Learn Meditation as a Spiritual Practice
June 20–23, 2024
Buddhist Meditation Retreats, Meditation & Mindfulness, On Land Retreats, Personal Transformation
Live an Awakened Life
In recent years, meditation has become known for its many desirable and scientifically validated outcomes. It can reduce stress and improve sleep. It repairs our immune system and helps us regulate our emotions. When combined with other therapies, it prevents relapse into depression and significantly reduces anxiety. And meditation has been embraced by corporate leaders, health-care workers, educators, and others to improve performance and foster health and well-being in our workplaces.
All well and good!
However, what often gets “left on the table” is the noble, spiritual wisdom that naturally flows from the practice – a profound, intimate experience validated by countless practitioners over thousands of years of Buddhist practice. The same technique that helps you sleep better has also been shown to cultivate patience, wisdom, and the ability to love deeply. It can even lead to complete liberation from suffering!. That’s one hell of a practice.
During this introductory program, we will explore:
- What is mindfulness-awareness meditation and where did it come from?
- How does this simple act of “sitting still” unleash wisdom & compassion?
- How can we establish a sustainable meditation practice?
- Why are the Three Supports and the Three Sacred Acts central to the practice?
This program will offer a thorough and gentle introduction to mindfulness-awareness meditation with time for discussion and optional personal conversation with one of the teachers. Short daily yoga sessions included.
Program Schedule
Thursday, June 20th
2:00-5:00pm Participants arrival
6:30-7:30pm Dinner
7:30-8:00pm Orientation
Friday, June 21st
7:30-8:30am Breakfast
9-10:00am Talk: What is mindfulness-awareness meditation and where did it come from?
10:00-11am Practice (sitting and walking)
11:00-11:30am Discussion
11:30am-12:00pm Practice
12:00-2:30pm Lunch, break
2:30-3:30pm Practice
3:30-4:00pm Talk: The Wisdom of Boredom
4:00-4:30pm Tea Break
4:30-5:30pm Group Discussion
5:30-7:30pm Break, Dinner
7:30-8:30pm Evening practice and close
Saturday, June 22nd
7:30-8:30am Breakfast
9-10:00am Practice (walking outside)
10:00-11:30am Talk: Three acts to keep the practice sacred
11:30am-12:00pm Practice
12:00-2:30pm Lunch, break
2:30-3:30pm Practice
3:30-4:00pm Group Discussion
4:00-4:30pm Tea Break
4:30-5:30pm Talk: How does this simple act of “sitting still” unleash wisdom & compassion?
5:30-7:30pm Break, Dinner
7:30-8:30pm Evening practice and close
Sunday, June 24th
7:00-7:30am Practice
7:30-8:30am Breakfast
9:00-10:00am Practice
10:00-11:00am Talk: Living an Awakened Life
11:00-11:30am Discussion and close
12:30-1:30pm Lunch
Retreat Faculty
Susan Piver
Susan Piver is the New York Times best-selling author of 11 books including Start Here Now: An Open-Hearted Guide to the Path and Practice of Meditation, The Four Noble Truths of Love, and The Buddhist Enneagram. Susan has been a practicing Buddhist since 1993 and graduated from a Buddhist seminary in 2004. She is an internationally acclaimed meditation teacher known […]
Michael Carroll
Michael is the co-founder of The Wisdom Seat and is the author of Awake at Work, The Mindful Leader, Fearless at Work and Mindful Leadership Training and consults with corporations on bringing mindfulness into the workplace. Michael began practicing meditation in 1976 after receiving instruction from his first teacher HH Dudjom Rinpoche, graduated Buddhist Seminary […]