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Daylong Retreats
There is no cost for classes, events and retreats at IMC. Donations are welcome. No pre-registration is required unless otherwise stated.
For a calendar of retreats and all other events at IMC, see the IMC Calendar
- Dharma Practice Series: The Paramis with Gil Fronsdal
Dharma Practice Series: Fridays, 9:30am – 3:30pm
Study Group, Sundays, 1:30 to 3:30pm: 10/3, 10/ 31, 11/21, 12/12, 1/16, 2/13, 3/13, 4/24, 5/15, 6/26
Starting September 10, 2010, IMC is offering an ten month program of study and practice of the ten perfections (paramis). These are ten qualities of character which, when developed, support both Buddhist practice and compassionate involvement with others. People are welcome to attend any or all of the Friday programs. For people who commit to attending the whole series, the program will include a monthly two-hour discussion group with Ines Freedman, interviews with the program mentors, and readings.
Bring lunch.
The dates for these classes are:
September 10, 2010 Generosity (Dana)
October 15, 2010 Virtue (Sila)
November 5, 2010 Renunciation (Nekkhamma)
December 3, 2010 Wisdom (Panna)
January 7, 2011 Energy/Vigor (Viriya)
February 4, 2011 Patience (Khanti)
March 4, 2011 Truthfulness (Sacca)
April 15, 2011 Resolve (Adhitthana)
May 6, 2011 Lovingkindness (Metta)
June 3, 2011 Equanimity (Upekkha)
- Mindfulness of the Body Daylong Retreat with Gil Fronsdal
Saturday, September 11, 2010, 9:00am to 4:30pm
Mindfulness of the body lies at the foundation of Buddhist meditation practice. To support building a strong foundation, the day will include a variety of teachings and guidance on practices related to the body: instruction on how to practice mindfulness of the body, detailed instruction on meditation posture as well as a period of yoga supportive of meditation practice led by Terry Lesser.
Bring lunch.
- Aging as a Spiritual Practice Workshop with Lew Richmond
Saturday, September 25, 2010, 9am to 4:30pm
Lew Richmond will be offering another one-day meditation retreat on “Aging as a Spiritual Practice.” Lew feels that the experience of growing older is one important way we experience in our own bodies the fundamental Buddhist truths of suffering and impermanence, and for the last several months he has been exploring this issue on his blog www.AgingAsASpiritualPractice.com. He is also at work on a book, Aging as a Spiritual Practice: A Contemplative Guide to Growing Older and Wiser, to be published by Gotham Books in Spring, 2012.
The workshop will explore the connection between our own experiences of aging—loss, disappointment, loneliness, fear, as well as the positive aspects of gratitude, compassion, and a sense of wise perspective—with the basic Buddhist teachings of impermanence, the Five Great Fears, liberation from a fixed self, mindfulness (of aging) and loving kindness. Unlike the workshop given last year, the format of this day will be focused less on discussion and more on practice (although there will be both), and will include more guided meditation, including practices that Lew has created and adapted from the Buddhist tradition specifically to address our experiences of aging. Once again Lew will be assisted by two of his senior students, Peter Schireson and Karen Geiger. The website of Lew’s home sangha is www.vimalasangha.org.
- Daily Life Practice Retreat w/ Andrea Fella
Sunday, September 26 to Saturday, October 2, 2010
Integrating practice into our daily lives can be difficult. Many of us need support for this challenging but rewarding aspect of practice. We will integrate formal practice and Dharma discussion with our daily life by surrounding our usual workweek and workdays with practice & discussion. We begin with a half-day retreat with instructions and discussion on Sunday, and end with a daylong retreat on the following Saturday. During the week we will meet each morning and evening to inspire, encourage and support our daily life practice. The Sunday and Saturday sessions are open to all.
Retreat Schedule:
Sunday 9/26: 1:30 to 5:00 pm
Monday thru Friday mornings 9/26 to 10/1: 7:30 to 9 am
Monday thru Friday evenings 9/26 to 10/1: 7:30 to 9 pm
(Monday & Thursday we will integrate with the usual sitting program)
Saturday 10/2: 9 am to 4:30 pm, daylong retreat
- Mindfulness of Mind Daylong Retreat with Andrea Fella
Saturday, October 2, 9:30am to 4:30pm
Taught in the style of U Tejaniya, an approach to mindfulness emphasizing relaxation and careful attention to the attitude one has toward one’s experience; mindfulness in the context of one’s daily life.Practicing mindfulness on retreat is one of the foundations for maturing insight meditation. The simplicity, silence and support of retreats contribute to letting go of many of the distractions that get in the way of clear seeing. Retreats also are a wonderful environment for developing a continuity of awareness for an extended period.
During this daylong retreat we will explore a relaxed open awareness with an emphasis on exploring qualities of mind, and the attitude towards one’s experience. Such an open awareness practice supports both the formal meditation of sitting and walking, as well as awareness of our normal daily activities. The schedule for the retreat will alternate periods of sitting and walking with instructions and discussion. Aside from the instruction and discussion periods, the day will be primarily in silence. It is recommended for both beginners and experienced practitioners.
Andrea Fella has been practicing Insight Meditation since 1996, and began teaching meditation in 2003. She is particularly drawn to intensive retreat practice, and has done a number of long retreats, both in the U.S. and Burma. During one long practice period in Burma, she ordained as a nun with Sayadaw U Janeka. Andrea teaches residential retreats for IMC, and at other centers around the country.
- Compassionate Vision, Conscientious Action, with Ven. Bhikkhu Bodhi
A Benefit for Buddhist Global Relief
Saturday, October 30, 9am to 5pm
Ven. Bhikkhu Bodhi will lead a daylong program exploring traditional and contemporary approaches to Socially Applied Buddhism. Caring for oneself while caring for others is at the heart of the Buddha’s teachings. How we can best do this in our present-day world is a deeply challenging question with profound ramifications. Bhante will explore the canonical roots of Socially Applied Buddhism, with texts and discussion. He will develop a model aimed at articulating a postmodern integral understanding of Buddhism and explore corresponding approaches to Buddhist practice and sacred activism. He will also highlight the work of Buddhist Global Relief, a non-profit organization he founded in 2008, which has launched over fifteen aid projects throughout the world. All dana will go to BGR. This event will be jointly sponsored by IMC and the Sati Center.
Bhikkhu Bodhi is an American Buddhist monk originally from New York City. After serving as a monk in Sri Lanka for twenty-four years, he now lives at Chuang Yen Monastery in upstate New York. Ven. Bodhi is a prolific writer of Buddhist essays and books and has translated and commented extensively on the Pali suttas.
- Teen Retreat with Gil Fronsdal
November 6, 1:00 – 4:00 pm
Within Buddhism, meditation is one element of an integrated approach to living a wise and stress-free life. This retreat will include instruction and practice of meditation, and an introduction to the Four Noble Truths, the heart of Buddhist teachings. The Four Noble Truths point to a happiness and peace not tied to our experiences in life. Discovering this happiness brings balance through all the changes life can bring. There will be time for peer discussion and exploration of the topic of the day.
All teens are welcome.
- Introduction to Meditation Daylong Retreat with Ines Freedman
Saturday, November 13, 2010, 9:30am to 3:30pm
Introducing the basic practice of mindfulness, with direction in mindfulness of the breath, body, emotions, thoughts, walking and eating. There will sitting and walking meditation and discussion. Suitable for both beginners and those wanting to review the basics of practice. Bring lunch.
Ines Freedman first became interested in meditation through her yoga practice in 1970. She has been practicing Buddhist meditation since 1985, with Gil Fronsdal being her primary teacher since 1995. She is a graduate of the Spirit Rock Community Dharma Leader Program and a past Managing Director of Insight Meditation Center. She directs and teaches the Audiodharma Online Meditation Course, and serves on the IMC Chaplaincy council. She is a retired chiropractor.
- Daylong Retreat with Gil Fronsdal
Saturday, November 20, 2010, 9am to 4:30pm
This is a daylong retreat with alternating periods of sitting and walking meditation, instruction in mindfulness practice, particularly in mindfulness of the body and a dharma talk. It is recommended for both beginners and experienced practitioners. No interviews. Bring lunch.
- Sati Center: The Dhammapada – with Tony Bernhard
Investigating the Best Known Collection of the Buddha’s Teachings
Saturday, December 4, 2010, 9am to 4pm
The Dhammapada may well be the most widely read and most beloved collection of Buddhist scriptures presenting wisdom through vivid, poetic imagery and often blunt contrast. Its lesson goes to the heart of the Buddha’s teachings. During this daylong contemplation and investigation of the Dhammapada verses, we will examine both their scope and structure and explore some of the most challenging of the Buddha’s instructions. The primary translation used will be Gil Fronsdal’s.
As one of Spirit Rock’s community dharma leaders, Tony hosts sitting groups in Davis and periodically teaches around the bay area and central valley. Tony’s practice is guided by study of the Pali scriptures (in translation!) and by contemporary scholarship of these texts.
- Daylong Retreat with Gil Fronsdal
Saturday, December 11, 2010, 8:30am to 5pm
Practicing mindfulness on retreat is one of the foundations for maturing insight meditation. The simplicity, silence and support of retreats contribute to letting go of many of the distractions that get in the way of clear seeing. Retreats also are a wonderful environment for developing a continuity of awareness for an extended period.
This particular daylong retreat is meant for people who already understand the basic practice of mindfulness; no instruction will be given.
The schedule consists of alternating periods of sitting and walking meditation. At the end of the day Gil gives a Dharma talk. Brief interviews to talk about the practice will be available with Gil. Previous experience is recommended.
(Bring Lunch)
Daylong Retreat Descriptions and Schedules
You may participate in any part of a daylong retreat.
9:00 am - 4:30 pm Daylong Retreats with Gil Fronsdal
These retreats do not have a fixed schedule, but include instructions or guided meditations with alternating sitting and walking periods, about 35 minutes or so in length. A dharma talk is usually given at the end of the day and/or before lunch. If you come for a partial day and arrive during a sitting period, please enter quietly and sit in the outer hall until the sitting period is over. You can join at any time during a walking period.
8:30 am - 5:00 pm Daylong Retreats with Gil Fronsdal
No instruction, previous experience recommended. Brief interviews with Gil available. Schedule is as follows:
- 8:30 AM Sit
- 9:15 AM Welcome
- 9:30 AM Walk
- 10:15 AM Sit
- 11:00 AM Walk
- 11:15 AM Sit
- 12:00 PM Lunch
- 1:00 PM Sit
- 1:45 PM Walk
- 2:30 PM Sit
- 3:15 PM Walk
- 3:30 PM Sit
- 4:15 PM Dharma Talk
- 5:00 PM Short Temple Cleaning
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