City Summer Retreat

9AM-5PM

Sunday July 31 - Saturday August 6

"Your friends in the sangha provide a continual reference point which creates a continual learning process. They act as mirror reflections to remind you or warn you in living situations. That is the kind of companionship that is meant by sangha. We are all in the same boat; we share a sense of trust and a sense of larger-scale, organic friendship."

 “A Community of practitioners working together” – Chögyam Trungpa

A week of mindfulness and compassion practice, open to all, new and more experienced alike

This weekthun will be an opportunity to engage more deeply with meditation practice, allowing one to develop the qualities of peaceful abiding, open awareness and gentleness towards oneself and others. Practicing together as a group creates a supportive atmosphere of openness and strength.

Mornings will consist of shamatha practice - periods of both sitting and walking meditation - based on the traditional teachings of Nine Ways of Resting the Mind. Afternoons will also include practicing outdoors, both in nature, and in the neighborhood, walking the sidewalks (“street compassion practice”).

During the week, there will be opportunities to meet with an experienced meditation teacher to ask questions about your practice.

The practice of sitting meditation slows our torrent of thoughts and distractions and uncovers the stable, clear and potent quality of our mind. After beginning a meditation practice, many want to deepen this experience through extended retreats. 

This week of meditation, known as weekthün (week session), will include silent sitting and walking meditation, meetings with meditation instructors, short talks, contemplative lunches, guided compassion practices, and plenty of time to let your mind rest from the usual hectic pace of life. 

Adapted from the Shambhala dathün (moon or month-long practice), the city weekthun is an opportunity for us to connect deeply with meditation while relating it directly with our regular life. Meditation practitioners of any silent tradition are welcome. If possible, it is helpful if you have already had meditation instruction and some experience and understanding of meditation beforehand.

We invite practitioners of all levels to join us in this week of spacious mind - for the entire week, one day, or half a day. 

The typical daily schedule is:

9:00 AM - 12:00 PM - Morning Chants and Meditation. Silence through lunch.

12 - 1:30 - Silent BYO lunch together, outdoor walk

1:30 PM - 5 PM - Meditation and a Short Talk or discussion, with one of our Weekthun Teachers

This program is IN-PERSON at 646 Brookilne Avenue. Full vaccination is required to participate. 

Registration Required: Please register with an email you check regularly. We will send important information about the program to you via email and don’t want you to miss it.

Participants will receive a confirmation email within 24 hours of registration, and a confirmation email with program details approximately 1 week before the program begins. Note that the emails may go to your promotions folder.

Registration is required for participation. If you aren't able to participate in the full week, please note on the registration form the days you plan to attend.

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