Ways to Start the New Year
Retreats to choose from and a tip on perfections
The COVID pandemic resulted in more than seven million reported deaths worldwide and estimated totals three to five times that number. It left some portion of the population with lingering conditions. As is common with tragedies, it also spawned some benefits.
The most visible benefit is what the scientific community learned about the rapid development of vaccines, but perhaps how the general public learned to shrink the world through technology is equally significant. Yes, being in someone’s physical presence is more intimate than a Zoom chat. Still, until someone invents a magic carpet that works, teleconferencing gets me to my teacher in Kathmandu more often and at far less cost than traveling would.
As people’s comfort level with Zoom and other teleconferencing tools grew, Western Buddhists received an unexpected gift—more contact with teachers regardless of location. Dharma talks, guided meditations, chanting sessions, retreats, transmissions, and even some empowerments are now commonly offered both virtually and in person.
I firmly believe that in-person contact with a qualified teacher gives the student an extra boost along the path, but financial and physical factors limit the times I can travel, so Zoom has…well…zipped my practice.
As December comes to a close, I’ll offer From the Pure Land readers some suggestions for new-year retreats you can participate in from home.
The Gift of a Quiet Mind
Your true home is in the here and the now. It is not limited by time, space, nationality, or race. Your true home is not an abstract idea. It is something you can touch and live in every moment. —Thich Nhat Hanh
This retreat, in English, will originate from Plum Village in France, the monastery founded by the venerable Vietnamese Zen master Thich Nhat Hanh (1926-2022). It will run from (Paris time) the evening of Wednesday, December 29, through Sunday, January 2. Sessions will be streamed and available afterward, which may be helpful for Western Hemisphere participants. More information and registration can be found here. As for the cost:
You can choose the contribution that suits your financial means, all options give the same retreat access.
Working With Fear and Anxiety in an Uncertain World
The world is swirling with uncertainty.
Political divisions, social unrest, and ecological anxieties leave many feeling overwhelmed and fearful. It’s easy to get lost in the chaos and succumb to isolation, loneliness, and dread.
But what if you could navigate these turbulent times with a sense of grounded calm and even find opportunity amidst the challenges?
Andrew Holecek, an interdisciplinary scholar-practitioner in Tibetan Buddhism and other nondual wisdom traditions, will lead the two-day retreat—Saturday, January 4, from 11 a.m. to 2:30 and from 4 p.m. to 7, and Sunday, January 5, from 11 a.m. to 2:30 and from 4 p.m. to 6 (East Coast U.S. time). The cost is $179, with a $30 discount for members of Holecek’s Night Club. The sessions—transmitted via Zoom—will be recorded and made available to those registered. Here’s the link for more information and registration.
The Light of Awareness
During this retreat, Anam Thubten will invite participants to ignite the light of awareness inside and immerse themselves in it. He will speak about how to replace the habit of unawareness with the habit of awareness. This will not only be of benefit to ourselves but enable us to become a source of goodness to the world around us. During this powerful time, it is more essential than ever for us to ascend into a more enlightened state of mind, for the benefit of all.
Again, Using East Coast U.S. time, the retreat, led by Anam Thubten, will be available via Zoom from 1 to 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, January 4, and Sunday, January 5, with a break from around 3:30 to 5. The cost is $150, with a sliding scale for those needing financial assistance. More information and registration are available here.
Finding Stability in Turbulent Times
In celebration of the coming New Year, please join the worldwide Buddhist Global Relief community for “Finding Stability in Turbulent Times,” an online Dharma retreat in support of BGR’s work to relieve the suffering of hunger and poverty around the world.
Led by BGR founder and chairperson Bhikkhu Bodhi, the retreat will include guided meditations and dharma talks “to support and inspire us for our work together in the new year.” The tentative schedule is Friday, January 10, from 7 to 8 p.m. and Saturday, January 11, from 9:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. East Coast U.S. time. The online retreat incorporates break periods, and participants can come and go. Participation in the retreat is free, but donations to Buddhist Global Relief are welcome. Here’s the link to learn more and register.
I’m registered for Anam Thubten’s “Light of Awareness” retreat and Bhikkhu Bodhi’s “Finding Stability in Turbulent Times.” Perhaps we can practice together.
While we’re considering the new year, let’s remember the pāramitās (perfections). They come in various versions in lists of six to ten or so. For example:
Generosity in every sense of the word
Ethics, virtue, morality (including nonviolence)
Renunciation of worldly distractions
Wisdom
Joyful effort
Patient forbearance
Honesty
Determination
Loving-kindness, goodwill
Equanimity, serenity
May we all be guided by those qualities.
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Such a great resource. Thank you 🙏🏼