2020 Annual Fall Mindfulness Retreat (Online edition!)
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Theme: Conscious Breath, The Gateway to Understanding and Transformation in the Present Moment
Each fall since 2007, MPCH has held a retreat led by Dharma teacher Michael Ciborski. Because of the extraordinary conditions this year, we will not be able to meet in person. However, we will hold an online retreat with many opportunities to practice together. Michael will be joining us for meditation, Dharma talks, discussion, and other mindful activities.
Please register to join us the weekend of November 6 - 8 for this practice period. We will begin on Friday evening with a welcome/introduction session, a Dharma talk, and a meditation period. On Saturday and Sunday, sessions will include meditation, Dharma talks, discussion periods, and other mindful activities separated by personal practice periods offline.
Each fall since 2007, MPCH has held a retreat led by Dharma teacher Michael Ciborski. Because of the extraordinary conditions this year, we will not be able to meet in person. However, we will hold an online retreat with many opportunities to practice together. Michael will be joining us for meditation, Dharma talks, discussion, and other mindful activities.
Please register to join us the weekend of November 6 - 8 for this practice period. We will begin on Friday evening with a welcome/introduction session, a Dharma talk, and a meditation period. On Saturday and Sunday, sessions will include meditation, Dharma talks, discussion periods, and other mindful activities separated by personal practice periods offline.
Conscious breathing means to be aware of our breath. It is to bring our mind and body together with awareness, through the act of breathing.
Breathing in I am aware of the in-breath. Breathing out I am aware of the out-breath.
It naturally has the gesture of gathering and settling, of connecting and release.
Breathing in, I gather myself inwards and I connect with myself. Breathing out, I release tension in my body, I let go of stress and worry in my mind.
Conscious breathing is a heart-centered and heart-opening activity. It brings us into connection with ourselves, and with all of life on the planet.
I breathe in the out-breath of flowers and forests, I breath out the in-breath of all plants everywhere.
There are so many miracles of life opened to our direct experience when we develop our capacity for conscious breathing.
I breath in the air that swept the snow from distant mountains, I breath out a smile, my blood renewed and warm in my veins.
With training, conscious breathing becomes a stable base from which we can look deeply into the nature of ourselves, our suffering, our joy, our world. And we can develop the capacity, breath by breath, to let go, heal, transform and renew.
During sessions in this online retreat, we will go deeply into the experience of breathing, learning to transform each ordinary moment into one of presence and meaning. We will cover many aspects, including: the basics of breath mechanics, strengthening our breathing, a basic study of Anapanasati (the Buddha’s breath teachings), deepening concentration, and, through contemplation on impermanence and interbeing, the development of meditative understanding. Through all of this our intentions will be to apply the practice of conscious breathing to self-care, emotional health, and the transformation of difficult relationships and life situations.
PERSONAL PRACTICE CONSULTATIONS
On Saturday during the online retreat, there will be an opportunity for a limited number of personal practice consultations with Michael (a 15 minute private Zoom meeting). These consultations are an opportunity to ask a question about how to apply the practice to a particular situation in your life. They are not a time for personal connection with Michael, but rather a moment to receive reflection and support through the Dharma. These consultations are offered freely by Michael, however, you may wish to make an additional dana contribution.
Please check the box on the registration form if you would like to have one of these consultations. Understanding that not everyone will have the opportunity for a consultation with Michael, members of the Order of Interbeing will be available for additional consultations.
DANA
Dana is the practice of cultivating generosity. For this retreat we invite you to act with generosity to support our teacher. There is no set fee, but we request your donation in support of Michael. For those of you who may be wondering about an appropriate amount, please consider what you give to other aspects of life which enrich you. Many of us are struggling during this time of great upheaval, so please consider what amount is possible given your situation. As a guide, we suggest $80 - $150 as your finances allow.
RETREAT MATERIALS
Prior to the start of the retreat you will receive a retreat packet which will include:
TENTATIVE SCHEDULE
Friday Evening
CONNECTING WITH US THROUGH ZOOM
A few days prior to the start of the retreat you will receive the Zoom link which will allow you to join all sessions from Friday evening through Sunday afternoon.
During sessions in this online retreat, we will go deeply into the experience of breathing, learning to transform each ordinary moment into one of presence and meaning. We will cover many aspects, including: the basics of breath mechanics, strengthening our breathing, a basic study of Anapanasati (the Buddha’s breath teachings), deepening concentration, and, through contemplation on impermanence and interbeing, the development of meditative understanding. Through all of this our intentions will be to apply the practice of conscious breathing to self-care, emotional health, and the transformation of difficult relationships and life situations.
PERSONAL PRACTICE CONSULTATIONS
On Saturday during the online retreat, there will be an opportunity for a limited number of personal practice consultations with Michael (a 15 minute private Zoom meeting). These consultations are an opportunity to ask a question about how to apply the practice to a particular situation in your life. They are not a time for personal connection with Michael, but rather a moment to receive reflection and support through the Dharma. These consultations are offered freely by Michael, however, you may wish to make an additional dana contribution.
Please check the box on the registration form if you would like to have one of these consultations. Understanding that not everyone will have the opportunity for a consultation with Michael, members of the Order of Interbeing will be available for additional consultations.
DANA
Dana is the practice of cultivating generosity. For this retreat we invite you to act with generosity to support our teacher. There is no set fee, but we request your donation in support of Michael. For those of you who may be wondering about an appropriate amount, please consider what you give to other aspects of life which enrich you. Many of us are struggling during this time of great upheaval, so please consider what amount is possible given your situation. As a guide, we suggest $80 - $150 as your finances allow.
RETREAT MATERIALS
Prior to the start of the retreat you will receive a retreat packet which will include:
- Guide to online mindfulness retreat
- Discourse on the Full Awareness of Breathing (Anapanasati sutra)
- Five Mindfulness Trainings
- Gathas (practice verses)
- Guidelines for Dharma sharing
- Offline practice suggestions
TENTATIVE SCHEDULE
Friday Evening
- 7:00pm - 9:00pm: orientation, talk, meditation
- 9:00 - 11:30: meditation, talk, dharma sharing
- 11:30 - 12:30: break for mindful lunch
- 12:30 - 2:30: meditation, talk, Q&A
- Late afternoon/Evening: personal practice offline and opportunity for consultations
- 9:00 - 11:30: meditation, recitation, talk, dharma sharing
- 11:30-12:30: break for mindful lunch
- 12:30 - 2:30: meditation, talk, closing
CONNECTING WITH US THROUGH ZOOM
A few days prior to the start of the retreat you will receive the Zoom link which will allow you to join all sessions from Friday evening through Sunday afternoon.
