White Heron Sangha welcomes you to a two-day non-residential retreat at our White Heron Meditation Center in Avila Village with Lama Palden, a teacher in the Vajrayana Buddhist tradition.

In today’s world, when we are faced with the suffering of so many around the globe, our own communities, and our own families, we can often be left with the question “How best can I help?” “How can I keep my heart open?” And with the enormity of some of the challenges that arise, we wonder how we can possibly make a difference.

We forget that love and compassion, which is awakened presence, is the power to heal ourselves and our world.

Love on Every Breath focuses on the extraordinary and profound meditation practice of Tonglen through which the suffering of ourselves and all beings is transformed by our own awakened presence. As our hearts increasingly open to love, we can discover a doorway to our own essential goodness and more fully feel and embody the transformative power of our genuine compassion.

These practices will be clearly and simply presented so that anyone, no matter what their spiritual training or discipline, can begin to ease that sense of frustration and hopelessness and connect with a sense of powerful love and compassion.

The retreat is appropriate for all levels of practice. Silence will be observed, unless directed otherwise by the teacher.

Lama Palden has been teaching the full range of Vajrayana Buddhist practices for over thirty years. She has a deep interest in helping to make the teachings and practices of Tibetan Buddhism accessible and practical for Westerners.

Lama Palden is the founder and spiritual director of Sukhasiddhi Foundation in Marin County, California. She completed the traditional Tibetan Buddhist three-year retreat in the Shangpa and Karma Kagyu lineages in 1985. The following year she became one of the first Western women to be authorized as a lama in the Vajrayana tradition. She has studied with many of the great Tibetan masters from all lineages. She focuses on translating Vajrayana Buddhist principles and practices in ways that make them accessible to Westerners. Her new book, Love on Every Breath, will be published in May by the New World Library.

When:
Saturday, March 2, 2019, 9:30AM – 4:30PM
Sunday, March 3, 2019, 9:30AM – 3:30PM

Where: Our meditation center is in Avila Village, behind the Woodstone Marketplace, near the Bob Jones Trail:
White Heron Sangha Meditation Center, 6615 Bay Laurel Pl, Avila Beach, CA 93424 (map and pictures). Parking is alongside the buildings with overflow parking behind Blue Heron Realty. Do not park in front of Woodstone Marketplace! See the arrows for parking in the bottom photo. Our building is circled.

Cost:
$50, ($25 for young adults) for both days, which covers the expenses of the Sangha in putting on the event, but does not include a payment to the teacher.

Plan on attending both days in order to appreciate fully the teachings. Arrangements can be made if the fee is excessive for you.

The teachings are offered freely. The retreat fee covers retreat expenses; none of the retreat fee goes to the teacher. Details on how to donate to the teacher (cash or check only) and to support the White Heron Sangha will be provided at the retreat. We try to keep our retreat fees at a minimum so that you can be truly generous with your donation to the teacher.

Registration:

To register
You can register and pay online (through PayPal, including credit card) or send a check to White Heron Sangha, PO Box 870, Morro Bay, CA 93443. Pre-registration and payment are required, as space is limited for this retreat. Registration fee will be refunded in full if notice of cancellation is received at least one week prior to retreat.

More information about White Heron Sangha retreats

Bring your lunch and a cup, if possible. Tea and light snacks will be provided. Chairs and meditation cushions will be available. You might want to bring a shawl and extra cushions, if you use them. No dogs are allowed in the building except for service dogs. For questions, contact Sharon Rippner, srippner@msn.com.