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GENERAL INFORMATION
Dear Friends,
You are warmly invited to join to monks and nuns of Green Mountain Dharma Center
for our annual Summer
Family Retreat. The Summer Retreat is a time for
families and friends to practice together to develop more peace and joy in
themselves, while being aware of the present situation of our society and of
our real difficulties and concerns.
Our practice
is meant to help us weave mindfulness into all of life's daily activities
and is not just restricted to sitting meditation. This enables us to
meditate throughout the day - while eating, walking, working, or enjoying a
cup of tea. During this retreat, we will have the opportunity to live and
practice together as a sangha, a community of practice, supporting
each other and
nourishing
the collective energy of concentration and peace. All retreatants will be
invited to help in communal activities such as preparing meals, washing
pots, cleaning bathrooms, preparing the meditation hall, etc., as part of
the daily practice of uninterrupted mindfulness. We will learn about and
observe the Five Mindfulness Trainings to focus our energy toward deepening
our practice of mindfulness in the community.
SAMPLE SCHEDULE:
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5:30 |
Wake-up bell |
1:00 |
Lunch |
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6:00 |
Sitting meditation and
chanting |
3:00 |
Dharma discussion,
Total Relaxation & Touching the Earth, Mindfulness Trainings
Presentations, etc. |
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8:00 |
Breakfast |
5:00 |
Sitting meditation |
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9:00 |
Working meditation |
6:00 |
Dinner |
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10:00 |
Dharma talk |
8:00 |
Dharma discussion,
sitting meditation, Beginning Anew, or festival celebration
|
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11:45 |
Outdoor walking
meditation |
9:30 |
Noble Silence |
During this retreat, we will organize festivals which focus attention on
gratitude to our parents and awareness of our ancestors. This will be a time
for all of us to get in touch with the beauty and wisdom of our cultural
roots. So we invite you to bring along any books, musical instruments, etc.
that carry special meaning for you or in your culture.
CHILDRENS' AND TEENS' PROGRAMS:
There will be a children's program, for
children 6 to 12, and a teen's program, for teenagers 13 to 18, facilitated
by the young monks and nuns. Children or teenagers will have the chance to
learn about and practice mindfulness in a fun way, with people their own
age. Parents with children under 6 are completely responsible for the
child's care throughout the retreat.
During this retreat, Dharma teachers will be available for consultation.
ARRIVAL & DEPARTURE DAYS:
For the art of mindful living to take root
during your stay, we recommend a minimum stay of one week. We provide transportation to and from the retreat campus on these days only. If
you are unable to plan your visit for these dates, please call ahead to make
arrangements. Try to arrive by 5:00 pm for registration, followed by dinner
and orientation.
All meals are vegetarian. Unfortunately, we cannot accommodate practitioners
who have special dietary and/or medical needs. If you can take care of your
own dietary needs you are welcome to do so but we cannot provide cooking
space.
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