Into the Winter Wood — A Dharma Meditation Retreat

Into the Winter Wood — A Dharma Meditation Retreat
February 12, 6pm to February 15, 2:30pm

This retreat is ideal for intermediate and experienced practitioners. 

The early Buddhist renunciants stopped wandering for about three months every year during the rainy season. These Buddhist wanderers stayed in simple huts provided for them by benefactors. This was a time for going deeper in meditation and for reflecting on the Buddha’s teachings. 

In New England, we don’t have a rainy season, though winter is often seen as a time of introspection and slowing down. 

This long weekend retreat, taking place over the holiday weekend, is a perfect opportunity for quiet reflection and meditation in the heart of the New England winter. 

In addition to a program of silent meditation, we will hear and discuss early teachings of the Buddha from a collection of Pali verses known as the Sutta-Nipata. These inspiring early teachings will assist in our reflections and contribute to the atmosphere of peace and insight. 

Aryaloka is a magical place for winter retreat. The winter landscape in Aryaloka’s forest and along the Piscassic river allows for contemplative walking and the appreciation of nature. The retreat center itself is very warm and comfortable, and the vegetarian winter menu is nourishing and delicious.
 

Led By: Dh Suddhayu has been teaching meditation and Buddhism and leading retreats since 1998. He has a deep love of the processes of meditation practice, as well as poetry, myth and creative ritual. He currently works full-time for Dharma initiatives as Chair at the Portsmouth Buddhist Center and Chair/Manager of Aryaloka.
 

This retreat is residential and meals/housing are included in the price. Please see the note below about donations for teachers. You can access helpful information about attending retreats at Aryaloka here.

A Culture of Generosity and Support
In the tradition of passing on the Dharma freely, our Dharma retreat and workshop facilitators offer their work without charge and are not paid. We recognize the value in what they do and want to thank them for their time, energy and wisdom. A financial gift can help support our facilitators to afford them the opportunity to lead. Please consider making a donation towards their support. There is often a cash collection and a thank you card that is passed on the retreat, though one can also make a donation directly to facilitators with a check, and some use money transfer services such as PayPal or Venmo. Thank you for your generosity.
 

At Aryaloka, we strive to make our programs available to everyone regardless of their financial circumstances. Our fee structure allows you to pay according to your means. 

The Event Rate is our actual fee for the event. It is for people able to pay for their living expenses, and who can afford occasional or regular leisure expenses such as dining out. Any payment above the advertised fee is a tax-deductible donation. 

The Mid-Level Reduced Rate is for those who are able to pay for their living expenses, though experience a consistent tightness in budget that makes extras like leisure activities or unexpected expenses difficult or impossible. 

The Base-Level Reduced Rate is for those without an income or with an income low enough that making ends meet is a challenge. 

Those whose circumstances are not included above can email the office to make other arrangements including reduced rates, payment schedules, volunteer opportunities and scholarships. info@aryaloka.org