2024 Compassion

Our true being is awareness and love. This peace and happiness, which we all long for, underlies the ceaseless striving of the limited sense of self, or ego. Being in nature allows us to easily relax, and come into presence with the beauty around us, and the appreciation, gratitude and love that arises in response. Being in the mountains in the soft gentle time of high summer, with green meadows, alive forests, abundant wildflowers, high peaks adorned with snowy caps, the running creek, and all the birds, moose, deer, elk, rabbits, squirrels, chipmunks, and others, is an ideal place and time to realize this. As we sit and walk, a natural sense of ease and belonging starts to quiet the wanting and aversion of the mind, and without effort or struggle, we drop out of separation into love and connection. This is the Direct Path, not an effort, learning, or set of practices, but a natural and effortless connection to our true nature, which has and will always be there. Our innate appreciation, love and connection with being in nature allows this process to be more accessible and enjoyable. This retreat will be informal and relaxed, with ample time for teaching, guiding, support and discussion, as well as free time to explore what is being offered in your own way. The schedule will at times be silent and at times be more open and relational, so that the love that naturally arises can flow between and among the participants in our human, social way.