Trust from Within: Day Long Retreat

 
Trust From Within: A Healing Faith/Saddha
Day Long Retreat

Event Description
When we are severed from connecting within to what is true, it’s difficult to find clarity. To know how to skillfully care for our people, our worlds, ourselves can be motivated by an inner trust in what the Buddhist teachings offer as saddha or faith. In this retreat, you will be introduced to 3 stages of faith: bright faith, verified faith, abiding faith. And be guided through practices to cultivate an unshakeable trust in your deepest knowing.
 
 Retreat Schedule
9:30 – Registration opens, please arrive before 10:00am
10:00 – Welcome, arriving with our senses, introductions, opening ritual
11:00 – Dharma talk
11:30  -Meditation
12- Walking meditation
12:30 – Lunch/Rest for folks fasting for Ramadan
1:15 – Walking meditation
2:00 – Guided stationary practice
2:45 – Tending to Mind heart: mindful stretching, self reflection
3:00 – Dyad Share, Group Share, Question and Response
3:50 – Closing ritual
4:00 – End

*retreat schedule may change due to group flow and needs 
 
FAQ
Accessibility: What is the space like?

• The space is a zen meditation centre. There are cushions on the wood floor, a Buddhist altar, an entrance hall and a kitchen.
• Chairs, cushions, and meditation benches are available in the space, and you're welcome to bring your own gear if you prefer
• There will be about 12-15 people in the space
• There are two single stall, gender free washrooms
• The overhead lights will be dimmed
• This is a masked space (please see COVID precautions FAQ)
• While we may use the language of “sitting practice” or “a sit”, if you prefer lying down there will be space and extra cushions to do so
• We ask that you arrive with your phone turned off or in airplane mode to create an accessible space for our relatives that live with  EHS (Electromagnetic hypersensitivity)
• The space is scent free to create an accessible space for our relatives where scents can make them ill 
• Wheelchair accessible
• There is ample street parking available and the centre is close to a bus stop
• Coats and shoes stay in the entrance hall
• Valuables go in the kitchen
• The kitchen has a fridge, microwave, kettle, plates, utensils and mugs

 
Do I have to be Buddhist to attend?

• You do not have to be Buddhist to attend, or have any particular level of meditation experience. The teachings are meant for all and there will be no pressure to convert. An important tenet in Buddhist teachings is ehipasiko, to see for yourself, if the practices are light you up.

 
What COVID precautions are you taking?

• Everyone will wear a mask inside except for when eating or drinking. There will be a HEPA filter on. We will have a collective lunch break and so that will be the only time when there may be many of us unmasked at once. Please do not attend if you’re experiencing any covid, cold/flu symptoms.

 
Food and Drink

• Kuan Yin Kitchen will be providing vegetarian gluten free lunch. Woo hoo!
• Various teas and water will be available

 
What is noble silence?

• This day-long retreat will be in noble silence, except when asking questions or when there is group discussion time. Noble silence is an invitation to let the energy that normally goes into speaking be turned inward into our practice. If you have a logistical question or need to speak to Lu or Elder Dixie, that is absolutely okay. Please do not speak to other participants to respect each other’s deepening concentration
• Please refrain from using your phone as much as possible

 
What to bring?

• altar items
• a mask
• fidgets if that would be supportive
• water bottle (although there are cups available)
• Your own sitting gear if you prefer (there is a lot available at the Centre)
• cozy blanket or thick socks/ slippers to stay warm while meditating
  (there is a blanket and shawl box with 3 blankets)
• Comfortable and “quiet” clothes (no nylon pants or jackets)
• Please arrive scent free (including any natural scents like essential oils)
• Dana

 
What is dana?
Dana translates to generosity in Pali, the language of the Buddha. The teachings have been freely offered for 2600 years, however, we do live in capitalism. You will not be asked to offer dana to my teachings as Trans Care BC will be funding all costs of this retreat.
You are asked to have strong commitment to show up and not cancel last minute.
If you are a settler, you will also be invited to offer dana to the People, Land, Air and Water of xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueum), sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish), and sel̓íl̓witulh (Tsleil-Waututh)  Nations as we are practicing and living on their unceded Lands.
 
Altar practice

• There will be a chance to create an altar together and practice connecting with what you’d like to cultivate faith/trust towards.  This is a simple, inclusive and optional ritual to open and close the day. Feel free to bring a photo, objects from nature, a piece of writing or another sacred object to put on the altar.

 
Bio:
Mindfulness Co-Facilitator: Lu Lam (they/he), M. Ed. C.C.C.  is a Chinese-Taiwanese trans-identified Mindfulness Counsellor and Consultant. He gratefully acknowledges the people of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueum), sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish), and sel̓íl̓witulh (Tsleil-Waututh) First Nations, where he works and lives as a settler learning to be a guest. Lu finds joy in creating spaces for people to uncover who they truly are in order to strengthen our social justice work.  He brings 27 years of group facilitation experience, 15 years of daily mindfulness practice, was in the Spirit Rock Community Dharma Leaders 6 Program before it’s closure due to the pandemic, in continuous mindfulness study, and attends yearly meditation retreats. For fun, Lu loves to feast with family, camp, climb and swim in nature.  www.lulam.ca
 
Dixie Lee Vance, ᓂ ᒥᑭᓯ ᑭᐦᐁᐤ (Leading Eagle),  (she/her/we), Spiritual Advisor: Dixie is a Metis with Cree/Mohawk bloodlines from Territory 6, and is a relative residing on the unceded traditional territory of the Kwantlen and Semiahmoo Peoples. Dixie works as a Program Elder at the Fraser Valley Institution. She works with Jaylene Mcrae, co-facilitating Positive Space for trans, Two-Spirit, non-binary, and queer women and folks in the prison system. 
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*thank you arti mehta for letting us use your retreat FAQ’s to share ours.