While silent meditation retreats are invaluable for revealing the power of training the mind, many meditators find it challenging to establish a continuity of awareness when they are not supported by the discipline of retreat, looking instead to attain particular qualities, e.g. calm, concentration, clarity, etc. This retreat, suitable for experienced meditators, will integrate the precise meditation instructions of Mahasi Sayadaw (Manual of Insight) with the practical awareness-oriented guidance of Sayadaw U Tejaniya (Dhamma Everywhere), both highly skilled monastic teachers from Burma.

These instructions will help to establish a relaxed, persevering continuity of mindfulness and will offer a clear path for developing clarity of awareness in all activities and bringing the dhamma into our everyday lives. Training in ‘awareness of mind’ leads to insightful understanding of the nature of all things. Such knowledge weakens deeply conditioned habits of mind that cause unhappiness, and strengthens conditions for an enduring sense of well-being. Liberation releases the mind from mental states that result in suffering to oneself and others.

This retreat will be held in Noble Silence, and will include comprehensive guidance for continuous awareness in all activities. The daily schedule will include regular periods of sitting, walking, chanting, meals, community/daily chores, discourses and group check-ins with the teacher.

Group check-ins offer each student a wider range of instruction and understanding and help normalize all they experience. In addition, there will be times when students will be encouraged to maintain mindful awareness in all their activities however they schedule them. While these ‘self-scheduled’ periods of time are not the norm in many retreats, and therefore sometimes students may initially feel anxious, fearful or excited, most students on prior retreats where they have been offered have made the adjustment within a day or two, and almost universally appreciate the offering to follow their own rhythm of sitting and walking. Taking advantage of this opportunity strengthens our ability to take awareness and wisdom off the cushion and into activity; and when out of retreat, into our full life of domestic, civic, social, professional and political activities.

People of all walks of life are warmly welcome.

Due to his health considerations. Steve will offer interviews and other activities as he is able. His Dhamma reflections will be offered as recorded talks. (To better understand the situation, in 2018 Steve was diagnosed with the beginnings of Glioblastoma.  The surgery to remove the tumor, as well as the radiation and chemo therapies, were successful. Since that time his MRI’s show that there is no regrowth of the tumor. However, one of the results of radiation treatment is the onset of Aphasia, which makes it challenging to speak. Patients with Aphasia have not lost their intelligence. that is still present. Within Steve’s mind there still remains the deep understanding and intelligence of the Dhamma, which he relays much more in his quiet and more sparse ways of responding to yogis. Yogis who know him say that how he handles all this is a Dharma teaching in itself…how to handle these conditions of aging and health challenges in real life.)

Experience Prerequisite:  At least 3 silent, residential, Theravadin Buddhist meditation retreats of a minimum of 7 days, at least one of which has been with Kamala and/or Steve.

Partial attendance is not offered on this retreat. Additionally, please consider attending this retreat only if your current life circumstances allow you to engage in an important modern renunciation practice of staying offline and off phone/text during the entire course of the retreat (some exceptions related to pressing family situations may be granted.)