The wisdom of practicing in the body, with its vast scope and nuance, permeates early Buddhism. One who has practiced mindfulness of the body is said to have “included whatever wholesome dhammas there are that partake of true knowledge” (MN119). This knowledge includes the means to understand the mechanics of the body, as well as the means to use the body as an instrument of practice. Even when we aim to understand the mind, learning to embody practice, to practice with our flesh and bones, is helpful. This Path program will explore various frameworks for practice in the body, including the establishments of mindfulness, the aggregates, the sense fields, and the breath. We will also explore how these teachings extend to contemporary concerns and aspirations, such as eco dhamma, identity dhamma, and mindful dying. Practice with the body is always accessible to us and is continually demonstrating the Dhamma.
Time Commitment Outside of the Program: Participants will be provided with monthly reading materials. These will take no more than two hours per month to read. Participants are also asked to journal about their experience of mindfulness of the body daily for one week after each retreat and monthly meeting.
Participation Opportunity: Participants will have the opportunity to meet with Dhammadīpā for virtual practice discussion if desired.
Community Expectation: Participants are expected to treat all other participants as colleagues on the Path, as fellow practitioners worthy of respect, “blending like milk and water, seeing each other with kindly eyes.”
Prerequisites: Have attended at least one multi-day, silent residential retreat.
Program Overview
 | Application Timeframe | Applications close March 1, 2024 |
 | Prerequisite | Applicants should have attended at least one multi-day, silent residential retreat |
 | Duration | 11 months |
 | In-Person Retreat Dates | July 12-18, 2024 Dec 6-12, 2024 May 23-29, 2025 |
 | Zoom Gatherings | Second Sunday of each month (6:00-7:30 PM ET) |
Program Overview
| Application Timeframe | Applications close March 1, 2024 |
| Prerequisite | Applicants should have attended at least one multi-day, silent residential retreat |
| Duration | 11 months |
| In-Person Retreat Dates | July 12-18, 2024 Dec 6-12, 2024 May 23-29, 2025 |
| Zoom Gatherings | Second Sunday of each month (6:00-7:30 PM ET) |
The wisdom of practicing in the body, with its vast scope and nuance, permeates early Buddhism. One who has practiced mindfulness of the body is said to have “included whatever wholesome dhammas there are that partake of true knowledge” (MN119). This knowledge includes the means to understand the mechanics of the body, as well as the means to use the body as an instrument of practice. Even when we aim to understand the mind, learning to embody practice, to practice with our flesh and bones, is helpful. This Path program will explore various frameworks for practice in the body, including the establishments of mindfulness, the aggregates, the sense fields, and the breath. We will also explore how these teachings extend to contemporary concerns and aspirations, such as eco dhamma, identity dhamma, and mindful dying. Practice with the body is always accessible to us and is continually demonstrating the Dhamma.
Time Commitment Outside of the Program: Participants will be provided with monthly reading materials. These will take no more than two hours per month to read. Participants are also asked to journal about their experience of mindfulness of the body daily for one week after each retreat and monthly meeting.
Participation Opportunity: Participants will have the opportunity to meet with Dhammadīpā for virtual practice discussion if desired.
Community Expectation: Participants are expected to treat all other participants as colleagues on the Path, as fellow practitioners worthy of respect, “blending like milk and water, seeing each other with kindly eyes.”
Prerequisites: Have attended at least one multi-day, silent residential retreat.
Embodied Truths Path Program and Schedule
Retreat I: Four Embodied Truths
July 12-18, 2024
In-Person Retreat
The teachings of early Buddhism make it clear that practice is undertaken and can be completely fulfilled, as an embodied human being. Indeed, it is precisely as an embodied being that we can practice. What we wish to awaken to is already present; it is not far off in some other realm of existence. The framework of practice describes ways to direct our attention to and develop clarity about the principles that are demonstrated by our embodied existence. The understanding that this can foster is very valuable. We will begin this Path Program by practicing together in relationship with each other. Living in this body as a Dhamma, we will start with an investigation of the Four Noble Truths and ways we might experience them in our bodies. This retreat will be grounded in practice as well as the study of the Mindfulness of Body Sutta (Numbered Discourse 1.576), the Samana Sutta (Connected Discourse 12.66), and the Rohitassa Sutta (Numbered Discourse 4.45).
Second Sunday of each month Zoom Gatherings
6:00-7:30 PM ET (3:00-4:30 PM PT)
2024: Aug 11, Sep 8, Oct 13, Nov 10
Retreat II: Aware and Mindful of the Breath Body
December 6-12, 2024
In-Person Retreat
The breath is continually nourishing this body and mind. The breath has its own wisdom to share with us, a wisdom that is never apart from us. Early Buddhism is replete with teachings on practicing with the breath both as the primary object of attention and as a support for the mind to explore other Dhammas. At the midpoint of our Path program, we will come together to explore the breath as a Dhamma, as an instrument of practice that can open our eyes to wisdom. We will explore practicing with the breath and foundational suttas such as the 16 Steps of Mindfulness of Breathing (Middle Length Discourse 118), the Great Awakening Sutta (Numbered Discourse 9.1), and the Kimbila Sutta (Linked Discourse 54.10).
Second Sunday of each month Zoom Gatherings
6:00-7:30 PM ET (3:00-4:30 PM PT)
2025: Jan 11, Feb 9, Mar 9, Apr 13
Retreat III: Life as Embodied Intention
May 23-29, 2025
In-Person Retreat
In the early Buddhist suttas, a human life is described as a rare opportunity. It is seen as a chance to create beneficial states now and in the future, a chance to learn about how the world works and to put that knowledge to use in eliminating suffering. During this final in-person gathering of the Path program, we will investigate the teachings of karma and intention. These teachings describe skillful and unskillful ways to use our bodies. In particular, we will study One's Own Volition (Numbered Discourse 6.38), the Velāma Sutta (Numbered Discourse 9.20), and The Highest Blessings Sutta (Sutta Nipāta 2.4).
Program Fees
Residential Pricing:
Includes Lodging and Meals at BCBS during the In-Person Retreats
| Supported | Mid Level | Sustaining | Benefactor |
| $2,322 | $3,042 | $3,762 | $5,202 |
Non-Residential Pricing:
Includes Meals without Lodging during the In-Person Retreats
| Standard | |||
| $1,440 |
Pricing Notes
- Program fees include all components.
- The first half is due upon registration, and the final half is due before the first retreat.
- Program fees do not include payments to the teacher.
- Participants are invited to support Dhammadīpā through the practice of dāna (generosity).
- Financial assistance can be requested on the registration page.
Application Dates
| Applications Open: | September 12, 2023 |
| Applications Close: | March 1, 2024 |
| Initial Accepted Applicants Notified: | March 15, 2024 |
| Payment Due: | Two weeks from the date of acceptance |
| Program Starts: | July 12, 2024 |
Dhammadīpā, the founder of Dassanāya Buddhist Community, has been practicing Buddhism since 1987. She is a Dharma Transmitted Teacher in the Suzuki Roshi lineage of Soto Zen and was a nun ordained in the Theravada tradition for 5 years. In addition to English, Dhammadīpā teaches in Spanish, an expression of her Latin heritage. She is an author whose work has appeared in the Buddhist publications "Lion's Roar" and the "Buddhadharma" magazine. Dhammadīpā is the mother of a lovely adult daughter, and enjoys sewing and watercolor painting.
