Visiting Us

Summer Retreat

July 06th - 20th, 2007  

 

Dear Friends,

You are warmly invited to join to monks and nuns of Blue Cliff Monastery 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:

5:30	Wake-up bell	1:00	Lunch
6:00	Sitting meditation and chanting	3:00	Dharma discussion, Total Relaxation & Touching the Earth, Mindfulness Trainings Presentations, etc.
8:00	Breakfast	5:00	Sitting meditation
9:00	Working meditation	6:00	Dinner
10:00	Dharma talk	8:00	Dharma discussion, sitting meditation, Beginning Anew, or festival celebration
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.

CHILDREN'S'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.