Retreat Guidelines
The central practice on an all day retreat is mindfulness of the breath, which enables us to see the ways we create difficulties in our lives and to discover some freedom in the midst of all things.
Most of the retreat is held in silence; we request that we do not speak to one another, (except during opening and closing sessions) and when absolutely necessary… in which case it meets the (3) part test of being Truthful, Beneficial and Timely. Reading and writing is discouraged, so that we can better stay with own present experience as it unfolds, moment to moment. In this silent and mindful environment, awareness sharpens, the body quiets, the mind clears, and space opens for insight and understanding to develop.

With limited diversions there is little to distract us. Since there is no place to hide from ourselves, there is a good possibility that we will know ourselves better after the retreat than we did before. Self-knowledge and understanding will grow as we see that we can live each moment either with inattention, fear and judgment, or with clarity, kindness and wakefulness. By cultivating the power of awareness, clarity and kindness, we discover our path to liberation, inner freedom and a peaceful heart.

Notes
  1. Bring your own ear phones/digital device if you want to listen to a guided meditation
  2. Sitting meditation is permitted any time during the walking meditation period
  3. If at anytime anyone feels uncomfortable, they can quietly go to a different part of the facility and rest
Typical Schedule
  • Arrival 8:00-8:30 am
  • Breakfast (Coffee/Bagels/Juice) 8:30-9:00 am
  • Outline for the day 9:00-9:30 am
  • Review of the topic/guidelines
  • Sitting Meditation 9:30-10:00 am
  • Walking Meditation 10:00-10:30 am
  • Sitting Meditation 10:30-11:15 am
  • Walking Meditation 11:15-11:45 am
  • Lunch (Noble Silence) 12:00-12:30
  • Nap/Lying Meditation/Cleanup 12:30-1:30 pm
  • Walking Meditation 1:30-2:00 pm
  • Sitting Meditation 2:00-2:30 pm
  • Walking Meditation 2:30-3:00 pm
  • Closing Dialogue 3:00-4:00 pm
Up Coming All Day Retreats

In Ft. Worth, TX on Saturday, May 2, 2015

Retreat Meditations

Sitting Meditation
Sitting meditation is a beautiful practice as silence and stillness develop, concentration deepens, and awareness expands. The training of the heart brings kindness and compassion for all that arises. In sitting we can find for ourselves wisdom and freedom. The breath shows us, in a direct way, how to relax and spread soothing energy to the rest of the body. After an inner calm and steadiness is established through breathing, the meditation can expand into investigating and understanding the inner workings of the mind.

Walking Meditation
Walking gracefully and wisely is an excellent meditative practice. Just as in sitting meditation, where attention is brought to the rhythmic pattern of breathing, in walking meditation, mindfulness is cultivated by resting the attention on sensations of the body as we walk. In walking meditation we become aware, in the midst of activity. Sometimes a slow, careful, purposeful walk is used. At other times, we can walk more leisurely or move at whatever speed cultivates mindfulness. Throughout the retreat we will learn to cultivate a mindful awareness in all postures–sitting, walking, standing up or lying down.

Eating Meditation
An awareness of food, and the mindful understanding of the entire process of nourishment and eating is suggested. Please try to bring the same calm, focused attention to eating as is brought to sitting and walking meditation. Mindful eating is a wonderful context for arising insights. The simple, mindful eating of our food can connect us to the lands far away from our table, to the sun and rain and earth that nurture the tree, to the grower, the picker, the trucker, the grocer, to the truth of all those involved in meeting our needs.