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Retreat Dharma Talks

Winter Solstice Insight Retreat: Embracing the Dark, Inviting the Light

In this retreat, we will emphasize centering ourselves at the time of the holidays and the New Year, quieting our minds, grounding in our bodies, opening up our hearts, and using inquiry to help give energy to our practice. There will be a special emphasis on opening to the darkness, including to the unknown, to the creative and generative dimensions of darkness, and to our difficulties and challenges, as well as to the coming light--to our beauty, joy, wisdom, and love. The retreat will include complete meditation instructions, sitting and walking meditation, daily lovingkindness practice, daily Qigong practice, late afternoon talks, practice discussions, and a Winter Solstice ceremony.

2020-12-19 (5 days) Spirit Rock Meditation Center

  
2020-12-19 Practicing at the Winter Solstice: Embracing the Dark, Inviting the Light 62:29
Donald Rothberg
After setting the context of the Winter Solstice, in terms of the earth and the history of many varied cultures which have had rituals and ceremonies at this time, we explore, through teachings, stories, and poems, five ways that we open to the dark: (1) We stop and become still, like the earth. (2) We learn to be more able to be skillfully with difficulties and challenges.. (3) We become more comfortable and skillful in conditions of not knowing, as we open to the unknown, the mystery, and shadow areas, both individual and collective. (4) We come to experience darkness as generative and fertile, creative and dynamic. (5) We come to experience darkness as luminous, as generating light, as opening us to the light.
Attached Files:
  • Embracing the Dark, Inviting the Light by Donald Rothberg (PDF)
2020-12-20 The Five Hindrances 59:42
Tuere Sala
2020-12-21 Metta Instructions #3 49:08
Tuere Sala
"May you be filled with lovingkindness . . .Offered to multiple beings, from an easy one to a difficult one and self. With chanting and Q&A in the last part.
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