The Whole of the Dharma: A Synthesis of Mindfulness and the Buddhist Path (SB2M23)

Please only register for one of the two formats: On-Land or Online.

Registration closes at 9:00 am (Pacific Time) on Saturday, April 1, 2023. A waiting list will be created if the program fills early. A recording will be available following the program. Continuing Education Credits? (see details below)

2-Day “Commuter” Retreat (Non-Residential)

Description:
In response to the question, “Are you a God or an ordinary man?”, the Buddha responded, “I am neither. I am awake!”

What does it mean to be “awake,” and what is the felt sense of the end of the path? In this weekend retreat, we will explore the Buddha’s prescription for ending mental suffering: morality (sīla), meditative skill (samādhi), and wisdom (pañña), which together comprise the entirety of the Eightfold Path. We will learn how an understanding of these foundational teachings can lead us to develop greater clarity, gladness, and belonging in our lives.

Our weekend together will include didactic teaching, meditative periods, guided movement practices, and Q&A sessions. We will be drawing on The Mettā Sutta: The Buddha’s Teaching on Impartial Kindness.

This will be taught by Sylvia Boorstein PhD and Brahmani Liebman, a Senior Teacher at Kripalu Yoga Institute, a team that has taught this curriculum together in retreat centers worldwide for the past twenty years.

All experience levels are warmly welcome. All movement will be held either sitting or standing in place. The retreat will be held in meditative silence at Spirit Rock and participants online are encouraged to plan as spacious a practice environment as feasible for each of the days.

Our sliding scale options for this program include financial support for our teachers. Please consider paying at the highest rate that you can afford: your generosity supports teachers as well as Spirit Rock, staff, and your fellow practitioners.

On-Land Sliding Scale: (On-land/SB2M23)*
Benefactor – $620
Sustainer – $470
BASE – $280
Scholarship Rate – $140
*Volunteer/Work Exchange opportunities, which include full or partial Scholarships, may be available for the in-person program. For more information, please contact the Volunteer Coordinator at volunteering@spiritrock.org.

Online Sliding Scale: (Online/SB2Z23)**
Benefactor – $600
Sustainer – $450
BASE – $250
Scholarship Rate – $50
**Online Program: All are welcome! No one will be turned away for lack of funds as space allows. For more information, please email Registration@spiritrock.org.

Important Notes:

For CEC participants

If you are interested in receiving continuing education credits (CECs), you must register and pay for CECs by 5pm the business day prior to the start of the program (no retroactive CECs will be given) and you must attend the live program. Please review the CEC information below.

Access to Recording

A recording will be available for all participants (on land & online) following the program in approximately 10 days. You will have ~90 days from the original program date to view the recording. If you would like access to the recording, you must register by the deadline above.

On-Land Attendees

• The on-land program will take place in the Community Meditation Center in the Great Hall.
• Bring a lunch and a water bottle. Lunch will not be provided.
• This is NOT a residential retreat. Overnight accommodations are not provided.

On-Land COVID Protocols

• Proof of Negative Test Result: All practitioners must bring proof (a photo or actual test) of a same-day negative antigen test that they have taken prior to arrival. Practitioners who do not arrive with a negative test will be given one prior to admittance. Individuals will not be admitted to the retreat if the test result is positive for COVID-19.
• Proof of Vaccination + Booster (at least 1) is Required: You will be required to present your vaccination + booster card and picture ID at the door to gain admittance. No proof, no admittance.
• Masking: Masking will be optional in the Community Meditation Center (CMC) in the lower campus. (Masking is still required in the upper campus.) We will be following California’s use of the CDC’s COVID-19 Community Levels to inform us of which prevention actions to use. We strongly recommend you decide which prevention behaviors to use and when, based on your own risk for severe illness and that of members of your household, their risk tolerance, and setting-specific factors.
• PLEASE READ – Details on our current COVID Safety Protocols for In-person Retreats/Programs.

Cancellation Policy for On-Land Day Programs:

• NO REFUNDS.
• Open Credit or Donation to Spirit Rock = cancel 2 or more business days prior to program (Pacific Time)
• No Open Credit = cancel less than 2 business days prior

Continuing Education (CE) credit available:
This program offers 8 CE credits for $80 for psychologists, and California licensed MFTs, LCSWs, LEPs, LPCCs, nurses, and chiropractors. Please review our Continuing Education Credit information page to determine if your association or board will accept credits offered by Spirit Rock.***

Teachings are appropriate for health care professionals as well as the general public.

Learning Objectives for participating health care professionals-
At the end of the program you will better able to:

• Describe how Buddhist philosophies on happiness and causes of happiness; on suffering and the causes of suffering can be utilized in a clinical setting;
• Describe how focused attention practices can increase serenity, concentration, and the ability to direct one’s attention;
• Describe how concentration practices can redirect the mind from automatic negative reactivity and reorient towards appropriate intentional responses;
• Describe how concentration practices can bring awareness to one’s habitual patterns that cause suffering;
• Apply the principles of equanimity and compassion to meet stress, pain and burnout with kindness and wisdom;
• Describe to clients the benefits of practicing sila (ethical conduct) and how this practice can develop insight, wisdom, and peace of mind;
• Incorporate practices with self and others to utilize kindness, rather than self-criticism, for motivation;
• Incorporate movement practices when working with, or in preparation for clients to regulate freeze patterns.

Continuing Education content level: Introductory

***Please note:

• For full Provider information, and additional CEC information, including attendance requirements, cancellation, and grievance policies, please visit our Continuing Education Credit information page.
• For those with a different license than listed above, or with a license from a different board or association than listed on our CEC info page, please contact your licensing board or association directly to request pre-approval/acceptance of CE credits offered at Spirit Rock. Spirit Rock does not confirm applicability of credit for those with licenses different than those listed.
• Spirit Rock is a provider approved by the California Board of Registered Nursing, Provider Number CEP16905 for 8 contact hours.
• Credit is awarded for instructional time only and does not include extended silent meditation, if offered.