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Birds and Trees: Further Explorations of the Heart of Freedom

In this retreat–welcoming all EHF cohorts–we will continue to explore the heart of freedom together. We will be deepening our cultivation of the establishment of mindfulness and the brahmaviharas. This retreat will include meditation instruction, practicing on the cushion and walking meditation, and opportunities for individual meetings with the teachers. We will also be exploring suttas, poetry, and koans through dharma contemplation, Insight Dialogue, and discussion. Our evenings will be devoted to relational practices and deepening into the themes of the day, closing with meditation and chanting in the stillness of the dharma hall.

Program Format: This retreat will include guided and silent seated meditation, walking meditation, exploration of suttas, poetry, and koans, dharma contemplation, relational practice, group discussion, and opportunities for individual meetings with the teachers.

Noble Silence:

This program includes dedicated periods of both wise speech and noble silence. In addition to some contemplative exercises involving mindful speaking and listening, there will be periods when participants are able to speak freely.

Experience Level:

Suitable for intermediate and advanced practitioners.

Prerequisites:

Previous attended EHF.

Cancellation Policy:

We understand that personal circumstances may require you to cancel your registration. In these cases, please contact us right away. If you enroll in the hybrid program residential option, the residential programs cancellation policy will apply to you. If you enroll in the hybrid program online option, the online programs cancellation policy will apply to you. Learn more: https://www.buddhistinquiry.org/courses/cancellation/.

Online Schedule:

This program is hosted on Zoom. You can check the time of the group sessions in your timezone here: https://dateful.com/time-zone-converter. The schedule for this program (shown in US Eastern Time) is as follows:
Please note that sessions will not be recorded.

Schedule:

Arrival day: 3:00 – 5:30 PM 

Departure day: Noon (Leave campus by 2:00 pm)


Full Day Schedule (may vary slightly): 

6:30 am       Wake-up

7:00 – 7:30 am  Group sitting practice

9:00 am – noon   Morning Session

2:00 – 5:00 pm  Afternoon Session

7:00 – 9:00 pm  Evening Session