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Meditation Retreat: Body, Speech and Mind
January 1, 2017 - January 17, 2017
Body, Speech & Mind Meditation Retreat:
Grow confidence in the Dharma, and in oneself as a representative of the Dharma in the world.
Start 2017 with an in-depth meditation retreat for your spiritual awakening. Our lineage of modern awakening draws its roots from the cutting edge teachings of Namgyal Rinpoche. Clear Sky Retreat Center is delighted to host this retreat based on Namgyal’s incredible dharma and therapeutic tools for awakening, drawing on the collection of his teachings, Body, Speech and Mind, transcribed by Cecile Kwiat. The retreat dates are December 31-January 17th.
Meditation Retreat Overview
Photo by Greg Molkentein
Ever wish there were a manual for how to be the best person you could be? Namgyal Rinpoche’s Body Speech and Mind could be that book: it’s best described as a seminal manual for evolutionary human development and spiritual awakening.
While largely “Buddhist” in content, Body Speech and Mind is Universalist in intention and humanist in scope.
These teachings of spiritual awakening show us how to understand the essence of Mind, particularly as it manifests in our day-to-day world. In turn we learn how that understanding helps us to unfold as richer, clearer and more integrated people. It maps out a truly creative path for the awakening of human society.
At Clear Sky and through Planet Dharma, we embody this through our practice and training, particularly our spiritual Awakening through Action (Karma Yoga) programs. This retreat will cover the theory of as well as solitary and group meditation practice itself, with a taste of the Awakening Through Action via daily mutual support for the optimal functioning of the retreat.
Watch Now: Body Speech & Mind Retreat Video:
Course Outcomes
What will be covered in this meditation retreat?
The backbone of both this book (Body Speech and Mind is available at Bodhi Publishing) and this retreat consists of the Satipatthana Sutta, The Four Foundations of Mindfulness Sutra.
What will this meditation retreat learning do for me?
Tilopa (988–1069), Teacher of Mahamudra
Satipatthana practice both broadens and deepens awareness. It is often called “mindfulness,” but mindfulness can be passive and unfocused. Our practice pushes the envelope of what “mindfulness” means: it trains us to be ever more mindful of how we’re feeling, what we’re doing and how we’re manifesting, and also to be mindful of being mindful. As such, we suggest the term intentional awareness: we are not only aware, but aware of being aware. It is mindfulness with a kick.
So what difference does being more aware make?
As humans we live in four worlds. We live in an environmental matrix of earth, water, air and fire, upon which all life depends. We live in a social world of interdependence that requires clear communication and compassionate engagement for a balanced and harmonious life, including our interactions with many other species. We live in an economic world that allocates resources and assigns values. Lastly, we live in an unseen and unnamed spiritual world.
To claim our birthright as human beings, we need to be skilled in all four worlds, particularly the last one. This last world of spiritual awakening raises our eyes from the merely mundane, so we can perceive mysterious and sublime phenomena and qualities. These nourish our souls, inspire us to gracefully navigate the challenges of the other three worlds, and generally make life worth living.
How will this meditation retreat help my life?
Body, Speech and Mind offers us a map, an atlas, a schematic and a system for spiritual awakening. Through the four worlds, it focuses our spiritual aspirations to enliven and enrich, to strengthen and cherish, and to guide and predict our awakening—and by implication, our evolutionary future. This is how we shape our own evolution, and that of the planet.
In retreat we’ll undertake exercises for each of the four foundations of mindfulness: awareness of the body, awareness of the feelings, awareness of states of mind, and awareness of contents of mind.
This more all-embracing and widely-encompassing awareness is then applied in all four of our worlds (environmental, social, economic and spiritual).
We then integrate the awareness cultivated on the cushion with that developed through exercises during retreat. The integration allows us to take what we learn on the meditation cushion back into our day-to-day lives. This enhances and embellishes our sense of accomplishment and confidence in all that we do: our relationships, our work and how we offer our gifts to the world.
Supported by this powerful inner work, we’re empowered to make a difference in the world during these critical transitional times. More and more we become positive role models of transformation who can wield the tools that support others to join us on this transcendental journey of spiritual awakening.
About Teachers Doug Duncan & Catherine Pawasarat:
Combined, Doug Duncan and Catherine Pawasarat have been practicing Karma Yoga and meditation for more than 60 years. They both received lay ordination from the Canadian-born Ven. Namgyal Rinpoche, and have shared teachings of spiritual awakening from their Western Canada-based retreat center, Clear Sky, and worldwide for decades.
They’re well versed in Theravadin, Mahayana and Vajrayana Buddhist philosophy and practices, as well as contemporary psychology, consciousness studies and art. They are pioneering awakening through action (Karma Yoga) and generosity practices in the West, and feel proud to base their teachings and meditation retreat center on these radical and profound practices. They lead several meditation retreats per year.
Doug & Catherine’s teaching style emphasizes integration, of right-brain and left brain, art and science, East and West, and the broad spectrum of human experience. They are devoted to integrating the shadow and keeping a keen sense of humor.
What others say about them:
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The Benefits of Retreating at Clear Sky
© C. Pawasarat
This meditation retreat takes place at Clear Sky Meditation and Study Foundation near the international airport at Cranbrook, B.C.
Clear Sky offers 310 acres of pristine mountain wilderness nestled at the foot of the 10,00-ft Bull Mountain, surrounded by Crown Land/National Forest, large ranches and spectacular views of the Steeple and Purcell Mountain ranges. There are many foot trails and meditation platforms amidst the grasslands and pine, fir and aspen forests. We are pleased to share this property with abundant wildlife.
In addition to world-class meditation retreat teachings and your own awakening efforts, the healing and integration that Clear Sky offers benefits from a healthy ecosystem, fresh air, mountain water, and delicious, balanced, omnivorean meals made with organic and local ingredients.
What does a typical meditation retreat day look like?
- 6:30 am: Wake up
- 6:45 -7:15: Meditation – setting the tone for the day
- 7:15 – 8:15: Breakfast
- 8:15 – 9:30: A Dharma talk and description of the exercises to be done
- 9:30 -11:30 Body practice
- 11:30 – 12:15 Speech practice
- 12:30-1:30: Lunch
- 1:30 – 2:30: Integration (individual time)
- 2:30 – 4:30: Mind practice
- 4:30 – 5:30: Body practice
- 5:30 – 6:00: Speech practice
- 6:00 – 7:15: Supper
- 7:15 – 8:30: Mind practice – a group meditation with Q&A
- 8:30 – 9:00: Walk to reflect
- 9:30 – 10:00: Meditation to raise a question based on the day’s events
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What else do you need to know?
- Dāna (Generosity Based Teaching)
Doug & Catherine are teaching this meditation retreat via the ancient tradition of Dāna (generosity), an offering from them to the attendees. It is considered of supreme value to your life and thus “beyond price” so it is expected that the student will be equally generous and support the teaching and the teachers by making an offering.
While no offering is too small, also no offering is too great. The giver benefits by offering as much as they can, given the individual’s circumstances. Along with compassion, generosity is considered the root of spiritual progress and, according to the ancients, therefore the root of our success in daily life as well.
Find out more about how you can practice Dāna. We invite you to offer Dāna when you register and via the Dāna bowl available at Clear Sky.
- Meditation Retreat Centre Fees (Lodging & Meals)
This meditation retreat will be held at beautiful Clear Sky Meditation Centre. Fees which include lodging & meals are as follows: CAD $1,499.00: Super Early Bird Program Price until Oct 31 / CAD $1725: Until Nov 31. / CAD $1845: After Nov 30.
- Meditation Retreat Dates, Arrival & Departure
This meditation retreat runs from December 31st 2016 to January 16, 2017.
International (as well as domestic) retreatants may arrive on Fri, Dec 30 to help them overcome jet lag before the retreat begins. Retreatants from North America may arrive on Fri , Dec 30 or by lunch on Sat, Dec 31. The retreat runs through Mon, Jan 16. An extra day at Clear Sky is highly recommended, in order to transition your energies back to your regular daily life.*
- Registration
Book early for this popular meditation retreat. All registrations can be made via the Clear Sky Registration page, by clicking the Register Now button below:
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*The Body Speech and Mind meditation retreat image is from the cover of the book Body, Speech & Mind by Namgyal Rinpoche, available through Bodhi Publishing.
