Spirit Rock Meditation Center Schedule and News | Jan-Apr 2018 by Spirit Rock Meditation Center

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Spirit Rock I G H T F O R OV

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news & schedule | jan Â· apr 2018

movement happens within stillness, the stillness of wakeful awareness. â&#x20AC;&#x201D;will kabat-zinn 2

SPIRIT ROCK NEWS | JAN – APR 2018

A RENEWABLE REFUGE

A Message from Michelle Latvala EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

This time of year always brings a special coherence to what we offer here at Spirit Rock: a renewable refuge. Constantly available, never too late, always possible, ever-present, ready-waiting. In a nation of consumables, a renewable resource; in daily lives of overextension, a source of nourishment; in a world demanding action, a place of stillness. You have a growing heart and mind, and we exist to support your practice! Start the new year with Essential Buddhist Teachings (pg 15), five Fridays in a row, to ground yourself in the foundations of compassion and wisdom. Drop in any Monday night at 6:15 to our freely offered Community Welcome, or join our livestream from home on any of our Monday night talks. Come for a few days at a time to one of our new non-residential retreats in our Community Meditation Center—from Calming the Restless Mind (pg 15) to Manifesting Our Beloved Community (pg 17) to navigating Changes & Transitions (pg 22)—or pick from many others, all rooted in the teachings of the Buddha. Looking for a longer Dharma study and community-building program? Join our new Dharma & Yoga Teacher Training Program starting in January (pg 9), or apply this spring to the second round of our highly anticipated Advanced Practitioners Program (pg 8), or later this year to our sixth incarnation of our beloved Community Dharma Leader program.

a silent meditation retreat with a variety of topics and teachers. Each week provides this renewable refuge, the teachings of insight meditation, and a support structure for sitting meditation, walking meditation, Dharma teachings, wholesome meals, peaceful rest, all enveloped in this beautiful winter California land and habitat. We so appreciate the generosity of your presence and your practice, and for the financial generosity that sustains Spirit Rock to enable practicing in all these different ways. Our fees for programs like the ones mentioned only cover half of our costs, so we are grateful for the generosity that keeps the doors of Spirit Rock open every day. We honor our foundations as a center—thirty years on this land—with our founders receiving these teachings in Asia as part of the brilliant fabric of the twenty six hundred year Theravadan Buddhist lineage. May we serve as a renewable refuge for you in 2018, in service of all beings.

Michelle Latvala

Every week there’s a residential retreat happening at Spirit Rock (pg 36), so any week of the year you can look ahead to join us on

a conversation with co-guiding teacher

phillip moffitt with Michelle Latvala

Michelle: I know as co-Guiding Teacher, you’ve held this governance service work as your Dharma, as part of your practice, as relational practice; can you talk a bit about that?

In 2010, the establishment of co-Guiding Teacher was the first teacher leadership role formalized at Spirit Rock since the Founding Teachers in 1985. Phillip Moffitt, along with Sally Armstrong, were chosen for these positions. After serving these last seven years as a co-Guiding Teacher, Phillip plans to step down in April of 2018. Phillip has also served in numerous other capacities to help guide change at Spirit Rock over the past two decades. This inspired Executive Director Michelle Latvala to sit in conversation with him to reflect on his long leadership tenure. (Please join us for a special program for the sangha to honor Phillip on April 5, 2018). Michelle: You’ve often referenced what a strong heart relationship you have with Spirit Rock. Can you articulate what that means for you? Phillip: Hearing a person on retreat say, “I’ve tried so long to gain insight or to get calm, or concentrated, or to stop being so tormented and now I’m getting it.” Just to witness such changes in students—in their minds and their hearts, in how they treat themselves, has touched me over and over again. It’s funny, I’ve never said this, but it’s like I have been softened by 10,000 touching moments, 10,000 moments of the heart. In interview after interview, and in seeing the faces in the hall, during the course of the retreat, the faces become more and more beautiful. I remember the first time that happened, that I could actually just see every single person’s absolute beauty. It was simply incredible! I have so often wanted to be able to download what I am seeing into some magical projector and show it on the screen so that each person could see their true face!

Phillip: In the actual experience of governance and in relating to one another as we envision and make decisions, the practices of “don’t know mind,” and surrender of attachment to one’s personal view are necessities if governance is going to be conducted as another way of practicing dharma. Likewise, holding the value of harmony, right speech, and viewing others with generosity as to their intention are dharma practices in governance just as they are in daily life. Now, harmony does not mean “no disagreement”, but means the values-based way that we’re relating to the disagreement. Thus governance is dharma. In governance as in dharma, it’s not that difficult mind-states don’t arise, rather it’s how we’re relating to each difficult mind-state. And continuing to cultivate our heart qualities. If we lose the heart connection for one another, it really creates the ground for rigidity. The Buddha said, “Don’t hold rigidly to views and opinions, even about the dharma.” I feel as though that we have strived to follow this instruction and it is a key part of our being able to work together as a Spirit Rock sangha over the decades. Michelle: Beautiful. You often talk about how holding the values and sitting with open questions are some of the most critical responsibilities of leadership here at Spirit Rock. Phillip: Organizations, understandably, place the emphasis on resulting. Yet, I tell people in their individual practice, “Sit and do the practice. Practice practicing. Don’t practice resulting. You’ll actually get further if you emphasize the practice than the result.” It is hard for people to believe that this is true, especially because in our society results are what is lauded. The same principle applies in a governance meeting, the chair you are sitting in is

SPIRIT ROCK NEWS | JAN – APR 2018

now your cushion. You are just practicing mindfulness and metta through reflection, investigation and wise intention. What is the real decision being called forth? How do we respond to this organizational need or crisis or conflict between individuals from our deepest dharma values? What is the underlying issue or question that needs to be addressed rather than the particulars of how it has arisen in this particular instance? When sitting in meetings, one needs to remember “this is the same practice as sitting on my cushion.” It’s not different at all. It’s just that now we’ve outsourced all those voices that are in our head to all of these other people! Michelle: You came into this leadership role with decades of experience as an educational and business leader; how have the special qualities of this particular role affected your own experience of leadership? Phillip: The more one let’s go of what one wants, the more effective one is as a leader in this community. After years of careful reflection, I had deliberately renounced being a leader when I stopped being CEO and Editor-in-Chief at Esquire. I had no desire

Every organization is like an environment. It’s alive. When it is in balance, you can feel it — and it is able to make healthy change. I feel as though our Spirit Rock leadership is reasonably healthy, as evidenced by our being willing to reconsider, and not be afraid of the new. to be a leader again, so this leadership was an unexpected and unwelcome change in my life. When I got involved, I discovered being a leader here was very different. As an entrepreneur, I lead a small team who made fast, decisive decisions; it did not involve a slow consensus process. I had to let loose of my style of decision-making and surrender to the consensus process that we go through here. Being willing to spend my time in such a process required a new orientation to leadership, and new priorities. Friends would ask: why are you willing to spend the time? To be fully revealing, for the first few years it was a struggle. At Spirit Rock, a leader does not so much as “make their mark,” but has to continually hold the values and possibilities for how the organization can function and how its people skillfully relate to one another and develop as practitioners.

describe it as a two-decade practice of “letting go” of being the strong, decisive leader with clear views to leading by building a common view through kind attention. Such a practice was not my goal. I was not initially suited for such a role. I had no idea how much wisdom comes from kindness, patience, and just letting go. And yet that’s how it ended up—a kind of renunciation of the way I related to the world that had allowed me to survive a challenging childhood and thrive on a large worldly stage. It was a leadership style I witnessed being modeled beautifully by the monastics in their leadership roles. Michelle: What a tremendous path. You talk a lot about core values, operating principles, and being a learning community; can you say more about how these have become a part of Spirit Rock’s culture? Phillip: To introduce a new value in a culture that’s already established is very difficult to do, as we see on a national level, and in our own communities. And yet, I would say that we have been successful in introducing the value of being a learning community as a core principle. There are layers of it to yet be explored, but it’s heartening to see the number of times that a conversation gets taken from, “who’s to blame for this?” to “what can we learn?” Another example is, every time we approve a change we say: “And we will look at this in a year or two.” There is not rigidity or fixity. In my view, becoming an intentional learning community has made Spirit Rock a safer community in which people can be innovative. Of course, we constantly have to mindfully apply our intention in the manner we relate to each other in governance and decisionmaking. Every organization is like an environment. It’s alive. When it is in balance, you can feel it and it is able to make healthy change. I feel as though our Spirit Rock leadership is reasonably healthy, as evidenced by our being willing to reconsider and not be afraid of the new. Moreover, I think we have evolved to the point that most of the time when we receive criticism, we are more interested in the learning from it than we are in defending ourselves. The more we succeed at this at Spirit Rock, the more people will carry seeds of this back to other organizations. So, we’re not just doing this practice of mindful governance for our own community, we’re doing this for the benefit of all communities. Michelle: Thank you, Phillip, for your tremendous service to Spirit Rock as co-Guiding teacher this past decade. We are deeply grateful you will continue your teaching and active engagement at Spirit Rock in other ways.

Over time, I realized this required more of a nurturing heart quality, than the dynamic quality of my previous style of naming what was needed and implementing it. To my surprise, this shift in perspective turned out to be the “why,” the very act of leading in this manner and the change required was the reward. I would

SPIRIT ROCK NEWS | JAN – APR 2018

ISLANDS OF PEACE by Spring Washam

on november 11, 2016, just a couple of days after the election of donald trump as the president of the United States, I was scheduled to teach in downtown Oakland for three days in a row. That night, I entered the East Bay Meditation Center to teach at the people of color community night, and there were two hundred people inside, a very full house. Our Sangha is usually around one hundred people, so it was a very full class. During the yoga class that had just ended, they had done a breathing practice called “breath of fire” and they set off all the fire alarms. The sorrow, fear, and rage in the room was palpable. As I sat down and took a deep breath, I looked around—a rainbow of colors: people of all shades of brown skin, Native Americans and people whose ancestors had come, or been brought, to the US from Africa, Central and South America, the Middle East, and Asia. We began with a silent meditation, and during the meditation, a large riot began to erupt a block away. Helicopters were flying overhead and police were shouting at protesters loudly on bullhorns. A volunteer approached me quietly during the meditation to ask if she could close the windows. Tear gas was beginning to slowly seep in. As I rang a large Tibetan bell to end the meditation, it was a surreal moment, one that none of us will ever forget. We were practicing meditation in the middle of a growing riot outside, and we all had to deal with the riot that was exploding inside each of us. During the next three days, I sat in circles with nearly five hundred people, all seeking answers, understanding, and a place to express the rawness of their emotions, but mostly to find comfort in being together. In the uncertainty of the moment, they wisely sought refuge in their spiritual community. I often get stomachaches

watching the news—all the wars, senseless killings, racism, environmental destruction, and global tragedies. This Earth is my home, a sacred altar, and it feels on the brink of collapse. When we look around, the whole project of life on Earth can feel hopeless and overwhelming. We hold this tension in our bodies and our hearts. Where can we go when things are this difficult? What is a true place of refuge in the midst of so much overwhelming sorrow and uncertainty? In the Buddhist tradition, humanity is sometimes described as being lost in a vast ocean. I always imagine all seven billion of us, dog paddling and flailing around desperately, looking for security, some safe place to stand. This is the ocean of samsara, the endless cycle of our collective confusion. We all long for happiness, yet we unconsciously do the very things that lead to unhappiness. We drown over and over. In the midst of all the chaos, is there a place where we can find solid ground? As we slow down and become present, we begin to see an island in the distance. We swim there and find a dry, sunny beach with a coconut tree we can sit beneath. We’ve found a place we’re safe, a refuge from the pounding ocean. As we survey the ocean from our new perspective, we see millions of others flailing desperately, not yet able to see the island. We shout out to them, but they don’t hear us. They’re not ready yet. We look around at our new island home and see we are not alone. Others have taken refuge here as well. We’re living in a house of cards: all life is fragile, and we don’t know what the future will bring. This is the nature of reality. It’s always fluctuating; one day it’s this, the next day it’s that. There are

multiple causes to everything that happens and an intelligence that governs everything lawfully. As soon as something arises, it begins to dissolve. Without steadiness, it can feel terrifying. The Buddha taught, “Live in joy and love, even among those who hate. Live in joy and health, even among the afflicted. Live in joy and peace, even among the troubled. Look within, be still, free from fear and attachment. Know the sweet joy of the Way.” The Buddha advised us that the “way” is to take refuge during life’s storms in order for us to find our island of peace amidst the pounding waves. There is an “inner” refuge and an “outer” refuge that we discover when everything else around us starts falling apart. The word refuge has several meanings such as sanctuary, shelter, protection, and haven, but ultimately the best translation is “a place of safety.” There are three aspects to this teaching of refuge, three places of refuge we can rely on. They’re known as the Three Jewels or the Three Gems in Buddhism: Buddha, the quality of wisdom in every human being; Dharma, the truth; and Sangha, the beloved community that surrounds the practitioner. When we encounter difficulties in life, only a small handful of people know how to respond wisely. These individuals are able to stay upright and steady, even through the toughest storms, fires, and raging waters. The majority of us, though, struggle big-time. We’re paddling our boats in the ocean of samsara and capsizing

The Buddha advised us that the “way” is to take refuge during life’s storms in order for us to find our island of peace amidst the pounding waves. There is an “inner” refuge and an “outer” refuge that we discover when everything else around us starts falling apart.

every ten minutes. Out of confusion, people act with greed, hatred, and delusion, and it leads them to harm others. We may take refuge in drugs, alcohol, sex, relationships, consumerism, hatred, workaholicism, denial—the list goes on and on. We keep looking for solid ground but don’t know where to find it. The Buddha taught that there are three reliable islands of refuge that can provide us with an indestructible base, a powerful shelter that can withstand any storm. This unshakeable ground becomes the basis for wise action that’s in alignment with our deepest intention and our heart’s motivation. To navigate skillfully, we need a map, trustworthy directions, and faith in the Three Jewels.

This article was excerpted from A Fierce Heart by Spring Washam © 2017. Excerpted with permission of Parallax Press. Spring Washam is a well-known meditation and dharma teacher based in Oakland, California. She is a founding member and core teacher at the East Bay Meditation Center located in downtown Oakland. She is the founder of Lotus Vine Journeys an organization that blends indigenous healing practices with Buddhist wisdom. She is the author of A Fierce Heart: Finding Strength, Courage and Wisdom in any Moment, available in stores on November 7th. She was trained by Jack Kornfield and has studied numerous meditation practices and Buddhist philosophy since 1997. She is a member of the Sprit Rock Teachers Council. In addition to being a teacher she is also a healer, facilitator, spiritual activist and writer. Spring is considered a pioneer in bringing mindfulness based healing practices into diverse communities. She has studied indigenous healing practices for over a decade. She has practiced and studied under some of the most preeminent meditation masters in both the Theravada and Tibetan schools of Buddhism. She currently travels and teaches workshops, classes and retreats worldwide.

SPIRIT ROCK NEWS | JAN – APR 2018

volunteer profile

LESLIE LIHOU Three years ago as I was driving through golden hills to Spirit Rock for a Monday Night class, I was imbued with the certainty that I was going to move to the Bay Area, not only for the immense trees and vast sea, but for spiritual growth as well. Even in St. Louis where I then lived, the teachings of Spirit Rock manifest through a dedicated practitioner who created a website connecting the Buddhist community and who initiated a dharma study group using Phillip Moffitt’s book, Dancing with Life. To offset the drive from Santa Rosa, I began volunteering to clean-up after the Monday evening talks at Spirit Rock. On the bulletin board of the old community hall, I noted an advertisement for Mark Coleman’s Baja kayaking, camping and meditation retreat. Immersion in nature with lightly rigorous meditation practice offered the perfect initiation into Buddhist mindfulness. On that trip I realized that expectations carry the seeds of disappointment and began to be at peace with whatever was happening. Dolphin sightings or just waves crashing against the rocks; hermit crabs crawling in their variegated shells; cactus and rock shapes were all calming objects of awareness, concentration and investigation. The Forest Tradition of Buddhism practiced at Spirit Rock encourages meditation in nature. I found my spiritual niche. I began to trust sangha (spiritual community) and teachers who were committed to guiding us to be happier, to be responsive instead of reactive. Sampling the variety of job opportunities, I volunteered once in the kitchen because I was grateful for the tasty, healthy food that cooks prepared with efficiency and comradery. A few times I tended plants and weeded on the grounds. Finally, I settled into cleaning retreatants’ lodgings with housekeeping staff. Under the precise direction of staff members, I focused on the tasks, aware of my wandering, judgmental mind. The gratitude expressed by Spirit Rock community nurtured confidence that I was serving by ministering to the comfort of incoming retreatants. Discussing experiences with other practitioners in light of Buddhist teachings and also greeting cohorts by name, I trusted that I shared in a community that intended to be aware and kind.

SPIRIT ROCK RELIES ON THE GENEROSITY of our many volunteers. We offer a range of opportunities from one-time projects to ongoing service. Visit spiritrock.org/volunteer or contact our Volunteer Coordinator at volunteering@spiritrock.org or (415) 488-0164 x224. 8

ADVANCED PRACTITIONER’S PROGRAM BEGINS APRIL 2019 Application period: May 1 – August 1, 2018 Spirit Rock is pleased to announce we are repeating the very well received Advanced Practitioners Program (APP2). The program is designed for senior students of the Dharma who want to explore the liberation teachings of the Buddha through practice, study, inquiry, and interactive exercises. APP2 is a yearlong program consisting of three retreats, regular homework, monthly groups, and regular mentoring with a teacher. It is intended for those who have completed programs like Spirit Rock’s Dedicated Practitioners Program (including DPP6), Community Dharma Leader Program (CDL), Heavenly Messengers (HM). Alternatively, long time practitioners or people who have participated in an equivalent program offered by another Vipassana teacher or organization are also eligible to apply. • Nature of Awareness, April 15 - 23, 2019 (8 nights) • Emptiness and Liberation, November 12 – 20, 2019 (8 nights) • Radiant Mind, Peaceful Heart, April 2 - 10, 2020 (8 nights) The purpose of APP2 is to bring to life the liberating teachings of the Buddha both on intensive retreat and in our daily lives. These retreats will focus more on silent, intensive practice than DPP or CDL, but each retreat will include regular interactive and study sessions. The intention of the program is to integrate profound teachings into everyday liberation, as well as to develop community that can continue after the program ends. The core teachers for the program are Susie Harrington, JoAnna Harper and Brian Lesage, assisted by Dawn Scott. The retreat faculty includes Bhikkhu Analayo, Guy Armstrong, Gil Fronsdal and Phillip Moffitt.

SPIRIT ROCK NEWS | JAN – APR 2018

SPIRIT ROCK DHARMA & YOGA TEACHER TRAINING PROGRAM BEGINS JANUARY 2018 A six-month, non-residential, dharma and yoga training program for experienced yoga students and aspiring yoga teachers to: • Develop the skills to teach yoga from a mindfulness approach: the use of language and sequencing to focus the mind, how to address the nervous system, and deactivate the stress and competitive response. • Study the latest teachings in neuroscience and interoceptive awareness and how they apply to yoga and meditation practice. • Fulfills requirements for the Yoga Alliance 200-Hour Registered Yoga Teacher certification. This immersive training addresses body, mind and heart through the study of mindful asana, pranayama, anatomy, mindfulness principles, meditation, and the wisdom teachings of Yoga and Buddhism. Students will develop both their personal practice, as well as the ability to guide and lead others. The Brahma Viharas, with a focus on metta, will be at the heart of our practices, providing refuge and support for kindness and compassion towards ourselves and others.

THE SCHEDULE: Foundations of Body, Mind and Heart | djuna mascall: January 8 – 12, 2018 The Yogi and The Buddha | tias little: February 2 – 4, 2018 ♦ Buddhism & Yoga: Integrating the Traditions | sean feit oakes: February 10, 2018 ♦ The Neurology of Awakening | rick hanson: February 11, 2018 ♦ Mindfulness of the Breath | djuna mascall: March 12 – 16, 2018

learn more or register: spiritrock.org/dharmayoga

Sequencing Mindful Yoga Training Session | djuna mascall: April 21, 2018 Trauma and Spiritual Practice: Mindfulness & Embodied Healing sean feit oakes: April 22, 2018 ♦ The Wisdom Body | djuna mascall: May 21 – 25, 2018 Integrating the Teachings | djuna mascall: June 1 – 3, 2018 Intro to the History of Yoga: Philosophy, Practice, Transformation: Online Course | sean feit oakes

♦ Classes open to general public.

SPIRIT ROCK NEWS | JAN – APR 2018

FLOW OF GENEROSITY Dearest Community, It’s an honor to stand in the presence of your generosity. Thank you for your contributions: they sustain our retreats and programs, keep our buildings maintained, our land cared for and our scholarship program thriving. Nearly half of our operating expenses are made up of your gifts, while the rest is covered by program fees. Please don’t hesitate to contact me at rachelu@spiritrock.org or call (415) 488-0164 x286 to discuss your gift this year.

ways to make an offering STOCK: Have your stocks increased in value? Giving a gift of appreciated stock is a smart way to receive excellent tax benefits while benefiting Spirit Rock. STEWARDSHIP CIRCLE: Join the Stewardship Circle by offering $25 or more per month to support Spirit Rock. This is vitally important support we can count on month-tomonth. Enjoy receiving offerings of gratitude like monthly dharma talks, articles, recipes and access to live webcasts! IN HONOR OR MEMORY: Dedicate the merit of your giving to someone you love. BEQUESTS/IRA DISTRIBUTIONS and BENEFICIARIES: Planned gifts are a way of leaving a legacy of support for Spirit Rock and passing on your values. VOLUNTEER: Share your energy and talents with us and help our retreat center to thrive! Contact Juliana Birnbaum at (415) 488-0164 x224 or volunteering@spiritrock.org

IN THE WORDS OF A SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENT The impact of your generosity— It’s quite amazing that despite my disastrous financial situation, I was able to participate in a week of deeply satisfying dharma practice. I bow to the generosity of those who contribute to Spirit Rock and I’m inspired to do so for others in the future so they can enjoy the stillness at the core of all things, so vastly supported by the land and the people. I’ve ceased to be astounded by the

“practicing generosity invites a shift of identity from a small separate self to a greater, more interdependent, dynamic, and connected self. ” —jack kornfield 10

high quality of the teaching that you offer because it’s been so consistent over the years.

SPIRIT ROCK NEWS | JAN – APR 2018

A MESSAGE FROM JACK dear friend, We are living in times of trouble and possibility. Across our nation and the world there is a deep need for teachings of wisdom, courage and compassion, for ways to tend our own hearts and to heal the fears and social divisions that cause so much suffering. It is also clear that all of our technological advances will not save us from continuing warfare, environmental destruction, racism, greed and delusion. The inner world of humanity urgently needs to be developed to match our outer capacities. This becomes a personal responsibility, and also our collective task. To attend to this need, we require places where human beings can go for refuge, to sit with stillness and remember our deepest values. Spirit Rock offers us a place to reconnect with timelessness, wonder, and a panoramic view of reality. Please consider supporting all we do here at Spirit Rock by making a gift today. Let me share a moment of personal inspiration with you in light of the recent Great American Eclipse that some of you had a chance to experience: I remember years ago driving to the top of Mt. Tamalpais, here in Northern California, to witness the journey of Venus traversing the sun. As I peered into a large telescope, I saw the huge glowing, fiery-orange sun and a little black marble slowly progressing across it. Gazing at this interstellar dance, I could feel myself in space, living on another little dancing marble in this vast universe. We forget we’re on this grand ride around the sun, on a spiral arm of the Milky Way. Taking a mindful pause to look at the stars or notice the changing light of the seasons helps us appreciate this mysterious life. We also feel connected to others and to the earth, at times even losing a sense of the self as a separate being. You might consider that the air you are breathing right now, as you read this, is the same air that dusted the tops of Mauna Loa as it made its way across the Pacific, as well as the Fukushima nuclear reactor—we are all in this together. Let us continue to support the necessary transformations of heart and mind that can awaken and benefit us all. In this, we are especially grateful for you who nurture Spirit Rock. Your selfless

expression of generosity provides the support that Spirit Rock needs to thrive. If you’re in the position to make a gift right now, please accept my heartfelt gratitude. And now for a final blessing on this crisp autumn day: You have been given the energy of the stars, this life force energy, and you have the capacity to do all kinds of things with it. May you use this potentiality to plant beautiful seeds, to work for justice, to care for others and this earth, and to do it in your own special way. May you use your meditation and your spiritual practices as a way to cultivate and open your heart and your being to this possibility. With your collaboration—your presence, your practice, your financial gifts and your gifts of service—we will continue to evolve as an increasingly effective and inspiring force for good in a troubled world.

Jack Kornfield

NON-RESIDENTIAL PROGRAMS | JAN â&#x20AC;&#x201C; APR 2018

NON-RESIDENTIAL PROGRAMS

Spirit Rock offers a breadth of trainings, including multi-day, non-residential retreats, drop-in and daylong programs, special events, weekly and monthly class series and online courses that open gateways to the Dharma and deepen understanding of the Buddha's teachings. We invite you to review our offerings on the following pages. Details are subject to change; visit spiritrock.org for up-to-date information.

NON-RESIDENTIAL PROGRAMS | JAN – APR 2018

WEEKLY & MONTHLY DROP-IN PROGRAMS AT SPIRIT ROCK Spirit Rock Community Welcome | 6:15 – 7:00 pm Meets every Monday before the Monday Night Dharma Talk & Meditation Group. This FREE program is for those who are coming to Spirit Rock for the first time, are new to meditation, or who may have questions about retreats and other Spirit Rock Programs.

Mon. Night Dharma Talk & Meditation Group 7:15 – 9:15 pm | LIVESTREAM AVAILABLE JACK KORNFIELD, MARK COLEMAN & OTHERS Our Monday night drop-in program serves as an introduction to the practices of awareness and compassion that are the heart of our community and offers support and ongoing teachings to committed students. Fee: $15 - 30 sliding scale.

Wed. Morning Meditation Group | 10 am – 12 pm SYLVIA BOORSTEIN, DONALD ROTHBERG & OTHERS A sitting and practice-oriented discussion group, suitable for new and experienced practitioners. Fee: $15 - 30 sliding scale.

Thursday Women's Group | 10 am – 12 pm GRACE FISHER & OTHERS A place for women to come together, to share wisdom and to strengthen a sense of belonging in the world. Fee: $15 - 30 sliding scale.

Thursday Meditation & Yoga | 10 am – 12:15 pm ASHLEY SHARP & OTHERS Each class includes an hour of mindful yoga, guided meditation, a dharma talk, inquiry and discussion. Fee: $15 - 30 sliding scale.

Dharma & Recovery Group | 7:15 – 9:15 pm KEVIN GRIFFIN & OTHERS - 2nd Friday of every month This group explores the intersection of recovery with Buddhist teachings and practices. All who identify with any of the full range of addictions, including substances, behaviors, habitual thought and emotional patterns are welcome. Fee: $15 - 30 sliding scale.

NON-RESIDENTIAL PROGRAMS | JAN – APR 2018

NON-RESIDENTIAL PROGRAMS INFORMATION Daylongs, Drop-Ins, Classes & Benefits:

JAN

MON

Retreat for New Year’s Day 2018 SYLVIA BOORSTEIN | 10:00 AM – 4:30 PM

LIVESTREAM AVAILABLE In the spirit of beginning again, with renewed zeal for the promised goal of a mind liberated from suffering and a heart available for impartial, compassionate response, we’ll spend this day practicing Mindfulness and Metta Meditation. Experienced practitioners as well as people new to practice will equally enjoy the combination of short teachings on the Eightfold Path, emphasizing the relevance of each Path part to a dedicated practice life on retreat as well as in daily life. Meditation sessions will be followed by question-andanswer sessions so that participants can receive guidance on their practice. Fee: $75 – 200 sliding scale. Code: SB1D18. Livestream: $30 – 108. Livestream code: SB1L18.

JAN

05 FRI

Yoga + Dharma: Awakening to New Beginnings ASHLEY SHARP | 10:00 AM – 4:30 PM

Start 2018 with the practices of yoga, meditation, and the teachings of the Buddha. There is no time like this time to develop wisdom and compassion in order to increase your capacity to meet the challenges of your life. As we grow wisdom and compassion for ourselves we can offer these much needed qualities to the world. We will explore mindfulness and the teachings of the Buddha through yoga techniques. These techniques include asana (poses) for embodiment, pranayama (breathing exercises) to calm and balance the heart/mind, and mudra (hand shapes) for focus. The yoga asana will be basic, focused on the cultivation of mindfulness and presence, and accessible to all that can stand, sit and walk. Fee: $75 – 200 sliding scale. Code: SP1D18.

JAN

06 SAT

Building and Rebuilding Trust DAVID RICHO | 10:00 AM – 4:30 PM

Our capacity for trust developed during childhood so we had no control over its installation. As adults, we may sometimes find it difficult to trust others or even ourselves. Though we cannot always trust others, we can choose to act with trustworthiness toward others no matter how they treat us. As we practice unconditional trustworthiness, we notice a wonderful result: we become less disappointed when others fail us. This workshop focuses not only on trust and trustworthiness in relationships but also in ourselves and in life’s givens, what happens beyond our control, and the power of dharma in our lives. Fee: $75 – 200 sliding scale. Code: DR1S18.

Stepping stones to sitting a longer residential retreat and sustaining an ongoing practice. Spirit Rock deeply welcomes anyone with an interest in studying the Dharma and practicing Insight Meditation. We are committed to ensuring that these teachings are widely available so that money isn’t a barrier to practice. All Spirit Rock events offer sliding scale fees and volunteer opportunities. We regularly hold programs called “Dana Days” which do not have fees and we offer scholarships for many of our programs. Please join us! REGISTRATION Registration is available on our website spiritrock.org. You can also mail a check to Spirit Rock, PO Box 169, Woodacre, CA, 94973. Please include your daytime phone number and email address and write the program code on the outside of the envelope and on your check. Pre-registration closes at noon Friday for weekend programs. For class series and other nonweekend programs, pre-registration closes at noon one business day before the program. In order to receive the pre-registration price, you must pay in full at the time you register. There is an additional $5 fee for registering at the door. To register by phone, call (415) 488-0164 x219 or x266, Monday to Friday. VOLUNTEERING Volunteering is a meaningful way to participate in the Spirit Rock community and stay connected to the sangha. Volunteers help in every department and support every program. We hope you’ll consider offering us your time and energy helping with events, in housekeeping, on the land, in an office or in the kitchen. In gratitude for your service, volunteers receive free or reduced price attendance at programs. Contact our Volunteer Coordinator, Juliana Birnbaum, at volunteering@spiritrock.org or (415) 488-0164 x224. YOUNG ADULT/SENIOR RATES Young Adults (18-26) and Seniors (65+ with limited and fixed income) are invited to attend regular daylongs for $45-$55, class series for half price (with some exceptions) and nonresidential retreats for $45 per day. CANCELLATIONS We do not offer refunds, but you can request a credit up to 4:00 pm two business days before an event, or Thursday for weekend programs. We will credit your registration fee towards another non-residential program. Credits are not transferrable to residential retreats and must be used within one year of their date of issue. If you do not contact us prior to this deadline, no credit will be issued. Credits cannot be accessed online; to request or use a credit, contact EventsRegistrar@spiritrock.org or call (415) 488-0164 x219 or x266, 8 am - 4 pm, Monday to Friday.

NON-RESIDENTIAL PROGRAMS | JAN – APR 2018

JAN

SAT

SUN

06 – 07

2-DAY NON-RESIDENTIAL RETREAT

Calming the Restless Mind HOWARD COHN | 10:00 AM – 4:30 PM

11 CE CREDITS AVAILABLE Everyone wants to have a calm, peaceful mind. Much of our restlessness and agitation stems from an untrained mind and lack of clear perception of what’s happening within us. Innocently, we try to alleviate our stress by dwelling in the past and planning the future. In this two-day retreat, we will train ourselves to find calm in present moments. We will practice meeting our experience with less reactivity and more kindness. Using the practices of Insight Meditation and Loving-kindness, we will deepen our understanding of stress and the path leading us to the peace and ease that is our natural state. Fee: $150 – 400 sliding scale. Code: HC1M18.

FEB

JAN

12 09 –

FRI

Essential Buddhist Teachings Program Series

with mark coleman

LIVESTREAM AVAILABLE These five daylong programs combine to create a deeper understanding of the Buddha’s key teachings and emphasizes learning how to apply mindfulness and wisdom practices in our lives. In each daylong, there will be guided meditations, lectures, discussion, and inquiry. This series will start January 12, 2018 and end February 9, 2018, if you choose to attend all five daylong programs.

JAN

07 SAT

The five-daylong series may be attended in full or in part. You can join the series at any point; each day is stand-alone program. 1. January 12 Four Foundations of Mindfulness 2. January 19 Four Noble Truths 3. January 26 The Boundless Heart 4. February 2 Eightfold Path Part A 5. February 9 Eightfold Path Part B

Embodying Presence: Relaxing the Body into Being JAMES BARAZ & ADAM BARAZ 10:00 AM – 4:30 PM

The shift from “thinking” to “being” is one of the most essential aspects of the meditative journey. We will experientially explore practices that serve to quiet the conceptual mind, awakening the natural experience of relaxation into presence. Drawing upon their deep father-son Dharma connection, James and Adam Baraz will offer Buddhist teachings, meditation practices, and guided somatic meditations to release physical and emotional tension and directly connect with the experience of wholeness and wellbeing in the body. We will focus on the somatic path of spiritual transformation via “bypassing the thinking mind,” relaxing into the warmth, joy, and wisdom that naturally awakens in and through the body. Fee: $75 – 200 sliding scale. Code: JB1D18.

NON-RESIDENTIAL PROGRAMS | JAN – APR 2018

CONTINUING EDUCATION CREDIT OFFERINGS 2018

Continuing Education (CE) credit is co-sponsored by Spirit Rock and the Spiritual Competency Resource Center. CE credit is available for psychologists and California licensed MFTs, LCSWs, LEPs, LPCCs, Nurses, Chiropractors, and Acupuncturists. Not all programs are applicable to every license; please check the web description for specific license applicability, number of credits offered per event, and learning objectives. American Psychological Association has approved The Spiritual Competency Resource Center to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. The Spiritual Competency Resource Center maintains responsibility for these programs and their content. California Board of Registered Nursing has approved The Spiritual Competency Resource Center to sponsor continuing education for nurses licensed in California, Provider Number CEP16887. California Acupuncture Board has approved Spirit Rock as a Continuing Education Credit Provider, Provider Number 1425. California Board of Behavioral Sciences accepts CE credits for license renewal for programs sponsored by American Psychological Association approved providers. California Board of Chiropractic Examiners’ Code of Regulations 361(h)(2) provides that continuing education requirements may be met by taking continuing education courses by any California Healing Arts Board approved provider, including those approved by the BRN. CE credit awarded for instruction time only. For general information, including attendance and cancellation policies, please see: www.spiritrock.org/continuing-education.

CONTINUING EDUCATION PROGRAMS AT A GLANCE: 1/6–1/7 Calming the Restless Mind 1/12 Essential Buddhist Teachings: The Four Foundations of Mindfulness – Developing Awareness (No. 1) 1/13 Mercy, Compassion & Power: A Daylong for Women 1/15 Celebrating Martin Luther King’s Dream with Heart Practices 1/19 Essential Buddhist Teachings: The Four Noble Truths – Freedom from Suffering (No. 2) 1/19 Meditation for Pain Management 1/20 Resilience: Facing the Mess We’re In with Compassion, Clarity, Courage 1/20 Exploring Intimacy Through the Buddha’s Teaching for the LGBT*IQ and Gender Non-Conforming Community 1/22 Finding Resiliency: Regulating Trauma’s Grasp - class series 1/26 Essential Buddhist Teachings Class Series: The Boundless Heart – Love, Compassion, Joy & Equanimity (No. 3) 1/27-1/28 A Heart As Wide As The World: Cultivating Love, Compassion, Joy & Equanimity 1/27 The Art of Surrender 2/2 Essential Buddhist Teachings: The Eightfold Path (Part A) – The Buddhist Path to Freedom (No. 4) 2/4 Celebrating Life and Possibilities Through the Lens of Understanding Cancer 2/9 Essential Buddhist Teachings: The Eightfold Path (Part B) – The Buddhist Path to Freedom (No. 5)

2/9 Inner Awareness for Emotional Intelligence 2/11 The Neurology of Awakening 2/11 Buddhist Goddess: Embodying the Divine Feminine Within 2/16 The Buddha’s Path of Love, Well-Being and Happiness 2/17 Heart Practices for Couples 2/23-2/25 Changes & Transitions In Your 40s & 50s 3/2 Mindfulness & Resilience: Developing Sustainability in Stressful Times 3/3 Qigong and Meditation: Healing and Awakening 3/3 Through the Dark Night: Breaking Down, Breaking Through, Waking Up 3/9-3/11 Resilience and Post-Traumatic Growth 3/16 Conflict Resolution Using Restorative Practices for Dharma Practitioners 3/17-3/18 Relaxed & Awake: Introduction to Insight Meditation 4/6–4/8 Inspired by Change: How to Cultivate a Resilient Heart while Caring about Our Changing World 4/7 Transforming the Judgmental Mind 4/13 Anxiety: It’s Not All in Your Mind 4/14 Renew and Revitalize: Sustaining Yourself As a Care Provider 4/20 Mindful Communication: How to Create Real Dialogue and Healthy Relationships 4/21 The Wisdom of Aging: Mindfulness Meditation and the Feldenkrais Method 4/29 Accomplishing More By Doing Less

NON-RESIDENTIAL PROGRAMS | JAN – APR 2018

Essential Buddhist Teachings Program Series: The Four Foundations of Mindfulness— Developing Awareness (No. 1)

JAN

12 FRI

MARK COLEMAN | 10:00 AM – 4:30 PM LIVESTREAM AVAILABLE | 5.5 CE CREDITS AVAILABLE In this first prgoram, we will explore the Buddha’s key teaching on mindfulness practice – The Four Foundations of Mindfulness. Participants will learn various mindfulness meditations that cultivate awareness of body, heart, mind and the nature of experience. This essential teaching on mindfulness allows one to develop awareness, clarity, insight, understanding and a nonreactive attention that is a support for peace and well being. Fee: $75 – 200 sliding scale. Code: MC1D18.

SAT

GRACE FISHER | 10:00 AM – 4:30 PM

5.5 CE CREDITS AVAILABLE This daylong will explore how turning towards our pain and vulnerability is a doorway to our true source of power. Through different mindfulness practices, we will make space for recognizing and allowing that which we tend to push away—our defeats, our places of shame, the darker sides of ourselves we may not like. We will balance this by cultivating ways to meet these places with mercy, self-compassion, and forgiveness. It is through this embrace of our beauty and flaws that we can access our strength and wisdom and move in the world with a greater sense of wholeness and peace. Fee: $75 – 200 sliding scale. Code: GF1D18.

JAN

SUN

JAN –

MON

3-DAY NON-RESIDENTIAL RETREAT

Manifesting Our Beloved Community NOLIWE ALEXANDER & KONDA MASON 10:00 AM – 4:30 PM

In these times of uncertainty and social injustice, as our values that we hold dearly are being jeopardized, realizing Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s dream of a Beloved Community can seem unreachable. If we cultivate the courage to walk the path of peace with loving awareness and fierce compassionate action, we can begin to manifest the dream of our collective liberation. Participants are encouraged to bring a journal or writing/drawing pad and an Ancestor item for an altar to remain onsite. This 3-day non-residential retreat will include honoring our ancestral roots, mindfulness practice, silent and walking meditations and group dialogues. Fee: $120 – 300 sliding scale. Code: NK1M18.

Making Peace with Change ANNA DOUGLAS | 10:00 AM – 4:30 PM

Like gravity, impermanence is one of the indisputable laws of our existence. To deny the reality of gravity can be risky. Instead, we learn to live with it in harmony. Can we do the same with the reality of impermanence? We think our well-being and security rests in what happens to us...but is this actually true? The saints and sages all speak of another kind of security, one that rests in the way in which we relate to the many changes of our lives. Instead of being victims, constantly alarmed by this inevitable change, we can learn how to ride the waves of change. Together, we will explore how to navigate change with greater skill and ease, through silent sitting and walking meditation, as well as experiential exercises. Fee: $75 – 200 sliding scale. Code: AD1D18.

Mercy, Compassion & Power: A Daylong for Women

JAN

SAT

JAN

MON

Celebrating Martin Luther King’s Dream with Heart Practices - A half-day program for self-identified People of Color PAWAN BAREJA | 1:30 PM – 4:30 PM

3 CE CREDITS AVAILABLE On this special day, we will acknowledge the promise of freedom dreamed of by Martin Luther King, and will reconnect with the fearless intention of freedom in our hearts. Sometimes living in environments that make us feel continuously “different”, discriminated against, unsafe, or excluded can lead to a defended and closed heart. If this is your experience and you wish to nourish and free your heart, then come join us for a halfday program of sitting, walking meditation practices, reading Dr. King’s inspirational speeches to explore ways to open our hearts, and staying open in the safe environment of a supportive “beloved” community who share values similar to yours. Fee: $25 – 75 sliding scale. Senior/Young Adult: $15. Code: PB1H18.

JAN

19 FRI

Meditation for Pain Management OREN JAY SOFER | 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM

6 CE CREDITS AVAILABLE Along with the gifts of the human body come inevitable experiences of physical discomfort: from daily aches to illness, aging, and chronic pain. In this daylong workshop, we will explore how to work skillfully with pain in the body, and how practicing wisely with pain strengthens the heart and can be a doorway to release. The day will include silent meditation in all four postures –sitting, standing, walking and lying down – as well as guided movement, reflection, dialogue and practical tools for working with pain. Fee: $75 – 200 sliding scale. Code: OS1D18.

NON-RESIDENTIAL PROGRAMS | JAN – APR 2018

JAN

19 FRI

Essential Buddhist Teachings ProgramSeries: The Four Noble Truths— Freedom from Suffering (No. 2) MARK COLEMAN | 10:00 AM – 4:30 PM

LIVESTREAM AVAILABLE | 5.5 CE CREDITS AVAILABLE The Buddha’s teaching on the Four Noble Truths is the foundation for every other Buddhist teaching. It is the key to understanding how we suffer and how to free ourselves from the cycle of reactivity and pain so we can live with genuine happiness and well being. We will explore the nature of pain, its causes, the possibility of freedom from suffering and the Eightfold Path leading to peace. Fee: $75 – 200 sliding scale. Code: MC2D18.

JAN

20 SAT

Exploring Intimacy Through the Buddha’s Teaching for the LGBT*QI and Gender Non-Conforming Community SHAHARA GODFREY | 10:00 AM - 4:30 PM

5.5 CE CREDITS AVAILABLE “Love recognizes no barriers. It jumps hurdles, leaps fences, penetrates walls to arrive at its destination full of hope”. — Maya Angelou The focus of this daylong will be on deepening intimacy with ourselves, others, and all of life. Intimacy in relationships requires dialogue, transparency, vulnerability, and reciprocity. Intimacy within ourselves requires an increasing awareness of our own mind states, moods, feelings and reactivity, and those of others. The day will include periods of walking and sitting meditation with instruction. A talk, dialogue and relational exercises also will be offered on exploring intimacy through the Buddha’s teaching. Fee: $40 – 100 sliding scale. Code: SG1D18.

JAN

20 SAT

Resilience: Facing the Mess We’re In with Compassion, Clarity, Courage LINDA GRAHAM | 10:00 AM - 4:30 PM

5.5 CE CREDITS AVAILABLE Challenges and crises are part of the human condition, for ourselves, for loved one, communities, and our world. This daylong offers practical tools, informed by modern neuroscience, to strengthen our somatic, emotional, relational and reflective intelligences to deal with any disruption to our coping. Practices of mindfulness, compassion, empathy, and forgiveness help shift the functioning of the brain out of contraction and reactivity to more openness and the larger perspective. They can also help reduce the impacts of stress and trauma and recover inner stability so that we can thrive and flourish. Fee: $75 – 200 sliding scale. Code: LG1D18.

JAN

FEB

22 – 19

MON MON

Finding Resiliency: Regulating Trauma’s Grasp – Class Series SAKTI ROSE | 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM

8 CE CREDITS AVAILABLE | CLASS SERIES: 5 MONDAYS Traumatic events can leave physiological and emotional scars that alter neurological structures and functions, which in turn can inhibit our progress on the path of awakening. In this class series, we will develop a body of skills that we can use to recognize and reduce the painful effects of trauma and thereby free up energy for meditation. Together, we will explore healing practices to help bring deeper meaning, connection, and freedom to our lives and practice. This 5-week class is designed for meditators who have encountered barriers in their meditative experience and are unsure as to why. Fee: $125 – 200 sliding scale. Code: SR1C18.

JAN

26 FRI

Cultivating Your Creativity Through Meditation and Writing SANDY BOUCHER | 10:00 AM – 4:30 PM

This program offers exercises and guided meditations to jumpstart our writing as we connect with our most mindful selves. We’ll explore our daily life experience of wisdom and compassion as we write together. Sharing in small groups will allow us the opportunity for further insight and enrichment, as we receive the stories of each other’s lives and honor each other’s struggles and joys. No writing or meditation experience needed; you need only bring your curiosity and willingness to enter deeply into the experiences of your life. Please bring writing materials; pencil/ pen and paper. Fee $75 – 200 sliding scale. Code: SY1D18.

NON-RESIDENTIAL PROGRAMS | JAN – APR 2018

JAN

27 SAT

The Art of Surrender CHRISTIANE WOLF | 10:30 AM - 4:30 PM

5.5 CE CREDITS AVAILABLE We often think of surrender as giving up, being weak or indifferent; being afraid or anxious from not being in control. And yet, the effort required to try to control something or someone can be exhausting, making us wonder, is there a better way? Can we learn the art of skillful surrender? When we reframe surrender as intentionally letting go of that which no longer serves, we can begin to open to the vast possibilities of peace, inner quiet, and the freedom of resting in the present moment, exactly as it is. Together, we will explore the terrain of surrender through alternating periods of silence, didactics, reflections, journaling, and, small and large group discussions. Fee: $75 – 200 sliding scale. Code: CW1D18.

JAN

26 FRI

Essential Buddhist Teachings Program Series: The Boundless Heart – Love, Compassion, Joy & Equanimity (No. 3) MARK COLEMAN | 10:00 AM – 4:30 PM

LIVESTREAM AVAILABLE | 5.5 CE CREDITS AVAILABLE The Buddha taught how to develop four beautiful innate qualities of the heart – love, compassion, joy and equanimity. Through this daylong, we will explore how to cultivate each of these boundless qualities through meditation and exercises. We will look deeply at each of these heart capacities, what supports and hinders their development and how to bring these sublime states into our relationship with ourselves, others and the world. Fee $75 – 200 sliding scale. Code: MC3D18.

JAN

SAT

SUN

27 – 28

2-DAY NON-RESIDENTIAL RETREAT

A Heart As Wide As the World: Cultivating Love, Compassion, Joy & Equanimity MARK COLEMAN | SAT, 10:00 AM – 4:30 PM SUN, 10:00 AM – 4:30 PM

LIVESTREAM AVAILABLE Imagine a heart boundless in its love, responsive to the suffering of the world, joyful when it meets the happiness of others, and balanced when facing the inevitable ups and downs of life. This is the possibility the Buddha pointed to: the vast potential of the heart to live in the world with kindness and care, delight and peace. You will develop the sublime qualities of love (metta), compassion (karuna), appreciative joy (mudita), and balanced equanimity (upekkha) through meditation practices and discussion, and explore how to apply these qualities with ourselves and others in our lives. Fee: $150 – 400 sliding scale. Code: MC1M18.

JAN

SUN

Taking Refuge NOAH LEVINE | 10:30 AM - 4:30 PM

We are always taking refuge in something. When we come to recognize that our happiness will never come from outside ourselves, we begin to seek a reliable internal refuge, a lifestyle that supports being wise and compassionate. In Buddhism, this is called taking refuge in our own potential for awakening (Buddha), the path that leads to awakening (Dharma) and the community that supports us on the path (Sangha). Together, we will explore the core teachings of the Buddha’s Four Noble Truths, be guided in meditation practices, and have the opportunity to formally commit or recommit to the path of Awakening. Fee: $75 – 200 sliding scale. Code: NL1D18.

FEB

02 FRI

Essential Buddhist Teachings Program Series: The Eightfold Path (Part A)— The Buddhist Path to Freedom (No. 4) MARK COLEMAN | 10:00 AM – 4:30 PM

LIVESTREAM AVAILABLE | 5.5 CE CREDITS AVAILABLE The Eightfold Path explores the journey in how we learn to live with wisdom, compassion, and peace. On the Buddhist path, every aspect of our life is to be included as a vehicle for awakening. In this body of teachings, we will look at the first four parts of the Eightfold Path – Wise Effort, Wise Mindfulness, Wise Concentration and Wise Understanding. We will explore how we cultivate and develop these qualities in our practice and in our lives. Fee: $75 – 200 sliding scale. Code: MC4D18.

NON-RESIDENTIAL PROGRAMS | JAN – APR 2018

FEB

02 04 –

FRI

SUN

3-DAY NON-RESIDENTIAL RETREAT

The Yogi and the Buddha TIAS LITTLE | FRIDAY, 6:00 PM – 9:00 PM, SATURDAY & SUNDAY, 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM

SPECIAL EVENT One of the core aims of yoga and meditation practice is to cultivate spaciousness, levity, and clarity in both body and mind. In this 3-day non-residential retreat, Tias guides a series of sessions to open, balance, connect the mind and the body, and deepen awareness, concentration, and loving-kindness practices. Fee: $325 – 695 sliding scale. Code: TL1M18.

“with gentleness overcome anger, with generosity overcome meanness, with truth overcome deceit. speak the truth. give whatever you can, release anger. these three steps will lead you into the presence of the gods. “ —buddha

FEB

03 SAT

FEB

04 SUN

FEB

09 FRI

Inner Awareness for Emotional Intelligence JILL SATTERFIELD | 10:00 AM – 4:30 PM

5.5 CE CREDITS AVAILABLE Inner awareness is key to understanding and taking care of our mental and emotional landscapes. Awareness of sensations, breath, thoughts, and emotions culminate in recognizing what is. By repeatedly observing each moment, we become sensitive to our internal needs through the language of the body, movement of breath, the whispering of the heart and the changeable nature of the mind. With practice, our capacity to understand how our environment, conversations, and stressors affect us grows until it becomes second nature. Through this deep inner knowing, we learn to use skillful means to respond and take kind care of ourselves anytime and anywhere. Fee: $75 – 200 sliding scale. Code: JS1D18.

FEB

09 FRI

This daylong will introduce a version of the archetypal Hero’s Journey as a framework for exploring own spiritual path, including five universal steps: The Call—how to listen deeply to what we care about most deeply? The Departure—what support is needed to step into the unknown? The Struggle— how can we meet our inevitable difficulties with skill and kindness? The Awakening— what does it take to see our life and the life of the world with new eyes? The Return—what are the unique gifts we want to offer the world? The day will weave dharma talks, guided meditation, reflection, interactive exercises, and ritual. You will leave with a clear map of your personal spiritual journey. Fee: $75 – 200 sliding scale. Code: PW1D18.

SHAHARA GODFREY | 10:00 AM – 4:30 PM

5.5 CE CREDITS AVAILABLE Living with or challenged by cancer, we experience a greater need to celebrate life, love, and endless possibilities. Each moment is precious. Many of us yearn to access our deepest compassion for our struggling selves, and to connect with the natural joy of living. This daylong is open to people living with Cancer, survivors, and those who have been recently diagnosed, as well as caretakers, loved ones, and health professionals. Through writing, music and sharing held in the cradle of meditation, we will explore our healing capacities. The daylong will also include contemplative practices of walking and sitting meditation. Participants should bring writing materials and a business envelope as well as a personal item to share. Fee: $75 – 200 sliding scale. Code: SG2D18.

The Human Journey PAMELA WEISS | 10:00 AM – 4:30 PM

Celebrating Life and Possibilites Through the Lens of Understanding Cancer

Essential Buddhist Teachings Program Series: The Eightfold Path (Part B) - The Buddhist Path to Freedom (No. 5) MARK COLEMAN | 10:00 AM – 4:30 PM

LIVESTREAM AVAILABLE | 5.5 CE CREDITS AVAILABLE The Eightfold Path explores the journey in how we learn to live with wisdom, compassion, and peace. On the Buddhist path, every aspect of our life is to be included as a vehicle for awakening. In this body of teachings, we will look at the last four parts of the Eightfold Path – Wise Motivation, Wise Speech, Wise Action and Wise Livelihood. We will explore how we cultivate and develop these qualities in our practice and in our lives. Fee: $75 – 200 sliding scale. Code: MC5D18.

NON-RESIDENTIAL PROGRAMS | JAN – APR 2018

FEB

SAT

Buddhism and Yoga: Integrating the Traditions SEAN FEIT OAKES | 10:00 AM – 4:30 PM

Buddhism and Yoga are two major branches of the family tree of South Asian spiritual practice, rooted in the ancient Upanishads texts. While we commonly think of meditation and mindfulness as Buddhist, but postures and breathwork as Hindu, both focus on transformative practices aimed at ending suffering and stress. We will explore new historical evidence of the deeply interwoven relationship between the Buddhist and Hindu systems that shared ideas and practices for 1500 years, and learn beautiful, gentle practices shared by both. This daylong may change your concepts of yoga and meditation, giving you tools to deepen your yoga and/ or meditation practice. Fee: $75 – 200 sliding scale. Code: SF1D18.

FEB

SAT

Building an Inner and Outer World of Equity and Caring ARINNA WEISMAN WITH FRANCISCO HERRERA 10:00 AM – 4:30 PM

This day will focus on building community through acknowledging the grief that comes with living in our inner and outer worlds. Through meditation, truth telling, song, and ritual, we will support each other to listen into our calling for collective transformation of harming and inequity into caring and justice. We will share our experiences of how to celebrate what is beautiful and navigate the challenges we face. Fee: $75 – 200 sliding scale. Code: AW1D18.

FEB

SUN

The Neurology of Awakening RICK HANSON WITH RICK MENDIUS 10:00 AM – 4:30 PM

5.5 CE CREDITS AVAILABLE The latest brain research has begun to confirm the central insights of the Buddha and other great teachers. Suffering, joy, and freedom all depend on what happens within your nervous system. Skillful practice, therefore, means being skillful with your own brain. We’ll cover: the relationship between body and mind, mind and brain; strengthening neural factors of mindfulness; the role of concentration in practice; and how attending to our physiology (mindfulness of the body) affects the mind state and how thoughts arise. This experiential workshop will offer userfriendly information with lots of practical methods. No background in neuroscience or mindfulness is needed. Fee: $75 – 200 sliding scale. Code: RH1D18.

FEB

SUN

Buddhist Goddess: Embodying the Divine Feminine Within ERIN SELOVER | 10:00 AM – 4:30 PM

5.5 CE CREDITS AVAILABLE We all embody a unique configuration of enlightened qualities that are waiting to emerge with the right conditions. Our natural beauty and intelligence when we feel safe and connected to life longs to be expressed fully. However, without support, these qualities lie dormant and manifest in self-doubt, emotional volatility, addiction, and disease. We will somatically identify, discover, and empower our unique awakened energy through an exploration of Buddhist goddesses with the support and inspiration of a compassionate community. The day will include sitting and movement meditation and dharma talks, including the study of the Buddhist goddess of non-dual wisdom, Prajnaparamita. Fee: $75 – 200 sliding scale. Code: ES1D18.

FEB

16 FRI

The Buddha’s Path of Love, Well-Being and Happiness HOWARD COHN | 10:00 AM – 4:30 PM

5.5 CE CREDITS AVAILABLE The Buddha was called ‘the Happy One.’ His path is all about our capacity to use our life to fulfill our goal of happiness. This day of self-care will follow the Buddha’s Way of mindfulness and love, illustrating how each of us can move from clinging and attachment to freedom, from confusion to clarity, and from tension to ease of well-being. Through sitting and walking meditation in silence, investigating the flow of our experience moment-by-moment, we can relinquish the causes of suffering and reclaim our natural happiness. Fee: $75 – 200 sliding scale. Code: HC1D18.

FEB

SAT

Insight Meditation Daylong for People of Color ANUSHKA FERNANDOPULLE 10:00 AM – 4:30 PM

Insight meditation is a powerful way to become more connected to your body, develop wisdom, and live with more presence and ease. This daylong is for self-identified people of color who are new to meditation or who want a refresher. We will practice mindfulness of the body, breath, emotions, thoughts and more. We will practice meditation while sitting, walking, eating (bring a snack or lunch) and listening. There will be guided meditations and time for questions, but much of the day will be spent in silence together as a community. Fee: $40 – 100 sliding scale. Senior/Young Adult: $20. Code: AF1D18.

NON-RESIDENTIAL PROGRAMS | JAN – APR 2018

Qigong—A Day of Wellness

FEB

23 and Healing Sound FRI

ISABELITA PAPA | 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM

Qigong mirrors the effortless movements of water. It generates internal energy, while allowing the mind to settle into the moment. It increases flexibility and balance, improves memory, nourishes the internal organs, soothes the nervous system, and clears the acupuncture pathways of the meridians. Qigong activates its own internal healing energy to help prevent illness. It is one of the most powerful ancient healing techniques. In this daylong, you will learn how to transform, restore, and cultivate “Beneficial Qi,” which directly supports your well-being, vigor, and vitality. Fee: $75 – 200 sliding scale. Code: IP1D18.

FEB

3-DAY NON RESIDENTIAL RETREAT

23 25 Changes & Transitions In Your 40s & 50s FRI

FEB

SAT

Heart Practices for Couples DEBRA CHAMBERLIN-TAYLOR & GEORGE TAYLOR | 10:00 AM – 4:30 PM

5.5 CE CREDITS AVAILABLE This Valentine’s Day program is an opportunity for couples to awaken the heart of joy and love together. To be intimate, we must learn to be fully present. Through partner meditations, verbal and nonverbal communication exercises and group sharing, couples will practice the art of intimacy and learn skills to deepen the shared journey. This program is not appropriate for attending alone, as the majority of the day will be spent in partner practice. Fee: $75 – 200 sliding scale. Code: DG1D18.

SUN

Waking Up from Our Stories

PHILLIP MOFFITT | FRIDAY, 1:00 PM - 5:00 PM, SATURDAY, 9:30 AM - 5:00 PM; SUNDAY, 9:30 AM - 1:00 PM

24 SAT

Awakening As We Age ANNA DOUGLAS | 10:00 AM – 4:30 PM

VINNY FERRARO | 10:00 AM – 4:30 PM

Discover how, through compassion and mindfulness training, we can begin to let go of old stories that rule our lives. We will spend the day together examining our personal conditioning, narratives, and stories. Once we fully see how our stories shape our perceptions of ourselves and others, we become free to move beyond our assumptions, and see ourselves and others for who we really are. We will explore all that becomes possible for our communities and society when we are willing to take the risk of seeing past our old narratives and truly connect and heal that which divides us. Fee: $75 – 200 sliding scale. Code: VF1D18.

SUN

12 CE CREDITS AVAILABLE Change is a fact of life and yet when we are faced with it, we often find ourselves ill-equipped to manage it skillfully. Change naturally brings up concerns, fears, and questions that can lead to confusion, lack of motivation, or poor decisions. You will explore ways to identify areas of your life that need attention, recognize habits of mind that undermine you and learn practices to disengage from their influence, and identify your values as a basis for making wise decisions. Expect a weekend full of dynamic inquiry and learning skills for meeting your changes and transitions with authenticity, confidence, and clarity. Fee: $395 – 795 sliding scale. Code: PM1M18.

FEB

–

Designed for individuals age 55 and over, this daylong is about the possibility of awakening to the truth of life as we age. Aging, as well as illness, disability, or loss, has the potential to turn us away from our outer preoccupations and return us to our inner life and our inner purpose, which is to realize the potential of human consciousness – the flowering of wisdom and compassion. There are many challenges in aging – physical, emotional, and mental - which we may resist mightily. What we may not yet have realized are the hidden gifts to be found in those same challenges. Being with others who, like us, are working with the issues of aging can lead us to a special kind of consciousness raising. Fee: $75 – 200 sliding scale. Code: AD2D18.

NON-RESIDENTIAL PROGRAMS | JAN – APR 2018

FEB

Insight Meditation JACK KORNFIELD | 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM

SUN

LIVESTREAM AVAILABLE In this traditional Insight Meditation (Vipassana) daylong, the emphasis is on quieting the mind and opening the heart. By cultivating a calm mind and a kind heart towards ourselves and others, we learn to live with loving awareness. And we develop a more easeful relationship with life, regardless of our circumstances. Instructions will be given for both sitting and walking meditation. Lively discourse on the Dharma will be provided throughout the day, with time for questions and discussion. Fee: $90 – 250 sliding scale. Code: JK1D18.

MAR

02 FRI

03 SAT

—jack kornfield

MAR

02 FRI

Mindfulness & Resilience: Developing Sustainability in Stressful Times MARK COLEMAN | 10:00 AM – 4:30 PM

5.5 CE CREDITS AVAILABLE Resilience is a key quality for dealing with stress of modern life. Mindfulness meditation and wisdom teachings have been taught for millennia to offer profound support to stay grounded amidst the challenges of life. Mindful awareness can help develop clarity and insight about the causes of inner and outer stress as well as how to work with them. On this experiential day of meditation, reflection and inquiry we will explore mindfulness practice as a key support for resiliency. We will inquire as to what allows us to stay centered, responsive, and how to draw on the wise compassionate heart that lies within us all. Fee: $75 – 200 sliding scale. Code: MC6D18.

ANNA DOUGLAS | 10:00 AM - 4:30 PM

Wisdom and Compassion. These two powerful qualities are often called the essential wings of our practice. Both must be cultivated and refined for our practice to have momentum and efficacy. Otherwise, we get stuck: wisdom without compassion can be dry and disconnected, while compassion without wisdom can lead to burn out and frustration. Wisdom awakens as we bring mindful awareness to our moment-to-moment experience. Compassion is ignited when it meets suffering, whether it is physical, emotional or mental. Together, wisdom and compassion inform wise action in our lives. This day of reflection reveals the timely relevance of wisdom and compassion to our complex lives. Fee: $75 – 200 sliding scale. Code: AD3D18.

MAR

“when we understand the truth of uncertainty and relax, we become free.”

Wisdom and Compassion Now!

Qigong and Meditation: Healing and Awakening MINGTONG GU & DEBRA CHAMBERLIN-TAYLOR 10:00 AM – 4:30 PM

5.5 CE CREDITS AVAILABLE Health in our body and clarity in our meditation increases as energy flows more freely through the spine. In this daylong, we will learn five simple qigong movements that awaken energetic wholeness in the spine and the entire body. Our spines and bodies accumulate energetic imprints and physical tensions that can cause pain and block the free flow of life energy. The practices offered will help release spinal stagnation and open a profound circulation of universal energy. Used in concert, the radiant aliveness found through qigong combined with the wise focus of meditation reconnect us with the innate love, joy and wisdom of our true nature. Fee: $75 – 200 sliding scale. Code: MT1D18.

MAR

03 SAT

Through the Dark Night: Breaking Down, Breaking Through, Waking Up DONALD ROTHBERG WITH MARISA HANDLER 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM

6 CE CREDITS AVAILABLE Many of us at some time pass through a “dark night of the soul,” an extended encounter with pain, confusion, and disorientation, sometimes manifesting as depression or breakdown or loss of functioning. In the West, such experiences are often hidden and regarded with shame. In some other cultures, they are viewed as central to individual evolution, bringing transformation, purification, and amazing gifts. On this daylong, we will explore this phenomenon through meditation, short talks, and sharing. We will offer a map of the dark night as part of awakening, identifying perspectives and practices that help us with this process. Fee: $75 – 200 sliding scale. Code: DR1D18.

NON-RESIDENTIAL PROGRAMS | JAN – APR 2018

Women’s Celebration: Yoga + Dharma

MAR

ASHLEY SHARP | 10:00 AM – 4:30 PM

FRI

Wake up together in community as we explore wisdom and compassion through the practices of yoga and meditation. Take time out to refresh and renew. We will be doing asana (poses) for embodiment, pranayama (breathing exercises) to calm and balance the heart/mind, mudra (hand shapes) for focus, and chanting to open the heart. There will be periods of both silent and guided meditation woven throughout the day. The yoga asana will be basic, focused on the cultivation of mindfulness and presence, and accessible to all that can stand, sit and walk. Fee: $75 – 200 sliding scale. Code: SP2D18.

MAR

09 FRI

MAR –

SUN

3-DAY NON-RESIDENTIAL RETREAT

Resilience and Post-Traumatic Growth LINDA GRAHAM | 10:00 AM – 4:30 PM

“Trauma is a fact of life. It doesn’t have to be a life sentence.” — Peter Levine, founder of Somatic Experiencing trauma therapy 16 CE CREDITS AVAILABLE People do learn and grow from meeting the challenges and adversities of the human condition when they have enough support, resources, and skills to do so. This retreat will explore how people can learn to cope resiliently with the trials, even tragedies, of their lives, and find a deeper sense of meaning, purpose, and fulfillment through their process of recovery. We will apply practices of mindfulness, self-compassion, mindful empathy and conscious reflection to five factors that predict genuine post-traumatic growth. Fee: $225 – 600 sliding scale. Code: LG1M18.

MAR

SAT

Discovering the Buddha Within JAMES BARAZ WITH CARLEY HAUCK 10:00 AM – 4:30 PM

When we say, “I take refuge in the Buddha,” we acknowledge that within us is the seed of wisdom and goodness that blooms into an awakened heart. To help this seed fully blossom, we need to embrace all parts of ourselves, including those aspects that are difficult to accept. It is then that we can access the clarity and kindness that is our true nature. We find courage to live authentically as we learn to hear that voice of truth within. In doing so, we learn to express our gifts, show up fully and make a positive impact in the world. This daylong will use periods of silent time, journaling, embodied movement, and role-playing to access the Buddha inside and express it clearly with more confidence and power. Fee: $75 – 200 sliding scale. Code: JB2D18.

NON-RESIDENTIAL PROGRAMS | JAN – APR 2018

MAR

SAT

Chanting and Meditation JAI UTTAL & DEBRA CHAMBERLIN-TAYLOR 7:00 PM – 9:00 PM

SPECIAL EVENT As the days become longer, let’s awaken from our winter hibernation and introspection into celebration and joy. The heart is an honored gateway to our most profound and boundless nature. Using the ancient and sublime blend of kirtan (chanting) and meditation, we can open the heart of infinite love. Kirtan in the Bhakti tradition taps the nectar of spiritual longing and devotion and invites us to surrender everything into the Sacred. Used together, kirtan and meditation can reveal the expansive view of our sky-like nature. Fee: $30 – 100 sliding scale. Code: JA1E18.

MAR

SUN

The Ancient Roots of Modern Mindfulness CHRISTIANE WOLF & BETH MULLIGAN 10:00 AM – 4:30 PM

CHECK WEBSITE FOR CE AVAILABILITY As modern mindfulness has become increasingly mainstream in the West, the core wisdom and profound origins of the Buddha’s teachings may seem obscured, disconnected, or forgotten. We will explore how to successfully incorporate concepts like the universality of suffering, impermanence, and not-self into the framework of modern mindfulness. We will examine the questions that arise in our modern culture, highlight Dharma teachings in various mindfulness programs, and learn how to clearly understand in-depth Dharma concepts, reconnecting these ancient teachings to secular, daily life. This program is for those who deeply practice or teach mindfulness, and will include silent practice, didactics, and group discussion. Fee: $75 – 200 sliding scale. Code: CW2D18.

MAR

TUE

A Year to Live: How to Live this Year As If It Were Your Last ANNA DOUGLAS | 10:00 AM – 1:00 PM 2ND TUESDAY OF EVERY MONTH FOR 12 MONTHS (MARCH 2018 – FEBRUARY 2019)

In our death-denying culture, few of us contemplate the inevitability of our death or that it could happen at any time. The Buddha recommended that we do just that, not to frighten us, but to use death as an object of contemplation to help us awaken to the fragile, fleeting, and precious nature of our lives and put us in touch with our best, truest selves. Based on Stephen Levine’s book, this course will meet once a month for 12 months to look at different themes, and explore the matters that matter most when we truly believe our time is limited. Fee: $300 – 480 sliding scale. Code: AD1C18.

Conflict Resolution Using Restorative Practices for Dharma Practitioners

MAR

16 FRI

SHAHARA GODFREY | 10:00 AM – 4:30 PM

5.5 CE CREDITS AVAILABLE How do we deepen while maintaining healthy and wholesome relationships when conflict arises? Sometimes good intentions lead to outcomes causing more harm than expected. Everyone is hurt. Restorative practices involve community building and healing circles that can provide transformative spaces for people to recognize their mutual interdependence and to explore challenging emotions and situations. Through the lens of the Dharma, this daylong will provide an opportunity for participants to explore their capacity for resilience and emotional risk-taking as they improve their skills to address conflict and harm as it arises. This program will be supported by members of the Restorative Practice for Dharma Practitioners (RPDP) at East Bay Meditation Center (EBMC). Fee: $75 – 200 sliding scale. Code: SG3D18.

The Work of Mindful Parenting

MAR

WILL KABAT-ZINN & TERESA LA MENDOLA KABAT-ZINN 10:00 AM – 4:30 PM

SAT

LIVESTREAM AVAILABLE Can we learn to stay present and balanced in the midst of continuous change, all while engaging in the bustle and activity of raising a family? We will explore our everyday lives as a medium to finding greater freedom and ease in ourselves and in our work as parents. Using our capacity for present-moment awareness, we will learn to see through our own conditioned patterns, behaviors, and attachments as parents into the stillness that underlies all experience. To wake up to and abide in our own deepest nature while doing dishes and getting kids to school on time is the work of mindful parenting. Fee: $75 – 200 sliding scale. Code: WK1D18.

MAR

SAT

MAR –

SUN

2-DAY NON-RESIDENTIAL RETREAT

Relaxed & Awake: Introduction to Insight Meditation ERIN SELOVER | 10:00 AM – 4:30 PM

11 CE CREDITS AVAILABLE Insight Meditation, known as vipassana meditation, is the 2,600 year-old practice of cultivating wise presence by bringing caring, curious, and discerning attention to what is happening momentto-moment. Combined with our biological impulses to go after what we want and avoiding what we don’t want, we are often acting from habit and reactivity instead of our deeper held values and beliefs. With mindful presence, we cut through habitual reactivity and access innate states of well-being, creativity, and liberating insight through personal and universal understanding. Please bring journals. Fee: $150 – 400 sliding scale. Code: ES1M18.

NON-RESIDENTIAL PROGRAMS | JAN – APR 2018

Unattended Past: Healing the Heart

MAR

VERLINDA MONTOYA AND CAROL CANO 10:30 AM – 4:30 PM

SUN

OPEN TO ALL SELF-IDENTIFIED WOMEN OF COLOR In truly listening to our most painful songs, we can learn the divine arts of forgiveness and compassion. Opening the heart begins by opening to a lifetime’s accumulation of unacknowledged sorrow, both personal and universal. We look for deep healing of life issues to break free from whatever has held us back, to live with real purpose and meaning. We will explore how to live from our deepest authenticity, which will open and heal other dimensions of our being. This special day includes a traditional Native American Lakota sweat lodge (optional), as well as teachings and songs to renew and open our hearts. Fee: $40 – 100 sliding scale. Senior/Student: $20. Code: VM1D18.

MAR

FRI

SUN

23 – 25

3-DAY NON-RESIDENTIAL RETREAT

Strengthening Resilience, Finding our Home OREN JAY SOFER | 10:00 AM – 4:30 PM

Finding wholeness and healing are essential parts of any spiritual path. The Buddhist tradition teaches the Brahma Viharas, a set of practices for strengthening four positive mind states: kindness, compassion, joy and balance. These energies can be cultivated as a source of resilience, a vehicle for concentration and a support for insight. In this three-day non residential retreat, we will explore a range of meditative techniques for developing the four Brahma Viharas, and for releasing the obstacles to well-being. Our time together will include instructions, silent and guided sitting meditation, walking meditation, Dharma talks, and question and answer sessions with the teacher. Fee: $225 – 600 sliding scale. Code: OS1M18.

MAR

23 25 FRI

–

SUN

MAR

MON

WED

26 – 28

3-DAY NON RESIDENTIAL RETREAT

How the Light Gets In - A Meditation & Writing Retreat for Women Over 60 ANNA DOUGLAS | 10:00 AM – 4:30 PM

Grounded in the practices and teachings of insight meditation, we will explore and give voice to transformative moments in our life journey and gain perspective and deeper trust in how our wisdom unfolds. As we review our lives, we may be surprised to find that what appeared as a disaster was instead divine disruption, awakening new perception and new potential. As we give voice to these new perceptions we are claiming the value and truth of what we have understood. This deepens over time as we learn to trust our ability to articulate the truth of our experience. Fee: $225 – 600 sliding scale. Code: AD1M18.

MAR

SAT

Mindfulness and Improv NIKKI MIRGHAFORI | 10:00 AM – 4:30 PM

Improv and mindfulness may appear to be at odds from the outside. Improv conjures up images of liveliness and movement. Mindfulness, on the other hand, evokes peace and stillness. From a practitioner’s inside perspective, however, the two practices have profound similarities in cultivating awareness of the present moment experience with openness, curiosity, acceptance, and non-egoic kindness. Improv is an excellent sandbox for learning to see our judgments, as well as exploring identity and the self. As a form of relational mindfulness, improv can be a bridge for taking our practice off the cushion and into daily life. Both practices synergistically lead to more ease, joy, and freedom in our lives, as we stop taking ourselves and not-selves too seriously. Fee: $75 – 200 sliding scale. Code: NM1D18.

3-DAY NON RESIDENTIAL RETREAT

Working with Our Internal and External Experiences JOANNA HARPER & ERIN TREAT 10:00 AM – 4:30 PM

In the Satipatthana Sutta, otherwise known as the Four Foundations of Mindfulness, we are asked to contemplate experience of mind and body, both internally and externally. This practice points to both our awareness of what’s going on for our own hearts and minds, as well as what is happening around us in the world. This weekend retreat will give us the opportunity to get real and connected to our own internal experiences, as well as staying connected to the world and people around us. There will be both silent reflective time, as well as relational practices. Fee: $225 – 600 sliding scale. Code: JE1M18.

“as we transform our own experience and relationship to our realities, we cannot help affect those around us in radiating circles into the larger culture.” —larry yang

NON-RESIDENTIAL PROGRAMS | JAN – APR 2018

MAR

SAT

Mindfulness Meditation and the Path of Crazy Wisdom WES NISKER | 10:00 AM – 4:30 PM

Treat yourself to a relaxing day of sitting and walking mindfulness meditation interspersed with the poetry and humor of the ages. The day will include guided meditations on the evolutionary origin of our body and emotions, reflections on death and dying, and an exploration of the tricky delusions of mind and the mystery of consciousness itself. Throughout the day we will hear from poets and crazy wisdom masters, from Lao Tzu and Rumi to Mark Twain and Lily Tomlin, giving us some perspective on this strange, impossible life we are leading. You may not get enlightened, but you are likely to have a few laughs and acquire a healthy dose of inspiration. Fee: $75 – 200 sliding scale. Code: WN1D18.

Reclamation of the Sacred

APR

KITTISARO & THANISSARA 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM

SUN

Through training attention, wise discernment and investigation, the Amata Dharma – undying Dharma – is intuitively known as the core matrix of pure consciousness within all that emerges and dissolves. Such knowing awakens a sense for the sacred and begins to transform our world, personally and collectively, strengthening an inner sense of freedom, while enabling the reclamation of our deepest heart. The day, open to both beginners and experienced practitioners, will explore these themes supported by guided meditations, Dharma talks, collective inquiry, chanting, ceremony, and qigong. Fee: $75 – 200 sliding scale. Code: KT1D18.

APR

3-DAY NON-RESIDENTIAL RETREAT

04 06 Loving Awareness: A Non-Residential –

WED

FRI

Retreat for Experienced Meditators JACK KORNFIELD & TRUDY GOODMAN KORNFIELD 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM

PREREQUISITE: FIVE YEARS OF MEDITATION PRACTICE Loving awareness, practiced as mindfulness and metta, is the gateway to liberation. During this non-residential meditation retreat, as experienced practitioners, we will join together to quiet the mind, open the heart and see our human life with the eyes of wisdom. This is a new retreat form, which will alternate sitting, walking, guided meditations and frequent periods of dialogue and Q&A throughout each of the days. Fee: $270 – 750 sliding scale. Code: JK1M18.

APR

THU

A Special Evening of Celebration HOSTED BY JACK KORNFIELD AND OTHER SPIRIT ROCK TEACHERS | 6:30 PM – 8:30 PM

Please join us as we come together as one community to celebrate Phillip Moffitt’s impactful years of leadership and guidance as he steps away from his role as Spirit Rock co-Guiding teacher. Phillip has been one of Spirit Rock’s co-Guiding Teacher for the last seven years, and has served in numerous board and governance capacities to help guide change at Spirit Rock over the past two decades. This special evening event will bring a host of teachers together to honor Phillip as we share in stories, reflections, and Dharma all together and show how deeply grateful we are for his teaching, active engagement and his tremendous service to Spirit Rock. The evening will be hosted by Jack Kornfield, Sally Armstrong, and fellow Spirit Rock Teachers. Proceeds from the evening will go to support the Spirit Rock Scholarship Fund. Fee: $0 – 108 sliding scale. Code: PM1S18.

NON-RESIDENTIAL PROGRAMS | JAN – APR 2018

APR

FRI

SUN

3-DAY NON RESIDENTIAL RETREAT

06 – 08 Inspired by Change: How to Cultivate a Resilient Heart while Caring about Our Changing World JAMES BARAZ & BOB DOPPELT 10:00 AM – 4:30 PM 16 CE CREDITS AVAILABLE Today’s world, maybe more than ever before, is filled with challenging issues that often push us to our emotional boundaries. With complex, and often integrated, issues that include environmental challenges like climate change, social injustices, racism, terrorism and other forms of moral distress, life can often feel overwhelming. Yet there’s hope as well as a proven path to help us cope with and face life’s challenges with renewed vigor and determination. If you are interested in learning attitudes and skills to calm your emotions and thoughts and use adversity to learn, grow and thrive, this program is for you! Fee: $225 – 600 sliding scale. Code: JB1M18

APR

07 SAT

Transforming the Judgemental Mind DONALD ROTHBERG | 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM

6 CE CREDITS AVAILABLE Judgments of a reactive and compulsive nature are very strong in most of our lives. They can distort our perceptions, make relationships with others difficult, and undermine our work. We will examine what judgments are and how to work with them, using mindfulness, “heart” practices, and inquiry, helping us to preserve the discernment often found in judgments, while working through the destructive aspects of judgments. We will also explore how we internalize the judgments of our society in a number of ways, particularly related to race, gender, sexual orientation, etc. Fee: $75 – 200 sliding scale. Code: DR2D18.

APR

08 SUN

Writing Yourself Awake ROGER HOUSDEN | 10:00 AM – 4:30 PM

Writing is a way to become deeply intimate with yourself and the world. Every life is a work of fiction, and in this workshop we shall use writing as a tool and poetry as an inspiration to wake up from the stories we tell ourselves into the truth of our present experience. Alternating writing sessions with group dialogue and short meditation periods, we will return to our senses and listen, see and touch both our inner and outer experience in concrete ways that bring us more present to ourselves, more permeable to each other and more intimate with the life that lives in everything. Fee: $75 – 200 sliding scale. Code: RR1D18.

NON-RESIDENTIAL PROGRAMS | JAN – APR 2018

APR

13 FRI

The Mindful Leader PAMELA WEISS | 10:00 AM – 4:30 PM

The Buddha was a great leader whose realization and awakening have inspired thousands of people for over 2,600 years. This daylong will draw on stories from the life of the Buddha to illuminate universal stages of leadership development and explore our own leadership journey: · The Call: listening deeply to our inner wisdom · The Departure: letting go and stepping into the unknown · The Struggle: working skillfully with obstacles and difficulties · The Awakening: cultivating new ways of seeing and engaging · The Return: clarifying our unique gifts and contribution Our day together will weave meditation, reflection, and interactive exercises . You will leave with a clear map of your personal leadership journey and insights to inspire your leadership path and practice going forward. Fee: $75 – 200 sliding scale. Code: PW2D18.

APR

13 FRI

Anxiety: It’s Not All in Your Mind JILL SATTERFIELD | 10:00 AM – 4:30 PM

5.5 CE CREDITS AVAILABLE The seeds of anxiety originate from a variety of sources: repeated trauma, illness, chronic pain, hormonal imbalance, a mind caught in fear of the unknown future. How we skillfully work with ourselves when anxiety takes root, including before anxiety emerges, comes in many forms. Awareness of our internal landscape fosters the sensitivity to know when something is starting, rather than when it has already started. By developing mindfulness, we cultivate internal awareness to address the body before anxiety spreads, give kind attention to our bodies, and learn to recognize the progression of thoughts and emotions that arise prior to anxiety taking hold. Fee: $75 – 200 sliding scale. Code: JS2D18.

APR

SAT

Mindfulness Daylong for Legal Professionals GULWINDER SINGH & JEENA CHO 10:00 AM – 4:30 PM

CHECK WEBSITE FOR CE AVAILABILITY This day of mindfulness for lawyers, law students, and other legal professionals will consist of silent periods of sitting meditation, walking meditation and movement meditation with mindfulness teachings and instruction. There will be an opportunity for group discussion at the end of the day. Open to beginners as well as experienced practitioners with a focus on stress-reduction relaxation and resiliency practices to address the particular challenges of studying, practicing law or working with lawyers. Join us to learn new meditation tools and practice cultivation in a community of peers. Fee: $75 – 200 sliding scale. Code: GU1D18.

APR

SAT

Renew and Revitalize: Sustaining Yourself As a Care Provider PHILLIP MOFFITT | 10:00 AM – 4:30 PM

6 CE CREDITS AVAILABLE | DANA DAY (by donation) Care providing has obvious challenges — stress, energy demands, tension and excess workload. And it has hidden costs — selfcriticism, sacrificing self-care, and despair. In this daylong, we will focus on renewal and explore some of the skillful means the Buddha taught that can mitigate the stress of care providing. You will learn the importance of placing attention, the art of letting go of expectations, how to determine what your true responsibilities are, and how to recognize and respond to the confusion that arises around care providing. The program includes guided meditations, dharma talks, self-care techniques, gentle stretching, and group discussion. Fee: Dana Day (by Donation). Code: PM1G18.

APR

20 FRI

Mindful Communication: How to Create Real Dialoge and Healthy Relationships OREN JAY SOFER | 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM

LIVESTREAM AVAILABLE | 6 CE CREDITS AVAILABLE The path of practice taught by the Buddha is meant to transform our actions, speech, thinking and relationships. How do we put these teachings into practice to make conversations and connections – both personal and professional - more meaningful? In this program, we will explore how to bring more mindfulness and care to our communication — our listening, our speaking, and even our thinking. The tools shared will draw from a combination of the core guidelines for Wise Speech and Nonviolent Communication. These practices form a powerful foundation for cultivating insight, awareness, self-understanding and empathy, allowing our conversations and relationships to grow in meaningful, healthy ways. Fee: $75 – 200 sliding scale. Code: OS2D18.

NON-RESIDENTIAL PROGRAMS | JAN – APR 2018

APR

SAT

The Wisdom of Aging: Mindfulness Meditation and the Feldenkrais Method® WES NISKER & DAN CLURMAN 10:00 AM – 4:30 PM

5.5 CE CREDITS AVAILABLE As we age we may begin to sense our priorities and perspectives changing — less compulsion to “do” or achieve, a keener awareness of mortality and the preciousness of life, more gratitude for what is here and now, and increased compassion for our common humanity. During this day together we will reflect on these matters, practice meditation, and experience Feldenkrais Awareness Through Movement, a practice that can keep aging bodies coordinated and flexible. Fee: $75 – 200 sliding scale. Code: WN2D18.

APR

SUN

Trauma and Spiritual Practice: Mindfulness and Embodied Wellness SEAN FEIT OAKES | 10:00 AM – 4:30 PM

Many people come to meditation and yoga to help mend old wounds, both physical and emotional. In this study and practice daylong, we will explore how the nervous system responds to stress and danger, and how that natural response is affected by trauma, developing into habitual states of anxiety and overwhelm. The day will include an introduction to current trauma resolution theory, and specific mindfulness and movement practices that can support healing and resilience. The class will be appropriate for those who suffer from trauma, as well as professional caregivers, family members, and teachers of both meditation and yoga. Fee: $75 – 200 sliding scale. Code: SF2D18.

APR

SUN

In Praise of the Earth: A Day of Meditation and Song in Nature MARK COLEMAN, JENNIFER BEREZAN 10:00 AM – 4:30 PM

Nowhere is the power of contemplative meditation more profound than in the serenity of nature. In this time of crisis on our beloved earth, we will gather to intimately connect to the land with presence and reverence to heal and strengthen our hearts. In this tranquil and rejuvenating day, we will explore how meditation is supported by the stillness of nature as we spend the day in the hills and meadows of Spirit Rock. We will learn from nature’s perennial wisdom teachings on change, inter-dependence, and the power of letting go as we explore the interconnection between our inner and outer landscapes. Fee: $75 – 200 sliding scale. Code: MC7D18.

“one of the most important benefits that can accrue to an artist from a meditation practice is the capacity to become comfortable with stillness.” —nina wise

NON-RESIDENTIAL PROGRAMS | JAN – APR 2018

APR

27 FRI

Heart Practices as We Age ANNA DOUGLAS | 10:00 AM – 4:30 PM

ALL THOSE 50+ WELCOME By the time we have lived 50+ years, our hearts have been broken, perhaps more than once. Part of our task as elders is to heal the wounds of the past and to come to peace with unresolved feelings. This daylong will be a sampler of practices and teachings to help us in our healing journey. We will practice loving kindness and compassion for ourselves, as well as equanimity for all that we cannot control. We will recognize where true joy lies and learn ways to strengthen gratitude. We will forgive ourselves and others. We will learn to begin again. Healing the heart is key to enjoying old age. Fee: $75 – 200 sliding scale. Code: AD4D18.

APR

28 SAT

Mindful of Race: Transforming Racism from the Inside Out RUTH KING | 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM

LIVESTREAM Racism remains one of the most deeply rooted and painful impasses of our time. It is fed through lack of awareness and the misuse of power. In this daylong, the Racial Awareness Rubik™ is introduced to support an understanding of the skeletal shape of racism and the flesh we put on its bones. Through the lens of the Vipallasa Sutta, we recognize the structure of misperception and three truths we must remember but often forget. Mindfulness practice helps us intimately investigate our individual and collective racial conditioning and its systemic proliferation within the United States. With practice, our response to racial injury, ignorance, and distress within ourselves and in the world is more wisely attended in service to a culture of care. Fee: $75 – 200 sliding scale. Code: RK1D18.

APR

SAT

SUN

2-DAY NON-RESIDENTIAL RETREAT

28 – 29 The Joy of Samadhi (Concentration) NIKKI MIRGHAFORI | 10:00 AM – 4:30 PM

The practice of samatha leads to the state of samadhi, where the mind is stable, bright, undistracted, and spacious. A dedicated practice of samatha can culminate in profound stillness, known as jhana, where the mind becomes fully absorbed in the object of attention. Trying to develop samadhi through Herculean effort with the force of a whip to stop distractions and pull the mind into one-pointedness can be self-defeating. A wiser approach, which we will explore together, is similar to training a beloved puppy: through gentle and affectionate instructions that are at the same time resolved and steady. A stable mind is more inclined to insight. Developing samadhi, to any extent available, serves as a doorway to freedom of our minds and hearts. Fee: $150 – 400 sliding scale. Code: NM1M18.

APR

SUN

Accomplishing More By Doing Less MARC LESSER | 10:00 AM – 4:30 PM

5.5 CE CREDIT AVAILABLE During this workshop we will explore how mindfulness practice, slowing down, and letting go can increase our accomplishments, lead to more meaning in our lives, and allow for greater ease and satisfaction. We will explore practices for reducing fear, assumptions, distractions, resistance, and unnecessary busyness – leading to “finding the one who is not busy” – developing the ability to find stillness and calm in the midst of the activity and intensity of our lives. This is an experiential workshop that will draw from spiritual practices (meditation, mindfulness, compassion), leadership practices (listening, innovation, focus) and creative expression (movement and writing). Fee: $75 – 200 sliding scale. Code: ML1D18.

online programs look for new online offerings in 2018! Our livestreams provide excellent teachings and support for your practice and are filmed and broadcast in real time. They are also available for viewing for a period of time after the event, so it gives anyone anywhere the ability to view the program at their own discretion. Our online classes provide excellent teachings and support for your practice, whether you are new to practice, or have been practicing for decades. Online classes are video- and audio-based, and include a variety of group video conferences with the teacher, books, and home practice assignments.

sylvia boorstein— Everyday Life as Mindfulness Practice

mark coleman— Essential Buddhist Teachings: 4 Noble Truths, Metta and the 4 Foundations of Mindfulness

mark coleman— Make Peace with Your Mind

a special dharma evening with— Joseph Goldstein in Conversation with Michelle Latvala (Spirit Rock Executive Director) Check our website for more online offerings: SPIRITROCK.ORG/ONLINE

FAMILY PROGRAMS | JAN – APR 2018

family & youth programs at Spirit Rock

JAN

SUN

FEB

SUN

Winter Teen Meditation Series NIRALI SHAH & MATTHEW MOREY 6 SUNDAYS: JANUARY 14 - FEBRUARY 11, 6:00 PM – 8:30 PM; FEBRUARY 18, 11:00 AM – 3:00 PM

6-WEEK CLASS SERIES Learn meditation, relax deeply, speak your truth and develop your mind — all while hanging out with other great people your age. Through the practices of mindfulness and Insight Meditation, we take the time to reconnect to ourselves in order to experience more peace, wisdom and compassion. Classes will include movement, community building games, meditation instruction and council, a practice of witnessing the group’s collective wisdom. The series will culminate with a half-day of practice and a potluck celebration. During the class, parents are welcome to read, meditate and connect with each other in the Spirit Rock bookstore and foyer. Fee: $120 – 240 sliding scale. Code: TE1C18.

The Spirit Rock Family Program supports families in planting the seeds of the Dharma in their daily lives. Through classes, daylongs and retreats, families, youth and parents learn to slow down, savor the present moment and re-connect with the wholesome qualities of heart and mind.

JAN

WED

FEB

WED

Winter Path of Parenting Series GRACE FISHER | 5 WEDNESDAYS JANUARY 17 - FEBRUARY 14, 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM

5-WEEK CLASS SERIES | All parents and caregivers welcome! Parenting has the potential to be a profound spiritual practice in which we cultivate our capacity for boundless love and wise action. In this class, we’ll apply the practice and teachings of mindful awareness and loving-kindness to the joys and challenges of daily life with kids. Each session will include meditation, teaching, and discussion. This class is for anyone who is engaged with children, including parents, grandparents, foster and stepparents, teachers and caregivers. Open to new and experienced meditators. Participants are welcome to bring newborn to pre-crawling babies to class. Fee: $100 – 200 sliding scale. Code: FA1C18.

FAMILY PROGRAMS | JAN – APR 2018

JAN

FEB

WED

17 – 14

Winter Middle School Meditation Series ANDREW CHAIKIN & MICHELE ANDROPOULOS 5 WEDNESDAYS: JANUARY 17 - FEBRUARY 14 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM

5-WEEK CLASS SERIES Learn meditation, relax deeply, speak your truth and develop your mind — all while hanging out with other great people your age. Through the practices of mindfulness and Insight Meditation, we take the time to reconnect to ourselves in order to experience more peace, wisdom and compassion. Classes will include movement, community building games, meditation instruction and council, a practice of witnessing the group’s collective wisdom. The final class will include a potluck celebration. During the Middle School series, parents are welcome to attend the Path of Parenting 5-week class series, which runs concurrently with this program. Fee: $100 – 200 sliding scale. Code: TE2C18.

JAN

SUN

MEI ELLIOTT & ANTHONY “T” MAES 6 SUNDAYS: APRIL 15 – MAY 13, 6:00 PM – 8:30 PM; MAY 20, 11:00 AM - 3:00 PM

6-WEEK CLASS SERIES See program description for the Winter Teen Meditation Series on page 32. Fee: $120 - 240 sliding scale. Code: TE3C18.

APR

SUN

Spring Family Day KATE MUNDING & EVE DECKER 10:30 AM – 3:00 PM

See program description at left for the Winter Family Day. Fee: $65 - 200 sliding scale. Code: FA2D18.

WILL KABAT-ZINN, EVE DECKER 10:30 AM - 3:00 PM

VOLUNTEERS ARE NEEDED to assist with the Family Days and attend free of charge; children are welcome to volunteer alongside an adult. Please contact the Volunteer Coordinator for more information at: volunteering@spiritrock.org or call (415) 488-0164, x224.

THU

SUN

Spring Teen Meditation Series

Winter Family Day

Family Days are a wonderful opportunity to connect with your children, yourself and a community of supportive peers. Come play, share, learn and open your heart! We start our morning with a program for everyone, weaving the theme of the day into songs, skits and family activities. During the second half of the day, youth ages 4-14 will attend age-appropriate groups with our experienced Spirit Rock mindfulness leaders. They will play, make art, sing songs, and practice mindfulness together. Parents of children ages 4 and older will have an opportunity to meditate, hear a talk related to parenting as practice, and connect with one another through group discussions. Fee: $65 - 200 sliding scale. Code: FA1D18.

MAR

APR

Lottery Open for Family Retreat GIL FRONSDAL, KATE MUNDING, OFOSU JONES-QUARTEY, BETSY ROSE & ABHAYAGIRI MONASTICS AUGUST 1 – 5, 2018 (5-day, 4-night retreat)

This popular retreat includes Dharma programming for children and adults: meditation, dharma talks, time on the land, a campfire, council practice, parent discussions groups, and experiential play that makes the dharma tangible for children through song, skits, stories, art, and games. Fee: $1340 - 610 for adults, $880 - 400 for children, sliding scale, plus a donation to the teachers and retreat staff. Code: 378R18.

APR

WED

Spring Middle School Meditation Series KUDO JUSTIN CONLIN & JULIANA SLOANE 5 WEDNESDAYS: APRIL 18 - MAY 16, 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM

5-WEEK CLASS SERIES See program description for the Winter Middle School Meditaiton Series, on page 32. Fee: $100 - 200 sliding scale. Code: TE4C18.

APR

WED

Spring Path of Parenting Series GRACE FISHER | 5 WEDNESDAYS APRIL 18 - MAY 16, 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM

5-WEEK CLASS SERIES See program description for the Winter Path of Parenting Series on page 32. Fee: $100 - 200 sliding scale. Code: FA2C18.

FOR COMPLETE BIOS, SEE SPIRITROCK.ORG 33

RESIDENTIAL RETREATS | JAN â&#x20AC;&#x201C; APR 2018

RESIDENTIAL RETREATS For 2,600 years, silent meditation retreats have been a central part of the Buddhist Path of Awakening. Time in retreat allows us to step out of the complexity of our lives to listen deeply to our bodies, hearts and minds. Spirit Rock retreats combine the fertile atmosphere of silence with time for meditation and walks in nature, supported by systematic Buddhist teachings. Careful guidance and training is offered in meditation. Most retreats are suitable for both new and more experienced students of meditation. Retreats last from a few days to a full two-month retreat and all retreats are silent with some exceptions. Find inspiration for planning your next retreat on the following pages. For complete details of specific retreats, visit spiritrock.org/calendar/retreats. If you are able to attend a retreat on short notice, please join a waitlist as spaces regularly open up. For more information, contact Retreats@spiritrock.org or (415) 488-0164 x296.

RESIDENTIAL RETREATS | JAN â&#x20AC;&#x201C; APR 2018

GENERAL INFORMATION: Registration Retreats open for registration four months before the start date (longer if a lottery retreat). Check our website for specific open dates. We encourage you to register online; however, you may also download application forms to submit via fax or mail. In addition to the registration fees, which only cover a portion of the retreat costs, you are invited to support the teachings and the retreat through the spiritual practice of generous giving or "dana." Participants will be invited to offer dana (donations) for the teachers, managers and cooks through which they are compensated for their work.

Financial Assistance, Work Exchange and Young Adult Rates Financial assistance is available for all residential retreats through our scholarship funds; there are limited scholarship funds available for each retreat, so apply early. For all residential retreats, we offer a limited number of Young Adult special rate accommodations available on a first-come, first-served basis. We do not have a Senior rate for residential retreats; however, we strongly encourage you to apply for a scholarship, if you require financial assistance. For most retreats, we have two work retreatant roles â&#x20AC;&#x201D; one in the kitchen and one in housekeeping. To apply as a work retreatant, you must meet the criteria outlined on our website spiritrock.org.

Cancellation Fees In general, the cancellation fee schedule is as follows: $100 for cancellation 8 weeks or more before a retreat; $175 for cancellation 4-8 weeks before a retreat; $225 for cancellation 1-4 weeks before a retreat; $300 for cancellation 1 week before a retreat. No refunds as of 3:00 pm on the last business day prior to the retreat start day. To cancel a retreat reservation, contact Retreats@spiritrock.org or (415) 488-0164, x296.

RESIDENTIAL RETREATS | JAN – APR 2018

2018

One- and Two-Month Retreats Retreats Full – Waiting List Available

Prerequisite: A minimum of two silent 7-night Vipassana retreats led by Spirit Rock, IMS or IRC teachers, or the equivalent.

Meditation retreats can be powerful and transformative experiences. But how can we keep the practice alive in our fast-paced, modern society? How can we bring the values and intentions of contemplative practice into the complexity of our lives? In this six-week, online course, Spirit Rock-trained meditation teachers Oren J. Sofer and Jaya

An extended period of retreat offers the rare opportunity for sustained and dedicated practice. Our one- and two-month retreats emphasize quieting the mind, opening the heart, and developing profound clarity and depth of insight practice. Instruction will follow the traditional four foundations of mindfulness, combined with training in loving-kindness and compassion, through a daily schedule of silent sitting, walking, dharma talks and practice meetings with teachers.

Rudgard offer in-depth training to nourish the insights and

For the month-long retreats only: Spirit Rock is extending the upper age limit of the young adult scholarship rate to individuals 18-32 years of age. This special rate is $35 per night. A limited number of special rates will be available.

Rock. Learn more at Spiritrock.org/nextstep.

Additional scholarship funding has been offered once again for our POC communities.

Jan 27 Sat – Feb 24 Sat - 28 nights

February Insight Meditation One-Month Retreat (Lottery) JAMES BARAZ, CAROL WILSON, ADRIANNE ROSS, GREG SCHARF, DARA WILLIAMS, ERIN TREAT, MARTHA LINK (YOGA) Fee: $5850 – 2660 sliding scale. Code: 336R18.

Feb 24 Sat – Mar 24 Sat - 28 nights

March Insight Meditation One-Month Retreat (Lottery) ANDREA FELLA, GREG SCHARF, SUSIE HARRINGTON, BRIAN LESAGE, JOHN MARTIN, AMANA BREMBRY JOHNSON (YOGA) Fee: $5850 - 2660 sliding scale. Code: 338R18.

Jan 27 Sat – Mar 24 Sat - 56 nights

Insight Meditation Two-Month Retreat (Lottery) Fee: $11700 - 5320 sliding scale. Code: 340R18.

NEXT STEP DHARMA

learnings from a retreat. Enrollment in Next Step Dharma includes: • 21 short dharma talks and 16 guided meditations • 18 recorded interviews & 4 live Q & A sessions • 6 weeks of mentoring for your practice • lifetime membership in the Next Step Dharma community Next Step Dharma is an online affiliate program of Spirit

at a glance

RESIDENTIAL RETREATS 2018

JANUARY Jan 4–11

Jan 12–15

January Metta Retreat Sylvia Boorstein, Heather Sundberg, Donald Rothberg, Larry Yang, Melvin Escobar (yoga) registration opens 9/5/17

Awakening in Every Moment: A Retreat in Mindfulness, Metta and Morality

APRIL Apr 19–26 Apr 27 – May 4

(cont’d)

Dedicated Practitioners Program Retreat 3 Sally Armstrong, Ruth King, Bonnie Duran, Tempel Smith program participants only

Living Awareness through Insight Meditation Gil Fronsdal, Mary Grace Orr, John Travis, Heather Sundberg, Rebecca Kronlage (yoga) —registration opens 12/28/17

Sylvia Boorstein, Dana DePalma registration opens 9/12/17 Jan 21–26

Howard Cohn, Bonnie Duran, Mark Coleman, Ashley Sharp (yoga) —registration opens 9/20/17

FEBRUARY Jan 27 –Mar 24 Jan 27 –Feb 24

Insight Meditation Two-Month Retreat (Lottery) (see One-Month listings for teachers) lottery opens 7/12/17

February Insight Meditation One-Month Retreat (Lottery) James Baraz, Carol Wilson, Adrianne Ross, Greg Scharf, DaRa Williams, Erin Treat, Martha Link (yoga) lottery opens 7/12/17

MARCH Feb 24 –Mar 24

Mar 25 –Apr 1

March Insight Meditation One-Month Retreat (Lottery) Andrea Fella, Greg Scharf, Susie Harrington, Brian Lesage, John Martin, Amana Brembry Johnson (yoga), lottery opens 7/12/17

May 5–12

APRIL Apr 4–8

Insight Meditation Retreat

Apr 9–15

Insight and Awakening

Mark Coleman, JoAnna Harper registration opens 12/5/17 Will Kabat-Zinn, Anushka Fernandopulle registration opens 12/6/17

Restore, Refresh, Renew: A Mindfulness Meditation Retreat for Women Anne Cushman, Noliwe Alexander, Erin Selover registration opens 12/13/17

*UWH = Upper Walking Hall

Contemplating Death / Awakening to Life Eugene Cash, Nikki Mirghafori, Bhikkhu Analayo (via videocast), Janice Clarfield (yoga) —registration opens 1/9/18

May 13–20

Equanimity and Awareness (Parallel)

May 13–20

Settled, Seeing, and Spacious Awareness: A Retreat for Experienced Students (Parallel) *UWH

Kamala Masters, Sally Armstrong registration opens 1/10/18

Donald Rothberg, Susie Harrington registration opens 1/10/18 May 21–28

Awakening Joy James Baraz, Debra Chamberlin-Taylor, Howard Cohn, Jane Baraz, Evelyn Larsen (movement) registration opens 1/23/18

May 29 –Jun 3

Awakening in the Nine Bodies (Parallel)

May 29 –Jun 3

Connecting Mind and Heart (Parallel) *UWH

Deepening Your Meditation through Stillness and Movement Phillip Moffitt, JoAnna Harper, Erin Treat, Alex Haley, Leslie Booker (yoga) —registration opens 11/15/17

Apr 16–18

MAY

Essential Dharma Insight Meditation Retreat

Phillip Moffitt, Dana DePalma —registration opens 1/30/18 James Baraz, Kate Munding —registration opens 1/30/18

JUNE Jun 4–10 Jun 4–10

Aging, Dying and Awakening (ages 55+) (Parallel) Anna Douglas, Eugene Cash, Donald Rothberg registration opens 2/6/18

Natural Liberation: A Buddhist Insight Meditation Retreat (Parallel) *UWH Wes Nisker, Vinny Ferraro —registration opens 2/6/18

Jun 11–17

Essential Teachings on the Path of Awakening (Parallel)

Jun 11–17

The Heart of Awareness (Parallel) *UWH

Matthew Brensilver, Brian Lesage registration opens 2/13/18 Sharda Rogell —registration opens 2/13/18

Jun 20–24

Therigatha ‘Verses of the Elders’ Monastic Retreat

Jun 25–27

Insight Meditation Retreat

Jetsunma Tenzin Palmo, Ayya Anandabodhi, Ayya Santacitta —registration opens 2/9/18 Teachers TBD —registration opens 2/13/18

JULY Jun 28 – Jul 4

Finding Strength, Wisdom and Courage: A Retreat for People of Color

OCTOBER Oct 1–7

Spring Washam, Bhante Buddharakkhita, Larry Yang, Konda Mason, Rolf Gates (yoga) —registration opens 2/28/18 Jul 5–10

Mindfulness for Everyone: The Basics and Beyond without the Hype

Wes Nisker, Rick Hanson, Nikki Mirghafori, Terry Vandiver (yoga) —registration opens 6/5/18 Oct 9–14

Diana Winston, Bonnie Duran, Alex Haley registration opens 3/6/18 Jul 11–20 Jul 20–29

July Metta Retreat: Cultivating a Loving Heart Sally Armstrong, Tempel Smith, Bonnie Duran, John Martin registration opens 2/20/18

July Insight Meditation Retreat (Lottery) Joseph Goldstein, Kamala Masters, Greg Scharf, DaRa Williams —lottery opens 2/20/18

Family Retreat (Lottery)

Aug 6–12

Insight Meditation for Young Adults

Aug 13–18

Gil Fronsdal, Abhayagiri Monastic, Kate Munding, Ofosu Jones-Quartey —lottery opens 3/1/18 Tempel Smith, Dori Langevin, JoAnna Harper, La Sarmiento —registration opens 4/4/18

A Path of Happiness: A Retreat for the LGBT*QI Gender–Fluid Community Arinna Weisman, Noliwe Alexander, Susanna Renaud (yoga) registration opens 4/11/18

Aug 19–28

Oct 20–24

The Convergence of Wisdom and Love

Oct 25–29

Loving Awareness: A Retreat for Experienced Meditators (Lottery)

Dana DePalma, Matthew Brensilver, Diana Winston registration opens 6/20/18

Jack Kornfield, Trudy Goodman, Teja Bell (qigong) lottery opens 5/23/18

NOVEMBER Oct 31 –Nov 7

Reclamation of the Sacred: A Journey of Healing and Reconnection Through Insight Meditation Thanissara, Kittisaro, Erin Treat —registration opens 6/27/18

Nov 8–15 Nov 16–25

Concentration Retreat

Dedicated Practitioners Programs Retreat 4 Sally Armstrong, Ruth King, Bonnie Duran,Tempel Smith program participants only

Thanksgiving Insight Meditation Retreat Wes Nisker, Jaya Rudgard, Erin Treat, Matthew Brensilver, Terry Vandiver (yoga) registration opens 7/17/18

Phillip Moffitt, Sally Armstrong, Donald Rothberg, Susie Harrington —registration opens 4/19/18

Nov 26 –Dec 2

Seven Factors of Awakening (Parallel) *UWH

SEPTEMBER

Nov 26 –Dec 2

Mindfulness as a Path of Awakening (Parallel) *UWH

Aug 29 –Sep 3

Labor Day Insight Meditation Retreat (Parallel) *UWH

Aug 31 –Sept 2

Abhayagiri Teen Meditation Retreat

James Baraz, Sharda Rogell, Howard Cohn, Terry Vandiver (yoga) —registration opens 4/25/18 Ajahn Pasanno and Abhayagiri Monastics registration opens 6/6/18

Sep 10–16

Meditation and the Spirit of Creativity

Sep 17–23

Finding Freedom in the Body (Parallel)

Sep 17–23

Transforming the Judgemental Mind (Parallel) *UWH

Sep 24–30

Mindfulness and Heartfulness for Insight and Liberation Anushka Fernandopulle, Chas DiCapua registration opens 6/6/18

AUGUST Aug 1–5

Evolving Together: Mindfulness Meditation and Modern Science

Anna Douglas, Barbara Kaufman, Nina Wise registration opens 5/9/18 Mary Grace Orr, Bob Stahl, Christiane Wolf, Marcy Reynolds (qigong) —registration opens 5/16/18 Donald Rothberg —registration opens 5/16/18

Mark Coleman —registration opens 7/25/18

DECEMBER Dec 3–9

Awakening in the Body: Yoga and Meditation Anne Cushman, Kate Johnson, Brent Morton, Rolf Gates (yoga) —registration opens 8/1/18

Dec 10–16

In the Presence of Love: A Metta and Qigong Retreat

Dec 17–23

Solstice Insight Meditation Retreat

Dec 27 –Jan 6

Wisdom Rising: A Women’s Meditation Retreat Spring Washam, Anna Douglas, JoAnna Harper, Erin Selover —registration opens 5/23/18

Eugene Cash, Gina Sharpe, Pamela Weiss registration opens 7/25/18

Spring Washam, Vinny Ferraro, Erin Selover, Teja Bell (qigong) —registration opens 8/8/18 Donald Rothberg, Heather Sundberg, John Travis registration opens 8/15/18

New Year’s Insight Meditation Retreat Eugene Cash, Spring Washam, Pamela Weiss, DaRa Williams, Alexis Santos, Janice Clarfield (yoga) registration opens 8/27/18

Dec 27 – Jan 1

Teen New Year’s Retreat (Walden West) Teachers TBD —registration opens 8/29/18

*Retreats listed in purple are offsite, not at Spirit Rock

RESIDENTIAL RETREATS | JAN – APR 2018

JAN

THU

04 11

January Metta Retreat SYLVIA BOORSTEIN, HEATHER SUNDBERG, LARRY YANG, DONALD ROTHBERG, MELVIN ESCOBAR (YOGA) 7 nights, Thursday – Thursday

Metta, or loving-kindness, practice is the cultivation of the intention of benevolence as the orientation of our heart and mind. It is also a path to wisdom. We develop our capacity for metta through meditation (practiced steadfastly on retreat) in order for it to manifest in an ongoing way in our daily lives. In this retreat, we will learn the formal practice of metta along with its companion practices of compassion, joy, and equanimity. All four of these practices—known as the Brahma Viharas or Divine Abodes—strengthen self-confidence, selfacceptance, and steadiness of mind and heart, revealing our fundamental disposition toward kindness. Fee $1990 - $905 sliding scale. Code: 328R18.

JAN

FRI

MON

Awakening in Every Moment: A Retreat in Mindfulness, Metta and Morality SYLVIA BOORSTEIN, DANA DEPALMA 3 nights, Friday – Monday

The Eightfold Path, the centerpiece and “heart” of practice in the Buddhist tradition, aims to develop the skillful means of Mindfulness, Morality/Virtue, and Metta (impartial good will). In this three-night retreat, the Eightfold Path will be presented as the template for the translation of each of these skills into our contemplative practice. In meditation, we’ll practice mindfulness skills and metta techniques as well as imaginative techniques for dedicating ourselves to refining our virtues. Teachings will be interspersed throughout each day and, as always with Sylvia, there will be many heartwarming stories of practicing in everyday life. Fee $990 - $450 sliding scale. Code: 330R18.

JAN

SUN

FRI

21 26

Essential Dharma Insight Meditation Retreat HOWARD COHN, BONNIE DURAN, MARK COLEMAN, ASHLEY SHARP (YOGA)

5 nights, Sunday – Friday This is a silent retreat designed especially for those relatively new to the practices of Insight Meditation (Vipassana). The retreat includes systematic instructions in Vipassana meditation - both sitting and walking - as well as loving-kindness practice, meetings with teachers, and evening talks highlighting the central teachings of the Buddha and their practical application to our lives. Fee $1255 - $570 sliding scale. Code: 334R18.

RESIDENTIAL RETREATS | JAN – APR 2018

MAR

APR

SUN

25 01

Deepening Your Meditation Through Stillness and Movement PHILLIP MOFFITT, JOANNA HARPER,

APR

MON

SUN

09 15

Prerequiste: Completion of at least one 3-night silent Vipassana retreat. This is a seven-night Vipassana retreat emphasizing body and energy awareness. In the systematic teaching of Vipassana meditation, it is mindfulness of the body in stillness and movement that are taught first. Thus, mindfulness of the body becomes the ground for understanding emotions and mind states as they arise in practice whether they are pleasant or difficult. Moreover, for many meditation students practicing mindfulness of the body arouses various kinds of bodily energetic experiences that can be confusing, alarming or enticing. This silent retreat will offer teachings and a time for discussion of such energetic experiences. Many subtle understandings in regard to stillness and movement will be explored. The primary focus of the retreat is to help you learn how to utilize body awareness more skillfully in your meditation and in daily life. A number of different movement practices may be offered during the retreat. Fee $1760 - $800 sliding scale. Code: 342R18.

APR

WED

SUN

04 08

Insight Meditation Retreat MARK COLEMAN, JOANNA HARPER

4 nights, Wednesday – Sunday

Have you ever been curious about Insight Meditation? This silent retreat will teach the essentials of this practice and offer key Buddhist teachings. We will explore ways to awaken our mind and heart so that we can learn to live a life of wisdom, compassion, inner peace and freedom. This short retreat will combine sitting and walking meditations, dharma talks and opportunities to meet with a teacher. An excellent opportunity for those new to retreat practice, and also ideal for experienced practitioners who wish to do a short retreat. Fee $1000 - $455 sliding scale. Code: 344R18.

FERNANDOPULLE

Prerequisite: Completion of at least one Insight Meditation day program. The ancient invitation of the Buddha was to “Come and see” for yourself the truth of the way things are. Through focused and sustained meditative practice we can quiet habitual patterns of the mind that cause restlessness, stress, and disconnection and look deeply into the nature of our own experience. Mindful and penetrating contact with reality gives rise to liberating insight by addressing the causes of suffering and dis-ease where they reside which is in our own minds. When we learn to reside in the rich and vivid space of awareness, the source and ground of all experience, our deepest nature and true home, spontaneity, creativity and a great flexibility in being and expression reveal themselves to be endemic to our nature. Fee $1505 - $685 sliding scale. Code: 346R18.

APR

16 18

MON WED

APR

WILL KABAT-ZINN, ANUSHKA

6 nights, Monday – Sunday

ERIN TREAT, ALEX HALEY, LESLIE BOOKER (YOGA)

7 nights, Sunday – Sunday

Insight and Awakening

Restore, Refresh, Renew: A Mindfulness Meditation Retreat for Women ANNE CUSHMAN, NOLIWE ALEXANDER, ERIN SELOVER | 2 nights, Monday – Wednesday

Take a break from the busy-ness of daily life to drop into mindful presence in a community of women. In the stress and rush of our daily routines, it’s easy to lose touch with our natural capacity for ease, presence, and clarity. The good news is that in just a few days, we can begin to fill the well. This “mini” silent threeday retreat will begin at 9:30am on the first day and end at 4:00pm, mid-afternoon on the third day. This unique retreat will emphasize continuity of moment to moment awareness to support listening to our intuitive wisdom. Each day will include mindfulness meditation instruction and practice, gentle yoga, dharma teachings, and opportunities for questions and answers. As we slow down and direct our attention to the changing flow of our experience, our heart reveals personal and universal insights that support us leading lives that reflect our deepest values. Fee $660 - $300, sliding scale. Code: 347R18.

Visit spiritrock.org for schedule updates and full teacher bios. 40

RESIDENTIAL RETREATS | JAN – APR 2018

MAY

SAT

05 12

Contemplating Death / Awakening to Life EUGENE CASH, NIKKI MIRGHAFORI, BHIKKHU ANALAYO (VIA VIDEOCAST), JANICE CLARFIELD (YOGA)

7 nights, Saturday – Saturday 21 CE CREDITS AVAILABLE Prerequisite: Completion of one 5-night Buddhist silent meditation retreat or permission of the teacher. The Buddha encouraged Maranasati practice to live an awakened life. This practice supports our appreciation of the preciousness of human birth and the development of equanimity with the difficulties of human existence. It helps us gain freedom from rigidity and clinging through a more expansive perspective of the inevitable and natural letting go. Maranasati matures our insight into impermanence and change, nourishing a skillful orientation to both life and death. In the retreat we will utilize the skills of loving awareness, compassion and investigation in our sitting practice, with some guided visualization and a period of contemplative inquiry each day. Bhikkhu Analayo will make a live, guest teaching via videocast at the retreat. His newest book is Maranasati. Fee $1760 - $800 sliding scale. Code: 352R18.

MAY

SUN

13 20

APR

MAY

FRI

27 04

Living Awareness through Insight Meditation GIL FRONSDAL, MARY GRACE ORR, JOHN TRAVIS, HEATHER SUNDBERG, REBECCA KRONLAGE (YOGA)

7 nights, Friday – Friday Join us for a 7-night retreat exploring awareness through the vehicle of the body and in the spirit of a heart of friendliness, compassion, and nonreactive balance. In this silent retreat, we will practice sitting and walking meditation. Instructions will be offered, there will be a Dharma talk every day, and there will be individual and group interviews with the retreat teachers. There will be optional times for guided mindful yoga practice. This retreat is suitable for both beginning and experienced practitioners. Fee $1760 - $800 sliding scale. Code: 350R18.

Equanimity and Awareness KAMALA MASTERS, SALLY ARMSTRONG

7 nights, Sunday – Sunday

Prerequisite: Completion of one 5- to 7-night Insight Meditation retreat or permission of the teacher. Often, we are drawn to meditation practice because of our heartfelt wish to calm our minds and open our hearts. But in our lives, and when we sit down to meditate, we often find ourselves reacting to thoughts of the past with regret, shame or anger, and to the future with anxiety and fear, often feeling overwhelmed. In this retreat, we will develop the practice of equanimity, which allows us to be with challenging situations in our lives with balance, acceptance and more clarity. As this capacity deepens, we are able to be more fully present for both the joys and the sorrows of life, meeting each situation with kindness and compassion. Equanimity is one of the four Brahma Viharas/Divine Abidings, or beautiful qualities of heart, we can develop through practice and meditation. The other Brahma Viharas of loving-kindness, compassion and joy will be introduced as a complement to the equanimity practice. Fee $1760 - $800 sliding scale. Code: 354R18.

RESIDENTIAL RETREATS | JAN – APR 2018

MAY

SUN

13 20

Settled, Seeing, and Spacious Awareness: A Retreat for Experienced Students

MAY

JUN

TUE

SUN

29 03

Prerequisite: Completion of at least two 5-night or longer silent Insight Meditation retreats or permission of the teachers. In the context of a small retreat, we will train in three inter-related modes of practice. First, we will settle and stabilize our minds and bodies, becoming more concentrated, through both sitting and moving forms of meditation, including regular Qigong. As we settle, we then become better able to examine closely both our experiences of our bodies, thoughts, and emotions, and the general patterns of experience, both more personal and more universal. We see more clearly when we are reactive, when we suffer, when there is a thick sense of self, and we learn to be more with the impermanent flow of experience. We can also tune in more, as we settle and see, to an increasingly unconfined and luminous awareness beyond reactivity, that is a source of freedom, wisdom, and compassion, both in retreat practice and daily life. Fee $1760 - $800 sliding scale. Code: 355R18.

MAY

21 28

MON MON

Awakening Joy JAMES BARAZ, DEBRA CHAMBERLIN TAYLOR, HOWARD COHN, JANE BARAZ, EVELYN LARSEN (MOVEMENT)

7 nights, Monday - Monday 13 CE CREDITS AVAILABLE The Buddha was known as “The Happy One.” However, the teachings often seem to emphasize working with suffering. Joy and happiness can seem frivolous or unspiritual even though joy is one of the Seven Factors of Awakening. In this retreat we will practice with an emphasis on cultivating wholesome states to develop our natural capacity for well-being and happiness. Our own development of well-being and joy then becomes our gift to a troubled world. The retreat includes silent sitting and walking periods with instructions and practice meetings with teachers, as well as some experiential exercises during the five days. This retreat is appropriate for both experienced as well as new/ beginning students. Fee $1760 - $800 sliding scale. Code: 358R18.

“to let go does not mean to get rid of. to let go means to let be. when we let be with compassion, things come and go on their own.” —jack kornfield 42

PHILLIP MOFFITT, DANA DEPALMA

5 nights, Tuesday - Sunday

DONALD ROTHBERG, SUSIE HARRINGTON

7 nights, Sunday - Sunday

Awakening the Nine Bodies: A Residential Retreat

Prerequisite: Completion of one 5- to 7-night silent Vipassana retreat and an active meditation practice for at least three years. Required Advance Reading: Chapter 1-6 in Awakening in the Nine Bodies: Explorations in Consciousness for Yoga and Mindfulness This retreat systematically explores a set of teachings about the nature of consciousness that were first transmitted to Phillip Moffitt by the Himalayan yoga master Sri Swami Premvarni Balyogi almost twenty years ago. They are the basis for Phillip Moffitt’s new book: Awakening through the Nine Bodies. The retreat will start by focusing on the consciousness that arises in the physical body and then presents a series of meditations for exploring ever more subtle levels of consciousness. These teachings and meditation are not presented as an alternative or a substitute for your current lineage practice but rather, to help you be more empowered in your lineage practice. As a support for Vipassana meditation, the Nine Bodies teachings offer you a new means for tracking and classifying meditative experiences, which can help you stay present with whatever arises. These explorations may also increase the clarity and specificity of your mindfulness and enable the arising of insight. This retreat is not recommend for students who are experiencing acute depression or grief or other strong mental challenges. All practice discussions will be groups rather than individual one to one meetings. Fee $1255 - $570 sliding scale. Code: 360R18.

MAY

JUN

TUE

SUN

29 03

Connecting Mind and Heart JAMES BARAZ, KATE MUNDING

5 nights, Tuesday - Sunday

The Mind and the Heart are not separate. We’ll take these days of silence to explore and put into practice various skillful means to access naturally relaxed, open hearts and clear quiet minds. It is from these lovely states that insights into how we’ve become unnecessarily distressed will naturally arise. These are the insights that heal us, uplift us and ultimately free us. This retreat is designed as a smaller and more intimate retreat and as such, it is held in the upper Walking Hall. This hall is located at the top of a flight of stairs adjacent to the main meditation hall. It is not accessible by wheelchair or scooter. If you have mobility limitations such that you cannot climb a flight of stairs, this retreat is not appropriate for you. Please call the Registration Department for more details BEFORE you register for this retreat if you have concerns related to accessibility to the upper Walking Hall. Fee $1255 - $570 sliding scale. Code: 361R18.

SPIRIT ROCK TEACHERS COUNCIL AYYA ANANDABODHI has practiced meditation since 1989 and lived in Amaravati and Chithurst monasteries in the UK for 18 years. In 2009, she moved to the US to help establish Aloka Vihara, a training monastery for women, where she now resides.

ANDREA FELLA has practiced Insight Meditation since 1996 and began teaching in 2003. She teaches at the Insight Meditation Center in Redwood City, CA, and around the US.

GUY ARMSTRONG has been practicing Insight Meditation for more than 30 years and began teaching in 1984. He spent a year as a Buddhist monk in Thailand. Guy is a Guiding Teacher of Insight Meditation Society (IMS). He is author of Emptiness: A Practical Guide for Meditators.

ANUSHKA FERNANDOPULLE has trained for more than 20 years in the Theravada tradition in the US, India and Sri Lanka. She is on the teaching team at San Francisco Insight and the Leadership Sangha at East Bay Meditation Center, and is lead teacher of the San Francisco LGBT sangha.

SALLY ARMSTRONG began practicing Insight Meditation in 1981 and teaching in 1996. She has served at Spirit Rock in a number of roles and is co-founder and co-teacher of the Dedicated Practitioners Program. She is a co-Guiding Teacher at Spirit Rock.

GIL FRONSDAL has practiced Zen and Vipassana since 1975 and holds a PhD in Buddhist Studies from Stanford. He is founding teacher of the Insight Meditation Center in Redwood City, CA, and author of a translation of The Dhammapada.

JAMES BARAZ has practiced Insight Meditation since 1974 and has been teaching since 1980. James leads ongoing meditation and Awakening Joy classes in Berkeley. He is the coauthor of Awakening Joy and Awakening Joy for Kids.

WILL KABAT-ZINN has practiced Insight Meditation for more than 15 years and has been teaching since 2007. He lives in the East Bay with his wife and two children and leads a weekly sitting group on Sunday evenings in Berkeley.

SYLVIA BOORSTEIN has been teaching since 1985 and teaches both Vipassana and Metta Meditation. Her many books include That’s Funny, You Don’t Look Buddhist and Happiness Is an Inside Job.

JACK KORNFIELD trained as a Buddhist monk in Thailand, India and Burma and holds a PhD in clinical psychology. He has taught meditation since 1974 and is a founding teacher of IMS and Spirit Rock. His books include A Path with Heart, The Wise Heart and No Time Like the Present.

EUGENE CASH is a founding teacher of San Francisco Insight. He is also the co-founder and co-teacher of the Dedicated Practitioners Program. In addition, he teaches the Diamond Approach® in San Francisco and Holland.

PHILLIP MOFFITT has practiced Vipassana since 1983. He is founder and president of the Life Balance Institute. He is a co-Guiding Teacher at Spirit Rock and the author of Dancing with Life, Emotional Chaos to Clarity and Awakening through the Nine Bodies.

DEBRA CHAMBERLIN-TAYLOR has been leading retreats since 1978. In addition to practicing Vipassana, she has been influenced by Dzogchen and Diamond Heart®. She also leads workshops on embodiment of awareness and conscious relationships.

WES “SCOOP” NISKER is a meditation teacher, author, radio commentator and performer. His books include Essential Crazy Wisdom and You Are Not Your Fault.

HOWARD COHN has led vipassana retreats since 1985 and leads a weekly sitting group in San Francisco. He has studied with teachers of several traditions, including Theravada, Zen and Dzogchen, and has been strongly influenced by H.W.L. Poonja.

MARY GRACE ORR is a vipassana teacher and former Guiding Teacher of Santa Cruz Insight. She has practiced many spiritual disciplines for the past 25 years and has trained in the Diamond Approach®.

MARK COLEMAN has been teaching Insight Meditation

SHARDA ROGELL began teaching Insight Meditation in 1985. She brings a strong emphasis to awakening heartfulness and has been influenced by non-dual teachings, Dzogchen and the Diamond Approach®.

retreats since 1997. He also leads wilderness meditation retreats, integrating mindfulness meditation with nature, and is the author of Awake in the Wild and Make Peace with Your Mind.

DANA DEPALMA has practiced Insight Meditation since 1993. She holds a Masters Degree in Counseling Psychology and is a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist. She teaches daylongs, classes and retreats at Spirit Rock and is the Spirit Rock Staff Dharma Teacher.

ANNA DOUGLAS has a background in psychology and art, in addition to more than 25 years of vipassana practice. She has also studied with teachers in the Zen, Advaita and Dzogchen traditions.

DONALD ROTHBERG has practiced meditation since 1976. He is the guiding teacher for the Path of Engagement program. He is the author of The Engaged Spiritual Life and co-teaches the Wednesday morning class at Spirit Rock.

TEMPEL SMITH has been practicing Metta and Insight Meditation since 1989, including a year as a fully ordained monk in Burma. He graduated from the Teacher Training program led by Jack Kornfield at Spirit Rock and has been leading retreats for more than ten years.

SPIRIT ROCK TE ACHER S COUNCIL (CONT’D)

JOHN TRAVIS founded Mountain Stream Meditation in 1993 and opened a center in Nevada City, CA, in 2013. He has practiced meditation for almost 50 years and spent a decade living in Asia. SPRING WASHAM has practiced meditation since 1997. She is a founding teacher of the East Bay Meditation Center in Oakland, CA and author of A Fierce Heart: Finding Strength, Courage and Wisdom in any Moment. Spring is considered a pioneer in bringing mindfulness based healing practices into diverse communities. DIANA WINSTON is the Director of Mindfulness Education at UCLA’s Mindful Awareness Research Center. She has practiced Vipassana since 1989, including a year as a Buddhist nun in Burma, and is the author of Fully Present and Wide Awake: A Buddhist Guide for Teens LARRY YANG is a longtime meditator trained as a psychotherapist. He is interested in creating access to the Dharma for communities who have felt the experience of exclusion or difference. Larry is a teacher at the East Bay Meditation Center. He is the author of Awakening Together.

Teachers Emeritus AJAHN AMARO trained in Thailand with Ajahn Chah and Ajahn Sumedho. He is the former co-abbot of Abhayagiri Buddhist Monastery near Ukiah, CA. He is now abbot of Amaravati Monastery in the UK.

ROBERT HALL, MD, is a physician of the body/mind, a psychiatrist, poet and meditation teacher. He is a pioneer of the integration of bodywork, psychotherapy and spiritual practice. He lives and teaches at El Dharma in Todos Santos, Mexico.

JULIE WESTER has been a teacher of Insight Meditation since 1985 and is a senior meditation teacher at Spirit Rock. A student of sacred feminine wisdom traditions, her primary teachers have included Ruth Denison, Joanna Macy, Lama Tsultrim Allione and the women of her own family lineage.

VISITING TEACHERS NOLIWE ALEXANDER is a Buddhist meditation teacher and community workshop facilitator. She is a Life & Business Coach, dedicating both her coaching and Dharma practice to the POC, LGBTQI, At-Risk and Elder communities. Noliwe is a graduate of Spirit Rock’s Community Dharma Leaders Program and EBMC’s Commit 2 Dharma Program. BHIKKHU ANALAYO, PHD, is a German scholar-monk and the author of Satipatthãna: The Direct Path to Realization, Perspectives on Satipatthãna, and Excursions into the ThoughtWorld of the Pãli Discourses. He is a BCBS Core Faculty Member, a University of Hamburg professor, and a researcher at the Dharma Drum Buddhist College in Taiwan. ADAM BARAZ grew up in a family of meditation practitioners and connected with the practice of meditation at the age of 15. In college he spent a semester living in a monastery in India, studying Buddhist Philosophy, meditation, and has since sat several long silent retreats. JANE BARAZ, MA, teaches Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) at UCSF’s Osher Center for Integrative Medicine. She is also a trained teacher in Mindful Self-Compassion (MSC). PAWAN BAREJA, PHD, has a body-oriented counseling practice based on Peter Levine’s Somatic Experiencing™ (SE) work for coping with trauma and life changes, and is also an assistant in SE Trainings. She is currently in the Spirit Rock Teacher Training program. JENNIFER BEREZAN is a unique blend of singer/songwriter, teacher, ritualist and activist. She weaves the sacred into original contemporary musical styles. Her work is deeply imbued with Buddhist and Earth-based themes. SANDY BOUCHER, MA, has practiced, written about and taught both Vipassana and writing for 30 years. She leads retreats on Dharma and writing and has published nine books. ANDREW CHAIKIN is a graduate of the Spirit Rock Community Dharma Leaders and Dedicated Practitioners Program, and is a certified teacher of Search Inside Yourself. He leads a weekly sitting group in San Francisco, Heart Camp, and is the Coordinating Teacher of the meditation and yoga program at the San Francisco County Jail. CAROL CANO is Co-Founder and Guiding Teacher for Philippine Insight Meditation and Co-Founder of Templa Wellness in the Philippines. JEENA CHO is the co-author of The Anxious Lawyer, An 8-Week Guide to a Joyful and Satisfying Law Practice Through Mindfulness and Meditation (ABA). She is a regular contributor to Forbes, Bloomberg and Above the Law where she covers resilience, work/life integration, and wellness in the workplace. She regularly speaks on women’s issues, diversity, wellness, productivity, mindfulness and meditation.

JANICE CLARFIELD has an international reputation as an inspiring teacher and practitioner of yoga, meditation and energy healing. She teaches an eclectic, integrative and contemplative approach to the practice.

DAN CLURMAN, MA, is a certified Feldenkrais® Practitioner and personal coach. He integrates somatic awareness into his work as a coach and organizational trainer in communication skills.

ANNE CUSHMAN is a graduate of the SRMC/IMS/IRC Teacher Training Program. She’s the author of Moving into Meditation and the novel, Enlightenment for Idiots.

ROGER HOUSDEN is the author of 20 books on poetry, art and pilgrimage, including the best-selling Ten Poems to Change Your Life series.

EVE DECKER is a graduate of Spirit Rock’s Community Dharma Leader program. An accomplished musician, she teaches music and mindfulness to children and adults at East Bay Meditation Center, Spirit Rock, Aurora School in Oakland and elsewhere.

OFOSU JONES-QUARTEY has been teaching the Insight Meditation Community of Washington’s Family Meditation Class since 2008. He also works with Minds, Inc., bringing mindfulness practice to schools since 2014.

BOB DOPPELT is Executive Director of The Resource Innovation Group where he leads the Transformational Resilience Program and coordinates the International Transformational Resilience Coalition with James Baraz. He organized and facilitated the Dharma Teachers International Collaborative on Climate Change.

TERESA LAMENDOLA KABAT-ZINN, MA, is a counselor, early childhood educator and mindfulness teacher who specializes in autism and bringing mindfulness into the everyday lives of parents.

VINNY FERRARO is the Senior Trainer for Mindful Schools in Oakland and a nationally recognized leader in designing and implementing interventions for at-risk youth. He is a graduate of the SRMC/IMS/IRC Teacher Training Program.

RUTH KING is a guiding teacher at Insight Meditation Community of Washington, a core teacher in Spirit Rock’s Dedicated Practitioner Program, and founder of Mindful Members Insight Meditation Community in Charlotte, NC. Ruth is a life coach and consultant, and the author of Healing Rage.

GRACE FISHER is a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist with a private practice in San Anselmo, CA. She is a former lawyer who holds Masters degrees in Education and Counseling Psychology. LINDA GRAHAM, MFT, is an experienced psychotherapist and meditation teacher who integrates modern neuroscience, mindfulness practices and relational psychology in her nationwide trainings. She is the author of Bouncing Back. MINGTONG GU is an internationally recognized teacher and healer who received his training from grandmasters of China and Tibet and at the world’s largest qigong hospital. He is the founder of the Chi Healing Center in Petaluma, CA. ALEX HALEY has practiced meditation for 15+ years, and has studied in the Theravada, Tibetan, and Zen schools of Buddhism. Alex completed Spirit Rock’s Community Dharma Leaders Program, and the SRMC/IMS/IRC Teacher Training Program. He leads a weekly meditation group, and is the Director of Mindfulness Programs at the University of Minnesota.

RICK HANSON, PHD, is a psychologist, Senior Fellow of the Greater Good Science Center at UC Berkeley and New York Times best-selling author. His books include Hardwiring Happiness and Buddha’s Brain.

JOANNA HARPER has been practicing multiple traditions since 1999. She works with at-risk youth and non at-risk youth in institutional and school settings, is a graduate of Noah Levine’s Against the Stream teacher training and the SRMC/IMS/IRC Teacher Training Program.

SUSIE HARRINGTON teaches meditation nationwide and is the guiding teacher for Desert Dharma, which serves many communities in the Southwest near her home in Moab, UT. She is a graduate of the Spirit Rock/IMS/IRC Teacher Training Program. CARLEY HAUCK is the founder of Living Well Awake where she wears the hats of corporate well-being consultant, executive coach, researcher, and author, and is an instructor at Stanford University and UC Berkeley. Carley is a graduate of Spirit Rock’s Dedicated Practitioner Program, and has practiced meditation for 20 years. FRANCISCO HERRERA Theologian, cultural worker, and singersongwriter Francisco Herrera brings together different styles of music to promote human rights and social justice. Francisco Herrera’s new album, Honor Migrante, has themes ranging from immigrant rights to globalization, and crosses genre borders, from traditional-sounding norteño and corrido tunes to post-modern electro-cumbia and Latin Rock.

KITTISARO, a Rhodes Scholar, trained in the Forest School of Ajahn Chah and Ajahn Sumedho, and has practiced Chan and Kuan Yin Dharmas for 35 years. He helped found Buddhist monasteries and meditation centers in the UK, South Africa, and California. Kittisaro co-authored Listening to the Heart, A Contemplative Journey to Engaged Buddhism. TRUDY GOODMAN, PHD, is founder and Guiding Teacher of InsightLA and is the Guiding Teacher and co-founder of the Institute for Meditation and Psychotherapy in Cambridge, MA. REBECCA KRONLAGE is a Senior Kripalu Yoga Teacher and has been a yoga practitioner, meditator and holistic educator for more than 25 years.

MARC LESSER is a Zen teacher, author, speaker, and CEO of ZBA Associates, a leadership coaching and consulting company. Marc served as CEO and co-founder of Search Inside Yourself Leadership, and Director of Tassajara Zen Mountain Center. He is the author of several books, including Z.B.A.: Zen of Business Administration.

NOAH LEVINE is the founder of the Against The Stream Buddhist Meditation Society. Noah has created a process of addiction recovery based on the teachings of the Buddha called Refuge Recovery. He is the author of Dharma Punx, Against the Stream, Heart of the Revolution and Refuge Recovery.

TIAS LITTLE synthesizes classical yoga, Sanskrit, Buddhist studies, anatomy, massage, cranial-sacral therapy, and trauma healing. He has studied the meditative arts and Buddhism for 30+ years and has a MA in Eastern Philosophy. Tias is the author of The Thread of Breath, Meditations on a Dewdrop and Yoga of the Subtle Body.

ANTHONY “T” MAES leads teen meditation retreats for Inward Bound Mindfulness Education and has volunteered with Spirit Rock’s Family Program since 2009, including the New Year’s and Abhayagiri teen retreats.

KONDA MASON has been teaching yoga as a certified Kripalu Yoga teacher for 20 years. She is one of the co-founders of the International Association of Black Yoga Teachers and is a Spirit Rock Board Member. Konda is part of our current Spirit Rock Teacher Training Program.

KAMALA MASTERS is co-founder and guiding teacher of the Vipassana Metta Foundation and is currently developing a dhamma sanctuary on Maui.

VISITING TEACHERS RICK MENDIUS, MD, is a neurologist in private practice in Marin

GULWINDER “GULLU” SINGH is a corporate real estate

county and teaches a weekly class at San Quentin State Prison.

attorney, and Dharma and secular mindfulness teacher, focusing on integrating insights and cultivation from retreat practice into daily life and work. Gullu completed InsightLA’s Mindfulness Facilitator Training Group, Spirit Rock’s Dedicated Practitioner Program, MBSR training, and is in the 2020 Spirit Rock Teacher Training Program and Inward Bound Mindfulness Education.

NIKKI MIRGHAFORI, PHD, is a Stanford-trained compassion cultivation instructor, a UCLA trained mindfulness facilitator, a graduate of the SRMC/IMS/IRC Teacher Training Program, and Spirit Rock Board Member. Nikki also teaches and serves on the Board of Insight Meditation Center in Redwood City, and is an Artificial Intelligence scientist and researcher.

OREN JAY SOFER is Senior Program Developer at Mindful

leader from the Picruis peublo of New Mexico. She founded the Heart of Humanity.

Schools, founder and Guiding Teacher of Next Step Dharma, and a Collaborative Trainer with Bay Area Non-Violent Communication. He is a graduate of the Spirit Rock/IMS/IRC Teacher Training Program.

MATTHEW MOREY serves on the Spirit Rock Teen Teachers

GEORGE TAYLOR, MFT, has been a licensed couple’s counselor

Council and co-teaches the Middle School and Teen Meditation Series. Matthew is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist with a practice in San Francisco.

for 25 years, and married to Debra Chamberlin-Taylor for 35. He is the author of a Path for Couples. His great joy is in seeing couples find the deep well of love and laughter that a committed relationship offers to them.

VERLINDA MONTOYA is an elder, medicine woman and spiritual

BETH MULLIGAN is a board certified Physician Assistant and has practiced primary care medicine for the past 30 years. She is a certified MBSR teacher and International teacher trainer for the UMASS Center for Mindfulness and leads mediation trainings internationally. Beth is the author of The Dharma of Modern Mindfulness.

THANISSARA, MA, trained in the Forest School of Ajahn Chah and Ajahn Sumedho. She was a founder of Chithurst and Amaravati Monasteries, and co-founder of Dharmagiri Insight Meditation Centre and Sacred Mountain Sangha. She has authored several books, including Time to Stand Up, An Engaged Buddhist Manifesto for Our Earth.

SEAN FEIT OAKES teaches Buddhism, Hatha Yoga, and Organic Intelligence and integrates meditation, philosophy and selfinquiry with trauma resolution and social justice. He has studied Zen, Tibetan, and Theravada Buddhism. Sean teaches at Spirit Rock, East Bay Meditation Center, Yoga Tree SF, Yoga Garden SF, Piedmont Yoga and Inward Bound Mindfulness Education.

ERIN TREAT has practiced Buddhist meditation for 20 years and completed the SRMC/IMS/IRC Teacher Training Program. She is the Guiding Teacher of Vallecitos Mountain Retreat Center, and teaches at the Durango Dharma Center. Erin is influenced by her love of wild nature, Diamond Approach® training, and decades of somatics and bodyworker experience.

ISABELITA PAPA is certified to teach Dayan Qigong, Mindful Pilates and Restorative Yoga and is a Compassionate Communication facilitator. She offers classes in the San Francisco Bay Area, Mexico and Hawaii.

JAI UTTAL In 30 years of commitment to the art and spiritual practice of kirtan, Jai Uttal has cultivated a voice and musical style that carries the listener into the heart of devotion, prayer, and healing, and to an ecstatic remembrance of the divine.

DAVID RICHO, PHD, MFT, teacher, workshop leader and writer, works as a psychotherapist in Santa Barbara and San Francisco, CA. He combines Jungian, transpersonal and mythic perspectives in his work.

ARINNA WEISMAN has studied Vipassana Meditation since 1979 and has been teaching since 1988. She is the founding teacher of Insight Meditation Center of the Pioneer Valley in Easthampton, MA.

SAKTI ROSE is a senior Somatic Experiencing™ Practitioner and teaches mindfulness meditation in hospitals and meditation centers.

PAMELA WEISS has been practicing Buddhism for 30+ years,

a renowned children’s artist, teaching them the power of their own voices and creativity through singing and song-making workshops.

including several years of Zen monastic training and teacher training with Jack Kornfield through Spirit Rock. She leads a weekly sitting group at SF Insight, and is also an executive coach and Founder of Appropriate Response, which trains large organizations in mindfulness.

JILL SATTERFIELD is an international mindfulness and meditation

CHRISTIANE WOLF, MD, PHD, is a physician turned

teacher, wellness program director and coach. She is founder of Vajra Yoga and Meditation, a synthesis of meditation and mindfulness of the body practices.

mindfulness and MBSR teacher and teacher trainer who has practiced insight meditation for 25+ years. She is a senior teacher and Director of MBSR programs at InsightLA. Christiane completed the Spirit Rock/IMS/IRC Teacher Training Program, and co-authored A Clinician’s Guide to Teaching Mindfulness.

BETSY ROSE is a singer, writer, recording artist and mother. She is

ERIN SELOVER teaches mindfulness-based classes throughout the San Francisco Bay Area in schools, mental health settings and the private sector. She is a psychotherapist and a graduate of the SRMC/IMS/IRC Teacher Training Program.

NIRALI SHAH is a certified mindfulness facilitator from UCLA’s Mindful Awareness Research Center. She currently teaches meditation at technology companies and Insight Meditation Center, Redwood City, CA, as well as facilitates retreats with Spirit Rock.

ASHLEY SHARP has studied yoga, meditation and Buddhadharma in the United States, India and Myanmar, having trained specifically in insight meditation, yoga asana, yoga therapy, and yoga nidra. She founded Insight Richmond, a community based meditation group, and completed Spirit Rock’s Dedicated Practitioner Program and Community Dharma Leaders Program.

Spirit Rock News Â© 2018 Spirit Rock Meditation Center | Jan - Apr 2018 Published three times a year by Spirit Rock Meditation Center P.O. Box 169, Woodacre, CA 94973 | (415) 488-0164 Design & Photography | Stacy Evett-Miller Photography | TwoIrises.com

Spirit Rock

An Insight Meditation Center

5000 Sir Francis Drake Boulevard P.O. Box 169, Woodacre, CA 94973

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