IN THIS NEWSLETTER:
As the winter fades to spring, we find ourselves on the cusp of a transformative journey. This October, we invite you to join us at The Wisdom Seat Retreat at the Karma Triyana Dharmachakra monastery, nestled in the heart of the picturesque Catskill Mountains.
This upcoming October retreat is an 8-day practice intensive designed to deepen your mindfulness-awareness meditation and seamlessly integrate it into your everyday life. With only 30 spots available, we encourage those interested to register soon.
We’re excited to announce the release of our new podcast episode: “Orchestrating Insight: A Discussion on Sharing Buddhist Teachings”. In this episode, Bill Moriarty and Michael Carroll delve into the nuances of what it means to be a teacher within the Buddhist tradition. They explore the distinction between just imparting knowledge, and skillfully orchestrating conversation to bring out the wisdom of others.
In Dharma,
Bill from The Wisdom Seat
Refuge & Bodhisattva Vow
Saturday March 9 2024
Time TBA
Where: Online & in person (In person @ Pawo Khandro Ling)
These vows will be offered by Michael Carroll, who has been authorized by Judy Lief to impart these vows in the tradition and lineage of Chogyam Trungpa Rinpoche.
These vows are taken as part of traveling the Buddhist path and are usually taken separately, over a period of a few years. Taking Refuge is how we make a formal commitment to becoming a Buddhist. We dedicate ourselves to a daily meditation practice and to taming our minds and dismantling our own self-deception.
Traditionally, the Bodhisattva Vow is taken a few years after taking Refuge. As we soften and make friends with ourselves, we develop a natural kindness toward others and an interest in the world, which inspires use to dedicate our lives to work for the benefit all beings.
To learn more about the tradition of the refuge and Bodhisattva vows please see Chapters 5 and 6 of The Heart of the Buddha by Chogyam Trungpa Rinpoche.
If interested contact Matt DiRodio matt.dirodio@thewisdomseat.org
Wednesday Meditation
Ongoing offering: Online meditation every Wednesday evening 6:15 to 7:30 PM EST
Worldwide Wednesday evening online sitting meditation practice.
We, at The Wisdom Seat, invite you to meet on Wednesday evenings from 6:15 – 7:30 PM Eastern Time to practice the sitting meditation discipline as taught in the Buddhist & Shambhala tradition of Chogyam Trungpa Rinpoche.
Nyinthun: Everyone is welcome!
Ongoing offering: Nyinthun (in-person and online) The first Sunday of every month. All day sitting interspersed with walking meditation. The word nyinthun*, is Tibetan for “day session.”
In understanding dharma, Trungpa Rinpoche placed a strong emphasis on mindfulness/awareness meditation practice. This community practice of Nyinthun - all day sitting interspersed with walking meditation - gives us the opportunity to experience the full spectrum of our mind, make friends with our immediate experience and rediscover our natural sanity.
Live an Awakened Life
June 20–23, 2024
Drala Mountain Center-Colorado
Description: What is mindfulness-awareness meditation and where did it come from?
How does this simple act of “sitting still” unleash wisdom & compassion?
How can we establish a sustainable meditation practice?
Why are the Three Supports and theThree Sacred Acts central to the practice?
This program will offer a thorough and gentle introduction to mindfulness-awareness meditation with time for discussion and optional personal conversation with one of the teachers. Short daily yoga sessions included.
TUITION:
Tuition $215 + 3 nights lodging
Authentic Presence and The Feminine Principle
June 26–July 6, 2024
Taught by Susan Piver and Michael Carroll
A 10-Day Heart Sutra Meditation Retreat
Offered in partnership with The Wisdom Seat and the OpenHeart Project
The Heart Sutra – the most pith of the Prajnaparamita Sutras – is a central text throughout all of Buddhism. It is widely revered, demonstrably powerful, and, one could say, thoroughly incomprehensible – at least by the conceptual mind. This is all great news.
On this 10-day retreat, we will bring these three elements together – study, meditation, and letting go – as we practice “The Sutra of the Heart of Transcendent Knowledge” in a supportive and spacious community. We will explore what is meant by authentic presence and the feminine principle, how each is invoked in our practice to reveal liberation, balance, and joy.
The Wisdom Seat Retreat
October 12 - 20, 2024
This 8-day practice intensive is designed to help us deepen our mindfulness-awareness meditation and integrate it into our daily life.
The retreat will include:
6 - 7 hours of daily shrine room meditation alternating sitting and walking during each session
Daily breath and body relaxation practices
Daily readings from Buddhist texts
Outdoor walking meditation
Individual meditation instruction upon request
Periodic group meditation instruction
75 - 90 minutes of daily chores
Participants will be asked to observe “functional silence” throughout most of the retreat, limiting verbal communication to a minimum.
Since the retreat will be limited to 30 participants, those attending will be expected to participate in all 8 days of the retreat. \
Location: Karma Triyana Dharmachakra
Woodstock, NY
Collaborative practice undertaking with The Wisdom Seat & The Profound Treasury Retreat
The Wisdom Seat encourages as many opportunities for practitioners to engage in the discipline of mindfulness/awareness(shamatha/vipashyana) as one can engage in. We are happy to invite the Profound Treasury Retreat (PTR) with their offering of Sunday sitting.
PTR community is hosting a 2-hour sitting session from 9:30am to 11:30 am EST
There will be meditation instruction every third Sunday of the month, given by a qualified meditation instructor.
Dates: March 10th, 17th, 24th, 31st
Here is the Zoom link for each of these sessions: Sunday Sitting Zoom Link
All are welcome to attend
Rime Shedra
Shamatha Vipashyana in the Mahamudra Tradition
Exploring Tashi Namgyal’s Moonbeams of Mahamudra
February 20 thru April 23, 2024, 7-9:15 pm EST
Location: Online
This will be the first of four courses focused on what is widely recognized as the core text on the subject, Moonbeams of Mahamudra by Dakpo Tashi Namgyal. His Holiness the Seventeenth Karmapa, Orgyen Trinley Dorje says in his Preface to the Translation: “Although…Moonbeams of Mahāmudrā by Dakpo Tashi Namgyal was composed in the sixteenth century it is still regarded as the definitive guide to mahāmudrā, providing the blueprint for the practice itself and also clearly explaining the scriptural authority and logical reasonings that support the practice.” What more is there to say about this choice?
We will begin our exploration of Mahamudra Shamatha-Vipashyana with the development of a thorough understanding of the theory and practice of shamatha-vipashyana as known in the tradition shared by all schools of the Mahayana tradition. This will include the key aspects of each practice as passed down by the key masters in India along with numerous quotes which serve as perfect supports for practice. This course will conclude with a comparative analysis of the variations of these practices to establish a common core view of their ground, path and fruition and eliminate doubts about their differences.
The format of classes is close reading with commentary and discussion, rather than presentation and Q&A. If you would like to participate, please let Derek know by email at dkolleeny@gmail.com and obtain a copy of the source text.
If you are new to the Rime Shedra, please include a short description of your background in Buddhist practice and study, and please attend a few classes to make sure you would like to continue with the course before you offer any donation.
Drala Mountain Center
Kagyu Ngondro Online Retreat
March 14–17, 2024 7:30 am - 7:00 pm Daily—Mountain Time
Location: Online only, The retreat schedule is meant to allow for practitioners from various time zones to participate. We will send a detailed schedule to participants with suggestions for how to adapt the retreat to your time zone.
Description:This 4-day online practice intensive is a great opportunity to engage in the ngöndro practice as taught by the Vidyadhara, Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche.
The ngöndro intensive will include a rich mix of activities, including sitting practice, two daily ngöndro sessions, discussion groups, and talks.
Who Should Attend
This intensive is open to those who have authorization to practice the Kagyu Ngöndro and have received pointing-out instruction from an authorized teacher within Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche’s lineage. This program will be based on the Kagyu Ngöndro practice composed by Wangchuk Dorje, Karmapa IX.
Teachers Martin Evans, Rhea Colmar, Jon Barbieri
DHARMATA
The Practice of Non-Violence with Anam Thubten
Tuesday April 9th, 2024 at 7:00 PM
Location: Germantown Friends Meeting, 47 West Coulter Street, Philadelphia PA 19144
Non-violence, called ahimsa in the Buddhist tradition, is taught as the foundation of one’s spiritual practice. Many other sacred traditions embrace non-violence as a cornerstone of their practice as well. The power of non-violence brings about joy and inner freedom, and creates a benevolent relationship between oneself and the world. In this evening talk, Anam Thubten will offer teachings on this essential spiritual practice.
Suggested Donation: $15 at the door or dharmata.org/giving
Tea and light refreshments offered after the talk.
If you would like to help with the event or have questions: phillydharmata@gmail.com
Vajrayogini Practitioners
The sangha of Vajrayogini sadhakas will be hosting, leading and caring for the retreat.
Vajrayogini Drupchen Group Retreat
April 12 - 20, 2024
Location: Sky Lake Lodge in Rosendale, NY
Description: All sadhakas who have received the Vajrayogini abhiseka are warmly invited to join this group retreat, an opportunity to fully immerse ourselves in the practice of Vajrayogini, the essence of prajnaparamita.
In addition to three sessions of group practice daily, we will listen to recordings of tris and vajra assemblies on the topics of Vajrayogini practice, formless meditation, and prajnaparamita. As a group, we will share in practice together, offer each other support and companionship, and create our own retreat mandala. We will have an opportunity for a Q&A with Larry Mermelstein via Zoom at some point during the retreat.
Profound Treasury Retreat
BROKERING PEACE - APPLYING THE LOJONG SLOGANS
June 7 to 16, 2024
We are now accepting applications for the 11th annual Maine Profound Treasury Retreat at Ferry Beach Retreat & Conference Center, Saco, Maine.
The Profound Treasury Retreats create a community of both new and experienced meditation practitioners who come together to share & learn at a wonderful location on Maine's coast. Everyone is welcome. We offer generous financial aid to those who need it, so please don't let a lack of funds deter you from applying.
Three Yana Society
Entering the Vajra World: A Three-Yana Retreat
July 19, 2024 to August 18, 2024
Drala Mountain Center
Next summer’s retreat is designed for students with a solid foundation in Buddhism, and the preparation, aspiration and commitment to become vajrayana practitioners trained in Trungpa Rinpoche’s inimitable style. The retreat will be led by senior teachers who were trained by the Vidyadhara and supported by a new generation of instructors committed to the propagation and preservation of these teachings.
The retreat will integrate training in all three yanas and include the opportunity to receive vajrayana transmission and begin ngondro practice within the retreat.
Drala Mountain Center is generously offering a 50% discount on lodging for the program; faculty and staff have waived honorariums; and there is no additional charge for tuition.
Dorje Denma Ling
A Month of Meditation: Shamatha-Vipashyana Dathün 2024
(Weekthun opportunities available)
July 19 - August 18, 2024
Dorje Denma Ling - Nova Scotia, Canada
Teacher: Val Loring
Dathün is a month-long, group meditation retreat of shamatha-vipashyana, or mindfulness-awareness practice. This is the basic sitting meditation that goes back to the Buddha, which also includes contemplative practices for cultivating insight and compassion. Practicing together as a group creates an atmosphere of courage and wakefulness.
The dathün follows the basic schedule developed by Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche. The daily schedule begins at 7am and ends around 9pm most evenings. Sitting meditation sessions are alternated with walking meditation throughout the day. The three main meals are served and eaten in the meditation hall using the Zen contemplative eating practice of oryoki. After lunch, there is a mid-day work period, when participants have light cleaning and kitchen tasks, which are opportunities for meditation in action.
PROGRAM CONTACT:
Karen Porterfield
"Vidyādhara Śrī Siṃha
Drive the spike of unimpeded, lucid wakefulness between
samsara and nirvana.
Drive the spike of the lamp of self-display between object and
the knower.
Drive the spike of self-pure essence between mind and matter.
Drive the spike of unbound view between permanence and
nothingness.
Drive the spike of dharma-less knowing between dharmas and
dharmata.
Drive the spike of five wide-open doors between dullness and
agitation.
Drive the spike of primordially perfected dharmakaya between
appearance and emptiness."
Excerpt from The Seven Spikes of Shri Singha
Śrī Siṃha, one of the early masters of the Dzogchen lineage, was originally from the kingdom of Khotan located in the present day Xinjiang province of China. He was a disciple of Mañjushrimitra and the main teacher of Jñanasutra. He is famous for arranging the teachings of the Pith Instruction Class (mengak dé) into four cycles: outer, inner, secret and innermost secret unsurpassed. His last testament—that he conferred upon Jñanasutra before passing into the rainbow body—is called the Seven Spikes.