwards and shifting history from colonization towards cooperation amongst all people of the world.

Martim Hall, 18

Martim a meditar

I was born in Lisbon in 2004. I started meditating and following the Buddhist tradition because I was curious and needed existential answers and because it supported my being. Even so, my lifestyle and vision weren't the most correct, succumbing recurrently to the negativities that arise internally and externally. In order to combat them and live in a more purposeful way, Alex and the club played an important role. Inner Peace Education in its entirety makes things simple and all it takes is a little good will and discipline to implement new habits that have a huge impact. Now, I've been waking up earlier, around 5/6 am, grateful for the beautiful opportunity that is to be human and to be able to generate so much merit, meditating at least 2 hours a day as well as reciting chants daily. Feeling more and more fulfilled and aligned, I live in peace, happiness and spread love around the world.

Budget and due dates

Budget for Thailand:

  • Flights (800 + 700 = 1500€)

  • Visa (40*2 = 80€) + medical exams (170€) + criminal records (10€)

  • 1 week in Ban Ton Boon volunteer's house (50€ each)

  • Visit to historical sites of Master Luang Pu Wat Paknam + Ayutthaya (100€)

  • iRetreat (offered)

  • MDW Retreat (200$ each)

  • PaPae Retreat (50€ each)

  • iMonastery Ordination (we receive a full-scholarship fro thai supporters!)

Total = 2500 (1250€ each)

  • Having already purchased the flights and made a donation of €300 to iMonastery, we ask for your support to reduce expenses and make more donations.

Roteiro Tailândia

June itinerary

1: catch the plane to Bangkok

2: land and stay one week at Ban Ton Boon (Middle-Way volunteer home) and help with some projects

3: celebrate Vesak Day, the biggest Buddhist celebration of the year (birthday of the Buddha, his Enlightenment and entry into Nirvana) - 210,000 lanterns illuminate Thai temple for Buddha Day

10: Visit Bangkok and Wat Pak Nam Basicharoen, temple of the founding teacher of Middle-Way Meditation, Luang Pu Wat Paknam

11: Visit Ayutthaya (Historic Capital) + Historic sites from Master's Life

12-18: Retreat at Pak Tong Chai, iRetreat (by invitation) - https://iretreat.co/iretreat-pak-thong-chai/

19th to 25th: Middle-Way Retreat in Koh Samui - https://www.samui-meditation.com

26: go north, visit Chiang Mai and Doi Suthep

26th to 30th: PaPae Meditation Retreat (meditate + volunteering) - https://www.papaemeditation.org/thailand/

July : iMonastery ordination program (preparation, hari-clipping and ordination ceremony, intensive monastic training) - monklifeproject.com

 

  • Invest with
    5€ or more

    Thanks!

    Email appreciating your support, which is essential to bring more inner peace to this world.

    7 backers

  • Invest with
    10€ or more

    Bookmarker

    Previous reward + A gentle reminder to center, with Inner Peace Club design and inspirational quote.

    Postman/courier or hand-delivered
    Shipping included (to Portugal)

    4 backers

  • Invest with
    15€ or more

    Postcard from Thailand

    Previous rewards + Postcard from Thailand (signed by us)

    Postman/courier or hand-delivered
    Shipping included (to Portugal)

    4 backers

  • Invest with
    25€ or more

    Peace kit

    Previous rewards + Cloth bag, notebook, pencil, pen and stickers with original club design

    Postman/courier or hand-delivered
    Shipping included (to Portugal)

    9 backers

  • Invest with
    45€ or more

    Club's t-shirt

    Previous rewards + Positive message and radiant illustration to inspire your days and of those around you.

    Postman/courier or hand-delivered
    Shipping included (to Portugal)

    4 backers

  • Invest with
    70€ or more

    Free retreat

    Previous rewards + Voucher to join one of our future club's retreats for free!

    2 backers

  • Invest with
    100€ or more

    Celebration lunch

    Post-trip meeting with supporters to feed both body and soul, sharing experiences and wisdom we received, presenting next steps to take and receiving encouragement and advice from you :)

    11 backers

Thu, 28/03/2024 - 21:28

Sat, 01/07/2023 - 11:16

Hello everyone! Long time no

Hello everyone! Long time no talk… Thank you so much for you unconditional support. With everyone's faith and generosity we were able to reach our goal!! All of this process ...

Read more

Tue, 13/06/2023 - 16:42

Payout completed

The raised funds have been transferred to the campaign owner

12/06/2023

Campaign ended

The campaign successfully raised the initial target

Sat, 10/06/2023 - 16:52

100% reached

WE DID IT! We met our initial target but the fundraising can continue

Tue, 06/06/2023 - 12:33

Já na reta final, muito obrigado!!

Estimados apoiantes, A nossa campanha está agora a 3 dias de terminar e queremos agradecer-vos por toda a generosidade recebida até agora. Já alcançámos 70% do objetivo, o qu...

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Wed, 17/05/2023 - 20:28

We're now 20

We reached the first 20 backers. Let's keep up!

Thu, 11/05/2023 - 14:20

First five backers

We've gathered the first 5 backers. Hurray!

Campaign launched

08/05/2023

Join us so you can take a part in this campaign. Register

  • Clube da Paz Interior da AAUL

    Hello everyone! Long time no

    Hello everyone! Long time no talk…

    Thank you so much for you unconditional support. With everyone's faith and generosity we were able to reach our goal!! All of this process has been a dream come true and we were so inspired by your donations that we ended up donating all of the crowdfunding money back to the temples and retreats we've been to in order to express our gratitude and also accumulate more merits for ourselves. We are lucky to have enough to sustain ourselves and are confident that our good deeds and inner cultivation will attract all the material wealth we need in our lives. So we share all the positivity back to you!!

    We've been really enjoying each moment and wanted to update you on our journey before we ordain and disconnect from the outside world :)

    Since we arrived we joined Vesak Day which is one of the biggest and most auspicious Buddhist celebrations of the year and since then joined 4 retreats in a row before arriving to the International Forest Monastery training site. So we've been accumulating a lot of pure positive energy and wisdom and can feel really uplifted and ready to take the next step forward.

    We felt this was a good time to share some pictures so far with you, but will share more after ordination and look forward to connect with all of you once again when we go back to Portugal. But actually Alex decided to stay longer and ordain for life since the spiritual calling is very strong and this is the best years of our life, full of strength and inspiration, to practice well. And it's not like abandoning the projects back home, only allowing the space and encouragement for others to step up. And from his spiritual deepening Alex is sure he'll have more precious things to share when he returns to Portugal, eventually. So let's keep in touch and see you all very soon!

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  • Clube da Paz Interior da AAUL

    Já na reta final, muito obrigado!!

    Estimados apoiantes,

    A nossa campanha está agora a 3 dias de terminar e queremos agradecer-vos por toda a generosidade recebida até agora. Já alcançámos 70% do objetivo, o que é um enorme sucesso!

    Tem sido um processo muito bonito e surpreendente que nos desperta para o poder de envolver toda uma comunidade e gerar méritos através de boas ações em conjunto. Trazemos cada um de vós no nosso coração e partilhamos toda a positividade e bênçãos geradas do centro do nosso ser. Bem hajam!

    Dito isto, vínhamos só fazermos um último pedido no sentido de vos encorajar a partilhar a campanha com as vossas redes de amigos e familiares, explicando porque consideram uma causa nobre e benéfica de apoiar, para que mais pessoas tenham a oportunidade se entrar a bordo desta jornada Rumo à Paz Interior. Juntos vamos mais longe! E apesar de já conseguirmos cobrir os custos principais da viagem, podemos sempre aumentar a nossa capacidade para doar e apoiar os projetos e mosteiros valiosos por onde estamos a passar :) E quanto mais damos mais recebemos, não é verdade? Muito gratos por tudo. Até breve!

    Dear supporters,

    Our campaign is now 3 days from the finish line and we would like to show our appreciation for all the generosity received thus far.We've reached 70% of the goal which already is a huge success!

    It has been a very beautiful and surprising process that awakens us to the power of going as a team and accumulating merit from good deeds together. We bring each one of you in our hearts and share all the positivity and blessings from the centre of our being. May you be well!

    That being said, we would like to ask you for a last favor, encouraging you to share our campaign with your network of family and friends, explaining why you consider this cause to be noble and beneficial to support, so that more people have the chance to hop on board this Journey Towards Inner Peace. Together, we go further!

    And even though we can already cover the majority of the costs for the trip, it's always great to expand our capacity to donate and support the precious projects and monasteries that we're passing by :) And the more we give, the more we receive, right? Very grateful for everything, hope to see you soon!

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