Wes Nisker's Birthday Bash: A Community Celebration (WN1B23)

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

Registration closes at 1:00pm (Pacific Time) on January 29, 2023. A waiting list will be created if the program fills early. A recording* will be available following the program.

A Benefit for Wes Nisker and Spirit Rock

Presenters: Jack Kornfield, PhD, Joseph Goldstein (via video), Wes Nisker, Nina Wise, Joanna Macy (via video), Vinny Ferraro, Will Kabat-Zinn, Kevin Griffin, Teja Bell, Barbara Gates, and Rose Nisker. Facilitated by Nina Wise.

Description:
Join us for a joyful afternoon of poetry, humor, music, and other Dharma delights to celebrate our beloved Wes “Scoop” Nisker! All friends, students, colleagues and our community are warmly invited to gather to honor Wes’ decades-long contribution to the Buddhist community and his pioneering work weaving together radio, activism and the Dharma.

This is a belated 80th birthday celebration, Being Nature book launch (an updated edition of his book Buddha’s Nature), and benefit, all rolled into one! Wes has recently moved into an assisted living facility due to increasing health challenges, and this benefit will support his care, and Spirit Rock.

Wes “Scoop” Nisker is an award-winning broadcast journalist and commentator, Buddhist meditation teacher, a bestselling author, and a standup Dharma comic who has been described in the New York Times as “masterful at using humor to lighten the enlightenment journey.”

Wes has studied Buddhist meditation for over five decades with teachers in Asia and America, and for the past 35 years has been leading his own retreats and workshops in Buddhist insight meditation and philosophy at venues internationally. He is a member of the Spirit Rock Teachers Council. He was the founder and co-editor of the Buddhist journal “Inquiring Mind”, and is the author of the bestselling books including Buddha’s Nature; The Big Bang, the Buddha, and the Baby Boom; Essential Crazy Wisdom; and Being Nature.

Wes will be present for a book signing following the program on the land only.

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.

*Important Notes:

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.

On-Land Attendees

• The on-land program will take place in the Community Meditation Center in the Great Hall.
• Lunch will not be provided.
• Wes’ Book signing to follow program.

On-Land COVID Protocols

• Masking – UPDATED 12/30/22 for this Program Only: N95, KN95, or KF94 Masks Required. Due to the uptick in COVID cases, as well as other respiratory viruses this winter, and for our elders that will be in attendance, we are requiring masks.
• 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.
• 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.
• PLEASE READ – Details on our current COVID Safety Protocols for In-person Retreats/Programs.