SpiritNews Rock and Schedule Sept - Dec 2016 • spiritrock.org

SPIRIT ROCK NEWS | SEP - DEC 2016 deep bows. huge gratitude. coming together. A Message from Michelle Latvala, Executive Director

Dear Ones,

What a time for tremendous mudita! We opened our new In our fi rst month of operating, we were so blessed by a Community Meditation Center in June, reaching a signifi cant range of oŽ erings — from Jack Kornfi eld’s daylong on Insight point on our path together. Our new Community Meditation Meditation to Advanced Practitioner Program study groups, Center (CMC) replaces our long-standing Community from Family Day to SF Pride week teachings, from monastic Meditation Hall, a portable structure brought to the land oŽ erings to donor celebrations — that it reinforced our over 25 years ago. We bow to that hall in which, according invitation to inclusion and our possibilities for expansion in to Jack Kornfi eld’s informal calculations, roughly 2.6 million these new spaces. meditation hours had been logged by you and so many others. Thank you for being here. We also know that the creation of the CMC is not about the physical space — it’s about what we come together as Much else is also happening in our Spirit Rock community, but a sangha to learn, practice and nourish in ourselves within for this moment we can take this in: every single element of our that space of the Dharma that makes it profound. At the new lower campus was oŽ ered freely by this community. There same time, we are grateful for the beautiful generosity of our is a feeling of tremendous mudita and dana as we thank each sangha that inspired us to design and build this new facility, and every one of you for your support, direct and indirect, over increasing our capacity for classes and events on our lower these years that has sustained this eŽ ort. You have shown us campus and access to the Dharma for all who come here. We joy, persistence, patience, dedication and embodied practice! now have three classrooms in our new CMC, which allows us to run multiple classes and events simultaneously. Our Great Hall, Bookstore, and Community Gathering Room are on the lower level; upstairs there are two dharma spaces, the East and West Halls, and three teacher/student meeting rooms. Michelle Latvala

SPIRIT ROCK NEWS | SEP - DEC 2016

huge gratitude. coming together.

Above: Visitors celebrate the opening of the new Community Meditation Center. Photo: TroyZiel.com.

IN THIS ISSUE

 Adaptability Is the Key to Happiness  Online Programs An Interview with Venerable Amaro Bhikkhu by Sally and Guy Armstrong  Family Programs Volunteer Profile: 6 Teresa Reese  Residential Retreats  The New Community Meditation Center  Because of You - This Arises!  Spirit Rock Teachers Council A Message from Rachel Uris, Director of Development & Communications  Visiting Teachers  Non-Residential Programs

 SPIRIT ROCK NEWS | SEP - DEC 2016

Adaptability Is the Key to Happiness An Interview with Venerable Amaro Bhikkhu by Sally Armstrong and Guy Armstrong

Venerable Amaro Bhikkhu visited Spirit Rock on June 6th, accompanied by monastics from Abhayagiri and Dhammadharini Vihara. Following a blessing ceremony in the new Community Meditation Center that included a chant inviting bright things in, Amaro Bhikkhu gave a dharma talk on anicca. His visit coincided with the 20th anniversary of Abhayagiri, the forest monastery he founded in 1996 in Redwood Valley, CA, and where he was co-abbot for 14 years. During his years there, he formed a close relationship with Spirit Rock, becoming a member of both the Teachers Council and the Board of Directors. In 2010 he was invited by Luang Por Sumedho to become the abbot of Amaravati Buddhist Monastery in England. In this interview with Sally and Guy Armstrong, he reveals what it was like to go from being co- abbot of a small forest monastery in California to being the sole abbot of a large dual-community monastery in England.

Spirit Rock: You spent a fairly long time living here in the States as abbot of a monastery in California. Have there been any surprises or challenges in moving back to England and being the sole abbot of a much larger monastery? What challenged you in that transition?

Amaro Bhikkhu: It was very diŽerent from Abhayagiri. I also discovered I’m not completely English anymore. People notice that my accent is not 100% British English. My ts become ds, like “gotta, lotta, sorta.” So people often think I’m from Australia And also to be a teaching resource close to London. It’s also much or South Africa. More significantly, 20 years of involvement over bigger. A busy day at Abhayagiri is when 20 people come. here has had an eŽect on the way I relate to people. My home country is England. This is where we invented the stiŽ upper lip Spirit Rock: So what’s a busy day at Amaravati? and the non-expression of emotion. Amaro Bhikkhu: It’s not uncommon to have a couple of hundred So being in California for 20 years and being around the Bay people come on a Sunday morning. Saturday, slightly less, maybe Area and teaching at places like Esalen Institute, you get a 100-150 people. And I receive guests and visitors every day. lot more comfortable with expressivity and the readiness to Within a 100-mile circle of Amaravati, there are 20 million people connect with people, and being open to people’s emotions and living. Even though Ajahn Sumedho didn’t deliberately choose the what’s going on. So that’s a great benefit of having been over spot, it’s absolutely perfectly positioned. The main arterial road here. Just being able to be much more at ease with how people around London and the main north-south artery intersect right are and not hiding behind the English reserve, stiŽening the where the monastery is. So it’s extraordinarily accessible. upper lip and looking at the carpet. Another challenge about coming to Amaravati was that Ajahn There were challenges also in going back into a mixed Sumedho has an extraordinarily powerful presence. He is a community. Abhayagiri is a male monastic community whereas big figure, literally, in many ways — spiritually, physically and Amaravati was founded as a dual monastery. So it has a nuns’ personality-wise. And he founded the place and had been leading community as well. The two main reasons Amaravati was it for 25 years. But in the last five years or so of his time there, he founded were to provide a bigger and more suitable place for had stepped back from active leadership. He wasn’t doing any of the nuns’ community to train in and to provide a retreat center. the nitty-gritty decision making, going to meetings and directing. Those are the explicit reasons Ajahn Sumedho founded the place. So, during that time, the monastery tended to devolve into several  SPIRIT ROCK NEWS | SEP - DEC 2016 diŽ erent little enclaves that didn’t really communicate with each your retreat environments you have a similar standard. So that’s other very well. So you had the monks’ community, the nuns’ the understanding, even for day visitors. They know they’re not community, the retreat center, the maintenance, the kitchen, the supposed to be bringing alcohol with them or smooching with family program...They had drifted apart from each other because their boyfriend or girlfriend, or both. And that’s understood. So it there wasn’t a force that was integrating them. They had tended to creates a common standard, a common agreement of conduct. separate out and become their own little domains. In terms of training, we have a lot of standards around speech When I arrived there it was really clear that there were fi ve diŽ erent and communication. Living together you are learning — when worlds happening. So I sat down with all of the people in the you want to communicate something that’s di£ cult, or you want community and had a one-to-one dialogue with everybody — all 60 to give someone some feedback, or you’re fi nding someone’s over the fi rst three months I was there — just to meet everyone and character is upsetting or oŽ ensive — to use mindfulness, to get a sense of who they were and what was happening. mindfulness of time and place and situation. Say, hypothetically, Guy’s behavior was upsetting to me. Is that just me, or is it him as It became clear over that time that if I could do anything it well? So I would examine my motivation and consider if I want to needed to be something that integrated those worlds back bring something up. What’s the right time, situation, in terms of together again. So I had to go to a lot of meetings. I’m on a large how to bring up di£ cult things? number of committees — about 15 or so. It’s not that I’m looking to be a bureaucrat or looking for more meetings and agendas and In terms of the classical teachings, there’s a particularly helpful minutes, but in terms of helping a system to be integrated, that set of teachings on being a good person (Anguttara Nikaya 7:68). kind of involvement The Buddha defi nes was really needed. seven qualities that daptability is the key to happiness are, in a way, applied And I could see mindfulness, applied (a) that needed to because, when the heart is adaptable...you don’t careful attention and happen, and (b) how to be a good I have the kind of need things to be a particular way to be happy.” human being in personality that can respect to living with do that. So that was “ ~ Ajahn Amaro other human beings. a big challenge to bring those elements together. And then in an ongoing way, to The fi rst, dhammaññuta, is knowing the origins and sources of sustain that quality of integration and to create a good practice things. Second is atthaññuta, knowing the objectives or goals. environment for the monastic community, the resident lay Third is attaññuta, knowing yourself, your own character — if community and the many, many visitors and people who are you’re extroverted, if you’re the chatty type, if you’re a quiet type, involved on a daily basis. if you’re someone who likes to lead or you’re afraid of leading, or whatever it might be. So knowing your own personality, your So I do a lot of multitasking. By the way, multitasking is not own nature. Mattaññuta, knowing the right amount, is fourth on something invented in the Information Age, it’s also recognized the list. This means knowing what’s the right amount in terms as a spiritual quality. It’s called ashtavadhana in Sanskrit. It of eating food, the right amount of time to spend on a task, or means the ability to engage with many diŽ erent activities the right amount of time to spend with other people. Fifth is simultaneously. So I take it as a spiritual practice as well. kalaññuta, knowing the appropriate time for things — if your friend’s mother has just died, you know this is not the time to Spirit Rock: We teach a lot of silent, intensive meditation retreats, crack a joke. Or if it’s two minutes before a meeting, this is not where the emphasis is on concentration and deepening of pure the time to bring up a personal issue with someone. meditative insight. It’s very di erent than teaching in a community setting where you’re living with a large group of people. And it seems Parisaññuta, the sixth, is knowing the group of people that you’re like in that setting, where you’re really wanting to foster harmonious engaged with. Are you talking to a group of school kids? Are and good working relationships, there has to be a lot more emphasis you at a garden party with the Royal Family? Are you talking on the development of character and conduct. So we’re wondering, to a group of grad students at University College, London? Are what are the di erent ways that you teach development of character? you talking to the novice monastics? Who are you talking to? Puggalaññuta, knowing the personality of the person you’re Amaro Bhikkhu: Development of character is a big subject! talking to is the last one of the seven. Are you talking to someone For a start, in the monastery, there’s a lot more activity and who’s emotionally well-grounded or are they unstable? Are they interaction and you’re engaging with each other as personalities. a scientist? Are they a 3-year-old? The foundation is a common agreement about behavior so that within the monastery environment everyone is living by the Eight So, in terms of living in community and using community as a Precepts. That’s the understanding — that if you’re on the site, training situation, you’re learning to know your own limits, then you’re not killing anything, you’re not stealing anything, etc. you’re knowing the people you’re with, you’re knowing the past There’s an environment of security and safety. I’m sure within history, what’s happened before. You’re bringing in the sense of continued ›  SPIRIT ROCK NEWS | SEP - DEC 2016

Interview with Venerable Amaro Bhikkhu (cont'd from Page 5) DEDICATED PRACTITIONERS PROGRAM the whole situation. These are a very helpful set of criteria. (DPP6) April 2017 - April 2019 They are an applied wisdom. They enable us to assess where people are at or what’s good to say and do. Having said all that about being “a good person” and evaluating others S a l l y A r m s t r o n g , Te m p e l S m i t h , and such, when you’re in the position of being the oil in the wheels — being in teacher mode, or you’re receiving a lot Ruth King, Bonnie Duran of people, or there’s a lot of contact — if you’re carrying and other teachers everybody around, you’ll get very exhausted and you will crumple. So there’s also the wisdom level, meaning the importance of what you can call “not creating people.” If you have an issue in the community where there’s someone who’s very upset or has strong feelings about something, or they’ve criticized you, your own refl ex action is to be thinking about them: “When I next see them I’m going to say this…or I wish they hadn’t have done that…or how can I always be like this...?” You create them and you carry them around.

Sally Armstrong Tempel Smith So part of that attunement — and I tend to think of the essence of mindfulness as attunement to the present reality — is a non-creation of yourself and not creating other people. I’m not creating Guy and Sally. I’m not creating Spirit Rock. So what I mean by “not creating people” is that you’re not creating a fi xed idea or judgment: “Sally is like this and Guy is like that...” But in this moment, if all judgments are left aside, we genuinely meet. There’s a whole history of our Ruth King Bonnie Duran conversations, our meetings, the time we spent together over many, many years, the friendship and association and such. That’s all there, but I don’t have to make that you. Become part of a community that will challenge, broaden and vitalize your understanding and embodiment of central Buddhist teachings The more you can do that, then when you meet the world and mindfulness. The Dedicated Practitioners Program is an innova- and other people, you’re much more ready to respond rather tive program for serious practitioners of Insight Meditation to deepen than react and you’re not just meeting your projections, your understanding of the Dharma, strengthen practice and integrate expectations, or your hopes or your fears or the person’s story. compassion and wisdom into our day-to-day lives. But you actually meet each other. In this program, we study traditional texts and Buddhist suttas and use the Dharma, our meditation practice and our sangha to Spirit Rock: You’ve been a monk for 37 years, a practitioner, a understand the ways suŽ ering and freedom are created in our hearts, scholar, a leader in your community, a teacher. What, if you had our lives, our communities and the world. Integral to the program is to synthesize the Buddhist teachings in a few words, what do you an exploration of the gross and subtle manifestations of social suf- consider to be essential? What would you like to convey to people fering evidenced through innocence and ignorance and its impact on that you hope they understand about the Buddha’s teaching? personal and collective well-being and liberation. Our intention is to create a diverse and vibrant community of practitioners who support Amaro Bhikkhu: Adaptability is the key to happiness — each other in waking up and in bringing more wisdom and compas- because, when the heart is adaptable, then you are creating a sion into the world. spiritual robustness. You don’t need things to be a particular way in order to be happy. You can be healthy and you’re fi ne. This program, designed as an intensive lay practice period, oŽ ers You can be unhealthy and you’re fi ne. You can be praised and a comprehensive curriculum on the Buddha's teachings over two you feel fi ne. You can be criticized and you feel fi ne. It’s not years. In addition to fi ve 7-day training retreats, participants commit being numb or pushing the world away with an unhealthy to maintaining meditative practice, monthly coursework, group spiritual distancing, which is a danger of the Vipassana meetings and contact with a mentoring teacher. Students who have practice: “Oh, it’s all just sankharas, not me, not mine.” Rather participated in the past fi ve programs have found that DPP has had a you’re participating in the world, but there’s an easiness of profound impact on their meditation practice, providing a focus and heart so that if things go well, you’re okay. If things go bad, inspiration for deepening their understanding of Buddhism and bring- you’re okay. And you’re not depending on things being in a ing the Dharma alive in new and often unexpected ways. particular form in order for you to be happy. The more time Applications accepted June 15 - Sept 15, 2016. that goes by, the more I live in the world and function and For more information, please visit spiritrock.org/DPP. communicate with people, the more I see that kind of simple truth is extraordinarily helpful.  SPIRIT ROCK NEWS | SEP - DEC 2016

The teachings of the Dharma and the generosity of the teachers Volunteer Profi le inspired me to volunteer. I would do whatever I could: build steps and bridges on our walking paths; clear areas for planting; help in the kitchen and in the bookstore. Before we had a Family Teresa Reese Program, the Front O£ ce served as a space for children to play while their parents sat. I helped by playing games and serving I fi rst heard of Jack Kornfi eld from popcorn. When Thich Nhat Hanh visited, I organized carpools. Sylvia Boorstein, who was my When His Holiness the Dalai Lama visited, I volunteered and was therapist 32 years ago. I began fortunate to have an audience with him as part of a small group sitting with him in a San Anselmo who received his blessing. I have been a regular Monday night home on Monday nights, often volunteer for 16 years. bringing my infant daughter with me. When I heard Jack’s voice, I Volunteering has given me the opportunity to give back to the knew he was my teacher. Following land and to the teachers who have supported my practice. It has that we met at the Fairfax Church helped me weather the ups and downs of life, feel calm and content for several years. At that time and has also been energizing. Volunteering is an act of generosity Jack was looking for land and that comes back to me as a gift that enhances my life. I’ve met like-minded people who have become close friends; we share our would share with us the diŽ erent Teresa Reese locations under consideration. daily practice and support each other. I have discovered that I have My heart would start racing because those sites were not local. a scholarly temperament and have participated in the Dedicated But then the Nature Conservancy land in San Geronimo Valley Practitioners Program and the Advanced Practitioners Program. became available, and we celebrated with Jack. As an added bonus, I met the love of my life 15 years ago at the Monday night class! I thank Spirit Rock and my friends for what has I remember our fi rst sitting in the meadow at Spirit Rock with become a precious experience in my life. Jack and the other teachers, tying ribbons and bells in the trees Spirit Rock relies on the generosity of our many volunteers. We o er while my children ran around collecting bones and imagining a range of opportunities from one-time projects to ongoing service. they'd found dinosaur bones. One of our early gatherings on the Check our website to fi nd out more about our volunteer program or land was interrupted by a car igniting a grassy area because we contact our Volunteer & Community Coordinator at Volunteering@ did not have organized parking. spiritrock.org or (415) 488-0164 x224.

NEW MULTI-RETREAT PROGRAM APRIL 2017 - APRIL 2018 Compassionate Companions James Baraz, Sharda Rogell, Frank Ostaseski, Ange Stephens, DaRa Williams and other teachers

Spirit Rock Meditation Center in collaboration with the Metta Institute is excited to announce a new extended study program focused on creating community-based systems of support for people facing the realities of aging, illness and death.  e program has four areas of emphasis: (1) exploring aging, illness and death as dharma vehicles for awakening wisdom and compassion; (2) being a compassionate companion to those in need; (3) developing “caring circles” to help individuals meet the challenges of aging, illness and death; and (4) developing facilitation skills to bring caring systems of support into our sanghas and organizations.  e one-year program includes three 7-day residential retreats, teleconferences, faculty monitoring, home study and more. A p p l i c a t i o n s a c c e p t e d A p r 1 5 - O c t 1 4 , 2 0 1 6 . For more information, visit spiritrock.org/CCP. Two FREE Preview TELECONFERENCES

Thursday, August 25, 12 noon PT | Tuesday, October 14, 12 noon PT These free teleconferences will explore many of the issues that will be addressed in the Compassionate Companions program, as well as answer questions you may have about participating in the program and prerequisites.

To e ectively serve all communities, we are committed to multiculturalism, being fully inter- generational, skillfully addressing issues of di erence, diversity and inclusivity, fostering open communication, and actively recruiting individuals from diverse communities. We suggest that local

sanghas and groups support one or more representatives to attend this unique training. Individuals without an established community are also welcome to apply.

 SPIRIT ROCK NEWS | SEP - DEC 2016

Because of You, this Arises! A Message from Rachel Uris, Director of Development & Communications

When a thing is well done, well said, worthy of respect — we only buildings. We need you to bring this all alive. Come to oŽer our bows and our gratitude and exclaim a hearty, “Sadu! a program or a daylong in one of our three new rooms for Sadu! Sadu!” practice, come to a drop-in class on your way to a bike ride or a hike or a visit to the beach, come to our gorgeous bookstore! Sadu to all of us! Together we have built Spirit Rock’s lower campus, and it is splendid! Marvel at the fact that every piece of wood, cushion, chair and door knob — everything human-made in our new lower campus We’ve experienced delight, tears of joy and outright awe as — exists because you or another caring person donated the we've entered into our new Teacher/StaŽ Village and our money to make the whole thing possible. Through million-dollar Administrative building last fall, and now our Community gifts, hundreds of thousand-dollar pledges, and thousands of Meditation Center. contributions at every level, we built this together.

These buildings couldn’t have arisen without the dedicated These buildings are truly a concrete manifestation of the commitment of thousands of deeply caring humans and heartfelt quality of dana, of giving. This is giving at its innumerable hours of eŽort. It was over 10 years ago that sweetest, for ourselves and the joy it gives us, for others out of this project first began. Through early conception to master compassion, and for future generations. plan approval with Marin County; through architectural drawing after drawing; through the laying of blessings in our May we know the highest blessings, and wake up, together! Community Meditation Center foundation; through bowing to our old trailers as they turned to particles and dust — this was With love, a journey taken by an enormous village of deeply interconnected beings, working with constant change (of course!).

So come, join us! These buildings are stunning, but they are Rachel Uris

Join Jack Kornfield & Special Guests for SPIRIT ROCK'S ANNUAL 108 BLESSINGS Thursday, November , : - : pm

Please join us for this special evening to explore the Dharma in an intimate salon- style event at the beautiful Pacific Heights home of long-time friend and supporter Angie Thieriot. All proceeds go directly to the Spirit Rock Scholarship Fund. For over 25 years, Spirit Rock has provided scholarships to those facing financial barriers o r s e r i o u s i l l n e s s w h o m i g h t n o t o t h e r w i s e b e a b l e t o a t t e n d p r o g r a m s o r r e t r e a t s . Your generosity helps us all receive transformational teachings. Please see page 27 for more information.

 SPIRIT ROCK NEWS | SEP - DEC 2016

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Over 400 people attended the special event "Gratitude & Celebration" in June 2016 to celebrate the Sangha of Thousands of Buddhas. Clockwise from top left: The Great Hall; Larry Yang and Stephen Pickard; Konda Mason, Larry Yang, Sylvia Boorstein, Jack Kornfield. Photography by TroyZiel.com

Ways to Give No matter which forms of generosity appeal to you in your support of Spirit Rock, please know that many practitioners are profoundly grateful. Forty-seven percent of our revenue comes from contributions like yours. If you have any questions about giving, or even the worldly Dhamma of money, please call Rachel Uris, Director of Development, at (415) 488 - 0164 x286 or email [email protected]. Online In Honor or Memory Go to spiritrock.org and visit “Giving.” Make a gift in honor or in memory of a loved one. Stewardship Circle Bequests Join our monthly gift circle by oŽering $25 or more per Planned gifts are a way of leaving a legacy of support to month to support Spirit Rock day-to-day and into the future. Spirit Rock and passing on your values. Respond to an Appeal Gifts of Stock/IRA Distributions During the year we send out appeals via mail or email. A simple way of oŽering gifts to Spirit Rock is through Take a moment to read and respond with whatever level of appreciated securities and IRA distribution. generosity feels right to you. Volunteering Matching Gifts We couldn’t operate Spirit Rock without our wonderful Find out if your employer will match your charitable volunteers. To volunteer, contact our Volunteer contributions. Coordinator, Sally Segerstrom at (415) 488-0164 x224 or [email protected].

 SPIRIT ROCK NEWS | SEP - DEC 2016

The entire community of sangha near and far, Spirit Rock Teachers, Board and staff bow down with gratitude to our resolute Design Committee members who dedicated innumerable hours to the visioning, creation, and details of our new Teacher/Staff Village-, Administrative-, and Community Meditation Center- buildings: Sally Armstrong, Guy Armstrong, Delia Brinton, John Griffith, Rob Hart, Hayden Hicks, Jack Kornfield, Michelle Latvala, Edward Lewis, John Mifsud, Jen Petke, Joey Roberts, Carolyn Zecca-Ferris MAY THE MERIT OF YOUR ACTIONS BENEFIT ALL BEINGS!

Above: The Community Meditation Center. Below, from left: inside the West Hall, one of the two additional classrooms; visitors in the entrance.

 SPIRIT ROCK NEWS | SEP - DEC 2016

Below: The Great Hall. Photos: Allen Kennedy Photography.

MAY THE MERIT OF YOUR ACTIONS BENEFIT ALL BEINGS! The entire community of sangha near and far, Spirit Rock Teachers, Board and staff bow down with gratitude to our resolute committee members who dedicated innumerable hours to the visioning, creating and attending to the details of our new Teacher/Staff Village, Administrative Building and Community Meditation Center. Sally Armstrong Guy Armstrong Delia Brinton John Griffith Rob Hart Hayden Hicks Jack Kornfield Michelle Latvala Edward Lewis John Mifsud Jen Petke Joey Roberts Pete Senty Carolyn Zecca-Ferris

 NON-RESIDENTIAL PROGRAMS | SEP - DEC 2016

NON-RESIDENTIAL PROGRAMS

Spirit Rock offers a breadth of trainings, including multi-day, non-residential retreats, drop-in and daylong programs, special events, weekly and monthly class series and online courses that open gateways to the Dharma and deepen understanding of the Buddha's teachings. We invite you to review our offerings on the following pages. Details are subject to change; visit spiritrock.org for up-to-date information.

WEEKLY & MONTHLY DROP-IN PROGRAMS AT SPIRIT ROCK

MON. NIGHT MEDITATION GROUP • 7:15 - 9:15 pm • WEEKLY FRIDAY MEDITATION & YOGA • 10 am - 12:15 pm • WEEKLY JACK KORNFIELD, MARK COLEMAN & OTHERS ASHLEY SHARP AND OTHERS Our Monday night drop-in serves as an introduction to the practices of Each class begins with an hour of mindful yoga (suitable for all awareness and compassion that are the heart of our community. This levels), followed by a guided meditation, and concludes with a gathering also oŽers support and ongoing teachings to committed dharma talk, inquiry and discussion. students. For a full schedule of teachers, visit spiritrock.org ND WED. MORNING MEDITATION GROUP • 9 - 11 am • WEEKLY DHARMA & RECOVERY GROUP • 7:15 - 9:15 pm • 2 FRIDAY SYLVIA BOORSTEIN, DONALD ROTHBERG & OTHERS KEVIN GRIFFIN AND OTHERS Sitting and practice-oriented discussion, suitable for beginners This group meets to explore the intersection of recovery with as well as engaged practitioners. Buddhist teachings and practices. We welcome people who identify with any of the full range of addictions, from substances THURSDAY WOMEN'S GROUP • 10 am - 12 pm • WEEKLY and behaviors to habitual thought and emotional patterns. GRACE FISHER & OTHERS A drop-in group oŽering women a place to come together and share wisdom and strengthen a sense of belonging in the world. Cost for all drop-in programs sliding scale $15 - $30.

12 NON-RESIDENTIAL PROGRAMS | SEP - DEC 2016

PATHS FOR AWAKENING SAT Awakening the Sacred Body: SEP The Practice and Study of Insight Meditation at Spirit Rock Introduction to Tibetan Yoga 3 ADAM BARAZ, DUNGSE JAMPAL NORBU At Spirit Rock, our mission is to oŽer a direct experience Saturday, September 3, 9:30 am - 4:30 pm of the Buddha’s path of liberation through a variety of retreats, practices, teachings and trainings. We have Tibetan Yoga, known in Vajrayana Buddhism as “Tsa-Lung,” divided suggested areas of practice into four levels listed here, from beginning stages to more experienced stages. In is a collection of yogic breathwork techniques and physical this Schedule, look for the color-coded symbols on many of exercises that are highly eŽective for healing physical and the programs as a guide. emotional pain, awakening the subtle energy body, and directly accessing the pristine state of non-dual awareness. For many Beginning Insight Meditation centuries in Tibet, the sacred technology of Tsa-lung was kept secret from the general public and often only taught in Introduction to Buddhism the context of a traditional three-year retreat. Tibetan Yoga is known for its unique capacity to rapidly awaken the deepest capacities of the human being. In this daylong, you will learn the Exploring the Buddhist Path sacred anatomy of your subtle energy body, receive a Tibetan yoga “empowerment,” and learn potent purification practices Deepening Practices and Wisdom designed to balance the five elements of the body — fire, earth, water, wind and space. Sliding Scale $75 - $200. Code AB1D16

ONLINE PROGRAMS SAT MON Dharma in Life SEP SEP SYLVIA BOORSTEIN, LARRY YANG, For those unable to attend our programs in person, 3 - 5 KONDA MASON (YOGA) Spirit Rock offers online classes and live webcasts. Saturday, Sept 3 & Sunday, Sept 4, ONLINE CLASSES 9:30 am - 4:30 pm, Monday, Sept 5, 9:30 am - 3:00 pm TUE Moving Into Meditation: SEP M i n d f u l Y o g a a n d E m b o d i e d P r e s e n c e 27 ANNE CUSHMAN 4 Tuesdays: September 27 - October 18 For more information please see p. 14 $80 for 4 class series. Code AC1N16.

TUE Concentration Meditation: Sylvia Boorstein Larry Yang Konda Mason OCT Purification of Mind 25 TINA RASMUSSEN, STEPHEN SNYDER NEW: 3-DAY NON-RESIDENTIAL RETREAT 4 Tuesdays: October 25 - November 15 For many, this time of year signifies a turning as summer For more information please see p. 23 draws to a close and the fall equinox approaches. Students go back to school, vacations are completed, work and family $80 for Class Series. Code TR1N16. life returns to a steady rhythm. In this time of bridging of LIVE WEBCAST seasons, please join us to weave the Buddha’s teachings into the specifics of your family, your relationships, your practice and your life. We will explore the Eightfold Path SAT Living Beyond the Known and the a s w e w e l c o m e t h e D h a r m a i n t o o u r e v e r y d a y e x p e r i e n c e . NOV Resolution of Su•ering Our retreat will include contemplative meditation as we practice in retreat silence and sessions of mindful movement 5 ADYASHANTI and mindful eating. There will also be interactive exercises of Saturday, November 5, 9:30 am - 4:30 pm conscious communication to connect the retreat practice with For more information please see p. 25 our home practice. When you return home in the evenings, Sliding Scale $60 - $108. Code AY1L16 you will be invited to integrate contemplative practice into the activities of everyday life and relationships. Sliding Scale $225 - $600. Please bring lunch. Code SB1M16 13 NON-RESIDENTIAL PROGRAMS | SEP - DEC 2016

TUE Moving into Meditation: CONTINUING EDUCATION (CE) CREDITS SEP M i n d f u l Yo g a a n d E m b o d i e d P r e s e n c e Continuing Education programs are co-sponsored by Spirit Rock, 6 ANNE CUSHMAN the Spiritual Competency Resource Center, and the Institute of 4 Tuesdays: Sept 6 - Sept 27, 7:15 - 9:15 pm Noetic Sciences. Most programs oŽering CE credit are applicable to psychologists and persons holding a California MFT, LCSW, LEP, LPCC or Nursing license. Events oŽering CE credit are appropriate for the general public as well as health care professionals. CLASS SERIES, ALSO AVAILABLE ONLINE (see pg. 13) The California Board of Behavioral Sciences accepts CE credits What we call “body” and what we call “mind” are diŽerent for license renewal for programs sponsored by American aspects of the same interconnected web. In this four-week Psychological Association approved providers. class series, you are invited to re-inhabit, explore and American Psychological Association: The Spiritual Competency revitalize this tapestry of body, breath and mind through an Resource Center is approved by the American Psychological integrated flow of meditation in movement and in stillness. Association to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. Each class will include gentle mindful yoga postures, breath The Spiritual Competency Resource Center maintains cultivation, seated meditation, and dharma reflections. You’ll responsibility for these programs and their content. experience the sense of aliveness that comes when you California Board of Registered Nursing: The Institute of Noetic permeate your body with spacious and kind awareness. As Sciences is a provider approved by the California board of you open, relax, energize, and attune your body, breath, and Registered Nursing, Provider Number CEP 10318. nervous system, you’ll support your ability to sustain these CE credit awarded for instruction time only. For more information, qualities in the rest of your life. including number of credits oŽered per event and learning Sliding Scale $100 - $160. Code AC1C16 objectives, please see the event descriptions on our website.

For general information, including attendance and cancellation policies, please see spiritrock.org/continuing-education-credit. OFFERINGS WITH CE CREDIT AVAILABLE*

9/9 Loving the House that Ego Built 9/10 Mindfulness & Psychotherapy FRI Exploring the Insights of 9/10 Buddhist Goddess SEP 9/11 Foundations of Insight Meditation the Four Noble Truths 9/13 Mindful Self-Compassion 9 DANA DEPALMA 9/17 Buddhist Psychology: The Essence 6 Fridays: September 9, 23, October 7, 21 & 9/24 Impermanence As a Gateway to Freedom November 4, 18 , 1:30 - 3:30 pm 10/8 Loving-Kindness in Relationships 10/9 Relaxed and Awake: Mindfulness Meditation 10/13 Healing Trauma Using Loving-Kindness & Compassion CLASS SERIES 10/15 Practical Preparations for a Peaceful Death The Buddha's Four Noble Truths oŽer 10/22 Freedom from the Inner Critic wisdom to transform our relationship 10/23 Mindful Eating with life and live with greater ease and 10/23 10,000 Joys, 10,000 Sorrows joy. This series will explore progressive 10/29 Calming the Restless Mind levels of insight — reflecting, directly 10/30 Meditation as Medicine experiencing and knowing — into the 11/5 Passionate Awakening first two Noble Truths. The First Noble 11/6 Shift Happens Truth names that suŽering is a part Dana DePalma 11/12 Mindfulness and Compassion of life and the Second Noble Truth 11/20 Passion and Compassion identifies the root cause of our suŽering. 11/26 Embodying Joy - Qigong and Meditation Together we will discover ways that we unwittingly create or 11/27 Wise Speech compound our suŽering (often by trying to avoid it) and learn 12/3 Relationship As Spiritual Practice to receive our experience directly and open to the ever- 12/3 Working with Trauma Using Myth and Stories changing flow of life. Between classes there will be suggested 12/10 The Buddha's Path of Well-Being and Happiness meditations, reflections and readings from Phillip Mo£tt's 12/17 Leadership on the Bodhisattva Path book, Dancing with Life: Buddhist Insights for Finding Meaning and 12/18 A Day of Heart-Based and Compassion Practices Joy in the Face of Su ering. *CE credits available for on-site event attendance only. Sliding Scale $150 - $240. Code DD1C16

14 NON-RESIDENTIAL PROGRAMS | SEP - DEC 2016

FRI Loving the House that Ego Built SAT Mindfulness & Psychotherapy: SEP HOWARD COHN SEP Cultivating the Clinician, 9 Friday, September 9, 9:30 am - 4:00 pm 10 Crafting the Intervention MATTHEW BRENSILVER Saturday, September 10, 9:30 am - 4:00 pm

CE CREDIT AVAILABLE CE CREDIT AVAILABLE During this day we will explore the nature As mindfulness gains an increasingly prominent place in modern of ego and the enormous stress and psychotherapy, mental health professionals are challenged to insecurity that comes with trying to be find skillful ways to incorporate the modality into clinical work. "someone.” Identity is inevitable if you are Mindfulness serves in two ways. First, it develops skills in the human. We must find a wise way to relate psychotherapist relevant to good clinical outcomes: compassion, to this natural function but not be driven the capacity for deep listening and awareness of one’s own by it. Because our identities are tied to emotional reactivity. Second, mindfulness functions as a primary our bodies that are always changing, we Howard Cohn or adjunctive practice prescribed to clients struggling with a are insecure. Because the thoughts and range of clinical issues, including anxiety, depression, substance feelings about ourselves are fleeting, we experience instability. abuse and pain syndromes. The ability to eŽectively incorporate Because our identities are based on time that often feels like mindfulness in clinical work depends on the familiarity we have it is running out, we are worried. With Insight Meditation, we developed with our own minds — through our own practice. can bring compassionate attention to our insecurities and find This daylong will weave together meditation practice, lectures peace as we are. We will use the healing tools of mindfulness and discussion to support a fuller understanding of the role of and loving-kindness to meet the activity of self with balance mindfulness in well-being. We will examine scientific research and openness, perhaps even "loving the house that ego built." regarding the e£cacy of mindfulness. The day is aimed at mental Teachings are appropriate for the general public as well as health health professionals, but anyone with an interest is welcome. care professionals. Sliding Scale $75 - $200. Code MB2D16 Sliding Scale $75 - $200. Code HC5D16

SAT Buddhist Goddess: Embodying SAT Open to Your Creative/Spiritual Self, SEP SEP the Divine Feminine Within through Meditation and Writing 10 ERIN SELOVER 10 SANDY BOUCHER Saturday, September 10, 9:30 am - 4:30 pm Saturday, September 10, 9:30 am - 4:30 pm

CE CREDIT AVAILABLE Writing can illuminate our spiritual path. To explore Buddhist We all embody a unique configuration of enlightened qualities essentials like compassion, nonviolence, loving-kindness, skillful that are waiting to emerge with the right conditions. However, means, etc., in this daylong, we will first consider the quality of without the right support these qualities lie dormant and manifest each aspect. How do we understand these dimensions? More in self-doubt, mood issues, addiction and disease. It is essential importantly, how do we live them? Through guided meditation for the health of ourselves, our communities, and the earth herself we will contact these qualities in our own lives, seeing how they that we express these qualities fully and courageously. The natural have played out, and explore their possibilities by writing about beauty and intelligence that emerges through us when we feel safe our experience. Sharing in small groups can lead to further and connected to life is longing to express itself fully. This retreat insight and enrichment, receiving others stories and honoring is an opportunity to somatically identify, discover and empower each person’s struggle and joy. You don’t need to be a writer or your unique awakened energy through the exploration of Buddhist a meditator to participate. Bring your curiosity and willingness goddesses. The day will include sitting meditation, movement to enter deeply into the experiences of your life. Each of us has a meditation, dharma talks and the study of the Buddhist goddess distinctive narrative to be explored. Sandy creates a supportive of non-dual wisdom, Prajnaparamita. The day will be designed for dharma environment in which to discover our stories and, if we honest exploration of the deepest part of your being. feel comfortable, sharing with others. The daylong will be held in Sliding Scale $75 - $200. Code ES1D16 a container of silence, helping to still our busy minds, bring peace and relaxation, and allow inspiration to surface. We will alternate meditation with writing periods and sharing in small groups. Sliding Scale $75 - $200. Code SY1D16 15 NON-RESIDENTIAL PROGRAMS | SEP - DEC 2016

SUN The Doorway to Self-Compassion: SUN Mindful Leadership: SEP Finding Your Own Goodness SEP Leadership As Spiritual Path 11 RICHARD SHANKMAN 11 ANUSHKA FERNANDOPULLE Sunday, September 11, 9:30 am - 4:30 pm Sunday, September 11, 9:30 am - 4:30 pm

For many of us it can seem di£cult to be kind and caring to Leaders face challenges that can be the catalyst for growth ourselves, but easy to be our own harshest critic. Regardless in ways we might not have imagined. In this workshop of how much we suŽer or how hard we can be on ourselves, we will learn Buddhist meditation practices that support we can shift our relationship with and learn to relate to the development of mindfulness/presence, emotional ourselves with kindness, care and understanding. An connection, balance and focus, among other positive important way to do this is by discovering and connecting leadership characteristics. The practices we will learn are with places of deep goodness that we may invalidate or ones that you can continue in your daily life and at work as not be in touch with at all. Even if it seems di£cult or far you face dilemmas in dealing with people and organizational away, we can shift our relationship with ourselves. In this life. We will reflect on broader Buddhist teachings and daylong of meditation, reflection and sharing in small and consider how to make leadership part of a spiritual path. large groups, we will focus on finding and connecting with Even if you have not considered yourself as having a spiritual all that is right and good in us. We will explore letting go path, you might find out that you do! Your leadership can of the ways in which we can feel we're not okay, not whole be connected to the deepest goals of your life, even if, and and incomplete, and connect with inner places of deep especially when, it is challenging. goodness. Connecting with our own profound goodness is Sliding Scale $75 - $200. Code AF2D16 the doorway to self-compassion. Sliding Scale $75 - $200. Code RS2D16

SUN Foundations of Insight Meditation TUE Mindful Self-Compassion SEP MARK COLEMAN SEP LINDA GRAHAM, JANE BARAZ 11 Sunday, September 11, 9:30 am - 4:30 pm 13 8 Tuesdays: September 13 - November 1, 7:00 - 9:30 pm, plus a half day on Sat, Oct 22, 9:30 am to 1:30 pm

CE CREDIT AVAILABLE 8-WEEK CLASS SERIES PLUS A HALF DAY Insight Meditation or Vipassana CE CREDIT AVAILABLE practice enables you to see clearly the Mindful Self-Compassion, as developed by Kristin NeŽ truth of your experience. In this day of and Christopher Germer, is a powerful 8-week training in silent retreat, you will immerse yourself empirically-supported tools and techniques that enable in the beautiful qualities of mindfulness, participants to respond to di£cult moments in their lives with investigation and insight. When we kindness, care, understanding and wise action. Practices in cultivate a kind, curious presence to loving-kindness and compassion allow us to keep our hearts Mark Coleman our moment-to-moment experience, open in moments of struggle and suŽering. Practices in clarity, joy, wisdom and compassion mindfulness allow us to see our experiences and our reactions can arise in the mind and heart. This capacity to pay attention to our experiences more clearly, discern options, and make in the present moment enables you to deeply know yourself, wise choices. Understanding our common humanity brings us others and the nature of reality. We will explore the causes out of isolation into connection and resources again. Mindful of both suŽering and happiness and examine what it means Self-Compassion, through discussions, meditations and to find freedom here and now. Through the combination experiential exercises, teaches practices of loving connected of mindfulness meditation, wisdom teachings, silence and presence that allow us to feel not only better but to cope community, we discover how to live with true happiness and wisely when we are feeling bad. This course helps participants release what interferes with our innate well being. deal eŽectively with life’s challenges and crises while creating Sliding Scale $75 - $200. Code MC5D16 community and deepening practice. Sliding Scale $250 - $470. Code LG1C16

16 NON-RESIDENTIAL PROGRAMS | SEP - DEC 2016

SAT SUN Weekend Women's Retreat: SAT Buddhist Psycholog y: The Essence SEP SEP Experiencing the Heart SEP JACK KORNFIELD 17 - 18 of Practice 17 Saturday, September 17, 9:00 am - 5:00 pm HEATHER SUNDBERG Saturday, September 17 - Sunday, September 18, 9:30 am - 4:30 pm

NEW: 2-DAY NON-RESIDENTIAL RETREAT BENEFIT, CE CREDIT AVAILABLE Held in a small meditation hall in the beautiful new Discover inner capacities for Community Meditation Center at Spirit Rock, this intimate wakefulness, joy, dignity and non-residential weekend retreat of women will drink in the compassion — your Buddha-nature. Join rich silence and aliveness of meditation practice, combined us for this day of mindful meditations with periods of teachings, reflection, sharing, optional and teachings on love, consciousness, simple movement practice, check-ins with Heather, ritual healing and the nature of mind. Our and singing. Meditation guidance will be oŽered in Insight training will study the fundamental Meditation and loving-kindness. On Sunday afternoon principles of Buddhist psychology, Jack Kornfield we will come together in Council Practice to speak and combining practical examples, teaching stories, visionary listen from the heart together. Please bring an item for our wisdom and case studies. We will explore applications of these community altar. This non-residential retreat may be perfect revolutionary perspectives in our healing work, our meditation for you if you: enjoy connecting with a group of women on and our life. This event is a benefit for Spirit Rock. a meditation path, do not have the time for a longer retreat Sliding Scale: $110 to $275. Code JK1B16 period, are a mother with children at home, or want to give your practice a "boost" and integrate it more fully into your daily life. This is an intimate retreat with a strong emphasis on community. Sliding Scale $150 - $400. Please bring your lunch. Code HS1M16

SUN Wake up! Parenting As a Path of Practice SUN Chanting and Meditation SEP WILL KABAT-ZINN, SEP JAI UTTAL, DEBRA CHAMBERLIN-TAYLOR 18 TERESA LAMENDOLA KABAT-ZINN 18 Sunday, September 18, 7:15 - 9:15 pm Sunday, September 18, 9:30 am - 4:30 pm

BRING A FRIEND FOR FREE WHEN YOU PRE-REGISTER EVENING EVENT OPEN TO ALL PARENTS AND CAREGIVERS The heart is an As parents, how do we stay awake, present and balanced honored gateway to in the midst of nearly continuous change and activity while our most profound tending to the needs of our children and families? How can we and boundless bring curiosity and mindfulness to our everyday interactions nature. Using with our children and ourselves? How do we wake up to what the ancient and is deepest and most essential in ourselves while engaging in sublime blend of the bustle of raising a family? During this day we will explore kirtan (chanting) how to bring mindful attention and an attitude of inquiry and meditation, into the particulars of life as a parent using our capacity for Jai Uttal Debra Chamberlin-Taylor we can open present moment awareness to see deeply into our own hearts the heart of infinite love. Kirtan in the Bhakti tradition taps and minds. We will look into our own conditioned patterns, the nectar of spiritual longing and devotion and invites us behavior and attachments as parents and see through these to surrender everything into the Sacred. Used together, patterns into the wakeful stillness that underlies all experience. kirtan and meditation can reveal the expansive view of our To wake up to and abide in our own deepest nature while doing sky-like nature. Through call-and-response group chanting, dishes and getting kids to school on time is to live the unity of Jai guides beginning and experienced chanters to an ecstatic form and emptiness. The ultimate does not have to wait for remembrance of the divine. silent retreat, let's wake up now! Sliding Scale $30 - $100. Code JA3E16 Sliding Scale $75 - $200. Code WK3D16 17 NON-RESIDENTIAL PROGRAMS | SEP - DEC 2016

F R I SUN Dharma and Recovery Intensive: SAT Embodying Wisdom, Insight and Selfless SEP SEP B u d d h i s m a n d t h e Tw e l v e S t e p s SEP Compassion with Qigong, Zen and the 23 - 25 KEVIN GRIFFIN 24 Heart of Aikido Friday, Sept 23 - Sunday, Sept 25, TEJA BELL, DOSHIN MICHAEL NELSON, 9:30 am - 4:30 pm SENSEI FRANK MCGOUIRK Saturday, September 24, 9:30 am - 12:30 pm

NEW: 3-DAY NON-RESIDENTIAL RETREAT 3 Zen Teachers — Teja Fudo Myoo Bell, Doshin Michael This three-day non-residential retreat is a unique Nelson and Sensei Frank McGouirk Shihan — bring you a opportunity to work intensively to open and deepen your morning of Dharma with the beautiful liberating practices of recovery. We will work the Twelve Steps using Buddhist qigong, the principles of aikido and direct awakening through teachings and practices through meditation, lecture, the engagement of Mondo Zen. Known as "Shamatha," the discussion, interactive and written exercises. Students will practice of gathering attention and calming the body/mind learn mindfulness and loving-kindness meditation practices is essential to eŽective meditation. Radiant Heart Qigong that support their recovery. Sessions will explore Twelve as taught by Teja, is a direct pathway in helping to entrain Steps themes, including: powerlessness, Higher Power, the orientation to this "calm abiding" and becomes the inventory, amends and spiritual awakening. Buddhist topics foundation of successful practice. The principles of aikido include: the Four Noble Truths, the Eightfold Path, the Five will also be invoked to add a more complete, integrated Hindrances, the Five Precepts, the Three Refuges, and the understanding of dharma knowledge and embodiment. Four Foundations of Mindfulness. The Buddha’s teachings on We will also look into the direct method of awakening and craving and letting go will be a particular emphasis, as well profound insight that comes with engaging in the modern as self-compassion and loving-kindness. Zen koan practice, Mondo Zen. Join us for this invigorating morning of embodied wisdom, silent illumination and Sliding Scale $225 - $600. Code KG1M16 compassionate understanding. Sliding Scale $50 - $150. Code TJ1H16 SAT Dharma Transmission (Inka) SEP Ceremony for Teja Bell SAT Impermanence As a Gateway to 24 JACK KORNFIELD, TEJA BELL, MICHAEL NELSON, SEP Freedom SENSEI FRANK MCGOUIRK 24 SHAHARA GODFREY Saturday, September 24, 1:30 - 4:30 pm Saturday, September 24, 9:30 am - 4:30 pm

DANA DAY (BY DONATION) CE CREDIT AVAILABLE Join us for a traditional Zen ceremony of Inka (Dharma It is di£cult for many people to not have attachments. We transmission) honoring Teja Bell (known to his Zen sangha as all have them. For many of us, our relationship to some of Fudo Myoo)—a qigong master and Zen priest who has been them may cause suŽering. If we have a clear understanding a beloved teacher on more than 90 Spirit Rock retreats since of impermanence, the suŽering may be less. Impermanence 1999. Inka is an ancient ceremony of lineage transmission is one of the three characteristics of existence in the Buddhist pointing back to the founder of the Chan/Rinzai Zen tradition tradition. Because of this attribute, nothing that arises in the ninth century CE. It represents the transmission of a through causes and conditions can cause happiness. How living stream of Dharma passed from teacher to student in an do we accept something as "it simply is" without feeling unbroken chain reaching back to the historical Buddha. In this pain or suŽering? How does this impact our understanding ceremony, Teja will be recognized and initiated as a Roshi (Zen of freedom, of change? By exploring impermanence as a Master) in the Rinzai Zen tradition. It will be conducted by Zen gateway, we will learn how our attachments may hinder us Master Roshi Doshin Michael Nelson, a lineage heir to Teja’s and how we may experience freedom in the moment. There longtime teacher Roshi Junpo Dennis Kelly. Also o£ciating is a way that pain and suŽering can be lessened for clinicians. will be Spirit Rock founder Jack Kornfield and aikido master For clinicians, this daylong will oŽer practices that may be Sensei Frank McGouirk Shihan. The inclusion of these teachers used with clients to help manage the many manifestations of represents the fact that Teja has studied and practiced across impermanence and how it can lead to a decrease in stress and many traditions of Dharma. our attachments that can be of hindrance. Participants must RSVP. The afternoon is free; people may offer a donation. Sliding Scale $75 - $200. Code SG1D16 $0 - $108. Code TJ1G16 18 NON-RESIDENTIAL PROGRAMS | SEP - DEC 2016

SUN Open Heart, Relaxed Mind SUN Grief Ritual: A Benefit Workshop for SEP JAMES BARAZ, KATE MUNDING SEP Collective Healing 25 Sunday, September 25, 9:30 am - 4:30 pm 25 SOBONFU SOMÉ Sunday, September 25, 9:30 am - 4:30 pm

How much are you present for your own life in an open, BENEFIT FOR THE SPIRIT ROCK DIVERSITY PROGRAM connected way? How much time do you spend in your This program is a transformational and soul-invigorating own inner world stressed out, worrying about the future, workshop designed to break through our cultural barriers replaying the past with guilt, or lost in fantasy rather than of grief. The interdiction and suppression of emotion in experiencing what life is oŽering you right now? The present general, and grief in particular, has recently been linked to the moment is where we can be most directly intimate with our general sense of spiritual drought, emotional confusion and life — touched by beauty and intimacy — while learning certain illnesses we experience in our life. To begin to regain through our challenges how to open our hearts to it all. This a serious and lasting sense of connectedness with ourselves practice daylong will explore the importance of developing and with spirit, we need to find a proper place to release loving awareness as the foundation for seeing clearly into our grief. In the traditional world of the Dagara of Burkina the truth of how things are. A kind heart leads to a relaxed Faso West Africa, the ritual of grief is the Dagara people's and concentrated mind. A relaxed, concentrated mind can way of releasing the tension caused by loss and of restoring see clearly the patterns of grasping and aversion without continuity in their relationships. We will enter into the ritual identifying with them as "I or mine." The day will include silent space of grief following the traditional model of the Dagara. It mindfulness and loving-kindness instructions, periods of is our hope that it brings a deep sense of release, peace and sitting and walking meditation, group practice discussions, all connectedness in your life. We welcome adults of all races, held in an attitude of loving-kindness. religions, and sexual orientations. This program is not suitable Sliding Scale $75 - $200. Code JB5D16 for children. Sliding Scale $75 - $200. Code PC1B16

SAT Meditative Investigation SAT Exploring the Source Teachings: Three- OCT SHAILA CATHERINE OCT D a y S e r i e s o f S u t t a S t u d y a n d P r a c t i c e 1 Saturday, October 1, 9:30 am - 4:30 pm 1 RICHARD SHANKMAN 3 Saturdays: Oct 1 , 22 & Nov 5, 9:30 am - 4:30 pm

NEW: 3-DAY NON-RESIDENTIAL RETREAT Although meditation is renowned for promoting tranquility Having an understanding of Buddhist teachings helps support and mental calmness, it is not passive. Investigative methods and strengthen our meditation practice. A contextual basis play a vital role in the skillful development of liberating within which to understand what is happening and where we insight. The core teachings of satipatthana include specific are going aids us in making wise and informed choices and instructions for examining the quality of mind and the helps us assess what is skillful action. In this non-residential functioning of causality. We look not only at what is arising, retreat spread out over three full-length Saturday sessions, we we also discern the causes for its arising. This exploration will explore the traditional source Buddhist texts known as the reveals many clues that can teach us how to work skillfully Pali Suttas. We will begin with a brief overview of the origin, for the further development of wholesome states and for the evolution and organization of the suttas. We will then explore letting go of unwholesome states. This daylong will emphasize in-depth the teachings on enlightenment. What is the nature the strengthening of the awakening factor of investigative of enlightenment? What does it mean to be enlightened in this discrimination (dhamma vicaya), explore the fourth lifetime, and what happens to an enlightened person after death? establishment of mindfulness (satipatthana) with an emphasis We will then examine suttas that lay out various ways the path on investigating both the hindrances and the systematic of meditation and spiritual progress are presented. There is no balancing of the awakening factors. We will practice sitting single text that sets out a complete outline of the path, so we will and walking meditation throughout the day, while mindfully look at various suttas, which taken together, present a full picture examining the quality of our minds in order to understand how of the path of spiritual cultivation. As part of this we will explore we might meet life's experiences free from suŽering. the important meditation practice texts in detail. Sliding Scale $75 - $200. Code SC1D16 Sliding Scale $225 - $600. Code RS1M16 19 NON-RESIDENTIAL PROGRAMS | SEP - DEC 2016

SAT SUN Loving Awareness, Metta SUN Mind Games: Buddhist Meditation OCT OCT OCT - & Q ig o n g We e ke n d Re tre a t for Fun and Enlightenment 1 2 SPRING WASHAM, TEJA BELL (QIGONG) 2 WES NISKER Saturday, October 1 - Sunday, October 2 Sunday, October 2, 9:30 am - 4:00 pm 9:30 am - 4:30 pm

NEW: 2-DAY NON-RESIDENTIAL RETREAT The insights that come from Buddhist meditation do not This silent, non-residential retreat will focus on cultivating require long and di£cult hours of sitting practice. During a quality of loving presence that embraces our heart, mind this workshop we will do a series of guided meditations and and body with kindness and wisdom. Awareness and reflections that point directly to the most important insights loving-kindness (metta) are essential to a vital spiritual life. for self-liberation. We will focus on the evolutionary origin Awareness, as developed through mindfulness practice, of our body and emotions; practice traditional Buddhist leads to clarity, insight and understanding. Love opens the reflections on death and dying; examine our nature "as" heart, allows a kind embrace of ourselves and connects us nature; and all the while explore the tricky delusions of mind intimately with all of life. The fusion of these qualities helps us and the mystery of consciousness itself. In the process we to respond more compassionately to the challenges that we find relief from our personal dramas and gain a new sense of encounter in ourselves and in the world. Qigong is a practice meaning in our lives. The talks and discussions will present of aligning breath, movement and awareness for exercise, both traditional Buddhist views of self and reality, as well as healing and meditation. With roots in Chinese medicine, some of the latest information from evolutionary biology, martial arts and philosophy, qigong is a practice to cultivate psychology and neuro-science to support and guide the balance and harmony in every aspect of our lives. Qigong m e d i t a t i o n s . T h e w o r k s h o p w i l l i n c l u d e p l e n t y o f p o e t r y a n d perfectly complements metta practice and has a long and well- a little crazy wisdom as well. established history connected to contemplative traditions. Sliding Scale $75 - $200. Code WN4D16 Sliding Scale $150 - $400. Code SW1M16

SUN Investigating the Nature of Mind SAT Loving-Kindness in Relationships OCT SHAILA CATHERINE OCT DAVID RICHO 2 Sunday, October 2, 9:30 am - 4:30 pm 8 Saturday, October 8, 9:30 am - 4:00 pm

CE CREDIT AVAILABLE We live with an active and functioning mind. But we rarely We were made to love and be loved. Loving ourselves and take the time to look beyond the content and stories that others is in our genetic code. It’s nothing other than the purpose occupy mental activity and examine the basic nature of our of our lives — but knowing that doesn’t make it easy to do. We own mind, which is free from the distorting perceptions of self. find it a challenge to love ourselves. We might have a hard time This program will encourage an inquiring attitude to explore letting love in from others or giving it to them. Loving-kindness subjectivity, to observe the formation of self-concepts, and practice is our key to all the directions love can take. Love is a to distinguish between the thinking activity of mind and commitment to a caring connection — unconditional, mindful, the empty nature of mind. We will use sitting and walking universal. There are tools for learning how to love in evolved meditation practices to cultivate unbiased observation adult ways, without guilt and with compassion. Likewise we can of mind-body processes. We will employ contemplative learn how to love others with awareness of our own and their questions to pursue subtle inquires that may bewilder the boundaries. Part of this challenge is confronting our deep, and analytical mind. We will consistently practice letting go of all often lifelong, fears of love and loving. Calling upon wisdom assumptions. We will deconstruct assumptions of self and from Buddhism and psychology, we are gently led to love’s intentionally dwell recognizing space and emptiness in our inevitable outcome — having a heart that loves freely, fearlessly meditation. The teachings will point to our potential for the and universally. This transcendent and unconditional love isn’t complete release of attachments and suŽering, while giving just for a heroic few; it’s everyone’s magnificent calling and life careful attention to the ordinary and immediate functioning of purpose. We will learn some practices that make for improved present-moment sensory experience. communication skills and conflict resolution in relationships Sliding Scale $75 - $200. Code SC2D16 and in clinical work. Sliding Scale $90 - $250. Code DR2S16

20 NON-RESIDENTIAL PROGRAMS | SEP - DEC 2016

SAT Dropping the Struggle and SUN Relaxed and Awake: Mindfulness OCT Trusting Your Life OCT Meditation and the Feldenkrais Method® 8 ROGER HOUSDEN 9 WES NISKER, DAN CLURMAN Saturday, October 8, 9:30 am - 4:00 pm Sunday, October 9, 9:30 am - 4:30 pm

It’s useful to have plans, intentions and dreams. But deeper CE CREDIT AVAILABLE than all of your plans, intentions and dreams — beyond By changing our all your hopes and fears — the life you have has its own habits of movement, momentum, intelligence and timing. Rather than assuming we relax and that we create our life, this class assumes that our life awaken the body; unfolds and creates us. Our task is to listen and look for the by changing our signs of that unfolding and to follow it wherever it takes us. habits of thinking, we Our joy is in trusting the inherent rightness of our life as we awaken and relax the know it now. Trust can be one of the most di£cult qualities mind. We can then to sustain in the face of life’s challenges. It requires waking Wes Nisker Dan Clurman join in the dance of up to the deeper current of your life’s intelligence, beyond existence with more freedom and ease. This daylong combines all disappointments, betrayals and events that come and go. the traditional practice of Buddhist mindfulness meditation with That intelligence reveals itself now in whatever appears in sessions of Feldenkrais Awareness Through Movement® lessons. this moment and the opportunity it gives us to allow life to Feldenkrais is the brilliant sensory-motor approach to re-educating have its way. Using writing prompts and the wisdom of the the nervous system and developing self-awareness. Periods of group, this course will help you to deepen your trust in your meditation will alternate with guided Feldenkrais movement own life and in life in its larger picture. lessons, allowing the techniques to support each other and create Sliding Scale $90 - $250. Code RH2S16 a sense of mind-body connection, vitality and well-being. Sliding Scale $75 - $200. Code WN5D16 SUN Celebrating the Feminine Divine: THU Healing Trauma Using Loving-Kindness OCT A Day with the Bodhisattva of OCT and Compassion 9 Compassion Kwan Yin 13 PAWAN BAREJA SANDY BOUCHER 6 Thursdays: Oct 13 - Nov 17, 7:15 - 9:15 pm Sunday, October 9, 9:30 am - 4:30 pm

OPEN TO ALL GENDERS CLASS SERIES, CE CREDIT AVAILABLE In this daylong retreat, we may discover that Kwan Yin, With the teachings oŽered in this 6-class series, participants may the Celestial Bodhisattva of Compassion, exists most start working with the traumatic responses in the body, which can powerfully in our deepest nature, as well as being a inhibit daily life through stress and anxiety. The class is designed presence and inspiration in the world. We will be given the to empower participants to hold trauma responses using somatic opportunity to experience profound rest and peace as we (body-based) skills and mindfulness meditation tools. Specifically, open to this transcendent female figure. Through sitting and the mindfulness practices of the body will be used to work with walking meditation, guided visualization, music, chanting the stress responses in the body to help free up energy. The and a short writing exercise, we are invited to awaken in practices of loving-kindness, compassion, sympathetic joy and ourselves the loving playful energy of the Bodhisattva of equanimity will be used to develop a more grounded and calm Compassion. Sandy's new book, She Appears! Encounters presence in everyday life. Working directly with the body begins with Kwan Yin Goddess of Compassion, will be available. In healing the trauma by discharging the unresolved traumatic contemporary original artwork, essays and stories,this book energy that gets bound in the nervous system in a variety of presents a Western perspective on the great Bodhisattva of ways as body constriction and emotional reactivity. In this class Compassion. Sandy will share some of the stories from the the instructor will combine mindfulness meditation practices book in her teaching. with skills of Somatic Experiencing®, a trauma healing modality Sliding Scale $75 - $200. Code SY2D16 designed by Dr. Peter Levine. The reference book for this course is Emotional Chaos to Clarity by Phillip Mo£tt, which presents direct application of mindfulness tools in working with trauma. Sliding Scale $150 - $240. Code PB1C16

21 NON-RESIDENTIAL PROGRAMS | SEP - DEC 2016

SAT The Healing Experience of Trauma: SAT Practical Preparations OCT Using Mindfulness and Somatic OCT for a Peaceful Death 15 Skills to Transform Trauma 15 ANNA DOUGLAS SHARDA ROGELL, SAKTI ROSE Saturday, October 15, 9:30 am - 4:00 pm Saturday, October 15, 9:30 am - 4:30 pm

As humans, we are CE CREDIT AVAILABLE designed to heal and to awaken from our Our mindfulness practice teaches us how traumatic histories. In to let go and trust the unfolding present this daylong, we will experience. Learning to be equanimous create a safe container with change is an essential practice to explore the for dying peacefully. Having a regular interface of meditation mindfulness practice is one of the best and somatic skills Sharda Rogell Sakti Rose things we can do for ourselves now to Anna Douglas to identify and prepare for death. What else would help unblock areas immobilized by old wounds. Through the power us and our caregivers is having written communications of of awareness, we will begin to identify our traumatic activation our intent for our care during the dying process. What are our patterns that often obstruct our spiritual progress and find ways wishes for end-of-life care? There are a number of documents to untangle the morass of inner constrictions and confusion. This that we can prepare now to provide direction to medical brings movement and release and allows us to progress with more personnel as well as family and friends. On this daylong we compassion. When traumatic activation disconnects us from our will review these documents so that you become familiar heart, we often become overwhelmed by stimulus or we tend with them and can best choose for yourself what you wish for to shut down. Traumatic events often leave physiological and end-of-life care. Suitable for any age or level of experience. emotional scars that alter neurological structures and functions. Sliding Scale $75 - $200. Code AD6D16 By developing simple somatic skills, individuals can recognize and reduce the painful eŽects of trauma and thereby free up energy better used for meditation and life itself. Sliding Scale $75 - $200. Code SR3D16 SUN Coming Home to Your Body: Mindful SUN Samadhi: Exploring the Range of OCT OCT Yoga and Embodied Meditation Teachings and Controversies on 16 ANNE CUSHMAN 16 Concentration and Jhana Sunday, October 16, 9:30 am - 4:30 pm RICHARD SHANKMAN Sunday, October 16, 9:30 am - 4:00 pm In our busy and over-extended lives, we often disconnect from the intuitive wisdom of our bodies. By unwinding the There is a wide range of views among teachers about the conditioned patterns of the body and nervous system, we place of samadhi (concentration) in Insight Meditation. support our natural capacity to be grounded, spacious, Some stress the importance of concentration while others present and kind. In this daylong you will nourish and restore teach that insight arises through mindfulness alone and do your body, heart and mind through an integrated flow of not give concentration any particular emphasis. Unraveling mindful yoga postures, breath cultivation practices and the mix of ideas about what proper concentration is and seated meditation. You will reconnect with your natural its place in dharma practice can be di£cult. This day of capacity for loving presence, practice seated meditation in a practice and teaching will explain the various ways samadhi way that builds on and complements a yoga asana practice is taught and clarify its place in insight meditation. After and practice yoga in a way that supports and expresses an in-depth examination of samadhi in the source texts, we compassionate intimacy with your inner and outer world. will discuss some of the most important questions, such We will explore a meditative, inner-body approach to yoga as: Are insight and concentration two separate paths of asana and pranayama that can deepen practice for beginners meditation, or is there a single path that synthesizes the two and seasoned practitioners alike. The day will include an into one practice? What is the nature of the deepest stages integrated flow of mindful yoga postures, breathing practices of concentration known as jhana? Is deep concentration and seated meditation, along with dharma reflections and necessary for liberating insight? time to ask questions and share discoveries. Sliding Scale $75 - $200. Code RS3D16 Sliding Scale $75 - $200. Code AC2D16 22 NON-RESIDENTIAL PROGRAMS | SEP - DEC 2016

SUN Insight Meditation Daylong for TUE Concentration Meditation: OCT People of Color OCT Purification of Mind 16 ANUSHKA FERNANDOPULLE 18 TINA RASMUSSEN, STEPHEN SNYDER Sunday, October 16, 9:30 am - 4:00 pm 4 Tuesdays: October 18 - November 8, 7:15 - 9:15 pm

OPEN TO ALL SELF-IDENTIFIED PEOPLE OF COLOR CLASS SERIES, ALSO AVAILABLE ONLINE (see p. 13) Insight Meditation is a powerful way to In concentration (samatha) meditation, we return our become more connected to your body, awareness to one object of meditation to the exclusion of develop wisdom and love, and live with everything else, thereby collecting and unifying the mind more presence and ease. This daylong stream. Samatha practice is often referred to as “purification workshop is for self-identified people of mind” and it does this in two ways. First, the practice of color who are new to meditation or reveals with heightened clarity our habitual patterns that who would like a refresher day. We cause us to suŽer both on and oŽ the cushion. Second, as we will practice in community together, build the capacity to turn away from these patterns, a laser- learning the basics of Insight Meditation, Anushka Fernandopulle like awareness can develop leading to profound stillness and including mindfulness of the body, joy, as well as the possibility of the arising of deep meditative breath, emotions, thoughts and more. We will practice absorptions known as Jhanas. The word “jhana” can be sitting meditation, walking meditation, eating meditation translated as a “burning up” — of our habitual patterns of and mindful listening. There will be guided meditation and greed, hatred and delusion — which purifies our awareness time for questions, but much of the day will be spent in silent and can deepen our vipassana practice. meditation practice as a community. You will hear Buddhist Sliding Scale $100 - $160. Code TR1C16 teachings that can help you in your life. Sliding Scale $40 - $100. Code AF3D16

SAT Freedom from the Inner Critic SUN Mindful Eating: OCT MARK COLEMAN OCT Cultivating True Nourishment 22 Saturday, October 22, 9:30 am - 4:30 pm 23 ANDREA LIEBERSTEIN Sunday, October 23, 9:30 am - 4:30 pm

CE CREDIT AVAILABLE CE CREDIT AVAILABLE Have you noticed the negative disabling eŽects of self- Through mindfulness, mindful eating and heart-based judgment? Are you prone to judging everything you do practices, we can cultivate the clear seeing, heartfulness as not good enough, not quite right, not living up to some and stillness that helps bring our eating and life back into impossibly high standard? Do you find yourself harshly balance. When we eat mindfully, we involve all the senses by judging your meditation, your practice or your other spiritual engaging our mind and body in a particular way. Join us for an practices? If you would you like to learn how to be more experiential daylong focused on cultivating mindful awareness free from the torment of the inner critic, then this daylong and nourishing the body and mind through an immersion is for you. In this course you will learn to recognize judging in selected mindful eating and heart-based practices, thoughts; the role and function of the inner critic, its purpose walking and gentle yoga. We will explore the roles of loving- and limitations; how to deal eŽectively with inner critic kindness, self-compassion and nature awareness practices in attacks; how to distinguish between negative judgment and establishing a strong ground for nourishment to balance our wise discernment and discrimination; the role of a healthy eating and living. We will quiet the mind and open the heart conscience versus reliance on the inner critic; how to develop through gentle yoga, sitting and walking meditation. We will greater self-acceptance and self-compassion and practice of learn to pay attention to what our body really needs and why metta (loving-kindness) as an antidote to the critic; the need and learn to experience food as pleasure and nourishment and role of humor in helping us with the critic and cultivating while finding our right relationship to amount and quality in forgiveness as a support for working with judgment. each moment. This is a day of true nourishment not only for Sliding Scale $75 - $200. Code MC6D16 the body but for the mind and heart as well. Sliding Scale $75 - $200. Code AL2D16 23 NON-RESIDENTIAL PROGRAMS | SEP - DEC 2016

SUN 10,000 Joys, 10,000 Sorrows: FRI SUN The Nine Bodies: OCT OCT OCT Freedom through the Lens of Compassion Explorations in Consciousness 23 and Wisdom 28 - 30 PHILLIP MOFFITT, DANA DEPALMA Friday, Oct 28 - Sunday, Oct 30 SHAHARA GODFREY 9:30 am - 4:30 pm Sunday, October 23, 9:30 am - 4:30 pm

CE CREDIT AVAILABLE NEW: 3-DAY NON-RESIDENTIAL RETREAT Sometimes you’re the windshield, and sometimes you’re the The Nine Bodies teachings are an exploration of how to utilize bug. Sometimes you eat the bear, and sometimes the bear the many dimensions and manifestations of consciousness in eats you. You can’t always get what you want. Life can seem meditation. The teachings map a journey that starts with the like a roller coaster full of 10,000 joys and 10,000 sorrows. kind of consciousness that arises in the physical body and is We all have lived through some form of suŽering as well as directly observable and then takes us through ever more subtle having periods of joy. Wherever we are on the tsunami of life levels of consciousness. In this three-day non-residential retreat, (sometimes it feels this way), understanding compassion Phillip will share his understanding of the Nine Bodies teachings and wisdom and how it impacts us allows the possibility of that were transmitted to him by the Himalayan yoga master experiencing freedom. Gina Sharpe has said, "Wisdom and Swami Sri Premvarni Balyogi. He will give specific instructions Compassion are considered two wings of the bird of awakening; for accessing the various Bodies including how to recognize inseparable, each an aspect of each other, each needing the and nourish each Body. He will identify the consciousness other to be its truest self." To fully be with these concepts, capacities that come with each Body. If you practice mindfulness forgiveness has to be involved. Finding simple ways to forgive meditation, the Nine Bodies teachings oŽer you a new means oneself and others invites the heart to be open. For clinicians this for tracking and classifying meditative experiences, which can daylong will oŽer practices that may be used with clients to help help you stay present with whatever arises. These explorations manage the many manifestations of sorrow and joy. may also increase the clarity and specificity of your mindfulness Sliding Scale $75 - $200. Code SG2D16 and enable the arising of insight. However, in no way are these teachings a substitute for your lineage practice. Rather, they may help you be more eŽective in your lineage practice. Sliding Scale $225 - $600. Code PM1M16 SAT Calming the Restless Mind OCT HOWARD COHN SAT The Human Journey: Illness, Loss and Grief 29 Saturday, October 29, 9:30 am - 4:30 pm OCT PAMELA WEISS, MAURA SINGER-WILLIAMS 29 Saturday, October 29, 9:30 am - 4:30 pm

CE CREDIT AVAILABLE BRING A FRIEND FOR FREE WHEN YOU PRE-REGISTER Everyone wants to have a calm and peaceful mind. Much of This workshop is designed for those facing illness, loss or our agitation stems from an untrained mind and lack of clear grief. We will use a modified version of Joseph Campbell's perception of what's happening in our mind and body moment archetypal "hero's journey" to include these di£cult aspects of by moment. We try to alleviate our stress by dwelling in the the human experience. In particular, we will explore: past and planning the future. Becoming lost in thought, not only • The Call: listening to our lives and deep inner wisdom do we fail to notice what is happening, we often compound our stress by meeting our experience unkindly. During this daylong • The Departure: stepping into the unknown we will train our hearts and minds to find calm abiding in the • The Struggle: meeting internal and external di£culties with present moment. We will open to our bodies and our senses skill and kindness and practice meeting our experience with less reactivity and • The Awakening: learning to see our situation with new eyes more kindness. Using the practices of Insight Meditation and loving-kindness, with our wisdom eyes open, we will deepen • The Return: understanding how our experience can be used our understanding of stress, its causes and the path leading us as a gift and contribution to others and to the world to the peace and ease that is our natural state. This day will be Our time together will weave guided meditation, movement, valuable for health professionals as they grapple with the same mindful eating, ceremony and creative expression. We will challenges that their patients and clients face. Developing the include silence as well as time for reflection, interactive skill of calming the restless mind requires direct experience and exercises and ritual. the support of an experienced guide. Sliding Scale $75 - $200. Code PW1D16 Sliding Scale $75 - $200. Code HC6D16 24 NON-RESIDENTIAL PROGRAMS | SEP - DEC 2016

SUN Meditation as Medicine (MBSR): SAT Passionate Awakening: OCT An Approach to Stress Reduction, NOV Embodying Emotional Wisdom 30 Chronic Pain and Illness 5 ERIN SELOVER BOB STAHL, STEVE FLOWERS Saturday, November 5, 9:30 am - 4:30 pm Sunday, October 30, 9:30 am - 4:30 pm

CE CREDIT AVAILABLE CE CREDIT AVAILABLE The Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) When we believe that meditation means only “attaining” a Program was developed by Jon Kabat-Zinn, PhD, from the calm mind without thoughts or emotions, we undermine the University of Massachusetts Medical Center. This program transformative power of meditation in our lives. Emotions is specifically designed for people living with stress, pain often contain both the wisdom and the energy to transform or illness, and supports individuals as well as the work reactive patterns into intelligent action. Emotions can reveal of therapists and other caregivers. MBSR consists of radical insight into who we really are, the gifts we have intensive training in mindfulness meditation, gentle mindful to oŽer the world and what it truly means to be human. movement and group support. The program is designed for However, modern culture does not teach the skills required to people who yearn for more balance in day-to-day life, and it allow emotional insight and clarity to emerge. Instead we are promotes healthy living, renewal and stress management. trained to ignore, invalidate and over emphasize emotions. Mindfulness is the practice of cultivating non-judgmental Over time this can lead to chronic anxiety, addictions and awareness in day-to-day life. Mindfulness develops the even disease. It’s essential for the health of our bodies, our potential to experience each moment, no matter how communities and the earth that we learn to listen to the di£cult, with serenity and clarity. One can feel more alive wisdom of our emotional body and find the courage to act and access powerful inner resources for healing. Participants based on this ancient knowing. Throughout the day, we will learn lifelong tools to help maximize life, even in the midst train in mindfulness, inquiry and heart-opening practices. We of stress, pain and illness. The workshop will be a synergy will explore emotions as a gateway to freedom and practice of principles of MBSR, meditation practices, discussion and listening deeply to the wisdom they reveal about our deepest inquiry in both small and large groups. longings and the nature of reality itself. Sliding Scale $90 - $250. Code BS2S16 Sliding Scale $75 - $200. Please bring your lunch. Code ES2D16

SAT Living Beyond the Known and the SUN Writing As a Path to Awakening NOV Resolution of Suffering NOV ALBERT FLYNN DESILVER 5 ADYASHANTI 6 Sunday, November 6, 9:30 am - 4:00 pm Saturday, November 5, 9:30 am - 4:30 pm

BENEFIT, LIVE WEBCAST AVAILABLE (see p. 13) Our human capacity to know and understand gives us Join us for this extraordinary daylong of mindful creativity an incredible ability to create all manner of things and and awakening to your true nature through the practice fathom the workings of the physical universe. And yet of writing. The practice of writing is an exploration of this same capacity has its shadow side that is not so consciousness, a process of moving toward deeper self- obvious. The ability to know and create can also be an awareness, and leads us along the path of awakening to our incredibly destructive force, not only to other beings and true nature. Many of our greatest spiritual teachers from the environment but also psychologically in terms of ones around the world were, and are writers, and we will reflect subjective experience of being. Psychologically speaking, the on their gifts as well as explore our own throughout the day. known is the creator of many of the conditioned, repetitive From Sappho in the 7th century BC to Pema Chodron, from patterns of suŽering that humans experience day to day, as Rumi in the 13th century to Thomas Merton, Jack Kornfield, well as the myriad ways that we attempt to avoid suŽering by and the Dalai Lama, the written word has the power not only endlessly interpreting our experience both past and present. to inspire but to awaken the very best in the human heart. But beyond the known, lies a realm of being that uproots The day will include dynamic writing prompts and exercises, suŽering by its very roots and opens the door to a whole new periods of sitting meditation, readings and discussion. way of experiencing life. This event is a benefit for Open Gate Sliding Scale $75 - $200. Code AS1D16 Sangha and Spirit Rock Meditation Center. Sliding Scale $110 - $275. Code AY1B16 25 NON-RESIDENTIAL PROGRAMS | SEP - DEC 2016

SUN Shift Happens: Learning to Bounce SAT Stillness, Energy and Insight NOV Back from Disappointment, Difficulty, NOV in the Art of Samatha-Vipassana 6 Even Disaster 12 WILL KABAT-ZINN LINDA GRAHAM Saturday, November 12, 9:30 am - 4:00 pm Sunday, November 6, 9:30 am - 4:30 pm

CE CREDIT AVAILABLE The ancient invitation of the Buddha Developing flexible and adaptive strategies for coping with was to “come and see” for yourself everyday disappointments and extraordinary disasters is the the truth of the way things are. heart of any transformative process. Modern neuroscience He offered a rousing invitation to illuminates how the brain encodes its strategies for coping fearless and sustained self-inquiry. and has shown mindfulness and compassion practices to This daylong is an opportunity to dive be two of the most powerful agents of brain change, thus deeply into your own heart and mind, behavior change. Buddhist contemplative practices and to explore vast inner space, the myriad tools from modern relational psychology can help us let go realms that exist within you, and the Will Kabat-Zinn of unwholesome coping strategies and cultivate new, more nature of your own mind. In this day of wholesome ones. This leads to more clarity, flexibility and practice, we will weave together traditional approaches to resilience, and less greed, hatred, delusion and suŽering. In Shamatha/Vipassana (tranquility and insight) practice and this daylong, participants will learn to reverse the impact a series of body-based energy and awareness practices of stress and trauma and come out of anxiety, depression, from the early Buddhist and Taoist traditions to support addiction, grief, loneliness, guilt and shame. Participants you in cultivating tranquility of mind, balance of body and learn to deepen their self-compassion and empathy, connect energy, and the capacity to see deeply into the nature of to healthy and nourishing inner resources and relationships, things with wisdom and clarity. The aim of this practice is and discern options and make wise choices that lead to liberation here and now for the benefit of all beings. thriving and well-being. Sliding Scale $75 - $200. Code WK4D16 Sliding Scale $75 - $200. Code LG3D16

SAT Mindfulness and Compassion SUN The Power of Perception: NOV SHAUNA SHAPIRO NOV The Colors of Experience 12 Saturday, November 12, 1:30 - 4:30 pm 13 AJAHN KARUNADHAMMO Sunday, November 13, 9:00 am - 5:00 pm

CE CREDIT AVAILABLE DANA DAY (BY DONATION) Come learn how to rest in the heart of joy, ease and Perception (Sañña - the third Khanda) is the aspect of our loving presence. Drawing on practices of mindfulness mind through which we experience much of our world. and compassion as well as revolutionary research in How we perceive (and misperceive) our experience causes neuroscience, we will explore the transformational power of us to act in ways that often are not to our benefit or that meditation. We will discover how the weaving together of of others and can be a great source of dissatisfaction and loving-kindness and mindfulness supports us in healing and suŽering. With clear awareness and conscious re-training living a joyful, vital and compassionate life. In this workshop, of our attention, we can alter our perceptual world to you’ll be taught simple yet potent meditation practices, make the world inside and outside more skillful, leading to including loving-kindness and compassion practices, greater contentment and peace of mind. Please bring lunch mindfulness meditation and mindful movement. We will and, if you wish, food to oŽer the monks. As in the time of also learn about new research in neuroscience that oŽers the Buddha, the Abhayagiri monks do not grow or buy food this hopeful message: We can change and reshape our brain and are completely dependent on donations of food. The to live healthier, happier lives. We will become familiar with monastics eat one main meal a day in late morning and specific practices and techniques for cultivating greater joy, monastic regulations require that they finish by midday. ease, presence and genuine compassion, and explore how to OŽering food to the monastics provides an opportunity to integrate these eŽortlessly into our daily lives. participate in this flow of generosity. Sliding Scale $50 - $150. Code SH1H16 Dana Day (by Donation). Code AP1G16

26 NON-RESIDENTIAL PROGRAMS | SEP - DEC 2016

SUN Surfing the Waves of Impermanence: THU SAT Returning Home: A Non-Residential NOV A Creative Path to Life's Changes NOV - NOV Retreat for Parents 13 SANDY BOUCHER, MARTHA BOESING 17 19 ANNE CUSHMAN Sunday, November 13, 9:30 am - 4:30 pm Thursday, Nov 17, - Saturday, Nov 19, 9:30 am - 4:30 pm

The process of life is one of continual transformation. An NEW: 3-DAY NON-RESIDENTIAL RETREAT ancient text, the Visuddhi Magga, says, “Impermanence OPEN TO ALL PARENTS AND CAREGIVERS of things is the rising, passing and changing of things or “Your true home is in the here and the now.”—Thich Nhat Hanh the disappearance of things that have become or arisen. All things are vanishing and dissolving from moment to Refresh, nourish and bring balance to your body, heart and mind in moment.” And the Buddha reminded us, “Whatever is this unique 3-day, non-residential retreat designed to address the subject to origination is subject to cessation.” Is this good needs and schedules of parents. Mothers, fathers, grandparents, news or bad? Are we encouraged by the movement of life’s extended family and anyone who’s in a caregiver role to a child or unfolding, or are we anxious and wanting to hold on to what teen is welcome! In the midst of the busyness, stress and creative was? Most of us shuttle back and forth between these states chaos of a parent’s life, it’s easy to get disconnected from our of mind, often suŽering intensely when the changes are not “true home”— our innate capacity to meet each moment with to our liking. In this daylong we invite you to explore with us kind awareness. This is precisely when we most need a little time how we can creatively surf the waves of impermanence and to breathe, center, ground and unwind so we can return to our deepen our relationship to Dharma. How can we welcome families with more equanimity and presence. During the day we’ll the changes, work with what we don’t like and cultivate come together for seated meditation, walking meditation, gentle what we do? We will invite our imaginations to open us to a yoga, guided relaxations, dharma talks and discussion. We’ll wider understanding of reality and help us to become fully cultivate practices of embodied mindfulness and insight that can responsive to all life’s expansion and contraction. Join us to help us embrace our family life — with all its joys and challenges journey together into our creative landscapes through ritual, — as a path of awakening. We’ll consciously investigate where art, song, dance and writing. each of us tends to wander away from our “true home” and what’s most helpful to help us return. At the end of each day, you’ll go Sliding Scale $75 - $200. Code SY3D16 home with specific practices to do in the midst of your family life to help you stay present, grounded, spacious and connected until we return the next morning. Sliding Scale $225 - $600. Code AC1M16

THU Spirit Rock's Annual 108 Blessings SAT Women, Wisdom and Meditation NOV NOV JACK KORNFIELD AND SPECIAL GUESTS GRACE FISHER 17 Thursday, November 17, 6:00 - 9:30 pm 19 Saturday, November 19, 9:30 am - 4:30 pm

Please join us for this special evening to explore the Dharma in OPEN TO ALL SELF-IDENTIFIED WOMEN an intimate salon-style event at the beautiful Pacific Heights “Our bodies know that they belong; it is our minds that make our home of long-time friend and supporter Angie Thieriot. All lives so homeless.” –John O’Donohue proceeds go directly to the Spirit Rock Scholarship Fund. For over 25 years, Spirit Rock has provided scholarships to So much of our suŽering can come from feelings of those facing financial barriers or serious illness who might disconnection and separation — from ourselves and from the not otherwise be able to attend programs or retreats. Your people and world around us. For many of us, this suŽering is generosity helps us all receive transformational teachings. fueled by the stories we tell ourselves about our lives; stories about our lack of belonging. This daylong is an invitation for

If you have any questions or would like to sponsor this event, please women to come together to practice in community and begin contact Annual Fund Manager, Bobbi Perez at (415) 488-0164 x283 to understand and relax the hold of some of these stories. or [email protected]. All sponsors receive special recognition When we quiet the mind and open our hearts, we can begin to and additional benefits. Individual tickets are $350, attendance is touch into our innate feminine wisdom and sense the truth of limited. To secure your attendance, early registration is encouraged. our deep belonging to the world. Register online at spiritrock.org/giving/108-Blessings/2016. Sliding Scale $75 - $200. Code GF1D16

27 NON-RESIDENTIAL PROGRAMS | SEP - DEC 2016

SAT SUN Bodhisattva Leadership: SUN Passion and Compassion: NOV NOV Cultivating Clarity, Courage, NOV Caregiving for Self and Others 19 - 20 Compassion, Commitment & Curiosity 20 DALE BORGLUM PAMELA WEISS Sunday, November 20, 9:30 am - 4:30 pm Saturday, Nov 19 - Sunday, Nov 20, 9:30 am - 4:30 pm

NEW: 2-DAY NON-RESIDENTIAL RETREAT CE CREDIT AVAILABLE This non-residential weekend retreat will introduce a model Compassion, literally with passion, is at the heart of the of Bodhisattva Leadership. A Bodhisattva is a wise, sensitive caregiving process and is the essence of all great religions. person dedicated to helping alleviate suŽering in ourselves, Without compassion, contact with suŽering will eventually lead others and the world. The cultivation of Bodhisattva to burnout. With compassion, our open heart meets suŽering Leadership is a unique process for deepening the awakened — the suŽering within each of us and the suŽering that is all expression of heart-mind for the benefit of all beings. During around each of us. This movement is the movement from the two days, we will weave silence, reflection and interactive contraction to spaciousness, from judgment to connectedness, engagement, explore sources of leadership inspiration, and requires all of our passion. How alive are we willing to discover our heart-felt leadership aspiration, and learn how be? In our culture, compassion for self is mostly ignored and to cultivate the qualities of clarity, courage, compassion, compassion for others is often confused with pity, leading to commitment and curiosity. You will leave with a personal compassion fatigue. Hence approaching caregiving as one’s articulation of your leadership aspiration and vow, and with spiritual practice, as work on oneself, is not common practice. new insights, practices and perspectives to inspire your path Compassion is our true nature. Life becomes incredibly simple going forward. The workshop is open to those in both formal when we experience this truth. This presentation is intended and informal leadership roles who wish to deepen their ability for those who wish to take better care of themselves, those to respond to the world with wisdom and compassion. they love, and those they work with, and for those who wish Sliding Scale $150 - $400. Code PW1M16 to prevent burnout, those who are ill, and those who wish to transform caregiving into the joy of selfless service. Sliding Scale $75 - $200. Code DB1D16

SUN Eight Ways to Awaken As We Age SAT Embodying Joy: Practices for Creating NOV ANNA DOUGLAS NOV Well-Being through Qigong & Meditation 20 Sunday, November 20, 9:30 am - 4:30 pm 26 MINGTONG GU, DEBRA CHAMBERLIN-TAYLOR Saturday, November 26, 9:30 am - 4:30 pm

BRING A FRIEND FOR FREE WHEN YOU PRE-REGISTER, ALL AGES WELCOME, CE CREDIT AVAILABLE Our inherent joy is like sunlight that is always shining This day of practice will be based on a teaching called the within. This natural radiance is often obscured by passing 8 Realizations of Great Beings from the Zen tradition. It is a clouds of emotion and thought. At this workshop we will straightforward description of how a realized being lives and share practices and teachings from Buddhist and qigong thinks. What gets them out of bed in the morning? What traditions on how to uncover and reclaim our natural do they value? Each of the eight “ways to awaken” is both a inner joy. Practices will include movement, meditations description of a process that we can engage in, as well as the and sound. You will learn various qigong movements that outcome of that process. As we age, we naturally experience awaken joy through strengthening the endocrine and new perspectives on life which, although sometimes immune systems, thereby reducing stress, anxiety and unwelcome, are actually conducive to waking us up. The eight depression by activating and balancing the energy body. ways reveal a path of practice to follow which oŽers true Sliding Scale $75 - $200. Code MT3D16 refuge and deep nourishment for our spiritual aspiration. In this day of practice and reflection, there will be silent sitting, walking, dharma teachings and a few interactive exercises. Sliding Scale $75 - $200. Code AD7D16 28 NON-RESIDENTIAL PROGRAMS | SEP - DEC 2016

SAT Body of Awakening: SUN Guided Meditation on the Elements NOV Day of Practice & Contemplation NOV AYYA SOBHANA 26 EUGENE CASH 27 Sunday, November 27, 9:00 am - 5:00 pm Saturday, November 26, 9:30 am - 4:30 pm

Buddhism recognizes our "precious human DANA DAY (BY DONATION) birth" as a gift and opportunity. For the "I am not separate from all beings. The process of life in me is not Buddha the opportunity and experience of separate from nature." awakening manifested through his human embodiment. During our day together we Developing this perception can calm the mind, heal agitation will contemplate this precious life and how and worry, and open the clear space for insight to arise. to be embodied using the various practices Ayya Sobhana Theri's guided meditation will be based on Buddha taught. We will explore practicing one of the most inspiring of Buddhist texts — the Exposition of the Elements [MN140]. We will begin by tuning into with: mindfulness of the whole body; Eugene Cash how to allow our awareness to permeate the six sense bases, and then direct our attention to the and saturate our bodily experience; the direct experience four physical elements as universal qualities, seeing the of mindfulness of and with the breath; staying present and earthiness of the bones as no diŽerent than a tree, the awake in all postures and activities; discovering how to stay wetness of tears no diŽerent than a river, the fire of digestion intimately aware and awake in our direct somatic, kinesthetic no diŽerent than a wildfire, the airy aspect of breath no reality when thinking, speaking and listening, i.e., relating diŽerent than the wind. By softening the perception of with others; learning how to be free from the conventional individuality in the physical body, this meditation makes self-habit of negatively judging our bodies; reflecting on the space for a refined and pure consciousness to arise, which preciousness of the impermanent nature of living in a body. can be directed to non-clinging, peace and truth. Sliding Scale $75 - $200. Code EC1D16 Dana Day (by Donation). Code NU1G16

SUN Wise Speech: SAT Relationship As Spiritual Practice NOV A Practice of Insight and Love DEC DEBRA CHAMBERLIN-TAYLOR, 27 SHAHARA GODFREY 3 GEORGE TAYLOR Sunday, November 27, 9:30 am - 4:30 pm Saturday, December 3, 9:30 am - 4:30 pm

OPEN TO ALL, WITH OR WITHOUT PARTNERS CE CREDIT AVAILABLE CE CREDIT AVAILABLE Question: What is the most destructive organ in the human body as well as the most helpful? Answer: The tongue, along Relationships can be a source of great joy and awakening with the lips, lungs, teeth and vocal chords. Words are very in which the most di£cult challenges are used for growth powerful. They can connect and heal people; they also can and for opening the heart. This may sound like a fantasy, do harm and alienate. Words can bring joy and also sorrow. yet experience in our own marriage, as well as experience In the morality aspect of the Eightfold Path, Right or Wise with hundreds of couples we have worked with, shows Speech is one of the factors. As we all know, words have us that conscious, loving relations are possible. These meaning and can provide insight. They can be truthful, have relationships are a profound opportunity to take the genuine impact, bring peace and harmony. The "best" intentions spiritual journey of letting go of the conditioned self and when expressed may not have the desired eŽect on the of opening to the vast heart of compassion. However, receiver. Has there been harm done? Have the correct words partnerships of this quality do not occur by accident. A few been chosen? Is the body language congruent with what is essential principles and skills can transform relationships expressed? Are we aware of the intention and the impact? into spiritual practice. In this workshop, we'll share these Insight can hope with both. And what does love have to do essential tools through group discussion, experiential with it? Everything. exercises and guided meditations. These tools are valuable for partnerships, for family relationships and for friendships; Sliding Scale $75 - $200. Code SG3D16 w o r k a b l e o n y o u r o w n o r f o r u s e i n t h e r a p e u t i c s e t t i n g s . Sliding Scale $75 - $200. Code DG3D16 29 NON-RESIDENTIAL PROGRAMS | SEP - DEC 2016

SAT Working with Trauma Using SUN Awakening through the Body: DEC Myth and Stories DEC Embodied Wisdom for Challenging Times 3 PAWAN BAREJA 4 HEATHER SUNDBERG, Saturday, December 3, 9:30 am - 4:30 pm MANUELA MISCHKE-REEDS Sunday, December 4, 9:30 am - 4:30 pm

CE CREDIT AVAILABLE In this introduction to the practice of meditating with the When working with trauma, it is easy to get caught in self- body, we will explore the depth of somatic knowledge judgment, shame and thinking/planning. Stories and myths and the body as the object of meditation through several have a way of bypassing our thinking brain and appeal to our complementary traditions. Heather Sundberg will teach emotional and lower brain. For that reason, they have been from the perspective of the First Foundation of Mindfulness used over the ages to help people work with and assimilate and weave in her understandings from the school of Somatic di£cult events in their lives such as loss and trauma. They Experiencing. Manuela Mischke-Reeds will teach from the are also used to initiate and empower us with right intention perspective of Meditating with the Body®, developed by and to engage in right action. Most of us are familiar with the Dr. Reggie Ray, in tradition with the Dharma Ocean lineage, power of stories and myths as we were touched by them as which allows the meditator to connect with the inherent children. In this daylong we will invoke the power of stories wisdom of the body. She brings the perspective of Hakomi and myths from Buddhist and non-Buddhist traditions to help Psychotherapy, a somatic-mindfulness based method, and loosen the mental and emotional knots of trauma. During Somatic Experiencing to meditation practice. Although the this daylong, you will be invited to invoke the teachings that meditation practice is a solo journey for each meditator, are applicable to you and find new insights to work with your the importance of being held within a safe community is di£culties. This day will help health care professionals get to a crucial aspect in the development of trusting one's body the heart of the emotional knots within their clients who have experience. Precise somatic awareness practices will be suŽered trauma and use some of the non-linear mindfulness taught and experienced. tools oŽered in class to help their clients release those knots. Sliding Scale $75 - $200. Code Code HS1D16 Sliding Scale $75 - $200. Code PB2D16

SUN At the Gates of the Temple: MON Inquiry: DEC DEC A Work That Reconnects A Day of Exploration and Discovery 4 JOANNA MACY, JENNIFER BEREZAN 5 SUSIE HARRINGTON Sunday, December 4, 9:30 am - 4:30 pm Monday, December 5, 9:30 am - 4:30 pm

In this season we face darkness, but know as our ancestors Life is full of surprises — events and experiences that arise did that light is coming. This expectation, whether cast in in our environment and within us. Life is also full of seeming terms of Advent or Solstice, infuses us with sturdy patience repetition — external events and internal habits of mind. and a heart-lifting readiness for the sacred. In our day A key aspect of a path of practice is meeting the range of together, we will deepen both of these capacities through experiences with curiosity and willingness. This attitude of dharma teachings, meditation and an abundance of music interest, inquiry, or as it is traditionally known, investigation, is and song, as well as interactive practices from the Work one of the seven factors of enlightenment and is a key support That Reconnects. This experiential group work at the to our practice and to our cultivation of understanding and interface between social change and spiritual breakthrough wisdom. How and when do we use inquiry? When is it useful has evolved over the last 40 years. It is nourished by the to do inquiry, and when is it more useful to let it be? What are Buddhadharma, systems theory and deep ecology and the methods and approaches of inquiry that we can bring to refined in the crucible of direct action. All this will help us see life and practice? We will spend this day, exploring a variety of that our eŽorts on behalf of Earth and all beings, which often methods together. We will use guided meditation, reflection seem faltering and futile, bring us closer to the heart of the and interactive practices to cultivate an attitude of curiosity, as universe. While still in the darkness of our time, we see that well as methods for investigation. we are standing at the opening gates of a temple. Sliding Scale $75 - $200. Code SH1D16 Sliding Scale $75 - $200. Code JM1D16 30 NON-RESIDENTIAL PROGRAMS | SEP - DEC 2016

SAT Calming the Mind, Opening SAT The Buddha's Path of Well-Being DEC to Insight: Bringing Concentration DEC and Happiness 10 & Insight Together As One Practice 10 HOWARD COHN RICHARD SHANKMAN Saturday, December 10, 9:30 am - 4:30 pm Saturday, December 10, 9:30 am - 4:30 pm

Concentration and jhana are often taught as separate CE CREDIT AVAILABLE practices from insight and mindfulness meditation. Some The Buddha was called "the Happy One." His teachings teachers stress the importance of concentration while others and path provide a clear and inspiring vision of our capacity teach that insight arises through mindfulness alone and do to use our life to fulfill our goal of happiness. They dispel not give concentration any particular emphasis. Rather than many of our culture’s promises of what will bring happiness having to choose between doing concentration or insight but actually block our way to the real source of joy. This practice, we will explore how they can be brought together day of Insight Meditation will follow the Buddha's Way of as a single style of meditation in a mutually supportive way. mindfulness, concentration and love, illustrating how each of We will learn to integrate and cultivate the deeper stages us, through a gradual process of applying loving awareness of both. We will learn to practice so the mind becomes to our moment-to-moment experience, can move from more collected and centered, leading to deepening states clinging and attachment to letting go and freedom, from of concentration, peace, clarity and calm-abiding and confusion to clarity, and from tension to ease of well-being. culminating in states of unification of mind known as jhana. The Buddha said, "If it was not possible to do this I would not At the same time, awareness will be guided to open into ask you to. Come and see for yourself." This day of silence mindfulness of the body and states of the heart and the will include instructions in sitting and walking meditation mind, revealing the Four Foundations of Mindfulness. This and opportunities for new and experienced meditators to ask integration of concentration, calm, mindfulness and jhana questions about the practice. We will practice the art of feeling builds a strong foundation for the arising of insight. and staying present in the body while working with others and Sliding Scale $75 - $200. Code RS4D16 accomplishing the many tasks necessary for eŽective service. Sliding Scale $75 - $200. Code HC7D16

SUN Your Body As Nature: SUN Equanimity: DEC The Four Elements DEC Finding Balance in Our Practice 11 ANUSHKA FERNANDOPULLE 11 JAMES BARAZ Sunday, December 11, 9:30 am - 4:30 pm Sunday, December 11, 9:30 am - 4:30 pm

BRING A FRIEND FOR FREE WHEN YOU PRE-REGISTER Your body may seem solid, separate and independent but it is actually comprised of basic elements of nature. In ancient Equanimity, or upekkha, is a highly valued times these were called earth, air, fire and water, which can quality in Buddhist teachings. It is one be felt as the solid, liquid, gaseous and energetic aspects of of the Four Divine Abodes (along with the body. We can train ourselves to develop intimacy with the loving-kindness, compassion and joy), one body through developing awareness of these dimensions of of the Seven Factors of Enlightenment, and our physical life. We can learn contemplations to break down one of the Ten Paramitas or Perfections. our misperception of our separation from nature and augment When highly developed it is the precursor our environmental awareness by viscerally understanding to the experience of awakening. But what ourselves to be a part of nature. The meditation practices is equanimity? How can we cultivate it in James Baraz we will do are based on ancient Buddhist teachings in the our meditation practice? How can we access it in our daily life Satipatthana Sutta but are especially relevant for us today. when we are faced with challenges like loss or major suŽering? Through developing a new way of seeing, we can gain insight And can we develop equanimity or balance in times like these into characteristics of the body and the natural world that can with so much uncertainty, fear and sadness over the suŽering lead to greater freedom. Come connect with your natural body, in the world? Our theme for this day will be on developing develop a unique environmental awareness, and see what equanimity in our formal practice and exploring various there is to learn together. aspects of equanimity that can be pragmatically applied to our life oŽ the cushion. Sliding Scale $75 - $200. Code AF4D16 Sliding Scale $75 - $200. Code JB6D16 31 NON-RESIDENTIAL PROGRAMS | SEP - DEC 2016

SUN Meditation and Chanting Winter SAT Leadership on the Bodhisattva Path: DEC Solstice Ritual DEC Integrating Power and Love 11 JAI UTTAL, DEBRA CHAMBERLIN-TAYLOR 17 OREN J SOFER, MIKI KASHTAN Sunday, December 11, 6:30 - 9:30 pm Saturday, December 17, 9:30 am - 4:30 pm

EVENING EVENT CE CREDIT AVAILABLE The great Love and sacred light that this season celebrates Many of us are inspired by the image of the Bodhisattva — are found within our own hearts. We will use the powerful the one who vows to work for the relief and liberation of all and sublime blend of chanting and meditation to carry sentient beings. What does it mean to follow in the footsteps us from the frenzy of "holiday mind" to the ocean of the of the Buddha, the first bodhisattva of our time, at a time awakened heart. This evening will include chanting (call and of environmental degradation, growing gaps between rich response) and meditation. We will conclude with a beautiful and poor nationally and globally, and unprecedented human candlelight ritual to honor the winter solstice. violence? We all want to improve personal and professional Sliding Scale $30 - $100. Code JA4E16 relationships; to develop stronger presence, greater compassion and better communication. We are beginning to realize, collectively, that individual well-being and fully thriving relationships and communities now require us to respond beyond our individual lives and step into active care for the whole. How do we show up to support ourselves and others in responding to these unprecedented times? Sliding Scale $75 - $200. Code OS2D16

SAT Our Heart's Wish to Awaken SUN A Day of Heart-Based and DEC AYYA ANANDABODHI, DEC Compassion Practices 17 AYYA SANTACITTA, ISABELITA PAPA 18 ANDREA LIEBERSTEIN, RUTH DAVIS, Saturday, December 17, 9:00 am - 5:00 pm BRUCE DAVIS, CHRISTINE TULIS (HARP) Sunday, December 18, 9:30 am - 4:30 pm

DANA DAY (BY DONATION) CE CREDIT AVAILABLE Enthusiasm, eŽort, "As awareness rests in the heart, an indescribable joy from within devotion and unfolds." — Bruce Davis investigation are four Join us for a beautiful day of calming the mind by discovering qualities we all already the silence of the heart with experienced heart-based have in seed form. teachers. Here is a vast presence of simple peace. Stepping Following the Buddha’s out of the busy-ness of daily life into the inner realm of heart advice on these Four essence is to discover our source of trust, understanding and Bases for Spiritual gentleness with ourselves and life in general. Heartfulness Strength (iddhipada), Ayya Anandabodhi Ayya Santacitta meditations will be shared by heart-based teachers Ruth and we will investigate Bruce Davis, PhD. Ruth will teach her heart-based movement how to harness our practice, Sacred Movement Ritual. Together they will share life energy to further the Path of Awakening. It is easy to fritter the gifts of many years in retreat in sacred silence and nature. away our time on the myriad possibilities of contemporary life, Heart-based teacher of inner and outer nourishment, Andrea but our heart is called to a deeper truth. Through cultivating Lieberstein, will oŽer Mindfulness Meditation, loving-kindness the iddhipada with sincere motivation our practice gains and compassion practices to integrate into daily life. She momentum. This day will be held in Noble Silence with guided will guide you in how to enjoy your lunch with a nourishing sitting and walking meditation, Dhamma reflections and compassion-based awareness "seasoned" by Mindful Eating opportunities for dialogue. There will be a shared vegetarian Instructions. The day will include Christine Tulis's exquisite meal. Since the beginning of Buddhism 2,600 years ago, heart-opening harp music and a labyrinth walk. Buddhist monastics have depended on almsfood. You are invited to bring food to share with the nuns and each other. Sliding Scale $75 - $200. Code AL3D16 Dana Day (by Donation). Code NU2G16 32 NON-RESIDENTIAL PROGRAMS | SEP - DEC 2016

SUN Just this Moment: A Day of Practice SAT Let Go, Start Over, Let Go: A New Year’s DEC KATE MUNDING DEC Meditation, Emancipation & Celebration 18 Sunday, December 18, 9:30 am - 4:30 pm 31 WES NISKER, NINA WISE Saturday, December 31, 9:30 am - 4:30 pm

Mindfulness gets a lot of airplay these days, which is a This is the perfect way to start the new year! Die to the past wonderful gift to society. As Thich Nhat Hanh says, "With and move on to the present. Sit in silence and replenish your mindfulness you can establish yourself in the present in order deepest wisdom. Reconnect with the great mystery. Set to touch the wonders of life that are available in that moment." intentions for yourself and hopes for the world in the coming But we often forget that mindfulness practice is just part of the year. Laugh, sing, and awaken! The daylong will feature periods Buddhist path, a complete practice and path towards freedom. of meditation practice, some movement exercises, poetry, Join us for a day of silent meditation, instruction, movement chanting, and an end-of-the-year guided ritual. Join us in and contemplative exploration focused on how to cultivate, community as we begin another spin on this old rock of ages. support and sustain a practice that awakens the heart and All ages are welcome. mind. Strengthen your current meditation practice or get one Sliding Scale $75 - $200. Code WN6D16 started through this guided investigation into the three Buddhist path factors (part of the Noble Eightfold Path) that bring stability, continuity and ease to one’s life — Wise EŽort, Wise Mindfulness, and Wise Concentration. This day has something for everyone, no matter what your experience level may be. Sliding Scale $75 - $200. Code KM1D16

NON-RESIDENTIAL INFORMATION

Spirit Rock deeply welcomes anyone with an interest in studying the Dharma and practicing Insight Meditation. We are committed to ensuring that these teachings are available to all and that no one is turned away for lack of funds. We regu- larly hold events that don't have fees, called "Dana Days." And all programs and retreats at Spirit Rock have scholarships, sliding-scale fees and work exchange opportunities available so that money isn't a barrier to practice. Please join us! Registration Registration is available on our website spiritrock.org. You consider offering us your time and energy helping with can also mail a check to Spirit Rock, PO Box 169, Woodacre, events, in housekeeping, on the land, in an office or in the CA, 94973. Please include your daytime phone number kitchen. In gratitude for your service, volunteers receive and email address and write the program code on the free or reduced price attendance at programs. Contact our outside of the envelope and on your check. Pre-registration Volunteer & Community Coordinator, Sally Segerstrom, at closes at noon Friday for weekend programs. For class [email protected] or (415) 488-0164 x224. series and other non-weekend programs, pre-registration

closes at noon one business day before the program. In Young Adult/Senior Rates order to receive the pre-registration price, you must pay in Young Adults (18-26) and Seniors (65+ with limited and fixed full at the time you register. There is an additional $5 fee income) are invited to attend regular daylongs for $45-$55 for registering at the door. To register by phone, call (415) and class series for half price (with some exceptions). 488-0164 x266 or x219, Monday to Friday. Cancellations Costs & Financial Assistance We do not offer refun ds, but you can request a credit up to No one is turned away for lack of funds for daylongs, drop- 4:00 pm two business days before an event, or Thursday ins and most class series. Scholarships are not available for weekend programs. We will credit your registration for Benefits. Volunteers support every event we offer and fee towards another non-residential program. Credits are may attend events at no cost or with reduced rates. Please not transferrable to residential retreats and must be used contact our Volunteer Coordinator for more information at within one year of their date of issue. If you do not contact [email protected] or (415) 488-0164 x224. us prior to this deadline, no credit will be issued. Credits cannot be accessed online; to request or use a credit, Volunteering contact [email protected] or call (415) 488- Volunteering is a meaningful way to participate in 0164 x266 or x219, 8 am - 4 pm, Monday to Friday. the Spirit Rock community. Volunteers help in every department and support every program. We hope you’ll

33 FAMILY PROGRAM | SEP - DEC 2016 FAMILY DAYLONGS & CLASSES

NEW: For the first time we're oering class series for parents and middle school-aged children on the same night. Now Wednesday nights can be a family aair. WED Fall Middle School Meditation Series WED Fall Path of Parenting Series OCT LESLIE BUTTERFIELD, SEAN FARGO OCT GRACE FISHER 5 5 Wednesdays: Oct 5 - Nov 2, 6:00 - 8:00 pm 5 5 Wednesdays: Oct 5 - Nov 2, 6:00 - 8:00 pm

5-WEEK CLASS 5-WEEK CLASS SERIES SERIES Parenting has the potential to be a Learn meditation, profound spiritual practice in which we relax deeply, speak cultivate our capacity for boundless love your truth and and wise action. In this class, we'll apply develop your mind the practices and teachings of mindful — all while hanging awareness and loving-kindness to the out with other great joys and challenges of daily life with kids. Leslie Butterfield Sean Fargo people your age. Each session will include meditation, Grace Fisher Through the practices of mindfulness and Insight Meditation, teaching and discussion. This class is for anyone who is we will reconnect to ourselves in order to experience more engaged with children, including parents, grandparents, peace, wisdom and compassion. Classes will include movement, foster and step-parents, teachers and caregivers. community building games, meditation instruction and council, Participants are welcome to bring newborn to pre-crawling a practice of witnessing and contributing to the group's collective babies to class. wsidom. The final class will include a potluck dinner celebration. Sliding Scale $125 - $200. Code FA3C16 Sliding Scale $120 - $240. Code TE6C16 Photo: Margaret Lee.

SUN Wake up! Parenting As a Path of Practice S¼N Fall Family Practice Day SEP WILL KABAT-ZINN, OCT EVE DECKER, KATE MUNDING, 18 TERESA LAMENDOLA KABAT-ZINN 23 JAMES BARAZ Sunday, Sept 18, 9:30 am - 4:30 pm Sunday, Oct 23, 10:30 am - 3:00 pm

For more information see pg. 17. Family Days are a wonderful opportunity to spend the day connecting with your children, yourself and a community of SUN Fall Teen Series supportive peers. Come play, share, learn and open your heart! OCT SEAN FEIT OAKES, SARA OAKES Family Practice Period: A program for the whole family. We 9 6 Sundays: Oct 9 - Nov 6, 6 - 8:30 pm start our morning with a program for everyone, weaving the and Sunday, Nov 13, 11:00 am - 3:00 pm theme of the day into songs, skits and family activities. We have plenty for your little ones, with mindfulness geared toward children ages 4-10. We have added a program for older 5-WEEK CLASS SERIES children, ages 11-14. Come and explore mindfulness with us! All teens in high school and beyond are welcome. Youth Program: During the second half of our day, youth ages Learn meditation, relax deeply, speak your truth and develop your 4-14 will attend age-appropriate groups with our experienced mind — all while hanging out with other great people your age. Spirit Rock mindfulness leaders. They will play, make art, sing Through the practices of mindfulness and Insight Meditation, we songs, and practice mindfulness together. take the time to reconnect to ourselves in order to experience Parents Program: Parents of children ages 4 and older more peace, wisdom and compassion. Classes will include will have an opportunity to meditate, hear a talk related to movement, community building games, meditation instruction parenting as practice, and connect with one another through and council, a practice of witnessing the group's collective group discussions. wisdom. The final class will include a potluck celebration and a half-day of practice among the trees on the Spirit Rock land. Sliding Scale $65 - $200. Code FA4D16 Sliding Scale $120 - $240. Code TE5C16 34 FAMILY PROGRAM | SEP - DEC 2016

Family Retreats: Non-residential & Residential

FRI SUN Abhayagiri Teen Weekend THU SAT Returning Home: A Non-Residential SEP - SEP AJAHN PASANNO, FOREST FEIN NOV - NOV Retreat for Parents 2 4 2 nights, Friday - Sunday 17 19 ANNE CUSHMAN Abhayagiri Monastery, Thursday, Nov 17 - Saturday, Nov 19 Mendocino County 9:30 am - 4:30 pm

OPEN TO TEENS AGES 14 - 20 YEARS OLD NEW: 3-DAY NON-RESIDENTIAL RETREAT Travel with Spirit Rock Family Program teachers from Spirit OPEN TO ALL PARENTS AND CAREGIVERS Rock to Abhayagiri Monastery in Redwood Valley, Mendocino For more infomation see pg. 27. County, for a weekend of camping and practice with the Abhayagiri Monastic Community. Teens participate in the monastic schedule, which includes periods of meditation and TUE SUN New Year's Teen Retreat chanting, working and hiking on the land, and teachings from DEC - JAN MATTHEW BRENSILVER, the monastics. To maintain a lifestyle of simplicity while at the 27 1 MARVIN BELZER, ERIN SELOVER monastery, participants will take the Eight Precepts, which 5 nights, Tuesday - Sunday include not overindulging in sleep and not eating a full meal after 12 noon. This retreat is oŽered by donation; however, a sliding scale deposit is required to reserve a space. OPEN TO TEENS AGES 15 - 19 YEARS OLD Suggested Donation $200 - $400. Code TE1R16 Get your head straight, chill out, learn to focus and appreciate life to its fullest! Explore your heart and mind. Connect with other teens in a positive, meaningful way. Reflect on the Photo: Margaret Lee. mystery and truth of your life. This retreat will be an opportunity for teenagers to explore mindfulness practice through guided periods of silent sitting and walking meditation, small group discussions, creative activities and unstructured free time. Besides learning meditation practices, there will also be time to go for walks, play music, tell stories and enjoy each others' company. Since meditation practice may be new to some teens, each period of sitting and walking meditation will be limited to 30 minutes. Facilitators will be available to give extra support to teens whenever needed. Meals are vegetarian and are prepared with the tastes and preferences of young people in mind. $1020-$510 sliding scale, plus a donation to the teacher(s) and retreat staff. Code 232R16

FAMILY PROGRAM INFORMATION

Limited scholarships and work exchanges may be available for Family Programs. Volunteers are needed to assist with the Family Days and attend free of charge; children are welcome to volunteer alongside an adult. If interested, please contact the Volunteer Coordinator for more information at volunteering@ spiritrock.org or call (415) 488-0164, x224.

35 RESIDENTIAL RETREATS | SEP - DEC 2016

RESIDENTIAL RETREATS

Sitting a retreat at Spirit Rock can be a life-changing experience and can lead to profound deepening of your practice. Retreats last from a few days to a full two-month retreat. To help you plan ahead, below is the calendar for the next six months, with the opening dates of registration. If you are able to attend a retreat at short notice, please join a waitlist as spaces regularly open up. Visit spiritrock.org for more information or contact [email protected] or (415) 488-0164. REGISTRATION OPENS

SEPTEMBER RETREAT TEACHERS REGISTRATION OPENS 12 - 18 Meditation and the Spirit of Creativity ANNA DOUGLAS, ANNE CUSHMAN, BARBARA KAUFMAN 5/10 (PAINTING), ALBERT FLYNN DESILVER (WRITING) 12 - 18 Mindfulness of Breathing Discourse: TEMPEL SMITH 5/10 Study and Practice Retreat (UWH)** 19 - 25 Finding Freedom in the Body: Mindfulness MARY GRACE ORR, BOB STAHL, CHRISTIANE WOLF, 5/18 of the Body as a Gateway to Liberation MARCY REYNOLDS (QIGONG) (CE CREDIT) 26 - Oct 2 Kind Awareness: The Integration of NOAH LEVINE, VINNY FERRARO, JOANNA HARPER 5/24 Metta and Vipassana OCTOBER 3 - 10 Reclaiming the Wisdom of the Mother JOANNA MACY, DEBRA CHAMBERLIN-TAYLOR, SPRING WASHAM, 6/1 of All Buddhas: A Women’s Retreat ERIN TREAT, JENNIFER BEREZAN (MUSICIAN) 11 - 16 An Undefended Heart HOWARD COHN, SPRING WASHAM, ASHLEY SHARP (YOGA) 6/8 11 - 16 Natural Radiance: The Freedom of MARK COLEMAN, KONDA MASON (YOGA) 6/8 Awareness (UWH)** 19 - 29 Fall Insight Meditation Retreat (LOTTERY) JACK KORNFIELD, TRUDY GOODMAN, WES NISKER, LILA KATE 5/17 WHEELER, WILL KABAT-ZINN, SPRING WASHAM, TEJA BELL (QIGONG) 30 - Nov 6 Maranasati: Contemplating Death/ EUGENE CASH, NIKKI MIRGHAFORI, JANICE CLARFIELD (YOGA) 6/28 Awakening to Life 30 - Nov 6 Liberate the Body - Stretch the Mind: WES NISKER, MATTHEW BRENSILVER, KATCHIE ANANDA (YOGA) 6/28 Mindfulness Meditation & Yoga (UWH)** NOVEMBER 18 - 27 Thanksgiving Insight Meditation Retreat WES NISKER, MATTHEW BRENSILVER, ERIN SELOVER, 7/19 KATE MUNDING, TERRY VANDIVER (YOGA) 28 - Dec 4 From Mindfulness of Breath to Radiant Mind DONALD ROTHBERG, SUSIE HARRINGTON, ERIN SELOVER 7/26 28 - Dec 4 Connecting Mind and Heart (UWH)** JAMES BARAZ, HEATHER MARTIN 7/26 DECEMBER 5 - 11 In the Presence of Love: Metta & Qigong SPRING WASHAM, TEMPEL SMITH, MARK COLEMAN ,TEJA BELL (QIGONG) 8/3 14 - 17 Awakening in Every Moment: SYLVIA BOORSTEIN, DANA DEPALMA, KONDA MASON (YOGA) 8/16 Mindfulness in Metta 18 - 23 Insight Meditation Solstice Retreat DONALD ROTHBERG, JOHN TRAVIS, HEATHER SUNDBERG 8/17 27 - Jan 1 New Year’s Teen Retreat (age 15-19) MARVIN BELZER, ERIN SELOVER, MATTHEW BRENSILVER 8/31 27 - Jan 3 New Year's Insight Retreat (LOTTERY) EUGENE CASH, PAMELA WEISS, ALEXIS SANTOS, 7/27 NIKKI MIRGHAFORI, JANICE CLARFIELD (YOGA) JANUARY 2017 4 - 8 Essential Dharma Meditation Retreat HOWARD COHN, HEATHER MARTIN 8/31 9 - 16 January Metta Retreat DONALD ROTHBERG, SYLVIA BOORSTEIN, LARRY YANG, 7/19 HEATHER SUNDBERG, KONDA MASON (YOGA) 22 - 27 Mindfulness of Body, Heart & Mind: ANUSHKA FERNANDOPULLE, DORI LANGEVIN, KATE MUNDING 9/21 Insight Meditation for the New Year ** Upper Walking Hall 36 RESIDENTIAL RETREATS | SEP - DEC 2016

2017 FEBRUARY & MARCH, ONE- & TWO-MONTH RETREATS REGISTRATION OPENS 7/13

Jan 28 – Feb 25, 2017 February Insight Meditation One-Month Retreat (28 Nights) JAMES BARAZ, CAROL WILSON, GUY ARMSTRONG, SALLY ARMSTRONG, James Baraz Carol Wilson Guy Armstrong Sally Armstrong Andrea Fella ANDREA FELLA, BONNIE DURAN, MARTHA LINK (YOGA) Feb 25 – Mar 25, 2017 March Insight Meditation One-Month Retreat (28 Nights) GIL FRONSDAL, PHILLIP MOFFITT, Bonnie Duran Martha Link Gil Fronsdal Phillip Mo³tt Adrianne Ross ADRIANNE ROSS, NIKKI MIRGHAFORI, ERIN TREAT, RUTH KING, KAMALA MASTERS, KATE JOHNSON (YOGA)

Jan 28 – Mar 25, 2017 Feb/March Two-Month Retreat (56 Nights) Nikki Mirghafori Erin Treat Ruth King Kamala Masters Kate Johnson

SEP SEP Meditation and the Spirit of Creativity SEP SEP The Mindfulness of Breathing 12 - 18 ANNA DOUGLAS, ANNE CUSHMAN, 12 - 18 Discourse: A Study, Discussion & ALBERT FLYNN DESILVER (WRITER), Practice Retreat (UWH) BARBARA KAUFMAN (PAINTER) TEMPEL SMITH 6 nights, Monday - Sunday 6 nights, Monday - Sunday, Upper Walking Hall

WAITLIST AVAILABLITY Prerequisite: Two 5-night vipassana retreats, led by a Spirit Rock This is a silent retreat for writers, painters and anyone wanting or IMS teacher, plus a year of daily/weekly sitting meditation. to deepen their contact with the creative spirit. You do not In the Anapanasati Sutta the Buddha have to have previous writing or painting experience — just describes a direct path to liberation the passion to explore! The focus of the retreat is on the by a carefully graduated development dynamic principles of spiritual and creative unfolding: how of mindfulness of breathing. Through meditation supports the creative process and how the 2,600 years this teaching has become creative process enlivens spiritual awakening. The focus is the central path of meditation to very much on process rather than the pressure to produce a dispel deeply held confusion and result, artistic or spiritual. Alternating between stillness and habits of craving leading to suŽering. creative activity provides fertile ground for the flowering of The discourse describes developing Tempel Smith one's unique expression. In addition to the usual schedule mindfulness of breathing as a basis of of sitting and walking meditation, we will oŽer two tracks of meditating on the classic Four Foundations of Mindfulness creative pursuit: one for writers with Albert Flynn DeSilver, a (body, pleasure/pain, mind states and mental processes). writer and dharma teacher, and one for painters with master With these practices the meditator has the direct experience teacher, Barbara Kaufman. There will be two hours of studio of impermanence, unsatisfactoriness and non-self. From time in the morning and two hours in the evening. Meditation this, wrong views drop away and unqualified peace and instructions, daily yoga/movement, dharma talks, and contentment arise. To support the study aspect of the practice meetings with teachers will be oŽered. retreat, we will read traditional and modern interpretations of $1320 - $660 sliding scale, plus a donation to the teacher(s) and retreat this discourse. This retreat is held in Noble Silence except staff. Code 392R16 for presentations, reflections, shared group dialogue and interaction mornings and evenings. $1320 - $660 sliding scale, plus a donation to the teacher(s) and retreat staff. Code 393R16 37 RESIDENTIAL RETREATS | SEP - DEC 2016

SEP SEP Finding Freedom in the Body: SEP OCT Kind Awareness: 19 - 25 Mindfulness of the Body as a 26 - 2 The Integration of Metta and Gateway to Liberation Vipassana MARY GRACE ORR, BOB STAHL, NOAH LEVINE, VINNY FERRARO, CHRISTIANE WOLF, JOANNA HARPER MARCY REYNOLDS (QIGONG) 6 nights, Monday - Sunday 6 nights, Monday - Sunday

We will work primarily with the first of the Four Foundations of Mindfulness —mindfulness of the body. The 32 Parts of the Body meditation has rarely been taught in the West; you will be introduced to it from an Insight perspective of the true nature and wonders of the body. This practice has also been used for healing illness and most importantly to help eradicate the erroneous view of self. Various methods will be taught to strengthen mindfulness of the body and to explore the mind/body connection. We will follow the usual format of an Noah Levine Vinny Ferraro Joanna Harper Insight Meditation (Vipassana) retreat, with periods of sitting At this Insight Meditation retreat, we focus our attention on our and walking practice, as well as qigong sessions for further breath, body, heart and mind. The instructions will be based exploration of mindfulness of the body. upon the Four Foundations of Mindfulness in combination with $1320 - $660 sliding scale, plus a donation to the teacher(s) and retreat exercises in loving-kindness and compassion. Each day will staff. Code 394R16 include periods of sitting and walking meditation, dharma talks and practice meetings with the teachers. $1320 - $660 sliding scale, plus a donation to the teacher(s) and retreat staff. Code 202R16

OCT OCT Reclaiming the Wisdom of the Mother OCT OCT An Undefended Heart 3 - 10 of All Buddhas: A Women's Retreat 11 - 16 HOWARD COHN, SPRING WASHAM, JOANNA MACY, ASHLEY SHARP (YOGA) DEBRA CHAMBERLIN-TAYLOR , 5 nights, Tuesday - Sunday SPRING WASHAM, ERIN TREAT, JENNIFER BEREZAN (MUSICIAN) 7 nights, Monday - Monday

OPEN TO ALL SELF-IDENTIFIED WOMEN At this retreat we will be introduced to Prajnaparamita, the mother of all Buddhas, and be empowered to embody her wisdom and compassion for the sake of all life. Using meditation and powerful teachings and interactive processes developed by Joanna Macy, we'll experience the truth of our interbeing, made real to us by our Howard Cohn Spring Washam Ashley Sharp love and pain for the world. Opening to our true nature will bring The Buddha's teachings on the self view oŽer a way to come a fresh understanding of who we really are and how we're related out of the constriction of excessive self protection to a more to each other and the universe. We will begin to comprehend our open hearted sense of ease and freedom. Day in and day out, power to change, heal and awaken. The strength and beauty in we expend enormous amounts of our vital energy defending, our circle of women will support us to uncover the immensity of protecting and building up an illusory sense of ourselves. This our heart-mind, which helps free us from fear. Isolation will open obscures our inherent freedom, goodness and love. Sitting outward and deliver us to wider reaches of our world as lover and and walking in silence, we will shift from living from our egoic world as self. Come with the intention to meet women you will views to noticing them with clarity and kindness. We can all continue to know and work with to benefit the web of life. experience the freedom of an undefended heart. $1540 - $770 sliding scale, plus a donation to the teacher(s) and retreat $1100 - $550 sliding scale, plus a donation to the teacher(s) and retreat staff. Code 204R16 staff. Code 206R16 38 RESIDENTIAL RETREATS | SEP - DEC 2016

OCT OCT Natural Radiance: OCT OCT Fall Insight Meditation Retreat 11 - 16 The Freedom of Awareness 19 - 29 JACK KORNFIELD, TRUDY GOODMAN, MARK COLEMAN, WES NISK E R , LIL A K ATE WHE E LE R , KONDA MASON (YOGA) WILL KABAT-ZINN, SPRING WASHAM, 5 nights, Tuesday - Sunday TEJA BELL (QIGONG) Upper Walking Hall 10 nights, Wednesday - Saturday

Awareness is the secret jewel innate in everyone. WAITLIST AVAILABLITY In Buddhism, awareness is the doorway to clarity, This retreat will emphasize quieting the mind, opening the understanding and insight. It is the foundation for wisdom, heart, and developing clarity and depth of practice. Traditional compassion and awakening. In this silent meditation retreat, meditation instruction will be combined with a spirit of loving- we will explore this innate quality of awareness — what kindness and silent sitting, walking, dharma talks and practice it is and how to cultivate and abide in that serene awake meetings with teachers. presence. We will investigate how mindfulness supports a $2460 - $1230 sliding scale, plus a donation to the teacher(s) and retreat depth of awareness through various meditation practices, staff. Code 210R16 as well as look at what obscures the clarity of awareness both in meditation and in life. As mindfulness grows we discover how this capacity for awareness is available in every moment. We will also explore the fusion of love and awareness and how developing mindful awareness allows a natural opening of the heart that brings a kind and compassionate awareness to ourselves, to others and to all experience. $1100 - $550 sliding scale, plus a donation to the teacher(s) and retreat staff. Code 208R16

OCT NOV Liberate the Body - Stretch the Mind: OCT NOV Maranasati: 30 - 6 Mindfulness Meditation and Yoga 30 - 6 Contemplating Death/ WES NISKER, MATTHEW BRENSILVER, Awakening to Life KATCHIE ANANDA (YOGA) EUGENE CASH, NIKKI MIRGHAFORI, 7 nights, Sunday - Sunday, JANICE CLARFIELD (YOGA) Upper Walking Hall 7 nights, Sunday - Sunday

Prerequisite: One 5-night vipassana retreat or permission of This retreat combines the traditional practices of mindfulness the teacher. meditation and yoga to help us explore and embody the mysteries of being alive and human. During our time together, Buddha described Maranasati (Mindfulness of Death) as periods of meditation will alternate with yoga, allowing the Supreme of all the mindfulness practices. He encouraged techniques to support each other and create a sense of Maranasati practice to live an awakened life. This supreme mind-body connection, vitality and well-being. The retreat will practice helps us appreciate the preciousness of human birth also feature an exploration of Buddhist and Yogic philosophy, and develop equanimity with the difficulties of human existence. as well as plenty of poetry and good humor. There will also be It helps us gain freedom from rigidity and clinging through ample time for discussion, as well as attention to individual a more expansive perspective of the inevitable and natural challenges. The retreat is appropriate for both experienced and letting go. Maranasati matures our insight into impermanence beginning students of either mindfulness meditation or yoga. and change, nourishing a skillful orientation to both life and $1540 - $770 sliding scale, plus a donation to the teacher(s) and retreat death. In the retreat we will utilize the skills of loving awareness, staff. Code 214R16 compassion and investigation in our sitting practice, with some guided visualization and a period of contemplative inquiry each day. $1540 - $770 sliding scale, plus a donation to the teacher(s) and retreat staff. Code 212R16 39 RESIDENTIAL RETREATS | SEP - DEC 2016

NOV NOV Thanksgiving Insight NOV DEC Connecting Mind and Heart 18 - 27 Meditation Retreat 28 - 4 JAMES BARAZ, HEATHER MARTIN WES NISKER, MATTHEW BRENSILVER, 6 nights, Monday - Sunday ERIN SELOVER, KATE MUNDING, Upper Walking Hall TERRY VANDIVER (YOGA) 9 nights, Friday - Sunday

The Thanksgiving retreat at Spirit Rock is a special opportunity The mind and to spend the holiday in the company of a like-minded the heart are community, surrounded by the peace and silence of the land. not separate. We will spend our days in Noble Silence with the sitting We'll take this and walking practices of Insight Meditation (Vipassana). week of silence to Supported in this beautiful container, we will explore how explore and put the teachings of the Buddha point us to directly touch and into practice understand our experience, opening us to compassion and various skillful wisdom. There will be meditation instructions for sitting and means to access James Baraz Heather Martin walking meditation, periods of movement (yoga), dharma talks naturally relaxed, open hearts and clear quiet minds. It is and interviews with the teachers. from these lovely states that insights into how we've become $1940 - $970 sliding scale, plus a donation to the teacher(s) and retreat unnecessarily distressed will naturally arise. These are the staff. Code 218R16 insights that heal us, uplift us and ultimately free us. $1320 - $660 sliding scale, plus a donation to the teacher(s) and retreat staff. Code 222R16 NOV DEC From Mindfulness of Breath to 28 - 4 Radiant Mind DONALD ROTHBERG, DEC DEC In the Presence of Love: SUSIE HARRINGTON, ERIN SELOVER 5 - 11 Metta & Qigong Retreat 6 nights, Monday - Sunday SPRING WASHAM, TEMPEL SMITH, MARK COLEMAN, TEJA BELL (QIGONG), 6 nights, Monday - Sunday

Prerequisite: At least 7 days of vipassana retreat practice or permission of the Coordinating Teacher. This silent retreat will focus on cultivating the quality of

loving-kindness, infusing our hearts, minds and bodies In this retreat, we will explore through teachings and silent with a strong, caring wisdom. Mindful presence and loving- meditation practice, a sequence of training that has three main kindness are essential to living a spiritual life. Awareness parts connecting our foundational mindfulness practice with as developed through mindfulness practice leads to clarity, opening to deeper awareness and greater freedom: stabilizing insight and understanding. Loving-kindness practices open attention and cultivating concentration, particularly through the heart, allow a kind embrace of ourselves and connect us mindfulness of breathing; developing insights into the "three intimately with all of life. The fusion of these qualities helps us characteristics" of experience (impermanence, suffering, to respond more compassionately to the challenges that we and "not-self") and learning to deconstruct and release such encounter in ourselves and in the world. fixations; and opening to a spacious awareness beyond fixation and grasping, to moments of freedom, through a number of Qigong is a practice of aligning breath, movement and specific steps and practices, informed by teachings from the awareness for exercise, healing and meditation. With roots Buddha as well as the Thai Forest tradition and other Buddhist in Chinese medicine, martial arts and philosophy, qigong is traditions. We will explore several practices for each of these traditionally viewed as a practice to cultivate and balance three training areas and ways to bring such practices into daily chi, or what has been translated as "intrinsic life energy." It life as our awareness, compassion and responsiveness deepen. recognizes, cultivates and nourishes the "energy" aspect of There will be emphasis on and attention to the embodiment of our being. Qigong perfectly complements traditional sitting our practice through qigong, guided meditations, and instructions, meditation practice and has a long and well-established allowing us to more easily carry the practices into our daily lives. history connected to contemplative traditions. $1320 - $660 sliding scale, plus a donation to the teacher(s) and retreat $1320 - $660 sliding scale, plus a donation to the teacher(s) and retreat staff. Code 220R16 staff. Code 224R16 40 RESIDENTIAL RETREATS | SEP - DEC 2016

DEC DEC Awakening in Every DEC DEC Insight Meditation Solstice Retreat 14 - 17 Moment: Intensive Retreat in 18 -23 DONALD ROTHBERG, JOHN TRAVIS, Mindfulness, Metta, and Morality HEATHER SUNDBERG SYLVIA BOORSTEIN, DANA DEPALMA, 5 nights, Sunday - Friday KONDA MASON (YOGA) 3 nights, Wednesday - Saturday

The Eightfold Path, the centerpiece and "heart" of practice in the Buddhist tradition, aims to develop the skillful means of mindfulness, morality/virtue, and metta (impartial good will). In this 3-night retreat intensive, the Eightfold Path will be presented as the template for the translation of each of these skills into our contemplative practice. We'll practice Donald Rothberg John Travis Heather Sundberg mindfulness skills and metta techniques, as well as imaginative In this retreat, we will emphasize centering ourselves at the time techniques for dedicating ourselves to refining our virtues. The of the holidays and the New Year, quieting our minds, grounding retreat will be held in silence. Participants can look forward to in our bodies, opening up our hearts, and using inquiry to help working privately on their own mind while feeling surrounded give energy to our practice. There will be a special emphasis by and protected by the entire community. on opening to the darkness, including to our difficulties and $880 - $440 sliding scale, plus a donation to the teacher(s) and retreat challenges, as well as to the coming light, such as beauty, joy and staff. Code 226R16 love. We will have a winter solstice ceremony. $1250 - $625 sliding scale, plus a donation to the teacher(s) and retreat RESIDENTIAL RETREAT INFORMATION staff. Code 228R16

Registration DEC JAN New Year's Teen Retreat Retreats open for registration four months before the start date (longer if a lottery retreat). Check our website for specific open 27 - 1 MARVIN BELZER, dates. We encourage you to register online; however, you may also MATTHEW BRENSILVER & OTHERS download application forms to submit via fax or mail. In addition to 5 nights, Tuesday - Sunday the registration fees, which only cover a portion of the retreat costs, you are invited to support the teachings and the retreat through the spiritual practice of generous giving or "dana." Participants will be For more information please see page 35. invited to oŽer dana (donations) for the teachers, managers and Cost $1020 - $510, sliding scale, plus a donation to the teacher(s) and retreat c o o k s w h o o t h e r w i s e a r e n o t c o m p e n s a t e d f o r t h e i r w o r k . staff. Code 232R16 Financial Assistance, Work Exchange and Young Adult Rates DEC JAN New Year's Insight Financial assistance is available for all residential retreats through 27 - 3 Meditation Retreat our scholarship funds; there are limited scholarship funds available, EUGENE CASH, PAMELA WEISS, please apply early. For all residential retreats, we offer a limited number of Young Adult special rate accommodations available ALEXIS SANTOS, NIKKI MIRGHAFORI, on a first-come, first-served basis. We do not have a Senior rate JANICE CLARFIELD (YOGA) for residential retreats; however, we strongly encourage you to 7 nights, Tuesday - Tuesday apply for a scholarship, if you require financial assistance. For most retreats, we have two work retreatant roles — one in the kitchen and one in housekeeping. To apply as a work retreatant, you must LOTTERY meet the criteria outlined on the website spiritrock.org. This is a traditional Insight Meditation (Vipassana) retreat with sitting and walking in silence, and regular meetings Cancellation Fees with teachers. Each day there will be systematic meditation In general, the cancellation fee schedule is as follows: $100 instructions, dharma talks and gentle yoga. We will mark for cancellation 8 weeks or more before a retreat; $175 for the turning of the year with a late evening sitting and simple cancellation 4-8 weeks before a retreat; $225 for cancellation ceremony on New Year's Eve. In celebration of the New 1-4 weeks before a retreat; $300 for cancellation 1 week before a retreat. No refunds as of 3:00 pm on the last business day prior Year, our focus will be on cultivating loving awareness and to the retreat start day. To cancel a retreat reservation, contact embracing each moment as fresh and new. All are welcome. [email protected] or (415) 488-0164, x247 or x252 $1860 - $930 sliding scale, plus a donation to the teacher(s) and retreat staff. Code 230R16 41 SPIRIT ROCK TEACHERS | SEP - DEC 2016 Spirit Rock Teachers Council

AYYA ANANDABODHI has GUY ARMSTRONG has SALLY ARMSTRONG JAMES BARAZ has SYLVIA BOORSTEIN practiced meditation since been practicing Insight began practicing Insight practiced Insight Meditation has been teaching since 1989 and lived in Amaravati Meditation for more Meditation in 1981 and since 1974 and has been 1985 and teaches both and Chithurst monasteries in than 30 years and began teaching in 1996. She has teaching since 1980. James Vipassana and metta the UK for 18 years. In 2009, teaching in 1984. He served at Spirit Rock in a leads ongoing meditation meditation. Her many she moved to the US to help spent a year as a Buddhist number of roles and is co- and Awakening Joy classes books include That’s establish Aloka Vihara, a monk in Thailand. Guy is a founder and co-teacher of in Berkeley. He is the author Funny, You Don’t Look training monastery for women, Guiding Teacher of Insight the Dedicated Practitioners of Awakening Joy with Buddhist and Happiness Is where she now resides. Meditation Society (IMS). Program. She is a Co-Guiding Shoshana Alexander. an Inside Job. Teacher at Spirit Rock.

EUGENE CASH is a DEBRA CHAMBERLIN- HOWARD COHN has led MARK COLEMAN has DANA DEPALMA founding teacher of San TAYLOR has been leading vipassana retreats since 1985 been teaching Insight has practiced Insight Francisco Insight. He retreats since 1978. In and leads a weekly sitting Meditation retreats Meditation since 1993. She is also the co-founder addition to practicing group in San Francisco. He has since 1997. He also leads holds a Masters Degree and co-teacher of the Vipassana, she has been studied with teachers of several wilderness meditation in Counseling Psychology Dedicated Practitioners influenced by Dzogchen traditions, including Theravada, retreats, integrating and is a licensed Marriage Program. In addition, he and Diamond Heart®. She Zen and Dzogchen, and has mindfulness meditation and Family Therapist. She teaches the Diamond also leads workshops on been strongly influenced by with nature, and is the teaches daylongs, classes Approach® in San embodiment of awareness H.W.L. Poonja. author of Awake in the Wild. and retreats at Spirit Rock Francisco and Holland. and conscious relationships. and is the Spirit Rock StaŽ Dharma Teacher.

ANNA DOUGLAS has a ANDREA FELLA ANUSHKA GIL FRONSDAL has WILL KABAT-ZINN background in psychology and has practiced Insight FERNANDOPULLE has practiced Zen and has practiced Vipassana art, in addition to more than Meditation since 1996 trained for more than 20 years in Vipassana since 1975 and intensively in the US and in 25 years of vipassana practice. and began teaching in the Theravada tradition in the US, holds a PhD in Buddhist Burma for more than ten She has also studied with 2003. She teaches at the India and Sri Lanka. She is on the Studies from Stanford. He years. He currently teaches teachers in the Zen, Advaita Insight Meditation Center teaching team at San Francisco is founding teacher of the regularly at San Francisco and Dzogchen traditions. in Redwood City, CA, and Insight and the Leadership Insight Meditation Center Insight, Spirit Rock and at around the US. Sangha at East Bay Meditation in Redwood City, CA, and meditation centers around Center, and is lead teacher of the author of a translation of the US. San Francisco LGBT sangha. The Dhammapada.

 SPIRIT ROCK TEACHERS | SEP - DEC 2016

JACK KORNFIELD trained PHILLIP MOFFITT has WES "SCOOP" NISKER MARY GRACE ORR is a SHARDA ROGELL as a Buddhist monk in practiced Vipassana is a meditation teacher, vipassana teacher and began teaching Insight Thailand, India and Burma since 1983. He is founder author, radio commentator former Guiding Teacher of Meditation in 1985. She and holds a PhD in clinical and president of the Life and performer. His books Santa Cruz Insight. She has brings a strong emphasis psychology. He has taught Balance Institute. He is include Essential Crazy practiced many spiritual to awakening heartfulness meditation since 1974 and a Co-Guiding Teacher at Wisdom and Crazy Wisdom disciplines for the past 25 and has been influenced is a founding teacher of Spirit Rock and the author Saves the World Again! years and has trained in the by non-dual teachings, IMS and Spirit Rock. His of Dancing with Life and Diamond Approach®. Dzogchen and the books include A Path with Emotional Chaos to Clarity. Diamond Approach®. Heart and The Wise Heart.

DONALD ROTHBERG TEMPEL SMITH has been JOHN TRAVIS founded SPRING WASHAM has JULIE WESTER has been a has practiced meditation practicing metta and Insight Mountain Stream practiced meditation since teacher of Insight Meditation since 1976. He is the Meditation since 1989, Meditation in 1993 and 1997. She is a founding since 1985 and is a senior guiding teacher for the including a year as a fully opened a center in Nevada teacher of the East Bay meditation teacher at Spirit Path of Engagement ordained monk in Burma. He City, CA, in 2013. He has Meditation Center in Rock. A student of sacred program. He is the author graduated from the Teacher practiced meditation for Oakland, CA. Spring is feminine wisdom traditions, of The Engaged Spiritual Training program led by Jack almost 50 years and spent a considered a pioneer in her primary teachers have Life and co-teaches the Kornfield at Spirit Rock and decade living in Asia. bringing mindfulness-based included Ruth Denison, Wednesday morning has been leading retreats for meditation practices to inner Joanna Macy, Lama Tsultrim class at Spirit Rock. more than ten years. city communities. Allione and the women of her own family lineage. Teachers Emeritus

DIANA WINSTON is the LARRY YANG is a AJAHN AMARO trained ROBERT HALL, MD, is a Director of Mindfulness longtime meditator trained in Thailand with Ajahn physician of the body/mind, Education at UCLA’s Mindful as a psychotherapist. He Chah and Ajahn Sumedho. a psychiatrist, poet and Awareness Research Center. is interested in creating He is the former co-abbot meditation teacher. He is a She has practiced Vipassana access to the Dharma for of Abhayagiri Buddhist pioneer of the integration of since 1989, including a year as communities who have felt Monastery near Ukiah, CA. bodywork, psychotherapy a Buddhist nun in Burma, and the experience of exclusion He is now abbot of Amaravati and spiritual practice. He lives is the author of Fully Present or diŽerence. Larry is a Monastery in the UK. and teaches at El Dharma in and Wide Awake: A Buddhist teacher at the East Bay Todos Santos, Mexico. Guide for Teens. Meditation Center.

 SPIRIT ROCK VISITING TEACHERS | SEP - DEC 2016

Visiting Teachers For complete teacher bios, please visit spiritrock.org

ADYASHANTI is the author KATCHIE ANANDA is a PAWAN BAREJA, PhD, of Falling Into Grace, The End of yoga teacher and trainer, has a body-oriented Your World, True Meditation, certified in Anusara, counseling practice based Emptiness Dancing and The Jivamukti, Integral and on Peter Levine's Somatic Impact of Awakening. His Ashtanga yoga. Yoga Journal Experiencing™ (SE) work spontaneous, direct teachings named her one of the top for coping with trauma and have been compared to those five yoga teachers making life changes, and is also an of the early Zen masters but are change in the world. assistant in SE Trainings. free of any tradition or ideology.

MARVIN G. BELZER, PhD, MATTHEW BRENSILVER, ADAM BARAZ grew up has taught mindfulness PhD, is a graduate of the in a family of meditation meditation for twenty years. SRMC/IMS/IRC Teacher practitioners and connected He is an Adjunct Associate Training Program. He began with the practice of meditation Professor in the UCLA in the Tibetan tradition and at the age of 15. In college Department of Psychiatry has studied with Shinzen he spent a semester living and Biobehavioral Sciences. Young since 2003. He teaches in a monastery in India, at UCLA's Mindful Awareness studying Buddhist philosophy, Research Center. meditation, and has since sat several long silent retreats.

JANE BARAZ, MA, TEJA BELL teaches JENNIFER BEREZAN is teaches Mindfulness Based qigong, martial arts, a unique blend of singer/ Stress Reduction (MBSR) healing energy practices, songwriter, teacher, ritualist and at UCSF's Osher Center for aikido and the Chinese activist. She weaves the sacred Integrative Medicine. She Internal Arts. He is a into original contemporary is also a trained teacher in fully ordained Rinzai Zen musical styles, including folk, Mindful Self-Compassion priest. rock, chant and pop. Her work (MSC). is deeply imbued with Buddhist and Earth-based themes.

MARTHA BOESING, a long- DALE BORGLUM is the SANDY BOUCHER, MA, has time Buddhist practitioner, Executive Director of the practiced, written about and theatre director and dharma Living/Dying Project. He taught both Vipassana and teacher, uses interactive is the co-author of Journey writing for 30 years. She leads games and exercises to of Awakening: A Meditator's retreats on Dharma and writing illuminate the challenges of Guidebook and has taught and co-leads the "Meditation aging. She shares the task of meditation since 1974. and the Spirit of Creativity" aging with clarity with her retreat at Spirit Rock. She has partner, Sandy Boucher. published nine books.

SHAILA CATHERINE is the JANICE CLARFIELD has DAN CLURMAN, MA, is founder of Bodhi Courses an international reputation a certified Feldenkrais® (bodhicourses.org) an online as an inspiring teacher/ Practitioner and personal Dhamma classroom, and practitioner of yoga, coach. He integrates Insight Meditation South meditation and energy somatic awareness into Bay, a meditation center in healing. She teaches an his work as a coach and Mountain View, CA (imsb. eclectic, integrative and organizational trainer in org). She has been practicing contemplative approach to communication skills. meditation since 1980. the practice.

ANNE CUSHMAN is a BRUCE DAVIS, PhD, is the RUTH DAVIS is the author graduate of the SRMC/IMS/ author of several books of Sacred Movement Ritual. IRC Teacher Training Program including The Magical She has been practicing and is co-director of Spirit Child within You, Monastery meditation since 1968. She Rock's Mindfulness Yoga without Walls, The Calling of was called to India and and Meditation Training. Joy, and has been leading was initiated into Surat She's the author of Moving retreats worldwide since Shabd Yoga, a heart path of into Meditation and the novel 1983. meditation and devotion. Enlightenment for Idiots.

 SPIRIT ROCK VISITING TEACHERS | SEP - DEC 2016

ALBERT FLYNN DESILVER VINNY FERRARO is the GRACE FISHER is a licensed is a poet, author, teacher Senior Trainer for Mindful Marriage and Family and speaker. He has taught Schools in Oakland and Therapist with a private at Omega Institute, Esalen a nationally recognized practice in San Anselmo, Institute, and many writing leader in designing and CA. She is a former lawyer conferences nationally, implementing interventions who holds Masters degrees as well as in the Teen and for at-risk youth. He is a in Education and Counseling Family Program at Spirit graduate of the SRMC/IMS/ Psychology. Rock since 2005. IRC Teacher Training Program.

TRUDY GOODMAN, PhD, SHAHARA GODFREY, PhD, LINDA GRAHAM, MFT, is an is founder and Guiding has completed Spirit Rock's experienced psychotherapist Teacher of InsightLA and Community Dharma Leaders and meditation teacher is the Guiding Teacher and Dedicated Practitioners who integrates modern and co-founder of the Program and is a core teacher at neuroscience, mindfulness Institute for Meditation the East Bay Meditation Center practices and relational and Psychotherapy in in Oakland, CA. Her primary psychology in her nationwide Cambridge, MA. practices are compassion and trainings. She is the author of social activism. Bouncing Back.

KEVIN GRIFFIN is the author MINGTONG GU is an JOANNA HARPER has been of the seminal book, One internationally recognized practicing multiple traditions Breath at a Time: Buddhism and teacher and healer who since 1999. She works with the Twelve Steps, and A Burning received his training from at-risk youth and non at-risk Desire: Dharma, God and the grandmasters of China and youth in institutional and school Path of Recovery. He has been Tibet and at the world's settings, is a graduate of Noah practicing Buddhist meditation largest qigong hospital. He is Levine's Against the Stream for three decades and been in the founder of the Chi Healing teacher training and the SRMC/ recovery since 1985. Center in Petaluma, CA. IMS/IRC Teacher Training Program.

SUSIE HARRINGTON teaches ROGER HOUSDEN is DUNGSE JAMPAL spent meditation nationwide and the author of 20 books five years studying Tibetan is the guiding teacher for on poetry, art and language and traditional Desert Dharma, which serves pilgrimage, including the buddhadharma in Bir, India, many communities in the best-selling Ten Poems to and now spends 100 days Southwest near her home in Change Your Life series. a year in meditation retreat Moab, UT. She is a graduate of in Crestone, CO, in order to the SRMC/IMS/IRC Teacher deepen his experience of the Training Program. practices of his lineage.

MIKI KASHTAN, PhD, is TERESA LAMENDOLA VEN. AJAHN KARUNA- a co-founder of Bay Area KABAT-ZINN, MA, is a DHAMMO took full bhikkhu Nonviolent Communication counselor, early childhood ordination in May 1998 and (BayNVC) and author of educator and mindfulness became the first American- Spinning Threads of Radical teacher who specializes born bhikkhu at the first Aliveness: Transcending the in autism and bringing American branch monastery Legacy of Separation in Our mindfulness into the of the Thai lineage of Ajahn Individual Lives. everyday lives of parents. Chah and Ajahn Sumedho.

BARBARA KAUFMAN is NOAH LEVINE is the founder ANDREA LIEBERSTEIN, MPH, co-founder and Executive of the Against The Stream RD, RYT, is a mindful eating Director of CCE Painting Buddhist Meditation Society expert, mindfulness-based Studio. She has been a with centers in LA and San stress reduction instructor, teacher of the creative Francisco. Noah has created a registered dietitian, nutritionist, process for over 23 years. process of addiction recovery mindfulness-based coach, and based on the Dharma called registered yoga instructor. She Refuge Recovery. has been teaching mindfulness meditation since 1993.

JOANNA MACY, PhD, HEATHER MARTIN has KONDA MASON has is a scholar of Buddhism, practiced diŽerent forms been teaching yoga as systems theory and deep of meditation for over 30 a certified Kripalu Yoga ecology. A respected voice years. She's been teaching teacher for 20 years. She in the movements for peace, in Southwestern Canada is one of the co-founders justice and ecology, she and in the US since 2000. of the International gives trainings worldwide for She worked for 20 years Association of Black Yoga eco-warriors and activists for as a midwife. Teachers and is a Spirit global justice. Rock board member.  SPIRIT ROCK VISITING TEACHERS | SEP - DEC 2016

SENSEI FRANK MCGOUIRK is NIKKI MIRGHAFORI ROSHI DOSHIN MICHAEL a 7th degree black belt, Aikido is a Stanford-trained NELSON is a Zen Master Shihan. He has been practicing compassion cultivation who brings together dharma and teaching aikido and the instructor and a UCLA- teachings in a collaborative, Chinese Internal Martial Arts for trained mindfulness interactive and illuminating over 50 years. Sensei McGouirk facilitator. She is a way, incorporating shadow brings a lifetime of wisdom graduate of the SRMC/ work, trauma and attachment and insight in his teachings of IMS/IRC Teacher Training work and contemporary Zen dharma and qigong. Program. koan practice.

KATE MUNDING has been ISABELITA PAPA, a certified TINA RASMUSSEN, PhD, has practicing and studying Wild Goose Qigong teacher, meditated for over 30 years and mindfulness meditation has practiced and taught was ordained as a Theravada since 2004. She completed qigong for 15 years. She is a Buddhist nun by Ven. Pa Auk the Dedicated Practitioners respected teacher and healer Sayadaw of Burma, who Program at Spirit Rock and in the San Francisco Bay Area authorized her to teach. She is is a graduate of the Spirit and Hawaii, with expertise the co-author of Practicing the Rock/IMS/IRC Teacher in spiritual curing modalities Jhanas and works as a professional Training Program. and qigong. coach and OD consultant.

MARCY REYNOLDS is SAKTI ROSE is a senior DAVID RICHO, PhD, MFT, a long time practitioner Somatic Experiencing™ teacher, workshop leader of qigong and Vipassana Practitioner and teaches and writer, works as a Meditation. She currently mindfulness meditation psychotherapist in Santa teaches Mindfulness- in hospitals and Barbara and San Francisco, based Stress Reduction at meditation centers. CA. He combines Jungian, El Camino Hospital and transpersonal and mythic qigong at Insight Santa perspectives in his work. Cruz.

ALEXIS SANTOS has AYYA SANTACITTA has ERIN SELOVER teaches practiced Insight Meditation practiced meditation since mindfulness-based classes in India, Burma and the US 1988. She is co-founder throughout the San Francisco since 2001. He is a graduate of Aloka Vihara Forest Bay Area in schools, mental of the Spirit Rock/IMS/IRC Monastery in Placerville, health settings and the Teacher Training Program CA, and received Bhikkhuni private sector. She is a and can be found assisting at ordination in 2011. psychotherapist and a retreats throughout the US. graduate of the SRMC/IMS/ IRC Teacher Training Program.

RICHARD SHANKMAN SHAUNA SHAPIRO, PhD, ASHLEY SHARP has studied teaches at dharma centers is a professor, licensed yoga with Swami Dayananda, and groups nationally, clinical psychologist, and Erich SchiŽmann, Patricia including Spirit Rock internationally recognized Sullivan and Sat Santokh and IMS. He has been a expert in mindfulness. She has Sing. She has completed the meditator since 1970 and is published over 100 articles Mindful Yoga and Meditation the guiding teacher of the and book chapters, and is Training, Dedicated Metta Dharma Foundation co-author of the The Art and Practitioner and Community in Berkeley, CA. Science of Mindfulness. Leaders Programs at Spirit Rock.

MAURA SINGER-WILLIAMS, STEPHEN SNYDER began AYYA SOBHANA has MA, is certified by the practicing Buddhist meditation meditated and trained Piedmont Yoga Studio and in 1976 and has practiced for with Bhante Henepola Mt. Madonna Yoga Center to 20 years with several Western Gunaratana since 1989. teach yoga. She has practiced Zen masters. In 2005, he She ordained in 2003 and meditation and yoga since completed a retreat with Ven. obtained full Bhikkhuni 1988. She teaches classes and Pa Auk Sayadaw of Burma. ordination in 2006. workshops in MBSR, meditation Stephen is the co-author of and yoga in the Bay Area. Practicing the Jhanas.

SOBONFU SOMÉ is a OREN J. SOFER is a teacher BOB STAHL, PhD, has founded respected lecturer, activist and practitioner of Buddhist seven MBSR programs in and author. She is the founder meditation, Nonviolent the San Francisco Bay Area of Wisdom Spring, Inc., an Communication (NVC) and and currently directs MBSR organization dedicated to the Somatic Experiencing. He has programs at Dominican preservation and sharing of practiced Theravada meditation Hospital in Santa Cruz and El indigenous wisdom. She holds since 1997 and is a graduate of Camino Hospital in Mt. View fundraisers for schools, water the SRMC/IMS/IRC Teacher and Los Gatos. He is the Guiding and health projects in Africa. Training Program. Teacher at Insight Santa Cruz.

 SPIRIT ROCK VISITING TEACHERS | SEP - DEC 2016

HEATHER SUNDBERG ERIN TREAT teaches at the GEORGE TAYLOR is a is a graduate of the Spirit Durango Dharma Center national leader in the men's Rock/IMS Teacher Training and is the Guiding Teacher movement and author of and was the Spirit Rock of Vallecitos Mountain Talking with Our Brothers. He Family Program Teacher Retreat Center, NM. She is is a licensed marriage and and Manager for a decade. a graduate of the SRMC/ family counselor and co- She teaches at Mountain IMS/IRC Teacher Training facilitator of the Courage to Stream Meditation Center Program. Love relationship work with in the Sierra Foothills. Debra Chamberlin-Taylor.

CHRISTINE TULIS is a JAI UTTAL In 30 years of TERRY VANDIVER is a harpist, singer, award- commitment to the art and registered nurse and yoga winning contemplative music spiritual practice of kirtan, teacher and has practiced composer and healing artist. Jai Uttal has cultivated a Vipassana Meditation for 20 She is also a trained labyrinth voice and musical style that years. She studied Iyengar yoga facilitator and is devoted to carries the listener into the in India, is a certifi ed Sivananda creating musical and healing heart of devotion, prayer, and yoga instructor, and has taught experiences that open the healing, and to an ecstatic classes in both traditions in the heart to inner peace. remembrance of the divine. San Francisco Bay Area.

PAMELA WEISS has been CHRISTIANE WOLF, MD, LILA KATE WHEELER is practicing Buddhism since PhD, is a physician turned a writer and teaches and 1987. She leads a weekly mindfulness and MBSR practices in the Vipassana sitting group at SF Insight teacher and teacher's trainer. and Tibetan Nyingma and oŽ ers retreats and She is a graduate of the Buddhist lineages. workshops internationally. She SRMC/IMS/IRC Teacher is the founder of Appropriate Training Program and is the Response, which trains large co-author of A Clinician's Guide organizations in mindfulness. to Teaching Mindfulness.

NINA WISE is a performer who has devoted her SPIRIT ROCK NEWS career to investigating the relationship between art and spirit. As Artistic Director © 2016 Spirit Rock Meditation Center, Sept - Dec 2016 of Motion, she has received Published three times a year by Spirit Rock - an Insight Meditation Center multiple fellowships from P.O. Box 169, Woodacre, CA 94973 • (415) 488-0164. the National Endowment for Cover image by Allen Kennedy Photography, the Arts. additional photos by Leslie Curchack, Margaret Lee and TroyZiel.com.

BAY AREA AND BEYOND: ONGOING CLASSES WITH SPIRIT ROCK TEACHERS

Berkeley – James Baraz • Thursdays, 7:30-9:30 pm Placerville – Anandabodhi Bhikkhuni, Santacitta Bhikkhuni Berkeley Buddhist Monastery, 2304 McKinley Ave. 2409 Tolowa Trail • Aloka Vihara • www.saranaloka.org www.insightberkeley.org/aboutus Redwood City - Gil Fronsdal, Andrea Fella Berkeley – Will Kabat-Zinn • Sundays, 7-9 pm Insight Meditation Center, 108 Birch at Hopkins Ashtanga Yoga Berkeley, 933 Parker St., #38, Bay 5 www.insightmeditationcenter.org www.ashtangayogaberkeley.com [email protected] or (650) 599-3456 Berkeley – Wes Nisker • Wednesdays, 7:30-9 pm San Francisco – Anushka Fernandopulle • Mondays, 7-9 pm Yoga Kula Berkeley, 1700 Shattuck Ave. • www.yogakula.com CIIS, 1453 Mission St., Rm. 216 • www.anushkaf.org Marin Sangha – Phillip Mo³ tt • Sundays, 6-8 pm San Francisco – Eugene Cash • Sundays, 7-9 pm St. Luke Presbyterian Church, 10 Bayview Dr., San Rafael First Unitarian Church, 1187 Franklin St. at Geary www.marinsangha.org www.sfi nsight.org or (415) 994-5951 Oakland - Larry Yang • (Alphabet Sangha of Oakland) San Francisco – Howard Cohn • Tuesdays, 7:30-9 pm Tuesdays, 7-8:30 pm • East Bay Meditation Center, 285 17th St. St. John’s Episcopal Church, 1661 15th St. at Julian For LGBTIQ-SGL (Alphabet) communities www.missiondharma.org or (415) 447-7761 www.eastbaymeditation.org/alphabet Sierra Foothills – John Travis • Mondays, 7-8:30 pm [email protected] 710 Zion St., Nevada City • www.mtstream.org Palm Springs – Larry Yang • Sundays, 4:30-7:30 pm • 1111 E. Tahguitz Todos Santos, Baja, Mexico – Robert Hall • www.eldharma.com Canyon Way, Bldg. C, 2nd Floor www.desertinsight.org

 Spirit Rock An Insight Meditation Center 5000 Sir Francis Drake Boulevard P.O. Box 169 Woodacre, CA 94973 spiritrock.org

New! Multi-Day Non-Residential Retreats

SEP SEP Dharma in Life (p. 13) SEP SEP Weekend Women's Retreat: 3 - 5 SYLVIA BOORSTEIN, LARRY YANG, 17 - 18 Experiencing the Heart of Practice (p. 17) KONDA MASON (YOGA) HEATHER SUNDBERG 3 Days: 9:30 am - 4:30 pm & Sept 5, 9:30 am - 3:00 pm 2 days: 9:30 am - 4:30 pm

SEP SEP Dharma and Recovery Intensive: OCT OCT Loving Awareness, Metta & Qigong 23 - 25 Buddhism and the Twelve Steps (p. 18) 1 - 2 Weekend Retreat (p. 20) KEVIN GRIFFIN SPRING WASHAM, TEJA BELL (QIGONG) 3 Days: 9:30 am - 4:30 pm 2 Days: 9:30 am - 4:30 pm

OCT OCT The Nine Bodies: NOV NOV Returning Home: A Non-Residential 28 - 30 Explorations in Consciousness (p.24) 17 - 19 Retreat for Parents (p. 27) PHILLIP MOFFITT, DANA DEPALMA ANNE CUSHMAN 3 Days: 9:30 am - 4:30 pm 3 Days: 9:30 am - 4:30 pm

NOV NOV Bodhisattva Leadership: Cultivating Clarity, Courage, 19 - 20 Compassion, Commitment & Curiosity (p.28) PAMELA WEISS 2 Days: 9:30 am - 4:30 pm For more information, visit spiritrock.org