2023 Meditation Retreat and Teachings at the Dharma Centre of Canada, ON
September 29 – October 18 UTC-8
Bodhicitta, the Awakening Mind Mindfulness in the three Cycles of the Buddhist Teachings; Chapter 5, Shantideva’s Way of the Bodhisattva; The Inner Yoga of Anapanasati – recollection of breath – a 14-day silent retreat
With Lama Chokyi Gyaltsen (Lama Mark Webber)
Friday September 29 to Wednesday October 18, 2023
Friday September 29 (7-9 pm.)
Orientation to the retreat and retreat conduct. Bodhicitta, the Awakening Mind: Bodhicitta is the heart of all Mahayana and Vajrayana practices. Bodhicitta is the Mahamudra and Dzogchen. The unity of compassion and emptiness, is the body, speech and mind of awakened ones. Lama Webber will give a practical orientation to this profound topic based on Khunu Gyaltsen Rinpoche’s “The Jewel Lamp; A Praise of Bodhicitta.”
Saturday September 30 to Tuesday October 3.
Chapter 5, Shantideva’s A Guide to the Bodhisattva Way of Life. Understanding mindfulness unified with Bodhicitta and practice in Hinayana, Mahayana and Vajrayana views. Conduct and activity as resultant of mindfulness.
Thursday October 5-October 18.
The Inner Yoga practice of Anapanasati -The Recollection of Breath. Lama Gyaltsen shares in detail an ancient way of practicing Anapanasati, taught to him by the Venerable Namgyal Rinpoche. It is a rare and deep practice of purification and tranquility that lays the basis for the unity of samatha/vipassana. It is also superb for generation stage practices and unfolding the Mahamudra or Dzogchen without support. Commitment must be made for the full 14 days in this 2nd part of the retreat. Started by group instruction then with individual guidance. Silent retreat. No cell phones or computers.
Wednesday morning October 18.
Empowerment to be announced.
Instructions and advice for both beginners and experienced practitioners, and plenty of opportunities to ask questions.
Lama Mark Webber (Lama Chokyi Gyaltsen) has been studying andteaching Buddha Dharma through the traditions of Buddhism for almost fifty years. His universalist approach is classically founded in Buddhism and a number of meditative traditions while integrating with contemporary life, science and the richness of modern Western culture.
Lama Mark studied and practiced Abhidhamma and the Vipassana method of Mahasi Sayadaw U Sobhana under the guidance of the Insight master Ven. Namgyal Rinpoche and his first teacher Ven. Chorpel Dolma (Mrs. Raff). In 1976, while in a three month Abhidhamma/Insight retreat, Namgyal Rinpoche directed Lama Mark to begin teaching this profound tradition to Rinpoche’s students. Soon after he was directed to give guidance on Vajrayana meditations. From the Ven. Namgyal Rinpoche and other masters such as the late Drikung Lho Ontul Rinpoche, Lama Mark has studied, received, practiced and continues to teach Vajrayana transmissions of the Mahamudra and Dzogchen.
Through clarity, joy and humour, Lama Mark’s emphasis with practitioners and students is on uncovering pure Dharma to reveal its extraordinary benefits and share the great joy of its deep study, meditative practices and integration into all aspects of our lives.
Lama Mark resides on Galiano Island, near Vancouver, BC, Canada, but teaches around the world for much of the year.
For more information on Lama Mark Webber, please see:
www.markwebber.org
https://nybcc.org/
https://www.dharmacentre.org/
https://www.facebook.com/lamamarkwebber/
https://www.instagram.com/lamamark108/