Simplicity, Solitude and the Art of Meditation
This retreat will be held online, on Zoom.
Wise practice is responsive to the times and yet touches timelessness. Practice grounds in the here-now and is infused with the ever-always. In this retreat, we will learn how simplicity, solitude, and the art of meditation enable us to meet the challenges of life, and explore the living process of mindfulness that brings Dhamma infused attention to life's realities.
Solitude
The pandemic has imposed isolation, as has fear. Contemplative practice is a powerful antidote to this, as we haphazardly emerge. Contemplation appreciates the virtues of solitude (viveka) and knows how to make the most of it. It helps us face the tragic social divisiveness that worsens the sense of fear and isolation.
Simplicity
Simplicity is a healthy attitude for living in the midst of overwhelming complexity and confusion. Simplicity is wise, open-hearted, and creative, not needing to be sophisticated or fancy.
Meditation
Meditation is the art of experientially learning how stuff works inside us: tendencies, shadows, virtues, processes, suffering, awakening. Meditation is a biological process, as much intuitive as technical, that weaves together our capacities for inner growth, resilience, compassion, and intelligence. We learn meditation techniques and skills, and then play them like a master.
Beginners and experienced practitioners alike are welcome!
Daily Schedule:
7:00-8:00 am Guided meditation
10:00-11:00 am Optional group silent meditation
1:30-3:00 pm Silent meditation followed by Q&A
7:00-8:30 pm Dhamma talk followed by silent meditation
If your life allows, please meditate, contemplate, study, and reflect throughout the day.
Registration Fee and Dana
There is a $50 non-refundable fee that will be donated to Kevala Retreat (Santikaro's practice center). This registration fee is a commitment fee only, to ensure participation of all who register. In addition to the registration fee, teacher dana, “generosity,” should be offered to the teacher at the end of the retreat, according to your means. There is no set fee for the course, such that those with more means may offer more, and those with less means may offer less. This is a time-tested system that ensures that all are able to participate, and all may practice the paramis (virtue) of generosity. All attendees are expected to participate in this millenia-old system for supporting Buddhist teachers and practice centers. They can not continue to exist without your support. You can learn more about the practice of generosity here.
If you cannot afford the fee contact us at events@insightchicago.org so that we can make other arrangements.
At-Home Retreat Information
In this at-home retreat, teaching will take place online via Zoom. Download Zoom here. If you already have Zoom, please make sure it is upgraded to the newest version.
Prior to the retreat, you will receive Zoom information, as well as a link to a home page that will contain the retreat schedule as well as other details. The sessions will be recorded and recordings posted to the home page each day.
About Santikaro
Santikaro is a teacher of Dhamma & meditation according to the middle way of the early sources. He was born and raised in the Chicago area. He lived as a Buddhist monk for 19 years training under and translating for Ajahn Buddhadasa. After retiring from the monkhood in 2004 he founded Kevala Retreat, in rural southwestern Wisconsin, with his wife, Jo Marie Thompson. He teaches throughout the USA and internationally. Read more about Kevala Retreat at www.kevalaretreat.org.
If you have any questions, please contact us at events@insightchicago.org