Kittisaro, from Tennessee, a Rhodes Scholar and a Buddhist practitioner for over 35 years including 15 years as a Theravada monk in the Forest School of Ajahn Chah. He is also a practitioner of Pure Land and Chan Buddhism. He is co-founder, with Thanissara of Dharmagiri Sacred Mountain Retreat in South Africa and has completed two year long retreats. Kittisaro currently lives in the North Bay, California, teaches at IMS and Spirit Rock, and is co-author of Listening to the Heart, A Contemplative Journey to Engaged Buddhism. He lives in the North Bay CA, and is on the Teacher Council at Spirit Rock, and is a core teacher at IMS.
Our environmental crisis is generated by an obsession with ownership and individualism that obscures the truth of our inter-dependence within a web of life. In a world divided by inequity, racism, and wars, Dharma practice shatters the illusion of dualistic consciousness, offering a new paradigm. This mini-retreat explores the process which generates divisiveness: papanca or conceptual proliferation in service of delusion. The ending of papanca reveals the unshakeable depth and the undivided nature of reality at the heart of all circumstances, revolutionizing our way of being and living — both personally and globally.
The retreat, for contemplatives and activists, is framed within depth teachings of emptiness and merciful compassion embodied by Kuan Yin Bodhisattva, who is a metaphor for our deepest, mysterious heart. It includes Dharma teachings, meditation and inquiry sessions, qi-gong, group process, psycho-spiritual exploration, and the cultivation of inner skills for activists. Besides applying the liberating practices and teaching of mindfulness and insight meditation, we will use chanting and ceremony.
Our environmental crisis is generated by an obsession with ownership and individualism that obscures the truth of our inter-dependence within a web of life. In a world divided by inequity, racism, and wars, Dharma practice shatters the illusion of dualistic consciousness, offering a new paradigm. This mini-retreat explores the process which generates divisiveness: papanca or conceptual proliferation in service of delusion. The ending of papanca reveals the unshakeable depth and the undivided nature of reality at the heart of all circumstances, revolutionizing our way of being and living — both personally and globally.
The retreat, for contemplatives and activists, is framed within depth teachings of emptiness and merciful compassion embodied by Kuan Yin Bodhisattva, who is a metaphor for our deepest, mysterious heart. It includes Dharma teachings, meditation and inquiry sessions, qi-gong, group process, psycho-spiritual exploration, and the cultivation of inner skills for activists. Besides applying the liberating practices and teaching of mindfulness and insight meditation, we will use chanting and ceremony.
This Dharma teaches “our heart / mind (citta) is already pure, luminous, free and endowed with wisdom.” Realizing this is the fruit of practice while the embodiment of this truth is the path of practice. To walk this path is a life time undertaking which is made all the sweeter through fellowship within “beloved community.” This weekend we explore teachings and practices of freedom while deepening support of ourselves within community. Besides drawing from classical teachings of Dharma and meditation, we will also focus on practices and teachings from Kuan Yin bodhisattva of deep wisdom and compassion, who is a metaphor for our true heart. There will be Dharma teachings, meditation practice, discussion, chanting, ceremony and cultivation of authentic inquiry.
This Dharma teaches “our heart / mind (citta) is already pure, luminous, free and endowed with wisdom.” Realizing this is the fruit of practice while the embodiment of this truth is the path of practice. To walk this path is a life time undertaking which is made all the sweeter through fellowship within “beloved community.” This weekend we explore teachings and practices of freedom while deepening support of ourselves within community. Besides drawing from classical teachings of Dharma and meditation, we will also focus on practices and teachings from Kuan Yin bodhisattva of deep wisdom and compassion, who is a metaphor for our true heart. There will be Dharma teachings, meditation practice, discussion, chanting, ceremony and cultivation of authentic inquiry.
This Dharma teaches “our heart / mind (citta) is already pure, luminous, free and endowed with wisdom.” Realizing this is the fruit of practice while the embodiment of this truth is the path of practice. To walk this path is a life time undertaking which is made all the sweeter through fellowship within “beloved community.” This weekend we explore teachings and practices of freedom while deepening support of ourselves within community. Besides drawing from classical teachings of Dharma and meditation, we will also focus on practices and teachings from Kuan Yin bodhisattva of deep wisdom and compassion, who is a metaphor for our true heart. There will be Dharma teachings, meditation practice, discussion, chanting, ceremony and cultivation of authentic inquiry.
Join Kittisaro & Thanissara for the launch of their new book, "Listening to the Heart" for this Friday evening talk.
The Buddha taught “Be a light unto yourself.” He also encouraged the development of spiritual friendship for mutual support along the path. Tonight we invite you to join us in friendship and celebration of the Dharma in our lives that ever guides us as we “Listen into the Heart.”
