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Calgary Weekend Meditation Retreat – Fall 2016

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Everything about this silent retreat was designed to make it accessible for everyone. We wanted to remove any barriers for those of us living busy schedules, who find it difficult to find the time to get some silence and equanimity in our lives. So we kept the location close and the costs as low as possible. This in-city retreat is also great if you’ve never been on a meditation retreat before and want to get a feeling for what prolonged periods of silence is like. Lastly, even if you’ve meditated for years and just need the opportunity to get some extra cushion time in, it’ll be a solid weekend.

Theme: The Path to Liberation – Living with Presence and Meaning in the World
Price: $75 and that includes a vegetarian lunch on Saturday.
Location: FCJ Christian Life Centre – 219 19 Ave SW

Schedule:

  • Friday, November 18 –  6:00pm – 9:00pm
  • Saturday, November 19 –  9:00am – 5:00pm. For those looking for additional meditation time, you can stay for the optional evening session from 6:00pm – 9:00pm
  • Sunday, November 20 –  9:00am – 12:00pm

Each night, you go home and sleep in your own bed. You are encouraged, but not required, to remain in silence for the entire weekend. If this causes you some anxiety, no sweat, we can figure something out. Meditation (including retreats) should never be a cause for more stress in our already stressful lives.

Questions or curiosities? You can hit up Philip directly at 403-690-5365.

To apply for the retreat, please fill in the following application form.

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Sangha Sundays & Meditation Tuesdays

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SUNDAYS @ 11:00am

Sangha Sunday – starting January 10 @ 11:00 am (please be punctual)

Looking to take your meditation practice a little deeper?  Want to learn more about Buddhism? Join us on Sundays for a Dharma talk, discussion, some chanting and group mediations. Sundays will alternate between more formal Dharma talks and opportunities to practice your meditation.

  • 1st and 3rd Sundays of the month are open to anyone that wants to meditate.  This is an opportunity to anchor your practice and sit in a group setting.  Individual instruction will be offered if requested.
  • 2nd and 4th Sundays of the month offer a more formal Dharma talk, discussion, chanting, and a short group meditation. Dharma talks are explanations and discussions of important Buddhist texts.

If you want to attend Sunday Sanghas but have little meditation experience, please arrive 10-15 min early & let our teacher know so you can receive instructions before official start time.

TUESDAYS @ 7:30pm

Meditation Tuesdays – starting January 12, 2016.

If you’re  new to meditation, don’t have much experience, or want to get back to basics, Tuesday’s class is perfect for you.  Learn different meditation techniques in a relaxed, comfortable and easy-going setting.

Advanced Zen meditation starting Jan 12 for 4 weeks
Equanimity mediation starting Feb 9 for 4 weeks
Buddha meditation starting March 8 for 4 weeks

A FEW THINGS TO NOTE:

  • We have meditation cushions and benches for you to use while with us However, if you have your own and would like to bring it, please do.
  • Wear comfortable, loose/ stretchy clothing (meditating in skinny jeans is not fun, trust me).
  • You may want to bring a sweater or shawl with you as the body tends to cool during meditation.
  • All classes and services are run by cash donation in what ever amount you feel comfortable with.

We look forward to sitting with you!

Location

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We are located in the Legacy Building, 110-138 18Avenue SE, on the first floor.

Please note: Our room does not have a buzzer on the main box. Look for the sandwich board (it has a picture of a frog on it) on the left side, near the sidewalk, as you approach the door.  There is a white doorbell button on the sandwich board.   Press the doorbell and someone will come to let you in. Trippy, I know.


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The Teacher – Shirfu

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Born in the USA and a Canadian, Shirfu Samanta has been training in Buddhism for 40 years.  He has trained under more than 35 Tibetan Lamas including some of the most distinguished masters in the 20th century.  He has also studied with masters of the Newar tradition, Vipashyana tradition, Tien Tai tradition, Chan/Zen tradition and Pure Land schools. Shirfu has received many initiations, ordinations, transmissions and was ordained as a Buddhist priest in Japan (Kyoto, 1999).  He holds a Ph.D. in Buddhist Studies and an MA in psychology.  Shirfu has lived in India, Nepal, Japan, Taiwan, and extensively traveled in other parts of Asia.  He has completed many retreats from the Himalayas to the Sierras.

Noted for his ability to connect Buddhism to life in the 21st century, Shirfu has taught various types of meditation for 30 years.  His teachings strongly emphasize non-sectarianism with a leaning to Mahayana.



The 2015 May (extra) Long Weekend Retreat

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The 2015 May Long Weekend Retreat(2)
Join us for a long weekend of quietude.

During our time together, we will focus full attention on the mind. Shirfu will lead us through various aspects of thoughtful practice and ritual.

Sit, eat, walk, sleep, mindfulness. We will share space together, in silence, for five days and four nights.

Dates & Times:
Start: Thursday, May 14 – arrive at 6pm, dinner is served at 6:30pm.
Finish: Monday, May 18 – 11am

Location:
We’re pretty excited to hold our retreat at the beautiful Quantum Leaps Retreat Centre again this year. Check out the location and accommodations here.

Meals:
Prices include dinner and lunch for the duration of the retreat (this includes dinner Thursday @ 6:30pm). You will need to provide your own breakfast, so please bring whatever you need (there is access to a fridge and stocked kitchen). All meals provided will be organic and vegetarian with little sugar and salt. The meals will generally be gluten free.

Availability:
Limited Spaces.

Costs (accommodations & food):
Private Room – Lodge: $680
Shared Room for 2 – Lodge: $585
Shared Teepee for 4: $450
*Prices are per person, include taxes and are subject to change depending on the number of registrants.

If price feels like a barrier, please be in touch with us. Lowered pricing (or possibly totally free spots) is available as an option based on situational circumstances.

Interested in joining us or looking for more information?
Deposits due by Tuesday, April 7 at 9pm.

May Long Weekend Retreat 2014 – The Mind and Meditation

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Description
This retreat combines together the Buddhist explanation of different states of mind that predominate in individuals and a course of meditation.  The meditation is suitable for those at the early stages of their spiritual development up to advance mediators. This will be a silent retreat. In addition to talks on the mind, each student will have time with the teacher to clear up questions, to address specific questions, and to enhance their practice.

Dates & Times:
Start: Friday, May 16 – 1pm (preferred. 7pm late arrival if you are unable to take the day off work.)
Finish: Monday, May 19 – 11am

Location:
We are very fortunate this year to have our retreat at the beautiful Quantum Leaps Retreat Centre, “a unique, peaceful, and scenic riverside retreat in the Blaeberry Valley just 15 minutes northwest of Golden, BC.  We welcome people who are seeking a place for peace, quiet, and rejuvenation. The land is sacred with our Labyrinth and Medicine Wheel creating a beautiful vibration.  We have a large vegetable garden which in the summer you are welcome to come and gather fresh produce (by donation).  Our “wild mountain” chickens run free during the day.  And wild creatures such as Deer and Bears are not uncommon in our beautiful valley.”
Exact location & Pictures

Meals Provided:
Friday & Monday: bring your own food
Saturday & Sunday: breakfast, lunch and dinner will be provided by Quantum Leaps.

Availability:
Only 14 spots available (possibly 20 depending on demand).
1 spot is available through a scholarship opportunity if you are unable to pay the costs of the retreat.

Application:
You will receive confirmation on your registration within 7 days.
Once you are a confirmed retreat registrant, we will send you a link to our PayPal account so you can make a deposit.

Costs (accommodations & food):
Private Room – Lodge: $450*
Shared Room for 2 – Lodge: $380*
Shared Teepee for 4: $275*

*Prices are per person, include taxes and are subject to change depending on the number of registrants.
(Think it’s a bit on the pricey side? I’m with ya. But accommodations and food account for almost all of the price. Calgary Buddhist Meditation charges a tiny amount more to cover some of our costs. This is also the reason why we decided not to provide food on Friday and Monday – to keep the retreat as affordable as possible.)