Description
Schedule
- Saturday: 10:00 am – 7:00 pm
- Sunday: 10:00 am – 5:00 pm
The Experienced Practitioners Weekend Retreat offers an intensive opportunity to practice in the company of other dedicated practitioners. The meditation instructions offered will be suitable for those who have walked the Eightfold Noble Path for some and are interested in deepening their practice through the ancient forms originally taught by the Buddha. We will cultivate a sense of connection with others through our shared experiences. Over the course of the weekend, each participant will have the opportunity to join a small group interview with Narayan.
One of the many beautiful aspects of a weekend non-residential retreat is the invitation to merge one’s everyday life with one’s dharma practice. In addition to periods of group sitting practice, this retreat includes open periods of individual practice in the four postures of sitting, walking, standing, and lying down. This format is intended to encourage making the practice one’s own, and it offers the invitation to be aware and fluid in all four postures. This is called the practice of “evening out the postures” which means bringing an equally caring attentiveness to each posture.
On Saturday evening, after a short dharma teaching, there is a shared dharma talk in which a meditative question is presented. This question is responded to and investigated by those present who wish to share their process, challenges, and understanding in the context of a non-judgmental and generous-spirited group.
Attending an in-person retreat
- CIMC is a refuge. Out of compassion for those with chemical sensitivities, please avoid using scented products—lotions, deodorant, after-shave, hair products, perfume, clothes laundered with scented detergent, or dryer sheets—before you come to the Center.
- Please arrive at least 20 minutes early to check in and find a comfortable place in the meditation hall.
- Parking at CIMC is limited; we suggest you take public transportation to the Center whenever possible.
- Retreats are held in silence. Please power off your cell phone, smartwatch, and other electronic devices for the retreat. All phones, pagers, beeping watches, and other electronic devices must remain completely turned off while you are at the Center.
- Please leave your shoes on the shoe shelves on the first floor and keep your valuables with you.
- We provide vegetarian meals at day-long, weekend, and multi-day retreats. We are unable to accommodate special dietary needs, however. If you have dietary restrictions, we invite you to bring your own vegetarian meal. Please note that nuts may be used in our kitchen.
- Retreat Meal Dana: In keeping with tradition, we invite you to sponsor a retreat meal as a simple and meaningful act of generosity. You can share a dedication of your generosity, perhaps to someone in your life, a special occasion, or an aspiration. Please contact the office for more information on offering Meal Dana for this retreat.
- The meditation halls do not allow food and beverages, including water.
- We strongly recommend you dress in layers since the temperature in the meditation hall varies throughout the day. The hall thermostat is set to a comfortable temperature range; however, it’s best to have a range of clothing options, as individual preferences for warmth or coolness differ widely and cannot be accommodated.
- Masks are optional. Some masks are available at the entrance of the Center.
- CIMC provides zafus (round cushions), zabutons (large mats), meditation benches, blankets, and chairs. At the end of the program, we request that participants brush off their zabutons and plump up their zafus. All other items should be returned neatly to where they belong.