| An extended retreat period offers the rare opportunity for sustained, dedicated practice. This retreat emphasizes quieting the mind, opening the heart, and developing profound clarity and depth of Insight practice. Instructions will follow the traditional four foundations of mindfulness, influenced by the teachings of Mahasi Sayadaw and other Theravada (Insight Meditation) traditions, and will be supported by a variety of skillful means. The teachings will encompass training in the heart qualities of lovingkindness, compassion, joy, and equanimity, with a daily schedule structured around periods of silent meditation, guided instructions, Dharma talks, practice meetings with teachers, and optional mindful movement.
This retreat is also suitable for practitioners who wish to exclusively develop concentration (samādhi) through mindfulness of breathing or lovingkindness (metta) practice, with individual guidance by the teachers.
These extended retreats (as with all retreats at Spirit Rock) are NOT open for self-retreats. |
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2025-03-18
Dharma of Time and Space (Retreat at Spirit Rock)
45:02
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Anushka Fernandopulle
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The past and future are only thoughts in the present. But even the present moment is constructed, concocted, conditioned and may not exist absolutely as we believe it to be. Our experience of the senses is dependent on our sense organs thus animals have different eyes and experience the world very differently. Different human cultures experience and interpret sense experience differently as well. Plus practice tips on week 3 of a monthlong retreat.
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2025-03-22
Three kinds of Nibbana in our western Insight traditions
52:57
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Tempel Smith
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Within our blessed lineages of Venerables Ajahn Cha and Mahasi Sayadaw, and the teachings within the Pali Canon, we have found three kinds of nibbana. Nibbana is closely related to the full liberation from dukkha (suffering). To even talk about one kind of nibbana can be difficult as it is beyond language, yet there is another confusion within western Insight meditation. By practicing in Mahasi's Burmese meditaitons, in Cha's Thai Forest meditations, and here in North America, there are roughly three kinds of nibbana: a) an unperturbed background field of awareness, b) a perfect zero of cessation, and c) a stream of transient mind-body moments without greed, hatred or craving.
Knowing of these three kinds of nibbana can clarify what our vipassana practices are aimed at.
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2025-03-23
The Lion’s Roar: Courage in These Times
37:14
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Devin Berry
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Rooted in the simile of the Lion Sutta (4.33), this talk explores how the power of the Lion’s roar—Buddha-Dharma—awakens the courage to face suffering with clarity, inner steadiness, and a heart aligned with truth and presence.
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