Shamatha Practice Retreat

March 13 – 21, 2015

This retreat will be led by Glen Svensson.

This retreat will be restricted to a maximum of 25 people. It is designed to be an intensive meditation retreat for people who already have a solid foundation in shamatha practice.
Therefore, applications will be carefully screened to ensure that only serious practitioners can attend.

Shamatha is the practice of developing single-pointed concentration, developing a calm, clear and focused mind. This practice is essential if we are to subdue and heal our agitated and unruly mind, to become masters of our mind.

During the first five days of this 9-day retreat we will become familiar with and practice shamatha meditations using the following objects of focus:

  • breath (full-body, abdomen and nostrils)
  • mind (settling the mind in its natural state)
  • no object (awareness of awareness)

Over the next two days retreatants will then practice using their object of choice. And finally, during the last two days we will briefly touch on vipashyana practice and also discuss how to integrate our shamatha practice into daily life. We will be supplementing and balancing our shamatha practice with some daily practice of the Four Immeasurables (loving-kindness, compassion, empathetic joy and equanimity).

Retreatants will keep strict silence for the duration of this retreat.

Pre-requisites to join this retreat – students must have previously…

  • 1. Completed one of Tushita’s 10-day “Introduction to Buddhism” courses (or equivalent).
  • 2. Attended at least one other group meditation retreat of 7-10 days length.
  • 3. Established a daily meditation practice for at least one year.

If you have not previously attended Glen’s 2-day Shamatha retreat at Tushita, it is HIGHLY recommended that you complete the 2-day retreat at home using audio available at www.glensvensson.org/shamatha-retreat-2-day.html

Shamatha Retreat approximate daily schedule

DAILY SCHEDULE

DAY 1
13:00 Check-in for all students
15:30 – 16:30 Session 1 (introduction)
16:30 – 17:00 Break
17:00 – 18:00 Session 2 (shamatha)
18:00 Dinner
19:30 – 21:00 Session 3 (Q&A + shamatha)

DAY 2 – DAY 8
06:00 Wake up
06:45 – 07:30 Session 1 (shamatha + four immeasurables)
07:30 Breakfast
09:00 – 10:15 Session 2 (shamatha)
10:15 – 10:45 Break
10:45 – 12:00 Session 3 (shamatha)
12:00 Lunch
14:00 – 15:00 Session 4 (four immeasurables)
15:00 – 15:30 Break
15:30 – 16:30 Session 5 (shamatha)
16:30 – 17:00 Break
17:00 – 18:00 Session 6 (shamatha + Q&A)
18:00 Dinner
19:30 – 21:00 Session 7 (Q&A + shamatha)

DAY 9
06:00 Wake up
06:45 – 07:30 Session 1 (shamatha + four immeasurables)
07:30 Breakfast
09:00 – 10:00 Session 2 (Tushita advice)
10:00 – 10:30 Break
10:30 – 12:00 Session 3 (practice advice)

 

Recommended Reading

  • Attention Revolution (Unlocking the Power of the Focused Mind) – B. Alan Wallace
  • Stilling the Mind – B. Alan Wallace
  • The Four Immeasurables (Practices to Open the Heart) – B. Alan Wallace

Useful Audio Material

Glen Svensson

Alan Wallace

 

How to Apply for this Retreat

  • Please note that all applications will be screened carefully before students are accepted.
  • Recently we’ve had a lot of problems with overbooking and student no-shows. Therefore places on our Intermediate courses and group retreats will now be confirmed only after a non-refundable deposit is received from the applicant. See this FAQ for more information.