http://www.retreathouse.bc.ca The World is my Cloister! Wed, 12 May 2010 04:17:11 +0000 http://backend.userland.com/rss092 en . . . the bliss of uncertainty Weather-wise, we didn’t have much of a winter, and until yesterday, we weren’t having much of a spring. And then the sun came out . . . AH! So far, the return of the seasons is dependable, sort of. And yet. It is not a secret that ... http://www.retreathouse.bc.ca/news-update-may-2010/ . . . enjoying the fruits In January (even with no snow so far) that might seem an odd heading! We are into the second week of Deep Retreat 2009, appreciating the very special atmosphere that comes over this place when the focus is on supporting committed meditators. The period following emergence from our ... http://www.retreathouse.bc.ca/news-update-january-2010/ . . . first there is a mountain This being human is a guest house. Every morning a new arrival. A joy, a depression, a meanness, some momentary awareness comes as an unexpected visitor. Welcome and attend them all! Even if they're a crowd of sorrows, who violently sweep your house empty of its furniture, still, treat ... http://www.retreathouse.bc.ca/news-update-november-2009/ We do this work to expand awareness, deepen wisdom and increase compassion for the benefit of all beings. Why is it necessary to go to all this effort to learn about meditation? If it is true that the force of Universe is moving all of us in the direction of awakening, ... http://www.retreathouse.bc.ca/overview-of-buddhist-meditation-3/ We do this work to expand awareness, deepen wisdom and increase compassion for the benefit of all beings. First of all, I'd like to refresh your memory of the Jungian mandala of the four functions of the human being which we spoke about last week. Do you recall what they are? ... http://www.retreathouse.bc.ca/overview-of-buddhist-meditation-2/ We do this work to expand awareness, deepen wisdom and increase compassion for the benefit of all beings. What is meditation? It may interest you to know that in the ancient language of the culture where these practices were first developed, there wasn't a word which exactly translates as "meditation". This ... http://www.retreathouse.bc.ca/overview-of-buddhist-meditation-1/ Two weeks ago we ended with a consideration of the word samma and you were invited to explore the implications of a totality perspective in your daily lives. If you gave this a try, you will know directly how difficult it is. Only when we begin to realize how ... http://www.retreathouse.bc.ca/path-going-now-here-2/ “Now, here, you see, it takes all the running you can do, to keep in the same place. If you want to get somewhere else, you must run at least twice as fast as that!”-- The Red Queen to Alice, in THROUGH THE LOOKING GLASS, by Lewis Carroll “I, too, use ... http://www.retreathouse.bc.ca/path-going-now-here/ Have you ever experienced a moment of feeling fully alive? All by yourself, not doing anything, not thinking, simply feeling spacious and energetic, brimming over with curiosity and potential? Surprisingly, this is a quiet feeling; no big drama. Alert and focussed, but not focussed on anything in particular. This is ... http://www.retreathouse.bc.ca/buddha-dharma-innate-natural-awakeness/ There is no awakening without compassionate action. Many practitioners find their growth and unfoldment has stalled, even though their skills as meditators are well-honed, and their lives well-founded in the practices of non-harming. How can this be? One contributing factor is misunderstanding the importance of service, in the context of dharma ... http://www.retreathouse.bc.ca/service-the-practice-of-going-beyond/