Re-imagining the body – to deepen and nourish our Dharma path
“For it is in this fathom-long body, with its perception and mind, that I make known the world, its arising, its cessation, and the practice that leads to its cessation” (Anguttara Nikaya 4).
With an emphasis on the body and a discernment of the place of your imagination in spiritual practice, this retreat will serve to deepen your meditation and empower your Dharma path.
Cultivating a nourishing bodily presence steadies the heart and mind and can be supported by a skilful and playful engagement with the imagination. With this as a basis we will turn to investigate our experience in ways that liberate the mind from the bindings that entangle us.
This retreat is open to anyone with a committed and regular Insight meditation practice and a working familiarity with Insight Meditation.
Teachings are offered in English.
Who is the teacher?
Catherine McGee has been teaching Insight Meditation retreats internationally since 1999. She is a member of the Gaia House teachers council, a guiding teacher of One Earth Sangha and a long term student of the Diamond Approach. Her teaching emphasises embodiment and how to translate our deepest knowledge in to our lived relationships.
The format of the retreat
The retreat will take place online, using Zoom as the platform.
We will start on Friday the 5th of February, with an Opening session 6:30-8:30pm.
The schedule from Saturday to Monday (6th-8th) will be:
Sittting 7:30-8:15am
Session A 10am – 12noon
12-12:45 Optional group interview
Session B 3-4pm
Session C 7-8pm
Sitting 8:30-9pm (not on Monday)
On Monday the 8th, the retreat will finish at 8pm, after a closing session.
Times are Finnish time (EET, UTC +2).
It is possible to do the retreat as a full silent retreat. However, as people might join from different circumstances, it is also possible to participate somewhat less fully.
Attendance is required at all the sessions marked in bold. The sitting meditations marked and group interviews are optional.
Price and donations
The base price is 30 euros. This covers the practical expenses of the retreat.
We feel that financial situation should not prevent anybody from participating, so we are willing to offer the retreat for a reduced price, if needed. If the base price is too high for you, please contact us at retriitit3@nirodha.fi and let us know how much you are able to pay. If you would like to help sponsor someone who does not have the financial means to pay the full price, you are welcome to pay more than the base price.
The teacher and organizers do not receive any payment for their services but offer them freely so that as many as possible have the chance to benefit from the teachings regardless of financial situation. This principle of generosity is very central to the teachings of the Buddha and has made it possible to continue the practice of meditation still 2,500 years after his life. The teacher lives primarily off donations. Retreat participants may support the teacher and organizers by donations at the end of the retreat.
Registration and cancellation policy
You can sign up for the retreat by filling in the registration form. Please sign up by 3.2.2021.You will get a confirmation email after we have received the form and your payment. Pay the retreat price of 30 euros to the following bank account.
Account number: FI84 4108 0010 3769 97
Bank name: Oma Säästöpankki
Bank address: Valtakatu 32, 53100 LAPPEENRANTA, Finland
Swift code: ITELFIHH
Name of bank account holder: Nirodha ry
Address of the account holder: Vetehisenkuja 3, 00530 Helsinki
Type of account: business account
Reference number: 3021028 (It is important to use this reference number in the payment!)
Alternatively, you can pay via PayPal. Make the payment to talous@nirodha.fi. Please include the reference number above in the “note” field.
In case of cancellation, please inform us as soon as possible. Unfortunately we cannot refund the retreat fee.
Finally
If you have anything to ask, please contact us at retriitit3@nirodha.fi. We wish everyone a rewarding and meaningful retreat!
Warmly,
Anna Backholm (040 5362 946)
Ulla Sillanpää, registrations (040 536 4181)