Many of us experience a subtle fear of others. We are bringing our histories of woundedness into all of our interactions in different ways.

It is often difficult for many of us to experience a sense of connection and openness as we interact with others. We can feel limited by our discomfort in our own experience or struggle with the need to protect ourselves and maintain boundaries. There is a way for us to begin looking at this fear in order to move beyond to experience a newer kind of intimacy with ourselves and others. The practice of intimacy is the practice of allowing our dharma practice to work with fears of ourselves and others so that we may actually began experiencing true closeness with ourselves and others while at the same time practicing and maintaining critical boundaries.

Retreat Highlights

• Learn and practice contemplative strategies for working with the fear of vulnerability

• Explore compassion based intimacy with ourselves and with others while practicing boundaries

• Develop contemplative based techniques for working with fear

Retreat Instructor

Lama Rod Owens

Lama Rod Owens is considered one of the emerging leaders of his generation of Buddhist teachers. An author, activist, and formally authorised Buddhist teacher in the Tibetan tradition of Buddhism, he is the co-founder of Bhumisparsha, a Buddhist tantric practice community as well as a visiting teacher with several Buddhist centers including the Natural Dharma Fellowship and the Brooklyn Zen Centre. A graduate of Harvard Divinity School, Lama Rod has also been a guest faculty member at the Harvard School of Education’s program Mindfulness for Educators. He has been a regular guest on SiriusXM’s Urban Viewhosted by Pulitzer Prize winning journalist Karen Hunter. He is also a co-author of Radical Dharma: Talking Race, Love, and Liberation and his next book project exploring transformative anger and rage is due out Fall 2019. Lama Rod can be reached at www.lamarod.com.

About the Retreat

This retreat will combine simple movement, meditation, contemplation, small group interaction, journaling, as well as structured and guided dialogue to help us break through the barriers that prevent authentic and intimate dialogue and interaction with others.

Workshop Program

Arrival and departure

• Arrival and registration will take place between 3-5pm on Friday, November 14th

• The retreat opening session will begin at 7pm on the 14th, with a welcome talk and introduction

• The retreat will end by 12 noon on Thursday, November 21st

Daily Schedule

Noble silence throughout i.e. anytime outside of the retreat.

06:30 – Yoga or meditation

07:30 – Breakfast

09:00 – Morning session

12:30 – Lunch

14:00 – Afternoon session

16:30 – Individual practice, meetings with Lama Rod

18:30 – Dinner

20:00- Evening session

21:30 – Noble silence