Twenty-five hundred years ago
Lao-Tzu asked in the Tao-te-Ching:
Do you have the patience to wait
till your mud settles and the water is clear?
Can you remain unmoving
till the right action arises by itself?
These days, most of us don't
have much
time to settle our mud. Even when we are not physically racing around
from place to place for appointments, projects, or recreation, usually
our minds are still moving, involved in entertainment or conversation,
or quietly planning, worrying, or obsessing.
The
Still Water "Settling into Silence Retreat" offers us the possibility
of calming our minds and looking inward at the energies flowing through
us. We will give ourselves time for spiritual work: the
integration of our minds, bodies, and spirits. The nurturing
environment will include a supportive community of fellow
practitioners, and the calming waters of Charter Hall Point, at the
confluence of the Susquehanna River and the Chesapeake Bay..
Retreat Schedule We
will gather on Friday evening for a silent pot-luck dinner and a
sitting.
Saturday
morning, after morning meditation, we will break the silence for
introductions and a short dharma talk on silent practices for
developing our mindfulness, concentration, and insight.
The
rest of Saturday, and early Sunday, will be periods of guided and
self-guided formal sitting meditation, group walking meditation, eating
meditation, and time for mindful walks, naps, or exercise.
 Late
morning on Sunday we will come out of our silence and share together
our experiences, challenges, and insights. The retreat will end after
lunch on Sunday, about 1:00 p.m.
Location and Leadership The retreat will be held at the Charter Hall Retreat Center near
Perryville, Maryland (about 75 miles from downtown Silver Spring, one
and a half to two hours from Washington). The
retreat will be led by Mitchell Ratner, the Senior Teacher of
the Still Water Mindfulness Practice Center, and by other experienced
members of the community.
The
community will share responsibilities for the three meals on Saturday
and the two meals on Sunday. Each participant will be assigned to a
meal team and will contribute to the purchasing and silent preparation
of one meal.
Payment The Still
Water MPC has established a sliding scale for our retreats so
that all may attend:
The
suggested donation is $170 per person. The benefactor donation is $250
per person The limited income donation is $130 per person.
You
are welcome to contribute any amount between the limited-income
contribution and the benefactor contribution (or more if you wish), in
accord with the urgings of your heart and your means and circumstances.
If contributing at even the limited-income level would be a hardship,
please let us know and we will endeavor to make other arrangements with
you.
NOTE: The accomodations and expenses cost is $130 per person. All contributions above this amounts are considered to be voluntary, tax-deductible contributions..
Questions? Please
contact Dotz Darah, retreat coordinator, dotzdarrah "at" gmail.com,
301 891-3717.
To download a handsome one-page pdf
announcement of this event, click
here. |
(back
up to the calendar)
You are invited to join the Still Water community on Saturday, January 14, for an exhibit tour and lunch in Washington, DC.
