At Home: Suchness: Embracing Experience

An Invitation into Suchness

When we understand that direct experience is not solid and not separate in the ways it normally appears, we can embrace experience in its changing conditions with the heart of compassion and inclusion born of non-clinging.  This offers us the freedom to respond with wisdom and care to the challenges we experience in ourselves and in the world, rather than reacting out of habitual conditioning. As we release reactivity, we uncover our inherent capacities for joy, wellbeing and connection.

This At Home Retreat will offer guided meditations and instructions in sitting and walking meditation, as well as mindfulness in all activities at home. In addition there will be a daily Dharma Talk, guided heart practice and short periods of optional Qi Gong practice.

Heather will offer teachings on the following areas of practice:

• Embodiment: Informed by the 1st Foundation of Mindfulness & Somatic Experiencing.
• Concentration: Basic techniques to support the settling of mind-body and stabilizing of attention.
• Heart Practices: The spirit of the Divine Abodes will support awakened heart-full attitudes of mind during our retreat.
• Wisdom Teaching of Suchness: We access Suchness when we come to deeply understand conditions as they are. “It’s like this” as monastic Ajahn Sumedho says. We will explore the theme of Suchness through practice with impermanence and working with reactivity, as well as exploring release, acceptance, compassion, and equanimity.

To support deepening practice, participants will check in with the teacher in a small
group during retreat.

This retreat is suitable for beginning and experienced students of meditation. For beginners, the retreat is a great way to learn the basics of insight meditation and see its benefits clearly. For experienced meditators, the retreat offers an excellent opportunity to deepen and clarify one’s practice with the guidance of an experienced teacher.

Click here for preliminary retreat schedule

For our 2021 at home retreats, three fee tiers are offered. Please choose the option that best fits your ability to give in this time. Any amount paid above the Base rate is a tax deductible contribution to Southern Dharma Retreat Center. Your confirmation email is your receipt for tax purposes.

We are deeply grateful for your support.

Registration fees do not include dana for the teacher. In the Buddhist tradition the teachings are offered freely and teachers are not paid for their offerings. They rely on dana contributions from students. Similarly, Southern Dharma keeps registration fees low to ensure the Dharma is accessible to all. Fees cover only a fraction of Southern Dharma’s operating expenses. We appreciate your practice of generosity to continue the dissemination of the Dharma!

A limited number of need-based and other scholarships are available. Please indicate your interest in a scholarship during the online registration process.