In this half-day retreat, we will use this well-known poem by the Japanese Zen master Basho to inspire the spirit of our practice:
Sitting quietly,
doing nothing,
spring comes,
and the grass grows by itself.
The poem points toward an attitude of allowing life to unfold on its own terms in the here and now, without all of the stress-filled agendas that we often impose on the moment. Such an attitude points us to the natural renewing, healing, and balancing quality that our hearts possess when we give natural awareness a chance to flower. Come and enjoy this time of calm and shared silence together, to evoke this possibility for ourselves as we explore mindfulness with a soft, inclusive attitude. As we cultivate greater ease and trust in the present moment, we may find that our actions arise with more wisdom, compassion, and responsiveness—not only during meditation, but also amid the complexities of everyday life.
This retreat will consist of guided and silent meditation periods, reflection, and discussion. Complete beginners and seasoned meditators alike are welcome to attend.
Matthew Daniell is the guiding teacher of NSIMC. He has been practicing Buddhist meditation since the 1980s, including over a decade in Asia, where he practiced Zen intensively in Japan, Tibetan Buddhism in India, and Insight meditation in Burma, India, and Thailand. Read more at Matthew’s teacher page.
Fee:
Supported: $35
Base: $45
Benefactor: $55
Please pay at the highest level that is comfortable for you – paying at a higher level helps us support those who need to pay at a lower level. NSIMC members should feel free to pay at the lowest level; become a member here. If you would rather pay at the door, send an email to northshoreimc@gmail.com to register.