February 23 (Saturday), Spirit Rock: Cultivating Wise Speech: Becoming More Skillful in Your Speech Practice, Including in Difficult Situations. 9.30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Connecting our meditation practice with our speech and communication is one of the main ways to bring spiritual values into our everyday lives and our action in the world, and can help enliven and energize our practice, since we have so many chances for practice! This daylong retreat will integrate periods of sitting and walking meditation with talks, discussion, and interactive exercises. It will cover three main areas. In the morning, we will focus on (1) the basic teachings of the Buddha on wise speech and (2) foundational mindfulness practices for our speech. In the afternoon, we will apply these perspectives and tools to (3) learning how to practice wise speech in difficult conditions (when there are difficult emotions, with conflict, etc.).
March 2 (Saturday), Nevada City: From Mindfulness of the Breath to Non-dual Awareness. 9.30 a.m. to 5 p.m.
In this daylong retreat, we will explore, both through teachings and through silent meditation sessions, a sequence of training that has three main parts connecting our foundational mindfulness practice with opening to deeper awareness: (1) stabilizing attention, particularly through mindfulness of breathing; (2) developing insights into where and how the mind fixates or grasps, particularly related to our sense of self (and our habitual patterns), and learning to deconstruct and release such fixations; and (3) opening to awareness beyond fixation and grasping, to greater freedom, through a number of specific steps and practices. We will explore several practices for each of these three training areas, and ways to bring such practices into daily life, as our awareness, compassion, and responsiveness deepen. For further information, go to http://www.mtstream.org/.
April 3, 10, 17, 24 (Wednesday morning class), Spirit Rock. 9 to 11 a.m. (class description at end of listings).
April 15-16, Spirit Rock: Lovingkindness: Two-Day Non-residential Lovingkindness Retreat (with Heather Sundberg). Lovingkindness, or Metta, is the practice of cultivating a warm, open heart towards ourselves and others, as a basic way of being in the world. It is also a path to wisdom. We cultivate metta as a meditation practice in order for it to manifest in an ongoing way in our daily lives. We grow in self-acceptance and compassion, work through our harsh judgments of self and others, and become better able to act from our awakened hearts in daily life.
In this non-residential retreat, we will learn the formal practice of metta along with some of the companion practices of compassion, forgiveness, and gratitude. All of these practices strengthen self-confidence, self-acceptance, and steadiness of mind and heart, revealing our fundamental kindness.
This meditation intensive is intended for people interested in a period of sustained practice for whom being away from home overnight is not easily possible: people with young families, people with health or mobility challenges, or people with caregiver responsibilities. Of course, the retreat is also open to anyone who simply would prefer to return home in the evening.
The retreat will be held in the context of silence, with periods of sitting meditation alternating with periods of walking meditation. Full instructions will be offered, along with dharma talks, question and answer periods, and several short optional sessions of guided movement. Participants are asked to bring their lunch each day so that there can be an uninterrupted day of practice that includes instructions in mindful eating.
Teachings and practices are appropriate for individuals and health care professionals.
Continuing Education (CE) credit available, please see below.
Young Adults (18-26) and Seniors (65+ with limited and fixed income) are invited to attend this daylong at a rate of $15.
April 20, Spirit Rock: Daylong on “Responses to Climate Change: Awareness, Action, and Celebration” (with Wes Nisker, Joanna Macy, Paul Hawken, James Baraz, Konda Mason, Mark Coleman, Malcolm Margolin), 9.30 a.m. to 4.30 p.m. Join us for Spirit Rock's Earth Day celebration - a day of meditation, learning, ritual and moving our compassion into action. Our mandala of teachers, MC'd by Wes "Scoop" Nisker (Crazy Wisdom Saves the World Again!), includes Paul Hawken (Blessed Unrest), Joanna Macy (Active Hope: How to Face the Mess We're in without Going Crazy), Donald Rothberg (Engaged Spiritual Life), James Baraz (Awakening Joy), Mark Coleman (Awake in the Wild), Konda Mason (Hub Oakland and Earthseed Consulting) and Malcolm Margolin (The Ohlone Way).
Seniors, young adults and activists are invited to attend at a special rate of $15 per person.
This is a community event featuring guided meditations on our earthling identity, connection with the land, information and discussions on the urgency of climate change and how our community can engage with the challenge. The day will offer opportunities to share hopes, concerns and intentions for action, with ritual and celebration.
April 27 (Saturday), Spirit Rock: Working with Judgments: Judgments of a reactive and compulsive nature are very strong in most of our lives, and in the dominant culture. They can distort our perceptions, make relationships with others difficult and undermine our work in the world. In this daylong, we will examine what judgments are and how to work with them, using mindfulness and lovingkindness practices (and a number of periods of silent practice), inquiry, dyad work, and role play. These will help us to transform the energy of judgments--preserving the intelligence and discernment often found in judgments, while working through the destructive and compulsive aspects of judgments. We will also include exploration of how we may also internalize the prevailing judgments of our society in a number of ways, particularly related to race and ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, employment status, etc. Those attending the daylong will have an option of continuing with monthly evening follow-up sessions. See below for general information about Spirit Rock daylongs.
May 1, 8, 15, 22 (Wednesday morning class), Spirit Rock. 9 to 11 a.m. (class description at end of listings).
May 10, 17 (Friday evenings), Oakland: East Bay Meditation Center, 6.30 to 8.30 p.m.: Movement, meditation, and talk. 2147 Broadway, Oakland (near 19th St. Oakland BART), 510-268-0696, http://www.eastbaymeditation.org/, no fee, support for center and teachers all on a dana (generosity or donation) basis.
May 23 – 29 (Thursday to Wednesday), Berkeley: Mindful Communication: A Wise Speech Retreat (with Nyaniko Oren Sofer), non-residential 7-day retreat, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day. Integrating our meditation practice with our speech and communication is one of the main ways to bring deeply-held values into our daily lives and actions in the world. In this retreat, we will connect mindfulness and lovingkindness practice, the Buddha's teachings on wise speech, and the contemporary discipline of Nonviolent Communication (NVC). Collectively, these practices form a powerful foundation for cultivating awareness and empathy, strengthen our ability to stay present in challenging situations, and develop our capacity to listen and speak from the heart. The retreat will include periods of silent meditation, guidance in relational awareness practice, and interactive speech exercises. This retreat is designed both for those who want to bring more attention to speech as a spiritual practice, and for those who have emphasized communication and want further grounding in meditation. NVC will be taught at a basic level; reading Marshal Rosenberg’s Nonviolent Communication is recommended. Participants will have the option of continuing with monthly follow-up sessions after the retreat. Tentative Location: Berkeley Fellowship of Unitarian Universalists, Connie Barbour Room, 1924 Cedar St., Berkeley, CA 94709. Cost: $250 + Dana (no one turned away for lack of funds). Info/Registration: www.orenjaysofer.com, WiseSpeechRetreat@gmail.com.
Further 2013 Retreats and Daylongs:
June 15-19 (Saturday to Wednesday), Spirit Rock: Lovingkindness (with Spring Washam), 4-day retreat. Lovingkindness, or metta, is the practice of cultivating a warm, open heart towards ourselves and others, as a basic way of being in the world. It is also a path to wisdom. We cultivate metta as a meditation practice in order for it to manifest in an ongoing way in our daily lives. We grow in self-acceptance and compassion, work through our harsh judgments of self and others, and become better able to act from our hearts in daily life.
In this retreat, we will learn the formal practice of metta, developing greater steadiness of mind and heart, and revealing more and more our fundamental kindness.
It is our wish to support the practice needs of meditators in early adulthood. To this end, Spirit Rock extends a special invitation to young adults (age 18-26) who wish to attend this retreat at a special rate of $25 per night, on a first come, first served basis. A limited number of special rates are available, please apply early.
July 8-9 (Monday and Tuesday), Embodied Awakening through Meditation and Sacred Dance: A Two Day Non-residential Retreat, 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. both days (with Heather Munro-Pierce). Join us for an experientially-based exploration of awakening in and through the body for two days in the summer! Such an embodied awakening is crucial for contemporary Western practitioners, living in a culture in which we are often disembodied, virtual, and disconnected from the earth body. This embodied awakening is also foundational in the teachings of the Buddha: “Which one thing is to be developed? Mindfulness of the body” (Digha Nikaya 34)!
In this two-day non-residential retreat, we will weave together several types of body-oriented meditative practices with spaciously guided free-form dance (with a musical background) led by Heather Munro Pierce, an acclaimed teacher of sacred dance. Through both formal sitting and walking meditation and moving dance meditation, we will awaken and stabilize body awareness in a number of ways, including exploring the four elements of earth, water, fire, and air—in order to invite awakening in our bodies and to nourish a joyful, grounded awareness.
Both beginning and experienced meditators and movers are welcome, including those with limited movement capacities. Attendance for both days is strongly encouraged, but attendance for just Monday is possible. CEU are available. Please bring a lunch!
Heather Munro Pierce is an inspirational leader in the conscious dance movement. She is the creator of a form of movement meditation/ecstatic dance called TransDance which she leads both nationally and internationally at events dedicated to nurturing awakening and igniting joy. As well as producing her own workshops, circles, and retreats, Heather leads events for many groups and organizations. Her passion and commitment springs from her own experience with dance as a path to healing, health, and wholeness. (See also October 13-18.)
August 12-21, Spirit Rock: Concentration Retreat (with Phillip Moffitt, Andrea Fella, and Adrianne Ross)
Concentration (samadhi) defined as the collection and unification of the mind, was emphasized by the Buddha as one of the aspects of the Eightfold Path. It can bring joy to your practice and develop the skillful use of pleasure in the meditative process. Whatever your level of practice, you can improve your Insight Meditation (Vipassana) by strengthening your concentration skills. Your ability to concentrate will develop in response to the attention you give it. This retreat offers a series of techniques for staying on the meditation object for extended periods of time. We will explore the factors of concentration that lead to the deep absorption states known as jhana. Teachers will also give instruction for utilizing concentration during insight practice.
It is our wish to support the practice needs of meditators in early adulthood. To this end, Spirit Rock extends a special invitation to young adults (age 18-26) who wish to attend this retreat at a special rate of $25 per night, on a first come, first served basis. A limited number of special rates are available, please apply early.
August 25, Sacramento: Daylong and Evening Talk
September 14-21, Spirit Rock: Transforming the Judgmental Mind Retreat (with Heather Sundberg). Judgments of a reactive and often automatic nature are very strong in most of our lives, and in the dominant culture. They can distort our perceptions, make relationships with others difficult, and undermine our work in the world.
In this retreat, we will explore the nature of such judgments (and their difference from non-reactive discernment) and how to transform them. We will cultivate mindfulness, inquiry, and heart practices such as lovingkindness, forgiveness, gratitude, joy, and compassion. We will also explore the somatic dimension of judgments, the role of cultivating awakened qualities in transforming judgments, and how to cultivate skill in speech and interaction in the midst of situations involving judgments, whether our own or those of others. These tools will help us to preserve the intelligence and energy often found in judgments, using them for discernment and compassionate action, while working through judgments' destructive and compulsive aspects.
The retreat will be held mostly in silence (with the first day fully in silence), with some periods of discussion (small and large group) and some interactive exercises (particularly the last full day), along with group and individual interviews. Those attending the retreat will have the option of continuing with monthly follow-up sessions after the retreat.
It is our wish to support the practice needs of meditators in early adulthood. To this end, Spirit Rock extends a special invitation to young adults (age 18-26) who wish to attend this retreat at a special rate of $25 per night, on a first come, first served basis. A limited number of special rates are available, please apply early.
October 4-6 (Friday to Sunday), Grand Forks, North Dakota, weekend retreat.
October 13-18, Esalen Institute, Big Sur, California: The Dancing Buddha: Meditation, Movement, and the Divine Abodes of the Heart (with Heather Munro Pierce), 5-day retreat.
October 21-22, Spirit Rock: Two-Day Non-residential Retreat: “Cultivating the Awakened Heart: Practicing Lovingkindness, Compassion, Joy, and Equanimity” (with Heather Sundberg).
November 1-6, Southern Dharma: Transforming the Judgmental Mind Retreat, 5-day retreat.
December 17-22, Spirit Rock: Insight Meditation at the Solstice: Embracing the Dark, Inviting the Light Solstice, 5-day retreat with Heather Sundberg and John Travis)
In this retreat, we will emphasize centering ourselves at the time of the holidays and the New Year, quieting our minds, grounding in our bodies, opening up our hearts, and using inquiry to help give energy to our practice. There will be a special emphasis on opening to the darkness, including to our difficulties and challenges, as well as to the coming light--such as beauty, joy and love. We will have a winter solstice ceremony.
The retreat will include complete meditation instructions, sitting and walking meditation, daily lovingkindness practice, evening talks, and interviews.
It is our wish to support the practice needs of meditators in early adulthood. To this end, Spirit Rock extends a special invitation to young adults (age 18-26) who wish to attend this retreat at a special rate of $25 per night, on a first come, first served basis. A limited number of special rates are available and all applications will be included in the lottery.
December 27-January 1, Cloud Mountain: Transforming the Judgmental Mind (with Heather Sundberg), 5-day retreat.
Ongoing Wednesdays Class, Spirit Rock, Woodacre, CA: 9 to 11 a.m. morning class: Co-teach with Sylvia Boorstein (most Wednesdays, either Sylvia or I will teach): 45 minute meditation, talk and discussion. Class cost $8-10, teaching is by donation (dana). Donald will be teaching January 9, 23, 30; February 13; April 3, 10, 17, 24; and May 1, 8, 15, 22. Further dates to be determined.
Information for Spirit Rock Retreats and Daylongs: Registration: For more information, call 415-488-0164 or go to www.spiritrock.org/. Daylongs cost $50-108 sliding scale, plus a donation (dana) for the teacher. Volunteer opportunities are available; contact the Spirit Rock volunteer coordinator, at 415-488-0164, x224.
