September – December 2019
December 3-8: five-day study and practice retreat
2/3 full – register soon to avoid missing out
Liberation through Non-Clinging: An Exploration of the Five Aggregates
The goal of the Buddhist path is sometimes defined as “liberation through non-clinging.” But what is meant by clinging? In the First Noble Truth, the Buddha proclaimed that there is dukkha (suffering, stress, distress, unsatisfactoriness), and he defined dukkha in short as “the five clinging-aggregates” of form, feeling-tone, perception, formations, and consciousness. To have any possibility of experiencing the freedom of non- clinging, we first need to understand the nature of our clinging more fully. In this five-day retreat, we will explore the five clinging-aggregates through a combination of silent sitting and walking meditation, sutta study, and interpersonal practice in pairs and small groups using the guidelines of Insight Dialogue. Practicing in solitude and together, we can directly experience not only the dukkha of clinging, but the possibility of its release.
Learning Intentions:
To cultivate an experiential understanding of how clinging to the five aggregates causes suffering; how to free oneself from these different areas of clinging; to have new understanding about how clinging/identification constructs a sense of self; and how releasing clinging brings insight into anatta or not-self.
Location: Barre Center for Buddhist Studies
149 Lockwood Road Barre MA 01005
phone: +1 978-355-2347
Cost: Sliding scale
Sustaining: $895 Mid Level (Actual Cost): $695 Supported: $545 Non-Resident: $325
To register: https://www.buddhistinquiry.org/course/liberation-through-non-clinging-an-exploration-of-the-five-aggregates/
February 2020
February 14-19: co-teaching five-day retreat – IMS, Barre Massachusetts
Full with a long wait-list
Insight Meditation Society 1230 Pleasant St Barre MA 01005
phone: +1 978-355-4378
Strengthening the Heart: Lovingkindness retreat
Metta, sometimes translated as unconditional kindness or universal friendliness, grows from our capacity for basic human warmth. It is the first of four sublime states known as the Brahmavihara, that encompass lovingkindness, compassion, appreciative joy and equanimity. Developed together, these four qualities provide a powerful support for wellbeing, concentration and the deepening of insight practice.
In this silent Brahmavihara retreat, open to all, we will explore a range of techniques for developing these skillful qualities of heart, as well as ways to release the obstacles that often get in the way of living with more ease, happiness and peace. Our time together will include silent and guided sitting meditation, walking meditation, talks about the teachings, instructions and group meetings with the teachers.
An optional daily period of mindful movement will be offered by assistant teacher Jessica Morey.
Teachers:
Jill Shepherd and Oren Sofer
Assistants:
nakawe cuebas and Jessica Morey
To register: https://www.dharma.org/retreats/547
September – November 2020
September 15 – October 27: co-teaching six-week retreat – IMS, Barre Massachusetts
Insight Meditation Society 1230 Pleasant St Barre MA 01005
phone: +1 978-355-4378
Prerequisite is three silent retreats of a week or more with recognized insight meditation teachers. Please document this experience, including teachers’ names, dates and length of courses when registering.
Includes optional mindful movement.
A limited number of You Choose fee spaces are available for people of color and young adults (18-32 year olds) in financial need. This means you can establish your own retreat fee, based on your financial means. A minimum of $20 per night, or $840 for six weeks, is required.
Teachers:
Annie Nugent, Bhante Buddharakkhita, Winnie Nazarko, Devin Berry, Jill Shepherd
Assistant:
Roxanne Dault
More info: https://www.dharma.org/retreats/schedules/retreat-center/
November 1-30: co-teaching one-month retreat with Caroline Jones
Forest Refuge 97 Lockwood Road Barre MA 01005
phone: +1 978-355-2063
To register: https://www.dharma.org/retreats/forest-refuge/application/
