Formal meditation practice is a wonderful way to step out of our busy lives and go inside to find nourishment and peace. For all of us who have or have had a meditation practice, we know that we can sometimes feel at home in an inner world where we experience moments of peace, connection, and simplicity—but not in the outer world of relationships, money, work, and moving through our busy lives in general. In this silent retreat, we will practice formal sitting and walking, but also emphasize an approach that invites us to relax into and embrace the possibility that life on retreat really is daily life itself—that there really need be no split between being present in the routines of outer life and the routines of life on a retreat. These are actually all just moments to be lived fully, in the here and now. Here is where we find peace, and nowhere else—here is where we become at home in the world.
This retreat will consist of guided and silent meditation periods, reflection, and discussion. Complete beginners and a 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.