Teachers: Laurie Winnette and Ellen Hippard
The theme of this intensive is the Buddha’s Enlightenment. Throughout the retreat we will be celebrating the Buddha’s Enlightenment in a variety of ways. First, we will be committing to deepening our practice simply by sitting in silence for many sessions over the course of four days. This will have an impact on our ability to clarify the mind. Together, we will be creating a sacred space or container where we are able to loosen or drop our attachment to our self-centered views and reconnect with that quiet spaciousness that is the true nature of Heart/Mind. It is here where we connect with the Heart of Great Wisdom (prajnaparamita).
This intensive will provide us a container in which we come together in recognition of all the strife and unease arising in our world today (just as in the Buddha’s time), while at the same time, allowing us let go of what we have no control over (matters of old age, sickness, and death.) Then, we can to turn toward our thoughts and views (which precede our actions) that may be contributing to our suffering and that of others. We will also consider the first step in the Eight-Fold Path of Liberation, Right View, as a means of lessening suffering.These are all things that the Buddha discovered and put into practice and then passed on to his disciples. In these ways, we are replicating the Buddha's path.
As always, each day will include a dharma talk, kinhin, practice discussion, and group dharma activity. The schedule will be as follows:
Schedule:
Thursday, December 7 at 7:00-9:00pm
Friday, December 8 from 6:30am-5:00pm
Saturday, December 9 from 6:30am-5:00pm
Sunday, December 10, from 6:30am-12pm.
The last hour on Sunday will be devoted to Buddha’s Enlightenment Ceremony.
Breakfast may be provided in the Zendo if the number of onsite participants makes it feasible. If not, everyone will need to eat breakfast before they arrive. Also, please bring a sack lunch.
As usual, a table with snack food and refreshments will be available in the side room.
We expect that you will attend the entire intensive. If for some reason you are unable to do so, please contact Laurie.
To register, please follow this link: https://syverson.wufoo.com/forms/q1g9jh0w0iy28og/