Schedule
| "Imagination" by Ruth Gendler www.ruthgendler.com |
February 17, 24 (Wednesday morning class), Spirit Rock. 9 to 11 a.m. (see class description at end).
February 14 (Sunday, 2.30 p.m.), Association for Transpersonal Psychology, Menlo College, Atherton, California: "The Engaged Spiritual Life: Connecting Inner and Outer Transformation": Keynote speaker for conference on “Spirituality in Action: Bringing Transpersonal Psychology to a World in Crisis” (February 12-14). Despite the examples of Gandhi and King, all too often the spiritual and the social have been strongly separated in the modern Western world. In this presentation, Donald will explore, based on twenty years of scholarship, teaching, and activism connecting the spiritual and social, how we might bring the two together, how they deeply require one another, and how this integration might help us respond to the great challenges of our times. He will identify key principles and practices that can help us to weave together the different parts of our lives--personal, interpersonal, and political--increasingly into a seamless whole. For further information: http://www.atpweb.org/
February 15 (Monday, 3 to 4.30 p.m.), One-Day Tikkun and Network of Spiritual Progressives Conference (9.30 a.m. to 7 p.m.), on “Support Obama To Be Obama!,”
February 21 (Sunday), Spirit Rock: Mindfulness 101/Lovingkindness 101. Two half-day retreats, 9 a.m. to 12.30 p.m., 2 to 5.30 p.m. Can come for either the whole day (code DR1H10) or for one of the half-day sessions. See below for general information about Spirit Rock daylongs and half-day retreats.
Mindfulness 101: A half-day retreat with alternating periods of sitting and walking meditation and sequential instructions in mindfulness practice. There will be direction in mindfulness of the breath, body, emotions, thoughts, and broader patterns of experience, both more personal and more universal. This half-day will be held mostly in silence with some short talks, and will generally focus on the integration of mindfulness. Code DR2H10.
Lovingkindness 101: In lovingkindness (metta) practice, we cultivate a warm, open heart towards ourselves and others. We grow in self-acceptance and compassion, work through our judgments of self and others, and become better able to speak and act from our hearts in daily life. This half-day of lovingkindness practice will include instructions, alternating periods of silent sitting and walking meditation, short talks, discussion, and a focus on supporting lovingkindness in the midst of our lives. Code DR3H10.
March 1-28, Spirit Rock: Month-long retreat (part of two-month retreat, with Gil Fronsdal, Heather Martin, Mary Grace Orr, Sharda Rogell, John Travis).
March 19-20 (Friday, 7 p.m., talk; Saturday workshop), Sophia Center, Holy Names University, 3500 Mountain Blvd., Oakland: “The Engaged Spiritual Life: Wisdom and Compassion in Action.” What is the connection of contemplative practice with responding to the needs of our communities and our world? If we have been using meditation especially as a place of refuge and healing, how do we take steps towards compassionate action? And for those of us who are already involved in service or social change, how can the resources of inner work help strengthen and sustain us? Through talks, silent meditation practice, interactive exercises, group discussion, and creative process, we will explore these questions, providing principles to guide us and practices to take home. For further information, 800-794-8813, http://uniquewebdesignandprinting.com/sophia/conversations.html
March 31, April 7, 28 (Wednesday morning class), Spirit Rock. 9 to 11 a.m. (see class description at end).
April 7-14 (Wednesday to Wednesday), Spirit Rock: Transforming Distressing States of Mind, Heart, and Body—For Ourselves and Our World. Seven-day retreat (with
April 28 (Wednesday morning class), Spirit Rock. 9 to 11 a.m. (see class description at end).
May 1 (Saturday), Spirit Rock: Working with Judgments. Daylong retreat, 9.30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Judgments of a reactive and compulsive nature are very strong in most of our lives, and in the dominant culture. They can distort our perceptions, make relationships with others difficult, and undermine our work in the world. In this daylong, we will examine what judgments are and how to work with them, using mindfulness and lovingkindness practices, inquiry, dyad work, and role play. These will help us to transform the energy of judgments--preserving the intelligence often found in judgments, while working through judgments’ destructive and compulsive aspects. Those attending the daylong will have an option of continuing with monthly follow-up sessions. Please bring a lunch. See below for general information about Spirit Rock daylongs.
May 5 (Wednesday morning class), Spirit Rock. 9 to 11 a.m. (see class description at end).
May 7-9 (Friday to Sunday), Santa Cruz Vipassana: Friday evening talk; Saturday daylong (with Sara Schedler) on “Spiritual Practice and Responding to Global Climate Change,” 9 to 5; Sunday daylong, 9.30 to 1, theme TBD. 1010 Fair Avenue, Santa Cruz (directions at http://www.vipassanasc.org/directions_1010Fair.html, further info at http://www.vipassanasc.org/welcome.html).
May 14-16 (Friday to Sunday), Saskatoon, Saskatchewan: “Cultivating Joy and Equanimity: On the Cushion and in the World.”
Weekend non-residential retreat. Joy is the open heart’s response to happiness and beauty—in oneself and in others. Equanimity is the heart, informed by wisdom, that can hold all of the “ten thousand joys and sorrows.” In this weekend retreat, we will work with a number of basic meditation practices that help us to open to and cultivate joy and equanimity. We will identify obstacles to joy and equanimity as well as their “near enemies”—distorted expressions of joy and equanimity—and examine how to work with these and other challenges. We will also explore, through talks, exercises, poetry, and discussion, how to develop and sustain these qualities in our everyday lives, including in our relationships, community life, work, and social engagement. On Friday evening, Donald will give an overview of the themes of the weekend, with an emphasis both on meditation and daily life. Saturday’s focus will be especially on cultivating joy, while on Sunday, we will especially explore equanimity. A further focus will be on the integration of joy and equanimity. Participants are strongly encouraged to attend the entire weekend, but may attend only Friday evening. For further info: http://www.saskatooninsight.com/Sangha_Site/SIMC_Events.html.
June 20 (Sunday morning): San Francisco, Gay Buddhist Fellowship 10.30 to 12 noon, held at San Francisco Buddhist Center, 37 Bartlett Street (near 21st St. between Mission and Valencia).
MUNI: 14
June 23 (Wednesday noon, lunch), Santa Rosa: Talk for Collaborative Lawyers Practice group, Fountaingrove Hilton Hotel. For further information, go to www.collaborativecouncil.org.
June 25 (Friday evening): Singles Sangha, 7.30 to 10 p.m. An evening of meditation, conscious communication, and connection. Requested donation $15 at the door, plus a donation to the teacher. Call 415-488-0164, x402, for more details. Please bring a snack or beverage to share, if you wish.
June 28-July 5 (Monday to Monday), Spirit Rock: Mindfulness, Wise Speech, and Nonviolent Communication (with Oren Sofer), 7-day retreat. Connecting our meditation practice with our speech and communication is one of the main ways to bring spiritual values into our everyday lives and our action in the world. In this retreat, we will link mindfulness and lovingkindness practice, the Buddha's teachings on wise speech, and the contemporary discipline of “Nonviolent Communication” (NVC), a powerful approach to cultivating awareness and empathy, and transforming conflicts, through skillful communication. The retreat will begin with a day of silent practice; further days will include morning and afternoon sessions of communication practice along with continued silent practice. The retreat is designed both for those who want to bring more attention to speech as a spiritual practice, and those who have emphasized communication and want further grounding in meditation. Registration opens March 1.
Further 2010 Spirit Rock Retreats
October 12-19: Cultivating Clear Seeing, Opening the Heart
December 19-23: Vipassana at the Solstice: Embracing the Dark, Inviting the Light (with Heather Sundberg, John Travis).
--Ongoing Wednesdays Class, Spirit Rock, Woodacre, CA: 9 to 11 a.m. morning class: Co-teach with Sylvia Boorstein (most Wednesdays, either Sylvia or I will teach): 45 minute meditation, talk and discussion. Class cost $10, teaching is by donation (dana). I will be teaching February 3, 10, 17, 24; March 31; April 7, 28; May 5.
--Information for Spirit Rock Daylongs: Registration: For more information, call 415-488-0164 or go to www.spiritrock.org/. Daylongs cost $50-80 sliding scale, plus a donation (dana) for the teacher (February 21 extended daylong is $60-90 for the day [young adults, $25], $35-55 for a half-day).
--Donald’s Talks Are Available at Dharma Seed (www.dharmaseed.org />), Audio Dharma (www.audiodharma.org/),
Benicia Sangha (www.bsangha.net/).
