August 27, 2014
Harvest Retreat
October 15-19, 2014
The Abby, Canon City
About Retreat Practice, and about our Harvest Retreat
People often ask me, “How can I deepen my practice?”
Just asking the question is a great start. Ask it of yourself in the mirror in the morning – and listen to the response you give yourself. Ask the clouds and stones, the people, dogs and trees, who witness the day and night with you. There are so many ways.
Pretty much everyone I know who has sustained a nourishing meditative practice has said one thing: attending meditation retreats has been key. They can’t imagine how they could have done without them. And I add my “Amen!”
When you enter retreat, you join others in laying down a slew of burdens and distractions. You enter a simplified time and space where, with the supportive energy of shared intention and the collaboration of a teacher, you can join the deep silence and stillness in, around, under and through everything. You can find the courage to simply be with your life as it is – with yourself as you are – and welcome the “Honored Guest” in the form of koans and other teachings. You can hear the deepest calls of the heart-mind, and respond.
It takes guts to do this, even if it’s not your first time, and it takes a commitment o time and resources. But if you are ready, go for it. It’s a kind offering you can make towards freedom in the world, for yourself and others.
A theme running through this October’s Harvest Retreat will be words from Hakuin Ekaku’s “Praise Song for Meditation”: This very place is paradise; this very body, the Buddha.” If Hakuin is describing his real, actual experience, what is this?
If you have other questions about this meditation retreat, please don’t hesitate to talk with a leader or to the registrar Steve Milligan steve_milligan08@comcast.net or (719) 633-5925; or, contact me at sembender@gmail.com.
Sarah Bender, Sensei
The cost of this retreat is; $425 full time. $90/day part time. Depost: $150.
Deadline for Registration: October 5