Retreat

During this time of self-quarantine, the Open Heart Project will offer four free online meditation retreats, beginning April 25th. Each retreat will be from 9a-3p ET. The full day will be recorded for those who cannot attend live.

Each retreat will be led by a different teacher who will also teach on a particular theme. We are really excited to be able to offer a chance to get together in community to practice meditation and discuss the spiritual path. We will take time out of our normal busy-ness to reconsider who we are, what is important, and how to re-center our highest priorities within everyday life.

These retreats are FREE and open to all. Please sign up below to reserve your space.

Tentative Schedule:
9-10 am ET — Meditation
10-11 am ET — Breakout groups to connect with each other
11-12 am ET — Meditation
12-1 pm ET — Discussion on bringing mindfulness into everyday life
1-2:30 pm ET — Contemplative activity (reading, resting, walking…no work, email, chores, or unrelated conversations)
2:30-3:00 pm ET — Meditation and closing discussion

APRIL 25
Teachers: Crystal Gandrud & Ericka Phillips
Theme: The Protectors

The practice of protection is as old as human societies. We have always sought to protect ourselves and our loved ones from both real and perceived threat. Fundamentally, does this protection come from without or within? And what, exactly, are we protecting ourselves or others from?

Most traditions have some version of a protector principle. In Buddhist traditions, the principle is deeply interconnected with indigenous practices of care-taking and bargaining with elemental forces beyond our control. Protecting ourselves and others might seem to have changed recently but in some fundamental ways it is the same as it has been for many thousands of generations. In other words, we know how to do this.

In this retreat, we will explore how to call upon the power of protection with dignity and calm in the midst of our justifiable fear. Is there a place of greater safety? Fundamentally, does this protection come from without or within? And what, exactly, are we protecting ourselves or others from?

MAY 2
Teacher: Susan Piver
Theme: The Four Noble Truths of Love

Why is it so hard to love and how can a meditation practice help? During this retreat, we will look at love through the Buddhist four noble truths. We will discuss meditation practice as something much more than “mindfulness.” It creates the foundation for love. We will discover the power of loving-kindness meditation and learn how to incorporate it into everyday life.

MAY 9
Teacher: Michael Carroll
Theme: Kindness

Confidence brings the natural dignity of gentleness. You can afford to be gentle. You are not pretending to be gentle in order to achieve something by it, but you have a general sense of gentleness, which means you are being kind to yourself.  – Chogyam Trungpa

In this retreat we will explore how the confidence we discover through mindfulness awareness meditation unleashes our natural tendency to be gentle, kind and available to ourselves and others.

MAY 23
Teacher: Kevin Townley
Theme: Wisdom

We often doubt our own experience, feeling “surely this can’t be right.” So-called negative emotions become enemies and mental warfare ensues. By contemplating the Five Wisdom Energies of Tibetan Buddhism we begin to unlock the innate wisdom hidden within even our darkest states of mind.

 

Please sign up below to reserve your space.

Please use this Time Zone Converter to find out what time the program is being taught where you live. You can use Boston as the course city.

I look forward to this chance to practice more deeply together. If you have any questions, please email Lisa.

Warmly,

Susan

 

Sign up for 1 retreat or all 4!

The retreats include access to my newsletter with ongoing support for your spiritual journey.

Please sign up for the April 25th online retreat with Crystal Gandrud and Ericka Phillips



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Please sign up for the May 2nd online retreat with Susan Piver



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Please sign up for the May 9th online retreat with Michael Carroll



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Please sign up for the May 23rd online retreat with Kevin Townley




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Early Bird price of $1,595.oo ends Feb 22nd

Only offered once in 2022.