Author: steph
2019 Annual Retreat
This silent retreat will introduce the three levels of practice with the focus on Amitabha Buddha. Amitabha Buddha name means Infinite Light Buddha and is associated with the west. He is often called a meditation buddha. This retreat will be looking at the speech, meditation, and ultimate mind of Buddha practice. This is a very profound practice bringing significance understanding and technical details to your Buddhist path.
Amitabha Buddha and the associated practices we will be learning are based on concepts that fall under the Mahayana umbrella of Buddhism. In particular, the Pure Land school of Buddhism focuses almost exclusively on these practices.
The retreat will consist of sitting and walking meditations, dharma talks, interviews with the teachers, and some meditative activities.
This retreat is a great opportunity for people who have never been on a retreat and want to try it out before committing to a longer retreat. You should have some meditation experience and it is strongly encouraged that you sit with our group a few times prior to the retreat to meet the teachers and get a sense of the type of meditation we will be doing.
The retreat will be held at Lazy M Lodge, a peaceful oasis located near Caroline, a short 2 hour drive north-east of Calgary. All meals will be provided, including Thursday dinner and Monday lunch. Accommodations are shared but private rooms may be possible depending how many participants we have.
Meditation cushions will be available but if you have your own cushions and zabutons please bring them to ensure we have enough for everyone.
Retreat Start: 6pm, Thursday May 16
Retreat End: 12pm, Monday May 20
Retreat Costs
| Early bird (Before April 18) | $550 |
| Regular | $600 (April 18 – May 14) |
| Upgrade | +$150 (May 10 – May 16, if available) |
Cancellation policy:
| On or before April 18 | Full refund (minus $10 cancellation fee) |
| After April 18 | All cancellations after April 18 will be processed May 25 and depend on actual retreat costs (minus $50 cancellation fee). For example, if you cancel after April 18 and we do not have enough participants to cover the minimum charges, you will not receive a refund. |
To register please fill out the form at the link below. Your place will not be guaranteed until you submit payment. Payment can be made by email, cheque or cash. Details will be sent after you submit the registration form.
Winter 2019 Schedule
SUNDAYS @ 11:00am*
Sangha Sunday – starting January 6
Looking to take your meditation practice a little deeper? Want to learn more about Buddhism? Join us on Sundays for a variety of topics: Dharma talks, discussions, mini-retreats, advanced topics, chanting and group meditations. Most of these run from 11-12 but mini-retreats run 9-12. Please look on Meetup to find out what is happening on a given Sunday.
*Start time may vary – To find out exactly what is happening on a given Sunday please visit our Meetup site
FIRST TIME?: If this is your first time meditating please arrive a few minutes early to get settled in. You can also try out the various sitting methods to see what is most comfortable (kneeling vs sitting).
TUESDAYS @ 7:30pm
Meditation Tuesdays – starting January 8
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. If you miss a class or join mid-session please arrive 10-15 minutes early and the teacher can catch you up on what you need to know.
Session 1 January 8 – 28
Session 2 February 5 – 26
Session 3 March 5 – 26
Session 4 April 2 – 30
FIRST TIME? If you’ would like to try out the various sitting/kneeling options before the class please arrive 10 minutes early and we’d be happy to help you.
To receive reminders you can register for the classes on Meetup
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.
LOCATION
Details about our Location
Mini-Retreat Sunday Dec.2
Join us for our last Mini-retreat of the year this Sunday at 9am. More details on Meetup
Nov 4 Mini-Retreat!
The first mini-retreat of the season will be Sunday Nov.4, from 9am-12pm.
There will be seated and walking meditations. Cushions, benches and chairs will be available. Tea and cookies provided but feel free to bring your own snack.
You can find more details on our Meetup Site
Fall 2018 Schedule
SUNDAYS @ 11:00am*
Sangha Sunday – starting September 9
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.
Sundays will be a mix of Dharma talks, longer sits, and 1/2 or 1 day in-town retreats.
*Start time may vary – To find out exactly what is happening on a given Sunday please visit our Meetup site
FIRST TIME?: If this is your first time meditating please arrive 10 min early & let our teacher know so they can go over the basics with you. You can also try out the various sitting methods to see what is most comfortable (kneeling vs sitting).
TUESDAYS @ 7:30pm
Meditation Tuesdays – starting September 11
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. If you miss a class or join mid-session please arrive 10-15 minutes early and the teacher can catch you up on what you need to know.
Zazen Sept 11 – Oct. 2
Session 2 tbd
Session 3 tbd
FIRST TIME? If you’ would like to try out the various sitting/kneeling options before the class please arrive 10 minutes early and we’d be happy to help you.
To receive reminders you can register for the classes on Meetup
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.
LOCATION
Details about our Location
Mini-Retreat March 18
Our next Mini-retreat is March 18, from 9am-12pm
May 2018 Retreat
About the retreat
Our annual May Long Retreat will be held near Golden, B.C., at Quantum Leaps. This is a beautiful, serene environment, with a river, a large garden, and chickens running around.
All levels of meditators are welcome on this retreat. Instructions will be provided throughout the retreat. You will have opportunities to meet with the teachers to discuss any individual questions or concerns.
Delicious vegetarian meals will be served every day and are included in the price. You will be responsible for your own breakfasts (must be vegetarian). There are fridges, dishes, cutlery, pots, pans, stoves, and microwaves.
Theme
The theme for this retreat is “Wisdom On and Off the Cushion”. Many of us have a difficult time bringing our meditation experience into our daily lives. When we meditate we are quiet, focused, calm, relaxed… how can you feel those things in the middle of rush hour, in a meeting, or trying to get your 3 year old dressed? During this retreat we will explore what it means to live wisely, and how we can wisely integrate the things we discover in meditation with our daily life.
As part of our contemplation of wisdom we will be learning about a boddhisattva named Manjusri. Manjusri (Ch. Wenshu, Jp. Monju) is a Great Bodhisattva who is also the ruler of the meditation hall and is associated with wisdom and insight. When depicted, he almost always has a sword “to cut off all delusions”. He is associated with the lion because the Buddha’s teachings are called “The Lion’s Roar”. We will be using images, chants, mantras, and stories related to Manjusri to help deepen our understanding of Buddhist wisdom.
Pricing
| Accommodation Type | Early Bird (by April 15) | Regular |
|---|---|---|
| Teepee | $300 | $350 |
| Shared room | $425 | $475 |
| Private room | $500 | $550 |
Cost includes
– 3 nights’ accommodations
– 3 dinners (Friday, Saturday, Sunday)
– 2 lunches (Saturday, Sunday)
Cost does NOT include
– 3 breakfasts (Saturday, Sunday, Monday)
– Lunch before arrival Friday
– Lunch after departure Monday
Registration
Please fill out the registration FORM.
Payment can be emailed to amalatr@gmail.com.
For other payment options please contact Steph directly through Meetup chat.
Your spot is not confirmed until we receive your registration form and your payment.
Refund policy
– Full refund if you cancel on or before April 15
– Cancellations after April 15 but before May 11 will be handled after the retreat. If we cannot fill your spot and the venue still bills us you will not get a refund. We are generally able
to provide partial to full refunds but this is not a guarantee.
– Cancellations on or after May 11 will be handled after the retreat in the same way as post-April-15 cancellations MINUS a $25 cancellation fee (if a partial refund is available).
Carpool
Carpool will be arranged for Friday morning between 9-10 am
Mini-Retreat Sunday Jan. 28
join us for our first mini-retreat of the year!
What: meditation, dharma talks, chanting
When: Sunday Jan. 28 9am-12pm
Where: 110-138 18 Avenue SE
Who: all levels welcome
Cost: free! (donations welcome)
Winter 2018 Class Schedule
TUESDAYS @ 7:30pm
Meditation Tuesdays – starting January 9
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. If you miss a class or join mid-session please arrive 10-15 minutes early and the teacher can catch you up on what you need to know.
FIRST TIME? If you’ would like to try out the various sitting/kneeling options before the class please arrive 10-15 minutes early and we’d be happy to help you.
For details and to register visit us on Meetup
SUNDAYS @ 11:00am*
Sangha Sunday – starting January 14
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.
Sundays will be a mix of Dharma talks, longer sits, and 1/2 or 1 day in-town retreats.
*Start time may vary – To find out exactly what is happening on a given Sunday please visit our Meetup site
FIRST TIME?: If this is your first time meditating please arrive 10-15 min early & let our teacher know so they can go over the basics with you. You can also try out the various sitting methods to see what is most comfortable (kneeling vs sitting).
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.
LOCATION
Details about our Location