This retreat has been reformatted specifically to be an online retreat, accessible for people who are staying home right now and would like to deepen their practice and connect with some calm, stillness, and a sense of inner refuge.
We live in an increasingly complex world, and many of us long for more stillness and quiet in our busy lives. With the current challenges we are facing, some of us may find we finally have that opportunity but aren’t sure how to begin to cultivate it. Others may feel even busier in some ways and overwhelmed with the current events in addition to continuing to work and fulfill commitments while other members of our household are at home. Whatever our conditions might be, this is an important time to strengthen practice and find moments of peace – whether amidst the unexpected activity or quiet of our home life.
During this four day online retreat, we’ll learn to slow down and attune to the fresh simplicity of our present moment experience, rest in stillness, and connect with the heart’s inner capacity for healing and freedom, within whatever conditions we find ourselves during this time. As we focus on practices that quiet the mind and open the heart, we support a continuity of mindfulness and a deepening of our meditation practice, which provides us with a true refuge amidst uncertainty.
Together we’ll explore some of the supports for presence: letting go of distraction, the deliberate cultivation of simplicity and contentment, and a renewed sense of connection with our own bodies, hearts, and minds in community. By bringing mindful attention to our moment to moment experience, we can learn to cultivate resilience amidst change and grow in awareness, love and wisdom.
The structure of this online Insight meditation retreat includes two guided meditations with Q&A each day, time for independent sitting and walking meditation periods in the communal virtual hall, rest, mindful eating instructions for meals, Dharma talks, and short individual or small group practice discussion meetings with the teachers. This format is configured to maximize its effectiveness as a virtual retreat during this extraordinary time of shelter-in-place. It combines the dedicated practice time of a residential retreat while supporting those with family members and/or other responsibilities.
General Schedule (All times are Pacific Time):
- 7:00 – 8:00am Individual morning sit (virtual meditation hall open)
- 9:00 – 10:00am First Guided Meditation Period/Q&A
- 10:00 – 12:30pm Individual Sitting and Walking Practice (when not attending your Practice Meeting)
- 2:30 – 3:00 pm Individual Sitting Practice
- 3:00 – 3:45 pm Dharma Talk
- 3:45 – 4:15 pm Individual walking practice
- 4:15 – 5:00pm Second Guided Meditation Period
- 5:00 – 6:00pm Individual Sitting and walking practice
- 7:30 – 8:00pm Last community sit of the evening with chanting
The retreat includes 4 full days of practice together. It will start at 9:00am on Saturday, May 2nd and end at 8:00pm on Tuesday, May 5th. We are asking participants in this retreat to commit to all items on the schedule that are in bold, and as many of the other practice sessions as your circumstances allow.
Dana/Donations: There will also be an opportunity to offer Dana for the teachers and center at the end of the retreat. Thank you for your support!
Financial Support and Payment Plans: There is a limited amount of financial support available for those in financial hardship. We will do our best to offer as much as possible to all who request it. In order to do so, we rely on people to commit to paying at the highest level they can afford. Once we have an understanding of how much financial support is needed among everyone who requests it, we will do our best to meet people’s needs equitably.
If you would like to set up a payment plan please email anisa@insightla.org with the number of payments and the payment amount (ie: 12 monthly payments of $50). If you would like to be added to the financial support waitlist please email anisa@insightla.org by April 23rd with the amount you can afford and your desired payment plan (if applicable).
