Awakening Joy in Your Life
An In Town Retreat with Gareth Young
Friday, May 20 to Sunday, May 22, 2022 - In Person
Description
Practices to relieve stress and help us find peace in these challenging times can be really wonderful, but sometimes they can be less than enlivening. The good news is that Buddhist practice offers us so much more: the Anapanasati Sutta, which the Theravadan tradition holds to be Buddha’s practice at the time of his awakening, includes “rapture”, “pleasure”, and “gladdening” among its 16 steps; the Lotus Sutra is a drama of many stories bringing forward joy and wonder; and we are familiar with spiritual figures, including the Dalai Lama, the Pope, and Thich Nhat Hanh (PBUH) wearing smiles and laughter wherever they go. We, too, can energize our practice with joy.
On this retreat we will work with the basic meditation techniques of stopping and seeing, which naturally open into compassion, and from there lead to awakening joy in our lives. It is my hope that you will leave the retreat with a spring in your step and a smile on your face.
Teacher
Gareth is a meditation teacher, a businessman and co-founder of Red Clay Sangha. He has maintained a committed meditation practice for over 20 years in the Zen and Vipassana traditions, and integrates over 10 years of interfaith engagement as well as teachings from Lotus Sutra and Tibetan traditions into his practice and life.
Gareth received full teaching authorization in the Thai Forest lineage of Ajahn Chah, Jack Kornfield and Lisa Ernst and is a firm advocate of the principles and practices of One Dharma. He lives in the Atlanta area with his wife and their dogs, chickens and bees. He has two adult children.
Schedule (incl Overnight)
The heart of this intown retreat is the full day Saturday, and if you are only able to attend that portion of the program, that’s fine: please just let us know when you register. But to enhance the retreat experience, the retreat will also run from Friday evening through Sunday lunchtime (Sunday morning in conjunction with the regular Sunday sangha program). If you are coming from out of town and would like to coordinate a place to stay, please let us know. Participants are encouraged to extend their silence and mindfulness practice after leaving the scheduled program Friday and Saturday evening. The preliminary schedule is as follows:
Friday
| 6:00 - 7:00 |
Optional Social (snacks, tea, conversation) |
| 7:00 - 7:40 |
Welcome, Orientation, and Dharma Talk |
| 7:40 - 9:00 |
Sitting and Walking |
| 9:00 |
Take your Practice Home |
Saturday
| 8:00 - 9:00 |
Doors Open; Arrival and Informal Sitting/Walking Meditation |
| 9:00 - 9:30 |
Instruction |
| 9:30 - 10:00 |
Walking Meditation |
| 10:00 - 10:40 |
Sitting Meditation |
| 10:40 - 11:20 |
Walking Meditation |
| 11:20 - 12:00 |
Sitting Meditation |
| 12:00 - 1:00 |
Lunch |
| 1:00 - 1:30 |
Sitting Meditation |
| 1:30 - 2:00 |
Walking Meditation |
| 2:00 - 2:30 |
Dharma Talk |
| 2:30 - 3:00 |
Walking Meditation |
| 3:00 - 3:30 |
Sitting Meditation |
| 3:30 - 4:00 |
Walking Meditation |
| 4:00 - 4:30 |
Q&A |
| 4:30 - 5:00 |
Walking Meditation |
| 5:00 - 5:30 |
Snacks (optional) or Walking Meditation |
| 5:30 - 6:00 |
Sitting Meditation |
| 6:00 - 6:30 |
Walking Meditation |
| 6:30 - 7:00 |
Sitting Meditation |
| 7:00 |
Take your Practice Home |
Sunday
| 8:00 |
Doors Open; Arrival and Informal Sitting/Walking Meditation |
| 9:00 – 10:30 |
Formal Sitting and Walking (25 min sitting, 5 min (Zen style) walking) |
| 10:30 |
Dharma Talk |
| 11:00 |
Q&A/Discussion/closing Circle
|
| 11:30 |
Lunch at Mamak Vegan (Local Restaurant) |
What to bring? Wear comfortable clothing. We have plenty of floor cushions and chairs. OR, if you prefer your own you may bring a cushion or chair. Our space is air conditioned, you might want to bring a light sweater or light blanket.
Facility
This retreat will be in person only at Red Clay Sangha’s Hospital Drive center. If you would like to participate and will be coming from out of town, please let us know if you would like us to coordinate a place for you to stay with one of the other retreatants. more...
Food/Meals
Snacks and tea will be provided from 6:00 to 7:00 Friday evening for anyone interested in arriving early. A vegetarian lunch will be provided on Saturday; and heavy vegetarian snacks will be provided for the 5:00 to 5:30 period on Saturday.
Cost
The $15 charge is to cover the food and snacks (including Saturday lunch) that will be provided.
Red Clay Sangha is currently operating under Covid restrictions. While we anticipate that being fully open at full capacity and without a requirement to wear masks by the time of the retreat, the Board will continue to monitor the situation and adjust as necessary. If any Covid limitations are placed on the retreat, registrants will be promptly notified and full refunds offered to those who wish to cancel.
Questions or More Information? please contact Gareth Young.