2015 Spring Retreat with Santikaro

Breathing & Grounding, Seeing & Healing

Spring Retreat: April 30th to May 3rd, 2015

With Santikaro

Sponsored by Insight Chicago Meditation Community

Dates: 11:00 am Thursday, April 30th, 2013 until 12:00 noon Sunday, May 3rd 2015

Location:
Portiuncula Center for Prayer
9263 W. St. Francis Road
Frankfort, IL 60423
Phone: (815) 464-3880
http://www.portforprayer.org/

Nestled in 50-acres of lovely woods, the Portiuncula provides a peaceful environment for meditation. There are open, grassy knolls, wooded hiking trails and a small creek, as well as a labyrinth.

Retreat Description: Grounded in the living body, the breathing is a vehicle for mindfulness and clear seeing in all areas of life. We will give special attention to areas of hurt and suffering in order to awaken compassion for ourselves and others, personally and socially. Compassionate inquiry into the sources of distress enables us to release the clinging & egoism that inflicts the most pain. This opens up a Dhammic life of freedom and service.

Insight Chicago’s Spring Retreat will be held in Noble Silence. Retreatants will practice mindfulness meditation, which involves moment-to-moment observation of the body/mind process through calm and focused awareness. We shall use the Buddha’s principle instruction on meditation, the teaching on the four foundations of mindfulness, as our guide. This retreat is suitable for beginners and seasoned meditators alike. The teacher will provide instruction and discussion, evening dharma talks, and group meetings throughout the retreat.

Retreat Teacher:

Santikaro trained for almost two decades as a Theravada bhikkhu, mostly at Suan Mokkh in Southern Thailand where he lived with Ajahn Buddhadasa and became his primary translator. His training continues here in the Midwest, as an upasika, where he is the founder of Liberation Park, a modern expression of Buddhist practice, study, and social responsibility, located in rural southwestern Wisconsin. He has been teaching in the Chicago area since his return "home" in 2000.

Cost: Costs include three meals a day and all expenses pertaining to your stay at the Cenacle. All meals will be vegetarian. If you have any dietary restrictions please contact the retreat manager at registrar@insightchicago.org before the retreat.

The cost per person for the retreat is as follows:

Dana: The teachings are offered freely but there will be an opportunity to make a donation (dana) to the teacher at the end of the retreat. We also give dana to the kitchen help so an offering should be considered for them as well.

Registration: Space is limited so early registration is highly recommended. Confirmation will be made on a first come basis. If registration becomes full, there will be a waiting list for those who are still interested in attending. To register, select a Single, Double or Non-Residential ticket, click Order Now for credit cards or other payment type for check, and fill out the registration information.

Additional Information: Approximately two weeks before the retreat you will receive more information on the Port as well as what to expect and bring to the retreat. Also, a teacher interview form and schedule will be provided.

Cancellation and Refund Policy: No refunds after April 22th.

Questions? Contact Nicholas Joyner at registrar@insightchicago.org.