Building a Foundation for the Fu

"We cannot enjoy life if we spend a lot of time worrying about what happened yesterday and what will happen tomorrow. We worry about tomorrow because we are afraid. If we are afraid all the time, we cannot appreciate that we are alive and can be happy now."

When we know how to live simply and mindfully, and how to live deeply each moment of our life, we can touch the wondrous, refreshing, and healing elements that are inside and around us. Awareness of breathing and of our steps is our anchor in the present moment. It enables us to nourish peace, joy, love and understanding in our individual and collective consciousness, and to avoid losing ourselves in regrets about the past, worries about the future, or craving, anger, or jealousy in the present. We invite you to learn the art of mindful living and join a five-day retreat offered by Thich Nhat Hanh, the monks and nuns and a group of dedicated lay practitioners of Plum Village, Maple Forest Monastery, Green Mountain Dharma Center & Deer Park Monastery.

Each day Thich Nhat Hanh will offer his teachings on mindfulness, and will lead us in the practice of walking meditation. The monks and the nuns will guide us in the practice of Sitting Meditation, Total Relaxation, Touching the Earth, and the practices of deep listening and loving speech, the foundations of reconciliation. Our meals will be taken in silence, to allow us the space and time to contemplate the food and the presence of other practitioners around us. We will meet daily in smaller groups to discuss the teachings and the practice of mindfulness. During a Tea Meditation we will have time to express our happiness of being together as we share poetry, songs, stories, music and moments of silence. There will be periods and areas of Noble Silence to help us integrate and reflect on what we have experienced during the day.

The practices shared in the retreat bring us back to the present, the only substance that constitutes the future.

The retreat is open to all, including beginners and families with children. The first part of Venerable Thich Nhat Hanh’s Dharma talks is normally dedicated to the children. A mindfulness practice program will be offered for Teens (13 to 17 years old); and for Children (6 to 12 years old) with the help of parents. Children under 6 years old are welcome to join the retreat under the care of their parent. We usually start the day at around 6 a.m. and end the day at around 10 p.m.

Wake Up	Lunch / Personal Time
Walking and sitting Meditation	Dharma Sharing / Tea Meditation / Other
Breakfast	Dinner
Dharma Talk	Sitting meditation & chanting/Total relaxation & touching the earth/ beginning anew presentation
	Noble Silence / Rest Time

All meals are vegetarian, including some vegan options. Unfortunately we are unable to cater to individual dietary needs.

Retreatants are requested to refrain from smoking and drinking alcohol during the entire retreat and to practice the Five Mindfulness Trainings in order to support creating a safe and healthy environment. The Five Mindfulness Trainings are guidelines that support us in realizing our aspiration of living a meaningful and happy life in a spirit of non-harming. A full text of the Five Mindfulness Trainings will be sent along with the retreat confirmation package after you have registered.

There will be an opportunity for retreatants and others to receive the Five Mindfulness Trainings with Thich Nhat Hanh on the last day of the retreat. If you have studied and practiced the Five Mindfulness Trainings and wish to formally receive them, but can not attend the full retreat, please contact Green Mountain Dharma Center.

The retreat begins with check-in at 2:00 p.m. on Tuesday, August 21^st. Rooms will be ready at 4:00 p.m. Dinner will be served at 5:30 p.m. An orientation talk will be given at 7:30 p.m. Please plan to attend the entire retreat. The retreat will end after lunch on Sunday, August 26^th.

We look forward to a wonderful retreat held in one of the most beautiful areas in the Rocky Mountains, adjacent to Rocky Mountain National Park.

Please register for the Retreat by July 20^th, to ensure a place at the retreat. After that date the rooms we have reserved for the Retreat may have to be released. After July 20^th, please call the YMCA to find out which rooms are available.

Please request the retreat registration form by e-mail, Fax, Phone or Postal Service from:

Tel: 802 436 1103 or 866 896 6151 (toll free) (Monday-Friday 9am-12pm & 1:30-4:00pm)

Registration and retreat information is also available at www.greenmountaincenter.org or www.ymcarockies.org (For the YMCA, click on Conferences and Reunions, then go to Thich Nhat Hanh Retreat in the menu on the left and down load the form).

Register by mail: Mail your registration form with check, money order or credit card (MasterCard/ VISA Card only) information to Conference Registrar, Building a Foundation for the Future, Estes Park / YMCA of the Rockies, 2515 Tunnel Rd, Estes Park, CO 80511. Please make checks payable to Estes Park Center/YMCA.

Register by Fax: Fax your registration form with credit card information to (970) 586-3501 (at the YMCA).

Cancellation Policy: On or before July 20^th there will be a refund of the amount you paid less $50 processing fee per person on all cancellations. Cancellations after July 20^th will receive a 50% refund of your full fee. No refund of any portion of the fee is available for late arrivals or early departures.

For questions about registration, lodging and travel directions: You may call Estes Park Center at 970-586-3341, the primary extension is 1024; the secondary extension is 1021.

For questions about the Retreat schedule and activities: Call or e-mail the Green Mountain Dharma Center 866-896-6151;

Building a Foundation for the Future:

August 21^st–26^th 2007 –Estes Park Center/YMCA of the Rockies

Building a Foundation for the Future:

August 21st –26th 2007 –Estes Park Center/YMCA of the Rockies

August 21^st–26^th 2007 –Estes Park Center/YMCA of the Rockies