Being Silent, Being Here
with Lisa Cowen
Wednesday, September 25th to Wednesday, October 2nd, 2019
We do silent retreat work for innumerable reasons: to study with a precious teacher, find an unspeakable sense of coming home, to break through into freedom, to heal and reconnect to nature, or perhaps just because we are drawn to it from a certainty in our depths.
We do it because it is a powerful way to deepen our practice. It’s a protected environment where awareness can unfold in every moment.
The culture shock of transitioning from casual daily practice into a silent retreat is often no small thing. The friction of a thousand trivial changes combines with the way depth work can shake our very foundations emotionally. No introductory course can, or should, prevent us from being challenged by future retreat work. But, moving gently and consciously into that challenge while learning about it could help support future retreat experiences.
In this course we will use classic Buddhist texts, meditations and direct personal experience, as well as some practical overview and relevant storytelling about the retreat process itself. The aim is to have an immersive experience in a genuine forest retreat setting, while building a foundation of familiarity and understanding. We will develop skills for making the most of individual or group retreats - from preparation, to being here, to transitioning back to regular life.
It is intended to be a non-sectarian, and widely applicable introduction for people who already have some experience with meditation.
Lisa Cowen is a life-long student of Namgyal Rinpoche and the Namgyal Lineage, as well as a student of the Longchen Nyingthig Lineage of Tibetan Buddhism, and contemporary Western psychotherapy. Lisa has been lucky to do numerous silent retreats, in groups and alone, with different precious teachers and in different countries and traditions. She lives in Hamilton with her husband Karl and son Ronin. The Dharma Centre of Canada is the place on this planet that is most her home. She has been studying, playing, exploring, and unfolding there since she was born, and is happy to offer any assistance she can to other practitioners who are new to this unique retreat centre.
Important Details
Rates: Non-members: $725, Members: $650.
Rates include: Single accommodation and all meals. They do not include instructor fees. Lisa is sharing her experience within the traditional Buddhist understanding of Dana.
What is Dana?: Teachers give the Dharma freely so that anyone, no matter their financial means can attend classes. Each time one receives teachings, it is an opportunity to consciously practice generosity. Giving money and other means of support expresses gratitude and support to the teacher and helps to ensure that these teachings continue. Each person receiving Dharma teachings determines the kind and amount of Dāna according to one's heart and one’s financial means. When deciding how much to offer, one should think about what these teachings mean to you and try to give accordingly. It is recommended that students make an offering of dāna at the beginning of a class or retreat to establish the intention to make the most of this opportunity for one’s own progression and for the benefit of all others.
Payment: Payment can be made to the Dharma Centre of Canada by credit card, cheque or e-transfer. Please call us, toll free, if you need information on making a payment at 1 866 266 0966 or email: info@dharmacentre.com. Full payment is due 10 days prior to the start of a retreat or course. A 50% deposit is required to hold your space for an upcoming retreat.