Not just a cool title for a prog rock album, an actual thing that is happening at Dhamma Sukha Meditation Center, April 4 to April 9 of 2024!
We had many people unable to attend the December retreat due to scheduling conflicts, lack of advance notice and the fact that all the seats filled up.
We are refining the mini-retreat format with what we learned on the first retreat and offering another retreat the weekend of April 6-8, which happens to be the solar eclipse. Four full days of meditation, nightly dhamma talks, one-on-one instruction, two meals a day, a private cabin AND we arranged to have the moon pass in front of the sun on the last full day of the retreat, all for $299!
THE PATH OF TOTALITY
Dhamma Sukha Mediation Center is in the path of totality for the eclipse, meaning retreatants will have an excellent opportunity to view the eclipse while also viewing the impermanent, impersonal nature of all phenomena!
We have a special day of programming planned around the eclipse with a post-eclipse dhamma talk on either sukha (happiness/satisfaction) or dukkha (dissatisfaction), depending on the weather!
TOTAL ECLIPSE OF THE SELF
We are adapting our material from the first retreat, this retreat will include a more comprehensive introduction to meditation retreats and we are honing the sutta references down to let meditators focus on what matters most–radiating lovingkindess and letting go of hindrances. David will lead the dhamma talks and provide meditation instruction, just like the last retreat. Additionally, we will have an introduction to forgiveness meditation as taught by Kirsten Jones! We have an extra day built in for the eclipse so you’ll have plenty of time to meditate and plenty of time to enjoy the solar eclipse in a beautiful, private setting!
BASIC INFO
- Arrive Thursday, April 4 mid-day to evening.
- Leave Tuesday, April 9 after breakfast
- We will practice lovingkindness (metta) meditation and will teach you how to skillfully deal with distractions and hindrances as they arise.
- Guided meditation before breakfast and after naptime.
- Seriously. Naptime included daily. Tea time too.
- Evening presentations and dhamma talks–deepen your practice and familiarize yourself with the Pali canon suttas.
- Special introduction to forgiveness meditation.
- Extremely good food from Rose.
- Solar Eclipse.
- Individual cabins for retreatants.
- Beautiful scenery.
DAILY SCHEDULE
- 6:30 AM Wakeup
- 7:00 AM Refuges, precepts, guided meditation
- 8:00 AM Breakfast
- 9:00 AM “Monk work”–a small, daily chore to practice mindfulness off the mat.
- 9:15 AM Morning meditation time
- 12:00 PM: Lunch
- 1:00 PM: Naptime
- 2:00 PM: Guided meditation
- 3:00 PM: Afternoon meditation time, also one-on-one interviews with instructors.
- 6:00 PM: Teatime.
- 7:00 PM: Presentation/Dhamma talk/guided meditation
- 9:00 PM: More meditation! (not gonna lie most people take showers or journal after the dhamma talk)
- 10:30 PM: Lights out!
This beginner-friendly retreat is geared towards first-time retreat-goers, new meditators and meditators new to the practice of TWIM, though all are welcome to attend!