Salida Sangha

The Salida Sangha invites you to a 5-Day Residential Insight Meditation with Eric Kolvig & Brian Lesage

2012-01-15T12:48:00.000-08:00

Wednesday, May 16th - Sunday, May 20th, 2012
Registration: Wed. 2-4pm, Retreat begins Wed., 4pm and ends Sunday, 1pm
Ponderosa Lodge - Maysville, CO
(11 miles west of Salida, CO)
Costs for meals and lodging
(does not include teacher donation made to the teachers in the Buddhist practice of dana (generosity).
On or Before March 16th 4 person room - $340 2 person room - $380

After March 16th 4 person room $380 2 person room $420
Retreat Theme: The Cure for the Pain

The cure for the pain is joy. The cure for the pain is in the pain. The cure for the pain is to connect. The cure for the pain is to let go. The cure for the pain is to know the truth. The cure for the pain is to become so big that the pain is small.
Buddha, the physician, gives us the cure. In this retreat we will put that cure into practice. If this teaching is new to you, the retreat will be an introduction. If you know this teaching already, the retreat will be an encouragement and a deepening.
We will practice in silence each day, alternating between group sitting meditation and individual walking meditation. The teachers will offer a talk each day and will meet individually with retreatants to discuss practice. Suitable alike for experienced practitioners and beginners.

Retreatants will offer dana (donations) to the teachers at retreat’s end. The teachers will receive no other financial compensation.

If you have further questions, please contact, Jeannie Peters at539-3751 or chucknjeannie@gmail.com or Denise Ackert at 539-2906 or deniseackert@yahoo.com.

Brian Lesage has practiced Buddhist meditation since 1988 and has taught meditation since 2000. He has studied in the Zen, Theravada and Tibetan schools of Buddhism. He was ordained in the Rinzai Zen tradition in 1996. His training in Vipassana Meditation includes doing extended meditation retreats in Myanmar (Burma), Nepal, and India as well as numerous retreats in the U.S. He leads retreats and teaches meditation courses nationwide. Brian also has a private practice in Somatic Experiencing, which is a naturalistic approach to healing trauma. You can also visit his website for Somatic Experiencing at: www.liberatingawareness.com
Eric Kolvig, PhD has been teaching in the Vipassana Buddhist tradition since 1985. He leads meditation retreats and gives public talks around the United States and abroad. Eric has a particular interest in “grassroots dharma,” building spiritual community in democratic, non-authoritarian ways. Eric has also led retreats in the wilderness; he is 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 community in northern New Mexico.
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Registration Form
To reserve your space for the retreat, please fill out this registration form by March 16th (for early registration rates) or by May 9th and mail to: Salida Sangha, 248 D St., Salida, CO 81201
Name________________________________________________________Phone___________________________
Address_______________________________________________________________________________________
E-mail________________________________________________________________________________________
Meditation experience__________________________________________________________________________
Participant Waiver: I understand that I am wholly responsible for my health and safety for the duration of the retreat, from its advent to close, and hereby waive and hold harmless the Salida Sangha, Eric Kolvig, and Brian Lesage from any liability whatsoever resulting from my participation.
I understand meditation can pose certain risks, and agree not to hold the Salida Sangha, Eric Kolvig, and Brian Lesage responsible or liable in the event of any accident, illness (mental or physical), loss of personal belongings, physical injury or emotional distress resulting from my participation in this retreat. I understand that I am fully responsible for obtaining any necessary medical treatment should any accident, illness or discomfort arise on the retreat.
Signature_________________________________________________________________

Special Event – New Year’s Eve Intention Meditation

2011-12-06T09:56:00.000-08:00

Come join us for a special New Year’s Eve meditation at Roberta Smith’s studio in Poncha Springs.
This new event will take place from 3PM to 5 PM on Saturday, the
31st of December, with an appetizer potluck to follow. Come celebrate the end of 2011 and prepare to welcome in 2012 with mindfulness.

We will celebrate the New Year with sitting meditation, walking meditation, and the opportunity to share readings and set meaningful intentions for the New Year.

What: New Year’s Eve Meditation

When: December 31st, 2011.

Time: Meditation and Dharma from 3PM-5PM. Appetizer Potluck from 5PM-6PM.

Where: Le Garage Hermetique – Roberta’s Smith’s Studio (Directions below)

Who: Beginners and experienced practitioners alike - anyone who wants to start his or her New Year’s celebration with mindfulness.

What to Bring: If you have a meditation cushion or bench for sitting, please bring it; alternatively there are plenty of chairs available for sitting. Please wear comfortable clothing for sitting and bring some warmer clothes for outdoor walking meditation. If you would like to, please also bring a reading, or other thoughts to share. For the potluck, please bring an appetizer to share with others.

Directions: Coming from Salida: Take CR 120 west past the Fairgrounds until you see Wag'n Tails on your left. Look to your right and you will see a big long building with lots of windows. That is it. Take the next right turn onto Halley's Avenue and park in front.

From points north: Take highway 285 south to a left turn onto CR 120 just before the highway 50 turnoff. Then take the first left turn onto Halley's Avenue which will take you to the long low building with lots of windows sitting out there all by itself.

Please contact Jay Hake at 303-947-0388 with any questions

Half Day Retreat, DECEMBER 10th

2011-10-16T11:16:00.000-07:00

Due to popular demand we are hosting another half day retreat!

Sitting and Walking Meditation Saturday, December 10th

HALF DAY RETREAT December 10th, 8-11 am at Roberta Smith's studio in Poncha Springs. Please join us for sitting and walking meditation and good energy. Newcomers are invited. Everyone is also welcome to bring a lunch and enjoy some social time afterward. Please join us! No registration required.

The location is "Le Garage Hermetique" aka Roberta Smith's Studio.

Directions:
Coming from Salida: Take CR 120 west past the Fairgrounds until you see Wag'n Tails on your left and look to your right and you will see a big long building with lots of windows. That is it. Take the next right turn onto Halley's Avenue and park in front.

From points north: Take highway 285 south to a left turn onto CR 120 just before the highway 50 turnoff. Then take the first left turn onto Halley's Avenue which will take you to the the long low building with lots of windows sitting out there all by itself.

Hope to see you there for a wintertime energy boost!

October Retreat With Brian Lesage

2011-10-16T11:04:00.000-07:00

October 29, 30 Meditation Retreat
Details and Directions

We are excited to be hosting this great 2-day event!
The days will consist of walking and sitting meditation, instruction,
lunch, and question and answer periods.

When: The retreat begins on Saturday, October 29th at 9 am. We recommend that you arrive at least 15 minutes early to get settled, so we may begin promptly at 9 am. The retreat will end at approximately 5 pm on Saturday, resuming from 9 am to 4 pm on Sunday, October 30th.
Where: The retreat is being held at a vacation rental home in Maysville right next to the river: 16642 County Road 220, Maysville, CO
Parking at the retreat site is extremely limited. For this reason, we strongly recommend that the retreat participants carpool from the parking lot at the Poncha Springs Visitor Center, at the junction of US HWYs 50 and 285. If you need assistance finding carpooling companions, please call one of us at the numbers listed below.
Directions from the parking lot:
• Head west on Hwy 50 (towards Monarch Pass) for about 6.2 miles, to the small town of Maysville. (Before reaching Maysville, you will see TWO opportunities to turn onto County Road 220. It’s best NOT to take these turnoffs; follow the directions below (unless you want the scenic route!).
• After passing the ‘Maysville’ sign on the right hand side of the road, TURN left (South) onto Chaffee County Road 243 (blue sign ALSO indicates CR 220).
• CR 243 winds a bit and dead-ends at County Road 220. Turn LEFT onto 220.
• The cabin is on your right, a little more than a quarter mile down the road. We will have ‘RETREAT’ signs at the driveway entrance.

What to bring: For sitting you may want to bring a meditation cushion or bench; alternatively there are plenty of chairs available for sitting. Wear comfortable clothing for sitting and bring an extra layer of clothing or a blanket as your temperature may fluctuate. We will do walking meditation outside, so bring shoes appropriate for walking, a raincoat, sunscreen and a hat. You may also want to bring slippers for inside if you tend to get cold. Bring a sack lunch.
There are refrigerators with space for storing perishables. We will provide tea, water, and snacks. Please bring your own water bottle and tea mug if possible to reduce our environmental impact.

Dana: In keeping with the Buddhist tradition of offering the teachings free of charge, there is no fee for this retreat. If you wish to give donations to Brian and the sangha, please bring appropriate checks or cash as there will be separate “dana” boxes available for offerings. “Dana” is the Pali word for generosity.

We also want to invite you and encourage you to attend a pre-retreat dessert potluck, on Friday, October 28th, from 7:00 to 8:00 pm, at Jeannie Peters’ home, 1127 “I” Street, Salida. You will have an opportunity to meet Brian and each other, beginning to build a retreat community that will support each of us in our weekend meditation journey. We will provide beverages, dishes, and a warm welcome. This is also an opportunity to arrange carpools. (NOTE: It’s certainly not necessary that everyone bring a dessert. We will have plenty, so don’t let that stop you from coming.)
Also note that Brian has generously offered to be available on Friday, October 28th, for individual interviews upstairs at the Sunshine Market. If you wish to sign up, please email roberta1@chaffee.net

If you have any problems or questions, please call Denise Ackert at 307-690-5878. We look forward to seeing you!

Half Day Retreat

2011-08-31T13:52:00.000-07:00

Sitting & Walking Meditation Saturday, October 1st

HALF DAY RETREAT October 1st, 8-11 am at Roberta Smith's studio in Poncha Springs. We are resuming our Saturday morning retreats due to popular demand. Please join us for sitting and walking meditation and good energy. Newcomers are invited. Everyone is also welcome to bring a lunch and enjoy some social time afterward. Please join us! No registration required.

The location is "Le Garage Hermetique" aka Roberta Smith's Studio.

Directions:

Coming from Salida: Take CR 120 west past the Fairgrounds until you see Wag'n Tails on your left and look to your right and you will see a big long building with lots of windows. That is it. Take the next right turn onto Halley's Avenue and park in front.

From points north: Take highway 285 south to a left turn onto CR 120 just before the highway 50 turnoff. Then take the first left turn onto Halley's Avenue which will take you to the the long low building with lots of windows sitting out there all by itself.

2011-08-31T13:29:00.000-07:00

Cultivating Insight and Compassion with
Brian Lesage

2-Day Nonresidential Insight Meditation Retreat
Saturday-Sunday, October 29-30
9am-5pm Sat
9am-4pm Sun

Maysville, CO
Dana-based Retreat (no cost, but offerings of generosity gratefully accepted)

Great spiritual traditions are used as a means to ripen us, to bring us face to face with our life, and to help us to see in a new way by developing a stillness of mind and a strength of heart.
Jack Kornfield

Insight meditation is a simple and direct practice based on moment-to-moment awareness, a technique that opens the heart and clears the mind. This will be an opportunity to practice continuous mindfulness meditation in silence throughout the day—in sitting and walking meditation. In the silence we are freed from much of the daily barrage of stimulus that draws our attention outward, letting us delve deeply inward. Learning to be aware of our experience from a place of stillness and equanimity allows us to see more clearly, and as insight deepens, compassion and wisdom can arise.
The retreat is designed for beginners and experienced practitioners alike. It will consist of sitting and walking meditation and discussion periods.

Brian Lesage has practiced Buddhist meditation for twenty years., study in the Zen and Theravada schools of Buddhism. He was ordained in the Rinzai Zen tradition in 1996 and underwent intensive training for four years. His training in Vipassana Meditation includes doing extended meditation retreats in Myanmar, Nepal, India, and the U.S. He leads retreats and teaches meditation courses for the general population and has also taught adjudicated teens and prison inmates. He is the co-founder of Equanimity Development Institute, an organization that provides meditation instruction and Somatic Experiencing®, a naturalistic approach to healing trauma, to individuals dealing with various difficult circumstances such as addiction, chronic pain, and stress.

Space is limited, so please register early. If you have any questions, please contact, Jeannie Peters at 539-3751, Denise Ackert at 539-2906 or deniseackert@yahoo.com.

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Registration Form
To reserve your space for the retreat, please fill out the registration form by October 15th and mail to: Salida Sangha, 248 D St,, Salida, CO 81201 or e-mail your information to roberta1@chaffee.net.
Name____________________________________________
Phone___________________________
Address__________________________________________
E-mail___________________________
Meditation experience________________________________________________________________

Participant Waiver: I understand that I am wholly responsible for my health and safety for the duration of the retreat, from its advent to close, and hereby waive and hold harmless the Salida Sangha and Brian Lesage from any liability whatsoever resulting from my participation. I understand meditation can pose certain risks, and agree not to hold the Salida Sangha and Brian Lesage responsible or liable in the event of any accident, illness (mental or physical), loss of personal belongings, physical injury or emotional distress resulting from my participation in this retreat. I understand that I am fully responsible for obtaining any necessary medical treatment should any accident, illness or discomfort arise on the retreat.

Signature_________________________________________________________________

Survey Results, July 9th Saturday Meditation, Brian's Wedding

2011-06-30T11:22:00.001-07:00

Thanks to everyone who completed the online survey concerning our 5 day retreat in May 2012. We are in the process of analyzing the results and exploring the options that will best match the preferences of the majority.

Meanwhile, we have scheduled a Saturday morning of sitting and walking meditation on July 9th from 7 am to 9 am. We will meet at the band shell in Riverside Park. Please send me a quick reply if you think you can be there.

And last but not least... BRIAN and ROBIN are getting married on July 9th! We are so happy for them and are sending congratulations and best wishes to them on behalf of the sangha. Just letting everyone know so you can send your good energy their way as well.

May 2012 Retreat Preference Survey Online

2011-06-19T17:56:00.001-07:00

Hello Salida Sangha Members,

We are very excited to announce that Brian Lesage and Eric Kolvig will be returning to Salida for a five day retreat from Wednesday, May 16 through Sunday, May 20, 2012. The retreat steering committee is exploring various options for this retreat, mainly should it be residential or non-residential? We will be advertising the retreat via "Inquiring Mind" and through contact with other sanghas in Colorado and New Mexico, but are most interested in what format would best suit members of the Salida Sangha. Our goal is to offer our sangha members the opportunity to go deeper in their practice with a residential retreat while recognizing that some people cannot afford the additional time or cost required. Brian and Eric would love to teach a residential retreat, but have agreed to meet the needs of OUR sangha members.

THEREFORE, we have prepared an online survey which we request you PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE take just a minute to fill out and return it to us THIS WEEK so we can begin the planning process with your wishes in mind. Just check a few preferences and hit “Done”.
Click this link to quickly complete the survey: http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/BWT8WL9

Thank you so much for your continuing involvement. The feedback from our May retreat was that it was a very beautiful, special experience. Thanks to all of you who participated!

Walking Meditation

2011-05-27T13:02:00.000-07:00

Tricycle Magazine recently posted an excellent article on walking meditation by Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh. It provides useful insights into a sometimes overlooked part of our practice.

http://www.tricycle.com/practice/walk-buddha

Wesak Ceremony

2011-05-13T10:39:00.000-07:00

All, please see the following message from Athena Wolf regarding a Wesak Ceremony that is being held in Salida on May 17th.

Dear friends and relatives,

Your presence is requested for the Wesak moon ceremony in Salida, May 17th at 7:00. We'll begin by creating sacred space in the shamanic tradition, do a meditative breathing exercise, send our intent up in smoke and share our prayers of gratitude. If you would like to share a song or poem about Buddha with the group please let Athena know. Call Athena for directions or more information at 942.4797. This is a free event for light workers, healers and those on a spiritual path.

"The sun in Taurus full moon is considered by many to be the most powerful full moon of the year. The Sun's transit through Taurus exalts the Moon and Taurus is ruled by Venus, the spiritual ruler of the Earth. Venus is identified with Mary, the world mother. In the Peruvian tradition Venus appears in the west as the feathered serpent Quetzalcoatl who brings enlightenment. To those in the East she is Maya, the mother of Buddha.

Wesak is the celebration of Buddha's birth and enlightenment, and in some traditions, also his death. The Buddha is the expression of the Wisdom of God, the embodiment of light and the indicator of divine purpose.Gathering to chant and pray are an important part of a traditional Wesak celebration as it is a time of spiritual stimulation, serving to vitalize the aspiration of all humanity. There can be opened a channel of communication between humanity and deity through which an approach can be made to those who guide our planet."

This information has been gathered from lightinfo.org/aab/dkwesak, wesak.us/articles.php and .souledout.org/festivals/celebrationoflight2.html

master Djwhal Khul: "This is the greatest event upon our planet from the standpoint of the spiritual verities and the one which has the greatest effect upon the human race."

blessings to each of you,

Athena Wolf

curanderahealing.com

October Retreat Details and Directions

2011-05-11T06:44:00.000-07:00

October 29, 30 Meditation Retreat
Details and Directions

We are excited to be hosting this great 2-day event!
The days will consist of walking and sitting meditation, instruction,
lunch, and question and answer periods.

Insight Meditation Retreat

2011-04-04T11:14:00.000-07:00

Cultivating Insight and Compassion with
Brian Lesage

2-Day Nonresidential Insight Meditation Retreat
Saturday-Sunday, May21st and 22nd
9am-5pm Sat
9am-4pm Sun

Maysville, CO
Dana-based Retreat (no cost, but offerings of generosity gratefully accepted)

Insight meditation is a simple and direct practice based on moment-to-moment awareness, a technique that opens the heart and clears the mind. This will be an opportunity to practice continuous mindfulness meditation in silence throughout the day—in sitting and walking meditation. In the silence we are freed from much of the daily barrage of stimulus that draws our attention outward, letting us delve deeply inward. Learning to be aware of our experience from a place of stillness and equanimity allows us to see more clearly, and as insight deepens, compassion and wisdom can arise.
The retreat is designed for beginners and experienced practitioners alike. It will consist of sitting and walking meditation and discussion periods.

Brian Lesage has practiced Buddhist meditation for twenty years., study in the Zen and Theravada schools of Buddhism. He was ordained in the Rinzai Zen tradition in 1996 and underwent intensive training for four years. His training in Vipassana Meditation includes doing extended meditation retreats in Myanmar, Nepal, India, and the U.S. He leads retreats and teaches meditation courses for the general population and has also taught adjudicated teens and prison inmates. He is the co-founder of Equanimity Development Institute, an organization that provides meditation instruction and Somatic Experiencing®, a naturalistic approach to healing trauma, to individuals dealing with various difficult circumstances such as addiction, chronic pain, and stress.

Space is limited, so please register early. If you have any questions, please contact, Jeannie Peters at 539-3751, Denise Ackert at 539-2906 or deniseackert@yahoo.com.

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Registration Form
To reserve your space for the retreat, please fill out the registration form by October 15th and mail to: Salida Sangha, 6545 CR 110, Salida, CO 81201 or e-mail your information to roberta1@chaffee.net.
Name____________________________________________
Phone___________________________
Address__________________________________________
E-mail___________________________
Meditation experience________________________________________________________________

Signature_________________________________________________________________

Sitting, Walking Meditation April 9th

2011-04-04T10:47:00.000-07:00

HALF DAY RETREAT APRIL 9TH, 8-11 am at Roberta Smith's studio in Poncha Springs. We had 15 people at our March 12th half day sit and it was so enjoyable that we are doing it again on April 9th. Please join us for sitting and walking meditation. Newcomers are invited. Everyone is welcome to stay for a potluck lunch and social time afterward. Please join us. No registration required.

The location is "Le Garage Hermetique" aka Roberta Smith's Studio.

Directions:

Coming from Salida: Take CR 120 west past the Fairgrounds until you see Wag'n Tails on your left and look to your right and you will see a big long building with lots of windows. That is it. Take the next right turn onto Halley's Avenue and park in front.

From points north: Take highway 285 south to a left turn onto CR 120 just before the highway 50 turnoff. Then take the first left turn onto Halley's Avenue which will take you to the the long low building with lots of windows sitting out there all by itself.

Individual Sessions with Brian Lesage Friday, May 20th

2011-04-04T10:45:00.000-07:00

Brian will be offering individual sessions at Sunshine Market on Friday, May 20th. Times available are 9:30am; 10:30am; 11:30am; 1:00pm; 2:00pm; 3:00pm; & 4:00pm Please email roberta1@chaffee.net if you would like to schedule one of these times. Other times and dates are possible if these times do not work for you. Contact Brian at brian@liberatingawareness.com to arrange for another time.
These practice discussions are a time that you can meet with Brian to discuss any aspect of your spiritual path, remembering that there is not any part of our lives that lies outside our spiritual path.

Metta - Lovingkindness Meditation

2011-03-20T19:26:00.000-07:00

At tonight's sitting, we took part in the practice of Metta - Lovingkindness Meditation. The practice originates from the time of the Buddha and arose from the Metta Sutta (Sutra), which is a beautiful Sutra from the Pali canon:

The Buddha’s Words on Lovingkindness

This is what should be done
By those who are skilled in goodness,
And who know the path of peace:
Let them be able and upright,
Straightforward and gentle in speech,
Humble and not conceited,
Contented and easily satisfied,
Unburdened with duties and frugal in their ways,
Peaceful and calm, and wise and skillful,
Not proud and demanding in nature.
Let them not do the slightest thing
That the wise would later reprove.
Wishing: in gladness and in safety,
May all beings be at ease.
Whatever living beings there may be;
Whether they are weak or strong, omitting none,
The great or the mighty, medium, short or small,
The seen and the unseen,
Those living near and far away,
Those born and to-be-born—
May all beings be at ease!
Let none deceive another,
Or despise any being in any state.
Let none through anger or ill-will
Wish harm upon another.
Even as a mother protects with her life
Her child, her only child,
So with a boundless heart
Should one cherish all living beings;
Radiating kindness over the entire world,
Spreading upward to the skies,
And downward to the depths;
Outward and unbounded,
Freed from hatred and ill-will.
Whether standing or walking, seated or lying down,
Free from drowsiness,
One should sustain this recollection.
This is said to be the sublime abiding.
By not holding to fixed views,
The pure-hearted one, having clarity of vision,
Being freed from all sense desires,
Is not born again into this world.

For an in-depth discussion of the practice of Metta, please click here for a wonderful article by Sharon Salzberg, co-founder of the Insight Meditation Society.

Access to Insight

2011-03-10T19:37:00.000-08:00

In reading a book review on a book by Achaan Chah I stumbled upon a link to a wonderful website called Access to Insight, which is a free collection of electronically published works on Theravada Buddhism. You can check out the website by clicking here.

The navigation is a little confusing, but if you look under the Library section on the right-hand side and click on index by author, or subject, it will give you a complete list of the writings available. Enjoy.

Summer Wilderness Retreat Details

2011-02-25T12:46:00.000-08:00

As many of you know, we have an opportunity to participate in a wilderness retreat this summer. Here are the details:

BACKCOUNTRY WILDERNESS RETREAT

DATES: Wednesday August 17th, 2011 through Sunday August 21, 2011

LOCATION: Three Apostles Basin - near Leadville, Colorado

DETAILS:

This is a silent Vipassana meditation retreat in the heart of the Rocky Mountains. The powerful wilderness setting creates sacred time as we take an easy backpack about three miles to our beautiful base camp, and practice together for five days. In the wild we form a quietly functional Sangha, taking care of each other setting up camp, cooking, cleaning up, making fires, filtering water, etc; each of us giving and receiving in turn. Johann Robbins, the teacher, will provide meditation instruction, fireside dharma talks, interviews, and Q&A.

Each day will include time for formal sitting and hiking meditation, including some amazing day hikes, as well as unstructured practice time. Continuous mindfulness throughout the day will be the focus of the retreat.

Prerequisites include having done at minimum a weekend retreat, and some backcountry camping, as well as having the ability to carry a backpack with all your gear plus a share of food up a moderate trail about 3 miles.

Cost is $150 before July 26, $175 after, which covers all costs. Some scholarship money is available. Dana for the teacher is separate.

About the Teacher: Johann Robbins has been meditating since 1974, with a focus on Vipassana since 1997. He is currently in the Community Dharma Leader training at Spirit Rock, has been teaching Dharma for three years, and has been leading wilderness meditation retreats for eight years. His primary teachers are Shinzen Young, Eric Kolvig and Joseph Goldstein. His style is light and open, focused and clear.

Space for this retreat is limited. For questions send an email to: johannrobbins@comcast.net or call 303-955-1136.

For additional information, please click here:

Retreat Info:

To download a registration form, please click here:

Registration Form:

March 12 Retreat Location

2011-02-17T09:27:00.000-08:00

March 12 Meditation Retreat, 8 am to 11 am. Bring a lunch if you want to stay and visit afterward. Also bring what you need to make your sit comfortable. Some blankets and chairs will be available.

The location is "Le Garage Hermetique" aka Roberta Smith's Studio.

Directions:

Coming from Salida: Take CR 120 west past the Fairgrounds until you see Wag'n Tails on your left and look to your right and you will see a big long building with lots of windows. That is it. Take the next right turn onto Halley's Avenue and park in front.

From points north: Take highway 285 south to a left turn onto CR 120 just before the highway 50 turnoff. Then take the first left turn onto Halley's Avenue which will take you to the the long low building with lots of windows sitting out there all by itself.

2011 RETREAT SCHEDULE

2011-02-04T07:43:00.001-08:00

SAVE THESE DATES!
The dates for the spring retreat with Brian Lesage will be May 21 and May 22 with a dessert potluck on Friday the 20th. (A "Dana" based retreat)
The dates for the fall retreat with Brian are October 29 and October 30 with dessert on the 28th.

Other breaking news:

The weekly group sitting meditation continues on Sundays at 6:00 pm at the yoga center on F St. The position of "sit coordinator" is open for the next quarter beginning in February. You need not be able to attend every week to do it. Anyone interested in helping please contact Jeannie: chucknjeannie@gmail.com

There is interest among people who can't sit on Sundays to meet on a weeknight. If you are interested in that, please reply to this email with a night that would work for you and if you would be willing to step up as organizer. The yoga studio would probably be available.

Really Big Breaking News:

Because of feedback at our last retreat from those of you who would like a half day monthly retreat we have decided to give it a go. The first one will be held on Saturday March 12th from 8-11 a.m. at Roberta Smith's roomy and sunny studio in Poncha Springs. We will do sitting and walking meditation and give an introduction to mindfulness meditation if anyone is new to the practice. And you are welcome to bring lunch and stick around to chat afterward. No prior experience is required so we encourage you to bring friends who might be interested! Please reply to Roberta by March 1st if you are planning to attend and we'll send you directions and info on what to bring.

Jeannie is working on the plan for a three or four night wilderness retreat in mid-August. We will keep you informed as more specifics are available about that.

2010-10-09T13:10:00.000-07:00

October 23d and 24th Meditation Retreat
Details and Directions

We are excited to be hosting this great 2-day event!
The days will consist of walking and sitting meditation, instruction,
lunch, and question and answer periods.

When: The retreat begins on Saturday,October 23 at 9 am. We recommend that you arrive at least 15 minutes early to get settled, so we may begin promptly at 9 am. The retreat will end at approximately 5 pm on Saturday, resuming from 9 am to 4 pm on Sunday, October 24.
Where: The retreat is being held at a vacation rental home in Maysville right next to the river: 16642 County Road 220, Maysville, CO
Parking at the retreat site is extremely limited. For this reason, we strongly recommend that the retreat participants carpool from the parking lot at the Poncha Springs Visitor Center, at the junction of US HWYs 50 and 285. If you need assistance finding carpooling companions, please call one of us at the numbers listed below.
Directions from the parking lot:
• Head west on Hwy 50 (towards Monarch Pass) for about 6.2 miles, to the small town of Maysville. (Before reaching Maysville, you will see TWO opportunities to turn onto County Road 220. It’s best NOT to take these turnoffs; follow the directions below (unless you want the scenic route!).
• After passing the ‘Maysville’ sign on the right hand side of the road, TURN left (South) onto Chaffee County Road 243 (blue sign ALSO indicates CR 220).
• CR 243 winds a bit and dead-ends at County Road 220. Turn LEFT onto 220.
• The cabin is on your right, a little more than a quarter mile down the road. We will have ‘RETREAT’ signs at the driveway entrance.

What to bring: For sitting you may want to bring a meditation cushion or bench; alternatively there are plenty of chairs available for sitting. Wear comfortable clothing for sitting and bring an extra layer of clothing or a blanket as your temperature may fluctuate. We will do walking meditation outside, so bring shoes appropriate for walking, a raincoat, sunscreen and a hat. You may also want to bring slippers for inside if you tend to get cold. Bring a sack lunch.
There are refrigerators with space for storing perishables. We will provide tea, water, and snacks. Please bring your own water bottle and tea mug if possible to reduce our environmental impact.

Dana: In keeping with the Buddhist tradition of offering the teachings free of charge, there is no fee for this retreat. If you wish to give donations to Brian and the sangha, please bring appropriate checks or cash as there will be separate “dana” boxes available for offerings. “Dana” is the Pali word for generosity.

We also want to invite you and encourage you to attend a pre-retreat dessert potluck, on Friday, October 22, from 7:00 to 8:00 pm, at Jeannie Peters’ home, 1127 “I” Street. You will have an opportunity to meet Brian and each other, beginning to build a retreat community that will support each of us in our weekend meditation journey. We will provide beverages, dishes, and a warm welcome. This is also an opportunity to arrange carpools. (NOTE: It’s certainly not necessary that everyone bring a dessert. We will have plenty, so don’t let that stop you from coming.)
Also note that Brian has generously offered to be available on Friday, October 22, for individual interviews upstairs at the Sunshine Market. If you wish to sign up, please email roberta1@chaffee.net

If you have any problems or questions, please call Denise Ackert at 307-690-5878. We look forward to seeing you!

2010-09-16T08:02:00.000-07:00

Cultivating Insight and Compassion with
Brian Lesage

2-Day Nonresidential Insight Meditation Retreat
Saturday-Sunday, October 23rd – 24th
9am-5pm Sat
9am-4pm Sun

Maysville, CO
Dana-based Retreat (no cost, but offerings of generosity gratefully accepted)

Insight meditation is a simple and direct practice based on moment-to-moment awareness, a technique that opens the heart and clears the mind. This will be an opportunity to practice continuous mindfulness meditation in silence throughout the day—in sitting and walking meditation. In the silence we are freed from much of the daily barrage of stimulus that draws our attention outward, letting us delve deeply inward. Learning to be aware of our experience from a place of stillness and equanimity allows us to see more clearly, and as insight deepens, compassion and wisdom can arise.
The retreat is designed for beginners and experienced practitioners alike. It will consist of sitting and walking meditation and discussion periods.

Brian Lesage has practiced Buddhist meditation for twenty years., study in the Zen and Theravada schools of Buddhism. He was ordained in the Rinzai Zen tradition in 1996 and underwent intensive training for four years. His training in Vipassana Meditation includes doing extended meditation retreats in Myanmar, Nepal, India, and the U.S. He leads retreats and teaches meditation courses for the general population and has also taught adjudicated teens and prison inmates. He is the co-founder of Equanimity Development Institute, an organization that provides meditation instruction and Somatic Experiencing®, a naturalistic approach to healing trauma, to individuals dealing with various difficult circumstances such as addiction, chronic pain, and stress.

Space is limited, so please register early. If you have any questions, please contact, Jeannie Peters at 539-3751, Denise Ackert at 539-2906 or deniseackert@yahoo.com.

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Registration Form
To reserve your space for the retreat, please fill out the registration form by October 15th and mail to: Salida Sangha, 6545 CR 110, Salida, CO 81201 or e-mail your information to roberta1@chaffee.net.
Name____________________________________________
Phone___________________________
Address__________________________________________
E-mail___________________________
Meditation experience________________________________________________________________

April 24-26, 2010 Retreat Details

2010-03-20T15:15:00.000-07:00

Welcome! We are excited to be hosting this 3-day retreat! The days will consist of walking and sitting meditation, instruction, lunch, and question and answer periods.

When: The retreat begins on Saturday, April 24 at 9 am. We recommend that you arrive at least 15 minutes early to get settled, so we may begin promptly at 9 am. The retreat will end at approximately 5 pm on Saturday, resuming from 9 am to 5 pm on Sunday, April 25 and from 9 am to 4 pm on April 26.
Where: The retreat is being held at a vacation rental home in Maysville right next to the river: 16642 County Road 220, Maysville, CO
Parking at the retreat site is extremely limited. For this reason, we strongly recommend that the retreat participants carpool from the parking lot at the Poncha Springs Visitor Center, at the junction of US HWYs 50 and 285. If you need assistance finding carpooling companions, please call one of us at the numbers listed below.
Directions from the parking lot:
• Head west on Hwy 50 (towards Monarch Pass) for about 6.2 miles, to the small town of Maysville. (Before reaching Maysville, you will see TWO opportunities to turn onto County Road 220. It’s best NOT to take these turnoffs; follow the directions below (unless you want the scenic route!).
• After passing the ‘Maysville’ sign on the right hand side of the road, TURN left (South) onto Chaffee County Road 243 (blue sign ALSO indicates CR 220).
• CR 243 winds a bit and dead-ends at County Road 220. Turn LEFT onto 220.
• The cabin is on your right, a little more than a quarter mile down the road. We will have ‘RETREAT’ signs at the driveway entrance.
What to bring: For sitting you may want to bring a meditation cushion or bench; alternatively there are plenty of chairs available for sitting. Wear comfortable clothing for sitting and bring an extra layer of clothing or a blanket as your temperature may fluctuate. We will do walking meditation outside, so bring shoes appropriate for walking, a raincoat, sunscreen and a hat. You may also want to bring slippers for inside if you tend to get cold. Bring a sack lunch.
There are refrigerators with space for storing perishables. We will provide tea, water, and snacks. Please bring your own water bottle and tea mug, if possible.

In keeping with the Buddhist tradition of offering the teachings free of charge, the retreat fee covers only expenses. If you wish to give a donation to Brian, please bring appropriate change as there will be a “dana” box available for offerings. “Dana” is the Pali word for generosity.

We want to invite you and encourage you to attend a pre-retreat dessert potluck, on Friday, April 23, from 6:30 to 7:30 pm, at Marilyn Whitney’s home, 1127 “I” Street. You will have an opportunity to meet Eric, Brian and each other, beginning to build a retreat community that will support each of us in our weekend meditation journey. We will provide beverages, dishes, and a warm welcome. This is also an opportunity to arrange carpools. (NOTE: It’s certainly not necessary that everyone bring a dessert. We will have plenty, so don’t let that stop you from coming.)
Also note that Brian has generously offered to be available on Friday, April 23, for individual interviews upstairs at the Sunshine Market. If you wish to sign up, please email roberta1@chaffee.net

If you have any problems or questions, please call us at one of the numbers below. We look forward to seeing you!

Denise Ackert – phone 307 690-5878 (cell)
Marilyn Whitney – phone 719 539-6317

Upcoming Non-residential Vipassana Meditation Retreat

2009-07-24T06:54:00.000-07:00

Cultivating Insight and Compassion

3-Day Nonresidential Insight Meditation Retreat
Saturday-Monday, April 24th- April 26th
9am-5pm Sat and Sun, 9am-4pm Mon

Maysville, CO
Cost $55
April 24, 25, 26, 2010.

Brian Lesage and Eric Kolvig will be our leaders for this special three day non-residential retreat at the beautiful and peaceful "Heaven's Hideaway" in Maysville, Colorado.

This will be an opportunity to practice continuous mindfulness in silence throughout each day—in sitting and walking meditation. In these silences we can penetrate our deepest wisdom and activate a natural compassion for ourselves and the world. The retreat is designed for beginners and experienced practitioners alike. It will consist of sitting and walking meditation and discussion periods.

Please sign up early!
You can reserve a space at this time by emailing roberta1@chaffee.net. Mail registration forms and checks to: Salida Sangha, 6545 CR 110, Salida, CO 81201

BRIAN LESAGE has practiced Buddhist meditation for twenty years. He has studied in the Zen, Theravada and Tibetan schools of Buddhism. He was ordained in the Rinzai Zen tradition in 1996. His training in Vipassana Meditation includes doing extended meditation retreats in Myanmar (Burma), Nepal, and India as well as numerous retreats in the U.S. He leads retreats and teaches meditation courses nationwide. Brian also has a private practice in Somatic Experiencing, which is a naturalistic approach to healing trauma.

ERIC KOLVIG, Ph.D., has been teaching Dharma in the Vipassana (Insight) meditation tradition since 1985 after practicing intensively at IMS. Eric studied and practiced for years under the mentorship of prominent teachers at the Insight Meditation Society in Barre, MA, and he has also trained in the Zen tradition. He holds a Ph.D. in English from Yale University and has edited a number of books on Buddhist topics. Acting from an inclusive understanding of the path to liberation, Eric works for wholesome change in our community through compassionate action in the world.

Registration Form
To reserve your space for the retreat, please fill out the registration form by March 15th and return with your check made out to: Salida Sangha, 6545 CR 110, Salida, CO 81201 or e-mail your information to roberta1@chaffee.net.
Name____________________________________________Phone____________________
E-mail___________________________
Meditation experience________________________________________________________