WEB of Connection May 2023 Retreat
Our time together began on Thursday, May 25th, with a vegetarian/gluten free meal prepared by Web of Connection volunteers. We gathered for nourishment of body and mind and enjoyed the opportunity to get to know one another. Eighteen participants came for the 4 day retreat from the Colorado Springs, Denver area, west of Colorado Springs, and California.
Noble silence began Thursday evening; however, skillful/mindful interactive inquiry took place often during the retreat which reflected the retreat theme, “Mindfulness off the Cushion”. Monty Hall offered extraordinary insight from the retreat in the Web of Connection Newsletter you may enjoy. The highlights of the teachings from Aruna Dhammadhira and Sister Khemanandi regarding Mindfulness and Insight Dialogue were woven together with the mindful walking experience in the labyrinth.
The final take away from each retreat participant confirmed the retreat experience equipped each of us with the tools to be more mindful off the cushion. Pause-Relax-Open-Listen Deeply-Speak Authentically-Trust Emergence encourages and allows us to engage with our world with openness and honesty minus our own set or fixed agenda. Additionally as Monty so eloquently defines in the newsletter, the meaning of Sampajanna was more clearly comprehended through the final interactive inquiry in the Franciscan Retreat Center Peace Garden.
Many gathas were posted throughout the retreat venue to remind us to practice mindfulness with our daily routines. Gathas are small poems and can open and deepen our experience of simple acts which we often take for granted. We invite you to share in this practice with some gathas below in a slideshow.
Noble silence began Thursday evening; however, skillful/mindful interactive inquiry took place often during the retreat which reflected the retreat theme, “Mindfulness off the Cushion”. Monty Hall offered extraordinary insight from the retreat in the Web of Connection Newsletter you may enjoy. The highlights of the teachings from Aruna Dhammadhira and Sister Khemanandi regarding Mindfulness and Insight Dialogue were woven together with the mindful walking experience in the labyrinth.
The final take away from each retreat participant confirmed the retreat experience equipped each of us with the tools to be more mindful off the cushion. Pause-Relax-Open-Listen Deeply-Speak Authentically-Trust Emergence encourages and allows us to engage with our world with openness and honesty minus our own set or fixed agenda. Additionally as Monty so eloquently defines in the newsletter, the meaning of Sampajanna was more clearly comprehended through the final interactive inquiry in the Franciscan Retreat Center Peace Garden.
Many gathas were posted throughout the retreat venue to remind us to practice mindfulness with our daily routines. Gathas are small poems and can open and deepen our experience of simple acts which we often take for granted. We invite you to share in this practice with some gathas below in a slideshow.
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The Franciscan Retreat Center is a peaceful, breathtaking setting in the foothills of the Colorado Rockies, located on the western edge of Colorado Springs, but a world away from the city. |
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Highlights from the WEB 2023 Fall Retreat
Monty Hall
In October of 2023, Web went on retreat at the beautiful Golden Bell Camp and Conference Center in Divide, CO. Participants lodged in a private cabin with a large meditation hall whose floor-to-ceiling windows looked out on the western slope of Pikes Peak. The surrounding woods and mountain views painted the perfect backdrop for exploring Our True Nature.
Aruna Dhammadira shared teachings about the non-duality of our being, and ways to uncover our Buddha nature. Her skillfulness and teachings creatively wove together resources from a wide range of disciplines which intensified our exploration of the retreat theme "Our True Nature". John Moeller led several meditations, both sitting and walking outdoors in the surrounding woodland, to support and illustrate these teachings. Art activities including watercolor painting and collage encouraged participants to create without self-criticism and to engage with mindful awareness. Interactive inquiries allowed for the investigation of our inner critics and playmates alike with lightness and good humor.
One major highlight of this retreat was that it coincided with a solar eclipse. Meditation both outdoors and indoors during the eclipse offered the opportunity to reflect on the unveiling of our own inner light as participants watched the moon shift across the sun. The retreat culminated in a hike along the Fairy Slipper Trail. Aruna and John led participants through activities during this mindful hike that encouraged all to disengage from self-judgment and embrace wide-open awareness.
Aruna Dhammadira shared teachings about the non-duality of our being, and ways to uncover our Buddha nature. Her skillfulness and teachings creatively wove together resources from a wide range of disciplines which intensified our exploration of the retreat theme "Our True Nature". John Moeller led several meditations, both sitting and walking outdoors in the surrounding woodland, to support and illustrate these teachings. Art activities including watercolor painting and collage encouraged participants to create without self-criticism and to engage with mindful awareness. Interactive inquiries allowed for the investigation of our inner critics and playmates alike with lightness and good humor.
One major highlight of this retreat was that it coincided with a solar eclipse. Meditation both outdoors and indoors during the eclipse offered the opportunity to reflect on the unveiling of our own inner light as participants watched the moon shift across the sun. The retreat culminated in a hike along the Fairy Slipper Trail. Aruna and John led participants through activities during this mindful hike that encouraged all to disengage from self-judgment and embrace wide-open awareness.
We Would Love to Have You Visit Soon!
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