Small Group Practice Meeting
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Winter Solstice Retreat: Embracing the Dark, Inviting the Light
Oren Jay Sofer, devon hase, Dawn Scott, Heather Sundberg and David Cabrera
Overview
Throughout this retreat, we will focus on centering ourselves at the time of the holidays and the New Year, quieting our minds, grounding in our bodies, opening up our hearts, and using inquiry to help give energy to our practice. Special emphasis will be placed on opening to the darkness, including to our difficulties and challenges, and opening to the coming light—to the beauty, joy, wisdom, and love within and around us. The retreat will include complete meditation instructions, sitting and walking meditation, daily lovingkindness practice, daily Qigong practice, evening talks, practice discussions, and a Winter Solstice ceremony.
Special Sessions
Explore the following special sessions designed to deepen your understanding and practice, from interactive Q&A sessions, specialized affinity group sits, to mindful movement practices.
Affinity Groups
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Practice Texts & Chants
In the Insight Meditation tradition, we chant a relatively simple set of invocations and passages in Pāli from the Theravāda Buddhist tradition.
Homage, Three Refuges, Five Precepts (Pali-English)
View PDF: Homage, Three Refuges, Five Precepts (Pali-English)
Homage to the Buddha
Namo tassa bhagavato arahato sammāsambuddhassa
Homage to the Blessed, Noble, and Perfectly Enlightened One.
The Three Refuges
Buddhaṃ saraṇaṃ gacchāmi
Dhammaṃ saraṇaṃ gacchāmi
Saṅghaṃ saraṇaṃ gacchāmi
Dutiyampi buddhaṃ saraṇaṃ gacchāmi
Dutiyampi dhammaṃ saraṇaṃ gacchāmi
Dutiyampi saṅghaṃ saraṇaṃ gacchāmi
Tatiyampi buddhaṃ saraṇaṃ gacchāmi
Tatiyampi dhammaṃ saraṇaṃ gacchāmi
Tatiyampi saṅghaṃ saraṇaṃ gacchāmi
I go for refuge to the Buddha.
I go for refuge to the Dhamma.
I go for refuge to the Saṅgha.
For the second time, I go for refuge to the Buddha.
For the second time, I go for refuge to the Dhamma.
For the second time, I go for refuge to the Saṅgha.
For the third time, I go for refuge to the Buddha.
For the third time, I go for refuge to the Dhamma.
For the third time, I go for refuge to the Saṅgha.
The Five Precepts
Pāṇātipātā veramaṇī sikkhāpadaṃ samādiyāmi
Adinnādānā veramaṇī sikkhāpadaṃ samādiyāmi
Abrahmacariyā veramaṇī sikkhāpadaṃ samādiyāmi
Musāvādā veramaṇī sikkhāpadaṃ samādiyāmi
Surāmeraya-majja-pamādaṭṭhānā veramaṇī sikkhāpadaṃ samādiyāmi
I undertake the precept to refrain from taking the life of any living creature.
I undertake the precept to refrain from taking that which is not given.
I undertake the precept to refrain from sexual activity.
I undertake the precept to refrain from lying.
I undertake the precept to refrain from consuming intoxicating drink and drugs which lead to carelessness.
* When not on retreat, the third precept may change to:
Kāmesu micchācārā veramaṇī sikkhāpadaṃ samādiyāmi
I undertake the precept to refrain from sexual misconduct.
* PDF versions are offered for printing and online use. Each handout comes in two versions:
Landscape orientation for ease of reading, screen sharing, and use as slides
Thin single column for scrolling on smaller screens
For further study: The Three Refuges, The Five Precepts
References & Resources
Materials and references shared by the teacher(s) during the program can be found in the Participant Resource Guide.