Meditate Like Earth with Robin Craig, Kirsten Rudestam and Kuan Luo

Rāhula asked, “Venerable sir, how is mindfulness of breathing developed and cultivated so that it is of great fruit and great benefit?”

The Buddha replied, “Rāhula, develop meditation that is like the earth; for when you develop meditation that is like the earth, arisen agreeable and disagreeable contacts will not invade your mind and remain.”

When the Buddha’s son Rahula asked about mindfulness of breathing, the first practices the Buddha offered were practices on the elements – developing meditation like the earth, fire, water, air and space. During this week-long retreat, we will be offering practices to support the development of intimacy with the earth element and the freedom of simplicity of mind. We will explore how meditating with the earth brings great fruit and great benefit. Weather permitting, all practices will be held outside.

This retreat includes guidance for meditating while walking, standing, sitting, lying down or however the body is disposed. There will be daily dharma reflections, meditation instructions, small group practice discussions, and Question and Response time.

While this retreat will be held mostly in silence, there will be time at the beginning and ending of the retreat to intentionally connect with other retreatants. During the retreat, you are asked to refrain from using cell phones, computers or accessing the internet in order to fully engage with the experience.