Vipassana

Vipassana is the simple and direct practice of moment-to-moment mindfulness. Through careful and sustained observation, we experience for ourselves the ever-changing flow of the mind/body process. This awareness leads us to accept more fully the pleasure and pain, fear and joy, sadness and happiness that life inevitably brings. As insight deepens, we develop greater equanimity and peace in the face of change, and wisdom and compassion become the guiding principles in our lives.

Retreat Cost

The Retreat fees are slightly higher this year due to increased expenses.

The cost of the retreat is $85 for two days and $180 for five days. The student rate is $75 for two days and $155 for five days. This includes space to bed down, vegetarian meals, and access to showers. There are eight dormitory beds available for an extra charge of $20 per night. There are two beds in each room, and some of them are bunk beds.

If you are unable to pay the full retreat fee, contact Monty Cook: 928-778-1814.

We do not pay our retreat teacher. Traditionally people offer Dana, a donation, for the teachings.

Registration

As of August 27, we still have a few spaces available. Please register by September 1, so we will know how much food to purchase. To register, complete the Registration Form.

You can also request that a Registration form be mailed to you by contacting Monty Cook at (928) 778-1814 or mccook@cableone.net.

Vipassana and Loving Kindness Retreat

September 17-21 (5 Days) or September 19-21 (2 days)

The Teacher--Howard Cohn

Photo of Howard Cohn

Howard Cohn is a founding teacher of Spirit Rock Meditation Center in the San Francisco Bay area. He has guided a local sitting group in San Francisco, been in private practice as a psychotherapist and led Vipassana retreats worldwide since 1985. He incorporates the influences of Theravada, Zen, Tibetan Dzogchen and Advaita Vedanta in his teaching, with an emphasis reawakening our intrinsic freedom. Among his many teachers and mentors are Jack Kornfield, Joseph Goldstein, U Pandita Sayadaw, Tulku Urgyen Rimpoche, Tsoknyi Rimpoche, and the Advaita Vedanta Master H.W.L. Poonja. His newest guru is his five year old daughter Molly.

The Retreat

The retreat is composed of instructions, sitting and walking meditation, question and answer sessions, and evening Dharma talks. Silence will be observed throughout the five days. This is to provide an optimal environment for internal work, since talking invites our energies outward. By attending to the energy normally directed toward speech, we begin to attend to the forces that drive compulsive thinking. This retreat will also include instructions for the practice of loving kindness, cultivating friendship toward oneself and all other beings. There will be guided movement sessions every afternoon. Interviews with the teacher will be scheduled if time and numbers permit.

Participants can choose to do the full five-day retreat, arriving early afternoon on Wednesday, September 17, or the two-day portion, arriving the evening of Friday, September 19. The retreat will end for all participants after lunch on Sunday, September 21. We will give more definite arrival and departure times by email or postal mail in early September.

Facilities

The retreat will be held at the Garchen Buddhist Institute, a beautiful Tibetan Buddhist center in the pinion-juniper woodlands about one hour northeast of Prescott. This site provides panoramic views of the San Francisco Peaks, the red rock country of central Arizona, and several Prescott area landmarks. Participants will bring their own pads and bedding and may choose to sleep indoors on the floor or outdoors under the stars. There are eight dormitory beds (two people per room) available for an extra charge (As of August 28, there are no beds left). A Forest Service camping area is also available within short walking distance of the facility. All participants have access to showers.

If you have any questions, please contact Monty Cook at 928-778-1814 or mccook@cableone.net.