Spirit Rock

We just returned from Spirit Rock in Woodacre, CA after spending 48 hours in silence for the "Insight Meditation for the Curious" retreat. What a magical and meaningful weekend.  The land itself is stunningly beautiful and a perfect spot for a retreat center.  The retreat was led by Mark Coleman and Martina Schneider.  The two made a wonderful team and created a really lovely container for all 100 of us.

Joshie flew in Thurs and then Friday we slept in and had lunch at Cafe Gratitude. We found out that not all CG locations are going to be closed! Woohoo! This is huge! What wonderful news.  CG has meant so much to us each personally and as a couple. :) The Berkeley, Santa Cruz, SF Gracias Madre, and ?LA locations are going to stay open yay!!

The food and drinks were, as usual, delicious!  What a special lunch.

Then we (along with Mama Cheng) drove up to Spirit Rock!  A brief schedule of the weekend:

FRIDAY
check-in
dinner
opening session
sit
bed

SATURDAY
sit 6:30am
breakfast
sit
walking meditation
sit
walking meditation
sit
lunch
sit
walking meditation
metta
dinner
sit
dharma talk
walk
sit
bed

SUNDAY
sit
announcements
breakfast
sit (talk about thoughts)
walk
sit (talk about mindfulness in daily life)
lunch
depart

I love how vipassana teachers are so wise and playful...at one point they joked that, while it looks like we have tons planned, sit walk sit walk sit walk etc., it's actually a weekend full of a whole lot of nothing! lol  They actually "crammed" a whole lot in in terms of the teachings since it's a relatively short retreat. But it made it rather high yield, and I think several of us are still processing it...I know I will continue to do so.

It's amazing to have the time to look inward and observe the way in which one thinks, feels and experiences his/her world. It can be rather overwhelming at times....and just to be with oneself for so long is rather unusual in our world today. But it really is such a gift and I am infinitely thankful for the opportunity to learn about these teachings and experience all of this.  "Waking up is hard," said Mark. He explained how some people's expectation is that "going on retreat" is like going on vacation..."getting away."  Really it's about getting really intimate with oneself and seeing up close and personal one's mind, thought patterns etc.  He and Martina commended us on our courage and bravery to come on retreat.  It can be scary feeling stripped bare...feeling so vulnerable. It can also be incredibly liberating and powerful. I am constantly humbled by and grateful for this practice.  I can't imagine living life any other way.


Out beyond ideas of wrongdoing
and rightdoing there is a field.
I'll meet you there.
When the soul lies down in that grass
the world is too full to talk about.


-Rumi


Crazy because Brennie had just shared that quote with me one day prior to the retreat. :) We are all so interconnected!  Life is so beautiful and rich!! Wow....


Okay here are some pics :)

 Be a good Buddhist and don't kill bugs. Just use your BugZooka!

Thank you, Joshie and Mama for being so open and coming to Spirit Rock with me! It was magical having you there with me...I sat between them for all our sitting meditation and I'd peek at them and get giddy with delight. "Mindful of joy! Mindful of gratitude!" I could feel the glee bubble up in my body multiple times throughout the weekend..... :D