Dharma Programs
|
Annual Winter Retreat
"The purpose of retreat is to integrate the teachings we have heard into our mindstream. It is very difficult to find the place and time in samsara to do silent, in-depth meditation practice, so have a wonderful retreat! Develop your wisdom and compassion for the benefit of all sentient beings." Annual Winter Retreat (en Español)Sravasti Abbey spends each winter in silent retreat, and qualified guests are welcome to join us. Retreat dates vary, but generally extend from early December to early March. A one-month option is usually available as well. This winter, beginning January 2013, we offer two options for participation:
The Four Establishments of Mindfulness practices take four distinct objects—body, feelings, mind, and phenomena—as the focus of meditation. The practice employs both stabilizing and analytical meditation. Ven. Chodron gave extensive teachings on the Four Establishments of Mindfulness in 2010, which are available on video on blip.tv beginning with this August 5, 2010 Admission is by application, and details are described under Winter Retreat Essentials. For those who can't attend in person, you can join in the Retreat from Afar, which will focus on the Chenrezig sadhana. Benefits of Doing RetreatDoing long retreat is extremely beneficial for really getting a taste of the Dharma. It gives the opportunity to reflect on the steps of the gradual path and to deepen our relationship with the Three Jewels. The Abbey offers an excellent retreat environment that includes a peaceful setting, a disciplined retreat structure, qualified spiritual guidance, and a supportive practice community. The environment is set up so that all activities can be done mindfully and with a Dharma perspective. It’s a wonderful opportunity, and if you can use your precious human life to do a retreat like this, you and all sentient beings will benefit enormously. Meditation RetreatA retreat is different from a course. In a course, the teacher teaches the Dharma and guides the meditation sessions. In a retreat, the students do the meditation themselves, and the teacher is generally not present in the sessions. The annual Winter Retreat is a group retreat wherein all students are focused on the same practice and meditate together in the Meditation Hall for at least five sessions every day. Ven. Chodron will offer teachings from time to time and is available for spiritual guidance as needed. Learn More:
Home |



