Buddha described mind as fundamentally luminous and pure, merely visited by afflictive moods, thoughts, and emotions. This famous passage affirms that mind (heart, psyche) is not identical with afflictions, confusions, and neuroses. The nature of mind is actually beautiful. Elsewhere, Buddha compared mind to lustrous gold freed of dross and impurities by skillful work. This teaching sheds fresh light on how and why we meditate. Experiencing it changes our attitudes to meditation and life.
Meditation is a central part of our inner work. Through reflection, meditation, and contemplation we come to recognize mind’s beautiful potential and stop identifying with the afflictive stories, voices, and habits. Meditation cultivates skillful habits of heart and mind that elevate our lives. This online retreat offers practices that help us discover and recover the brightness, relaxed stability, clarity, and quiet that is available. Daily reflections will explore its place in our lives.
The Zoom container provides support for those of us who are able to dedicate each retreat day to meditation practice. For those with pre-existing commitments (care-giving, medical appointments) the online sessions support a more meditative and reflective container for fulfilling our outer responsibilities, while we also set aside time for our spiritual commitments.
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.
Santikaro studied with Ajahn Buddhadasa during the last nine years of his life, became his primary translator, and continues to share his "naturalist" approach to Buddha-Dhamma. Ordained as a Theravada Bhikkhu in 1985, Santikaro spent most of his monastic life at Suan Mokkh (southern Thailand). During this time, he led Dawn Kiam, a small monastic community for foreigners and was active among socially engaged Buddhists in Asia. He returned to the USA in 2000 and left monastic life in 2004 to found Kevala Retreat (then Liberation Park). His understanding of life has been enhanced by the Enneagram, feminism, cancer recovery, and trauma healing. He continues to teach nationally and internationally, and to translate the work of his teacher. He teaches Buddhism and meditation with an emphasis on the early Pali sources. He has led meditation retreats for more than thirty-five years, with a special fondness for mindfulness with breathing. Read more about Kevala Retreat at www.kevalaretreat.org.
Registration Fee
There is a $50 non-refundable fee that will be donated to Kevala Retreat (Santikaro's practice center). This fee is to encourage commitment to full participation. No one will be refused because of inability to pay this fee. Please email us if you cannot afford the fee so that we can make other arrangements.
Dana
In addition to the registration fee, Santikaro and Kevala retreat are entirely dependent on your practice of dana (giving). Dana is a millennia-old system of reciprocity and interdependence which supports teachers and centers while allowing Dhamma offerings to be made accessible to all. Please plan to contribute according to your means, at the conclusion of the retreat. For more information on dana, go here.
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.
If you have any questions, please contact us at events@insightchicago.org