Many of us live our lives as Mr. Duffy in James Joyce’s Dubliners “…a little distance from his body, regarding his own acts with doubtful side-glances.” Modern, dry conceptions of mindfulness do little to address this problem, failing to help people ground their practice in the body’s somatic sense or the heart’s intuition of purpose. Relying on a decade of training in the Thai Forest tradition, Tan Nisabho expands on two techniques taught by the Buddha that can help transform a practice of ‘mindfulness’ to one of ‘heartfulness.’

The retreat’s first day will focus on the cultivation of mettā, or loving-kindness while the second day will center on the use of ānāpānasati, or mindfulness of breathing, as a means of reacquainting participants with the subtle body and somatic sense. By spending a day on each technique, participants can see how each supports the other and one’s practice.

Tan Nisabho will offer talks, meditation instructions, and interviews. Ayya Soma, a bhikkhuni ordained in the Theravāda tradition and co-founder of Empty Cloud monastery, will also give a remote teaching. This retreat is suitable for meditators of all experience levels.

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.)