Finding Peace and Joy During the Holidays
One-Day Retreat with Gareth Young
Saturday, December 21, 2024, 9:00 to 5:00
In Person (Hospital Drive) and on Zoom
During the Holiday season we spend time with family and friends, look back on the past year, and celebrate religious anniversaries (in Buddhism December is the month of Bodhi Day or Rohatsu, the anniversary of the day Siddhartha Gautama woke up under the bodhi tree and became Buddha). But for many of us this time is filled with stress.
The joy and peace with which popular culture fills this time of year are precisely the joy and peace (piti and sukkha) that are made available by our practice. On this retreat we'll take a welcome pause in a busy month to slow down, and during our day together we'll explore how to use our practice to help us during this time, and how to access joy and peace that do not depend on our circumstances.
Gareth Young is a co-founder and the guiding teacher 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 into his teaching.
Gareth's teaching authorization is in the Thai Forest lineage of Ajahn Chah, Jack Kornfield and Lisa Ernst.
What to expect
The doors open at 8:45 for arrival and there will be a brief introduction at 9:00 followed by practice until 5:00. We will alternate periods of sitting and walking meditation during the day. There will be a dharma talk in the morning, a one hour lunch break at approximately midday, and a period of Q&A in the afternoon. All are welcome. And while participation for the full day is encouraged, for those who can only attend for a portion of the day, please feel free to do so - just be mindful of others, entering and leaving quietly. And if you would let Gareth know ahead of time your anticipated attendance, it would be helpful.
Cost There is no cost to attend this retreat. Donations to Red Clay Sangha are gratefully received.
Location At Red Clay Sangha's physical space on Hospital Drive and our usual Zoom account (link here).
Food Please bring a packed lunch. We have a refrigerator on premise for you to keep items cold.
Questions or More Information?
Please contact Gareth Young by email.