Practice for Hard Times
An insight meditation retreat on socially engaged Buddhism
Riverslea Retreat Centre, Otaki
8-15 April 2011
Led by Eric Kolvig
The earth's environment degrades faster. Species go extinct. Enmities and wars, both inner and outer, seethe on. If you have eyes for it, you may see that injustice occurs more often than justice in many places.
We feel the urge to respond, and we want to do so in ways that will make a real difference. So how can we be, and what can we do, in such circumstances?
We can work deeply with our minds and hearts by learning to balance awareness, compassion, and equanimity.
These three powers, along with wisdom, can help us to live more at peace in unpeaceful times. They can also help us to act in ways that heal both ourselves and our world.
During the days in this retreat we will silently practice mindfulness (vipassana), compassion, and equanimity meditations, training ourselves to be more present, open, and skillful in the face of harsh social realities.
During the evenings we will have dharma talks and community discussion about spiritually-based social engagement and compassionate action.
The retreat will include individual meetings with the teacher.
About Eric Kolvig
Born and raised in New Hampshire by his Cook Islands mother and Danish-American father, Eric Kolvig, Ph.D., has been teaching in the vipassana Buddhist tradition since 1985, leading meditation retreats and giving public talks around the United States.
He has a particular interest in grassroots dharma, building spiritual community in democratic, non-authoritarian ways. Eric is also interested in the special value of spiritual practice in the natural world.
He has worked with many teachers but primarily with Joseph Goldstein and Sharon Salzberg, in the lineage of Mahasi Sayadaw of Burma, and also with Richard Clarke in the zen lineage of Roshi Philip Kapleau.
Eric lives in a rural intentional community in northern New Mexico. Some of his writings, and other material can be found on his website (http://www.erickolvig.com).
Cost
The cost to attend this retreat is NZ$635 plus dana for the teacher.
If as a result of the generosity of folk who contribute to the teacher's travel costs through ABET we can cover those costs, retreatants will be offered a rebate at the end of the retreat.
We'd like to make it affordable for those who can't afford this amount, so we're offering people the opportunity to become an "angel retreatant" -- for every person who offers an additional NZ $300, we'll give your offering as a scholarship to someone else, reducing the cost of the retreat for them to $335.
If this is something that interests you, get in touch to let us know if either you'd like a scholarship or you'd be happy to be an angel and help someone else come along.
Dana
In keeping with the buddhist tradition, the teachings are freely offered. The fee covers accommodation, food, the teacher’s travel expenses and administration expenses.
Other people’s generosity has sustained the teacher, enabling him to come teach in New Zealand.
You are invited to give dana (the word means gift, or koha, in Pali) to the teacher at the end of the retreat to enable him to offer the teachers to others.
For more information and to reserve a place on this retreat
- Email : Ramsey Margolis
- Phone : 04 970 3531 evenings & weekends
- Text : 021 97 35 31
- Post : Eric Kolvig Otaki Retreat, Wellington Insight Meditation Community
PO Box 6626, Marion Square, Wellington 6041, New Zealand
Eric Kolvig’s travel costs
Your generosity is sought. Contributing towards Eric’s travel costs will reduce the cost of his Otaki and Marlbrough Sounds retreats, making his teachings more accessible to more New Zealanders.
You can make donations through Aotearoa Buddhist Education Trust. To find out how, visit http://www.abet.net.nz/eric-kolvig-2011/.