This retreat explores Dhamma practice, not just as meditation, but as restorative, healing lifestyle and a path of integration, awakening, and wholeness. We will offer meditation and movement practices that have served us and our students well, along with Dhamma perspectives drawn from both the Elder and Great Vehicles. We will focus on illuminating and growing sensitive to the natural rhythms of life and practice. We explore unentangled being, learning to let it guide life. As the exploration deepens, simplicity, friendliness, clarity, and intuition are revealed. This is not just an experience on the cushion, it becomes a way of operating all throughout our lives. See Cloud Mountain website for more details.
Saŋsāra: Outer, Inner, and Freedom – Dharma Zephyr Retreat at Galilee on Lake Tahoe, Nevada – April 9 – 12 (residential)
Saŋsāra — “faring on,” circulating — can be seen in all things within our transient, conditional universe, especially the stuff we experience. Everything in the world around us is cyclical and repetitive. The same is true within our inner worlds. Understanding them as saŋsāra helps us to see their true nature. Seeing how the outer and inner saŋsāras interact helps us recognize inter-being and selflessness. Seeing with wisdom allows not being caught within the spinning and churning. Where might freedom be discovered amidst all the outer and inner saŋsāras?
Thinking like a Buddhist – 1 week at Cloud Mountain, WA – July 17 – 23
The Buddhist path of awakening is classically expressed as the middle way and noble eightfold path. Mindfulness, vigor, and composure are of course central. Wise skillful understanding guides and is followed by right thought and aim. This retreat will focus on these two leading path factors and their crucial role in practice. The practice of mindfulness encompasses our perceptions, thinking, beliefs, and opinions. The Dhamma teachings offer perspectives for examining these in ways congruent with insight, awakening, and release. Drawing from the original teachings, Santikaro will prepare readings that represent important Dhamma perspectives. We will use them to reflect on existing beliefs, assumptions, and attitudes, aiming to bolster those that further awakening and dismantle those that hinder. This will take place within a retreat container of noble silence, quiet times for meditation, friendly sangha, and Cloud Mountain’s natural peace and beauty. Please come prepared to reflect, contemplate, and also let go of thinking. See Cloud Mountain website for more details.
Contemplation Embraced With Breathing – 2 weeks at Cloud Mountain, WA – September 25 – October 8
This retreat explores the sixteen trainings of mindfulness with breathing (ānāpānasati) with special emphasis on the potential for understanding and insight regarding the nature of body, feelings, mind, and reality. Two weeks allows ample time to more fully explore the range of this magnificent practice of ānāpānasati. The peaceful setting of Cloud Mountain provides ample space and support.
— Retreat details here.
Insight Chicago Fall Retreat — dates to be determined
Details will be posted on the ICMC website when registration opens.
Thailand retreats in November (Thai speakers only)