Liberation Park Guest House news

After Guest House construction we are open for retreat

Please join us in the valley this year. 

Dear Friends of Liberation Park,

We would like to formally invite you to join us again for quiet retreat, healing, contemplation, meditation and study in this beautiful valley. With a HUGE thank you to the more than 320 individual and group donors, Guest House construction is complete.

 

Beginning May 15th we can schedule your retreat time and look forward to seeing each of you here. 

 

The forest hermitage, and two canvas cabins continue to await you in the valley. An additional two guest spaces - one in the guest house and one nearby - are also available for less rustic retreat. The Guest House itself provides kitchen, bath, laundry, library and covered deck areas.

Send us an email and we'll get you on the schedule for some much needed peaceful practice and study time.

As with any construction project there are a myriad of little finishing items, as well as extensive landscaping, clean up and maintenance to accomplish this year. If you'd like to participate in the finishing work, volunteers are also welcomed at all times!

 

With Much Gratitude,

Santikaro, Jo Marie & all The Valley inhabitants.

April 27 retreat: Weathering Life's Storms

Weathering Life's Storms: Wisdom, Courage and Skills for Real Challenges

Thursday, April 27, 10:30 a.m. - Sunday, April 30, 12:00 p.m.

There are still some openings to attend the Insight Chicago spring retreat with Santikaro in the beautiful grounds of the Portiuncula Center for Prayer, 9263 West St. Francis Road, Frankfort, IL.  To register for the retreat click here.

The theme of this retreat is Weathering Life's Storms: Wisdom, Courage and Skills for Real Challenges. Many of us have been experiencing the current political situation as a major storm in our lives, one that swirls us around chaotically. And many of us are also experiencing storms of a more personal nature at the same time, adding to the stress. For a more detailed description of the retreat, you can click here.

Questions?  Contact the retreat manager at registrar@insightchicago.org.

Ride-sharing:  If you need a ride or can offer a ride, please contactellen@insightchicago.org.

April 2 - Dzigar Kongtrul Rinpoche Sangha

This is a reminder of the Monthly Meditation Group that will meet at our home this Sunday, April 2nd from 10:30am - noon. We plan to begin reading the first chapter of Dzigar Kongtrul's first book, It's Up To You with time for discussion after a 30 minute meditation period.

If you are new to this group, you can find more details at our page on this blog.

Please let me know if you are planning to attend and if you prefer a chair or cushion for meditation.

Thank you and hope to see you there.

Upcoming Wisconsin retreat

The details and registration information for the retreat with Ayya Medhanandi are now posted on our website at: http://madisonmeditation.org/retreats/ayya-medhanandi.html

The retreat is from May 21-24, 2017 at Pine Lake Camp in Westfield, Wisconsin.

Also online is our latest newsletter http://madisonmeditation.org/newsletters/index.html which includes a wonderful, lengthy interview with Ayya about her path to becoming a bhikkhuni and the women's monastery she's begun in Ontario, Canada.  It is an insightful view on the issue of women in Theravada Buddhism and a lovely example of Ayya's teaching and approach to the Dharma.  

The newsletter and the website also have been updated to include details on a 4-week Introductory Meditation class beginning in April, our Kalyana Mitta study groups, half-day sittings, upcoming retreats, a city wide Dharma list, and more, so check us out at http://madisonmeditation.org/

Best wishes for your practice!

Retreats and Resources

Online resources:

Buddhanet offers a wealth of resources from basic Buddhist study materials to a directory of the worldwide Buddhist community.

Ashoka, the eDharma Learning Center hosts retreats and classes online.

Sounds True's Neuroscience Training Summit, begins Monday, March 20, with videos and bonus resources from Rick Hansen, Dan Siegel, Linda Graham, Michael Taft, Kelly McGonigal, Peter Levine, Steve Porges, and Janina Fisher. You can register here to watch it for free.

JOT (Just One Thing) a free online newsletter that suggests a simple practice each week for more joy, more fulfilling relationships, and more peace of mind.

The Twin Cities Vipassana Collective offers retreats at Koinonia Retreat Center in South Haven, MN.

The Tergar Meditation Community of Yongey Mingyur Rinpoche in Minnepolis also offers retreats throughout the year including online retreats.

March 15 Liberation Park

La Crosse area Friends meditating & exploring on Wednesdays

upcoming sessions:  March 15th at Wesley UMC 

March 15th -- Wesley UMC at King & 8th
(see important details below).

We will meet for a silent meditation, short Dhamma talk, and conversation on topics of spiritual interest.

Location information -- Important!  The church doors will be locked. The evening's hosts will arrive early to set up and meet you at the door. Please use the 721 King Street entrance, where one of us will be waiting to greet you. Knock if you don't see anyone. There will be plenty of parking on the street. The church also has parking space off of 8th St. 

Meditation starts at 6:30 pm. Please arrive 5-10 minutes before then. The "Lounge" where we will be meeting has many chairs. If you prefer to sit on the floor, please bring your own mat and cushion.

Dāna (donations, gifts, free-will offerings) to sustain Liberation Park and support our work are most welcome.

This link is to a sample sutta/teaching outlining the path and its factors.

A sampler of Santikaro's talks from La Crosse and elsewhere are posted at http://liberationpark.org/audio/index.htm

March 5 Session cancelled

The Dzigar Kongtrul Rinpoche Sangha session scheduled for Sunday, March 5 has been cancelled due to illness. The group will next meet on Sunday, April 2.