Amma Ṭhanasanti is a California born spiritual teacher dedicated to serving all beings. Since she first encountered the Dharma in 1979, she has been committed to awakening. As a former Buddhist nun of 26 years, she combines the precision and rigor of the Ajahn Chah Forest Tradition, compassion, pure awareness practices and a passion for wholeness. Amma has been teaching intensive meditation retreats in North America, Europe, Australia and Asia since 1995. She invites an openness to pause and inquire into the truth of the present moment, integrating what is liberating at the core of our human condition.
The Buddha taught that that key to peace, joy and happiness is release: a state of mind and heart not driven by a relentless insistence that life, in this moment, be other than as it is. This capacity for freedom is available every moment yet is often obscured by our agitated minds and wounded hearts. When we shift away from self-sourcing and turn towards any one of the many facets of awakening, and start divine sourcing we let go, and experience what is timeless, luminous and boundless. This day-long retreat will combine the steady focus and insight of Vipassana meditation, with the relational practice of inquiry to find our own access to awakening.
The Buddha taught that that key to peace, joy and happiness is release: a state of mind and heart not driven by a relentless insistence that life, in this moment, be other than as it is. This capacity for freedom is available every moment yet is often obscured by our agitated minds and wounded hearts. When we shift away from self-sourcing and turn towards any one of the many facets of awakening, and start divine sourcing we let go, and experience what is timeless, luminous and boundless. This day-long retreat will combine the steady focus and insight of Vipassana meditation, with the relational practice of inquiry to find our own access to awakening.
The Buddha taught that that key to peace, joy and happiness is release: a state of mind and heart not driven by a relentless insistence that life, in this moment, be other than as it is. This capacity for freedom is available every moment yet is often obscured by our agitated minds and wounded hearts. When we shift away from self-sourcing and turn towards any one of the many facets of awakening, and start divine sourcing we let go, and experience what is timeless, luminous and boundless. This day-long retreat will combine the steady focus and insight of Vipassana meditation, with the relational practice of inquiry to find our own access to awakening.
Amma Thanasanti will be leading our Tuesday evening sit as a special guest. The topic will be “Marrying the mystics' passion for love and the activists' passion for justice”.
Amma Thanasanti will be leading our Tuesday evening sit as a special guest. The topic will be “Marrying the mystics' passion for love and the activists' passion for justice”.
A Buddhist Response to Climate Change
Using essential Buddhist teachings we can examine the suffering that is being caused by climate change. We feel for the beauty and life-enriching presence of animals, forests, oceans and our many different human relationships and, as we focus on gratitude, we gain a capacity for understanding our grief, sorrow and shock at the prospect of their demise. Understanding the causes of climate change and the interdependence of living systems, we can move into engaged action. When we see the importance of generating skillful effort to deal with climate change we can focus on specific and constructive actions and be the change we want to see in the world.
We are in the midst of a global climate crisis that is pushing us to wake up. More than ever we need to have attention grounded in our bodies, take time to relax, renew, let go and open our hearts.
Body Awareness/All Pervasive Awareness
The Buddha taught awareness of body and breath as a path of enlightenment. Our body is our direct link to the Earth. Bringing attention to the body allows for relaxation, stillness, renewal and letting go. To discover the body is to discover awareness, and eventually, the awakened state. All pervasive Awareness is a direct approach to embodied non-dual consciousness pervading our body and the environment as a whole. This retreat will combine body awareness and All Pervasive Awareness practices to uncover an authentic experience of ourselves as individuals and our connection with all of life at the same time.