Grief, Joy, and Awakening: An Online Insight Meditation Retreat

Grief, Joy, and Awakening: Online Retreat

 A fundraiser for Rocky Mountain Ecodharma Retreat Center

The primary focus of this retreat will be the practice of sitting and walking meditation in silence. There will be dharma talks on the retreat theme and meditation instruction. In addition, we’ll do some interactive exercises and guided meditations that are designed to deepen our understanding of the powerful roles of grief and joy in the process of spiritual awakening. Together we’ll explore and celebrate what meditation teacher Sharon Salzberg calls “a heart as wide as the world.’

Recordings will be available for 3 months starting 7-10 days after the retreat ends.

Pricing:   Please register at the highest level you can afford.

• Benefactor     $200
• Standard        $125
• Subsidized     $75
• Scholarship   $25 to $75. Please make an offering of any size if you’re able to do so. Everyone is welcome to participate, regardless of ability to pay.

For more information on how to support RMERC consider making a donation or becoming a member.

Scholarships

It is our intention that cost not be an impediment to practice.  If you cannot afford to attend without one, you can ask for a scholarship on the registration form.

Additional  Retreat Information

Dear Friends,                                                                         

I’m looking forward to practicing with you at our June online retreat. Please read the information below in its entirety. Questions? Just let me know and I or one of the retreat staff people will get back to you.

Schedule

Our retreat begins at 7:00pm, Mountain time, on Thursday evening, June 9th and ends at 12:30pm on Sunday, June 12th. All registered participants are expected to attend the opening session. A Zoom link and related information will be sent to you prior to the start of the retreat. If you want to attend the retreat and you’re unable to attend the opening session, please contact David Chernikoff.

Please familiarize yourself with the retreat schedule below (Zoom sessions are indicated with an asterisk):

(Download a PDF of the Retreat Schedule here)

We encourage you to participate as fully as you can in scheduled sessions. At the same time, we realize each person’s home situation is different and some participants will have to make adjustments for a variety of reasons. It’s very helpful to see this online retreat as its own event, i.e. not through the lens of comparing it to an in-person retreat. It will have some similarities to and some differences from a residential retreat. On the opening evening, I’ll talk about ways to work with the retreat schedule, which was designed to be flexible. Whatever your intentions and level of participation, we are hopeful that this retreat will support your process of awakening.

Message Board and Communication during the retreat

If you have been to a previous insight meditation retreat, you are familiar with the Message Board that is used for communication with the retreat manager and teacher. During this retreat, we invite you to email the Zoom manager, Cindy Sasso, at cindysasso87@gmail.com, with messages of this kind. Please note that this function should be used for necessary information as on any other meditation retreat and not for informal conversation or discussion.

During live Zoom sessions, you will also have the opportunity to send a message directly to the Zoom manager using the chat window. She can help with technical issues as they arise through that channel. The chat window will only be used for communications with the Zoom manager, not for communications with other retreatants. If you want to communicate with the teacher, please ask Cindy to pass your message on to David.

Tech Support

Please let us know if you would like to schedule some one-on-one time with the Zoom manager to sort out your computer setup for the retreat. We would be happy to work with you to ensure that your internet connection is working, you are comfortable with the Zoom platform, and that your audio and video are coming through clearly. To set up a meeting, email Cindy at cindysasso87@gmail.com and let her know that you would like a tech session. Expect your tech session to take 10-30 minutes, depending on your needs. Please let us know what times/days work for you and we will get back to you soon to set up a session.

Preparing for your retreat

In order to make the most of this unique experience, it will be helpful if you set up your commitments and home space for focused practice:

• Clear your schedule of outside obligations and commitments to the extent possible for the duration of the retreat.
•  Let your loved ones, family members, and housemates know that you are participating in a meditation retreat that includes silent meditation periods and focused discussions. You might request that communications take place only when necessary and/or at particular times of your choosing.
• Consider turning off connected devices that are not being used for the retreat sessions, and/or making use of “guided access” or software solutions that allow you to limit internet use to Zoom only.
• Turn off connected devices that are not being used for the retreat sessions, and/or make use of “do not disturb” settings or software solutions that allow you to disable incoming notifications.
• Make use of headphones with an integrated microphone during sessions that invite your questions and comments. This will allow the teacher and other participants to hear you more clearly.
•  Create a supportive home meditation space that also allows for walking meditation or other movement-based practices, if possible. You may find it helpful to make use of a time keeping device in that space other than your cell phone.
• Prepare some or all of your meals in advance so that personal time can be nourishing, quiet, and contemplative.

Teacher Dana

Dana, a Pali word meaning generosity freely offered, is one of the heart qualities that the Buddha tells us leads to freedom. As the teacher of this retreat, I do not receive any of the registration funds. Those are intended to be a fundraiser for the Rocky Mountain Ecodharma Retreat Center. If you feel inclined to make a dana offering to the teacher in appreciation for the teachings, you’re invited to do so. This is not a requirement or an expectation and there is no suggested amount. Everyone’s financial situation is unique and you can trust that offerings of any kind will be sincerely appreciated. Details about how to offer teacher dana will be shared at a later date under the heading Dana on my website: www.davidchernikoff.com.

Cindy and I look forward to sharing a deep and meaningful retreat experience with you. For questions about retreat registration please contact RMERC administrator, Kathy Ballek at kathy@rmerc.org or 720-412-4549. Please contact me at 303-499-7592 or davidchernikoff@icloud.com with questions about the retreat program.

Peace and Blessings,

David

davidchernikoff@icloud.com  303-499-7592  www.davidchernikoff.com