Building a Strong Spine and a Soft Belly through the Vajrayana Foundation Practices - with Chenrezi wongkur Retreat with Lama Linda (Linda Hochstetler)
July 7-9, 2023
Dharma Centre of Canada
Practitioners of Vajrayana Buddhism step on the dharma path through commitment to complete 5 different foundation practices. These explorations are the daily meditation practices for students for the first number of years. Collectively, they cultivate compassion, purify emotional and physical blocks, and inspire creativity and inter-being. Strength of body and awareness of feelings and thoughts help us balance perfectly. Who wouldn't want more of all of these?!? Learning these practices and doing them together with a group of spiritual friends is a great way to jump start your powers and increase the likelihood of continuing a daily meditation practice after the retreat. There will be a Chenrezi wongkur on Sunday morning to generate Bodhicitta for awakening and increase compassion for all.
Class Schedule: 3-4 group classes per day.
Friday - 7:30pm
Saturday-Sunday - 7am, 10am, 4pm, 7:30pm
Leave at 2pm on final day.
Teacher: Lama Linda (Linda Hochstetler) has studied both Vajrayana Buddhism and Mindfulness Meditation for more than a quarter century. She studied Vajrayana Buddhism under Namgyal Rinpoche (the first Canadian-born Rinpoche) from 1995 until his death in 2003 and trained in mindfulness meditation with Jon Kabat-Zinn in the 90s. She has received permission to teach in the Namgyal lineage and currently studies Vajrayana Buddhism with Qapel (Doug Duncan) of Clear Sky Meditation Centre. She is a registered social worker with a specialty in illness, dying and death, and also offers Ecotherapy to individuals and groups as a way of connecting spiritually with nature. In 2021 she authored her first book - 21 Days to Die: The Canadian Guide to End of Life. www.lindahochstetler.com.
Important Details
When: Please plan to arrive between 3-5pm on the first day. The retreat will begin with a property orientation at 5:30pm followed by a light supper and the first evening class and will finish after lunch on the final day.
Rate: $280 - non-members $250 - members (with $30 going to AIT)
(To find out how to become a member please visit our membership page)
Rates include: Single accommodation and all meals. They do not include instructor fees. The teacher is sharing his/her experience within the traditional Buddhist understanding of Dana. To understand more about Dana, please read the following:
What is Dana? Teachers give the teachings of awakening (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.
Deposit: A 50% deposit is required to hold your space upon registration.
Cancellation policy: Full refund up to 14 days before the commencement of the course. For cancellations less than 14 days prior to course begin, a $100 administrative fee will be charged.