“When we are undistracted and completely resting, this is our true nature. That’s both simple and profound.”
— Dza Kilung Rinpoche
Relaxation can restore us from the depleting shocks of this challenging historic moment. The intention of this retreat is to allow the body and mind more time to come into balance naturally, so that we can continue to engage in the meaningful work of transforming our communities.
Let’s come together, then, and support one another to take one day for restoring our deeper connection with being. Instructions will be drawn from teachings of Dza Kilung Rinpoche, a Tibetan meditation master, encouraging us to open the heart of awareness while remaining as relaxed, inclusive, and natural as possible.
The day will open with an intention – that we practice for the sake of all beings. Within this frame, we will invite our bodies to relax, and simply breathe. Later, we will encourage our hearts and minds to include all experiences. Hardships and joys can be embraced from openness and love. A deep recognition of the genuine goodness of our own hearts, the hearts of other beings, and the goodness that exists in life itself can become the basis for simply allowing life to unfurl in our experience.
As our bodies let go with awareness, long standing habits of tension can release. Heart and mind may discover that obsessive thoughts and afflictive emotions can loosen more effectively within a spacious, accepting attitude than when we rush in to focus, fix, or stabilize.
A spacious schedule will be offered. There will be a sequence of short guided practices on Zoom, alternating with times for movement or walking. During the ‘breaks’ there will be instructions and encouragement to carry the relaxation into daily activities. Short Dharma talks, a lunch break, and a chance to share questions and comments will round out the retreat.