At Home Retreat - Guardians of the Heart: A Vipassana & Brahma Vihara Retreat

Click here to view the preliminary retreat schedule

Two thousand seven hundred years ago, the Buddha pointed out that “the world is on fire with greed, ill-will and delusion”.

At this time of great confusion and disorder, there is no doubt that this is true. Our collective pain and disorientation are breaking our hearts, while bringing us to the edge of reckoning with a dissipating sense of faith and hope in our humanity. This retreat will focus on the wisdom and compassion of the Buddha’s teachings and practices that bring the light of awareness through the cracks of the broken heart, so we are able to see and feel our way along the path of liberation from suffering – while maintaining a fully engaged presence in life. 

When we see deeply into the miracle of our own mind body process, our whole life begins to change in ways that guide our responses to ourselves and others with increasing wisdom and compassion. The four brahma viharas are the responses of the awakening heart; they are lovingkindness (metta), compassion (karuna), appreciative joy (mudita) and equanimity (upekkha). These mind-heart liberating teachings, attitudes, and practices function as guardians at the door to suffering—while supporting the greater good that exists in each moment. As antidotes to fear and anxiety, aversion, and attachment, they increase clarity, ease, and confidence in our capacity to open to the “ten thousand joys and sorrows” that come and go throughout this precious existence.

Prior vipassana retreat experience is recommended.

Orientation will begin in the evening of the first day of the retreat.

During this in-home retreat everyone will be encouraged to make a full commitment to the practice during group sessions and individual in-home times. The daily schedule will include dharma talks, instructions and time for Q & A. Also, everyone will have the opportunity to meet with DaeJa individually.

The advantages of a zoom in-home retreat include the opportunity to be a part of a more concentrated retreat experience that is carried over and applied during the in-home practice periods. This is very helpful in filling the many gaps between our formal practice, in residential retreats, and a practice that includes more of what is experienced in daily life.