Date(s) - May 26, 2016 - June 1, 2016
All Day
Awareness, Compassion, and Wisdom:
Essential Teachings on the Joy of Living
Teachings by Yongey Mingyur Rinpoche
St John’s University, Collegeville, Minnesota, USA
Meditation enables us to discover a lasting contentment that is not subject to the fluctuating conditions of our lives, and to nurture the qualities of wisdom and compassion that naturally manifest from awareness itself. The Joy of Living is a secular path of meditation practice that was created by Yongey Mingyur Rinpoche. Though rooted in the ancient Buddhist teachings of Tibet, these practices are not religious in nature. They deal with basic functions of the mind, such as mindful awareness and the impulse to move toward happiness and away from suffering. In working with these qualities of mind, we gradually transform our relationship to present-moment experience, learning to approach our thoughts, feelings, and sensory experiences with unconditional warmth and acceptance.
This retreat offers a rare opportunity to practice the Joy of Living teachings under Mingyur Rinpoche’s direct guidance. Rinpoche will share practical advice on using meditation to cultivate awareness, compassion, and wisdom, sharing insights from his own experience and illuminating key points on meditation practice. He will also introduce new elements, including breathing practices and physical exercises, that he himself practiced during his extended retreat.
The daily schedule will include teachings from Mingyur Rinpoche and six to eight hours of meditation per day (practiced in twenty to thirty minute sessions). The retreat will also include periods of silence, group discussions, and opportunities to have individual interviews with Senior Tergar Lamas and Instructors.
This retreat is suitable for both novice and experienced meditators. It offers beginning meditators an opportunity to receive in-depth teachings on meditation practice from Mingyur Rinpoche and for experienced meditators to deepen their practice and understanding.
Mingyur Rinpoche is a rising star among the new generation of Tibetan Buddhist masters. With a rare ability to present the ancient wisdom of Tibet in a fresh, engaging manner, Rinpoche’s profound teachings and playful sense of humor have endeared him to students around the world. His first book, The Joy of Living: Unlocking the Secret and Science of Happiness, debuted on The New York Times bestseller list and has been translated into over twenty languages. Read more…
RETREAT DETAILS
Accommodations and Fee Structure
In order to attend the retreat, you will need to arrive no later than the opening day. It will not be possible to start your retreat later in the program. Full retreat fees are inclusive of room, meals, and teachings at St. John’s University. Commuter fees include meals and teachings at St. John’s University.
Although we have been able to secure a larger space for the events at St. John’s this year and expect to be able to accommodate more participants, in order to allow as many people as possible to take advantage of this opportunity, we are limiting registration to double rooms only at this time. We will collect names for a single-room waiting list in the event that single rooms become available. All bathrooms are shared (with separate bathrooms for male/female on each residence hall floor).
There are two levels to the fee structure, a base level and a sponsor level for people who can afford to support Tergar Meditation Community activities at a greater level. If your ability to pay makes it difficult to attend, please complete your registration and contact us by email to [email protected] or by phone at 1-612-460-8837.
Cost
Double Room Basic: $830
Double Room Sponsor: $985
Commuter Basic: $650
Commuter Sponsor: $805
Deposit
In order for your registration to be accepted, you must include a nonrefundable deposit of $250. The balance of your retreat fee will be due April 28, 2016. Tergar will be emailing invoices near the due date. The minimum deposit is the same regardless of what room, rate, or length of time you choose. If you prefer, you may include the full payment when you register.
Qualifications
There are no prerequisites for this retreat. For more information about the Joy of Living program, please visit the Joy of Living FAQ page.
Teacher Support
In an effort to keep the cost of this retreat as low as possible, we set the retreat rate such that it just covers the cost of room and board at the retreat and additional operating overheads. This includes a modest honorarium to Mingyur Rinpoche and attendant lamas. You will also have the opportunity to make a personal offering to support Tergar activities.
Cancellation Policy
The full $250 deposit is nonrefundable.
Arrival and Departure
Check-in will be from 3:00 pm to 6:00 pm on the opening day of the retreat, followed by dinner at 6:00 pm. The retreat will end by lunchtime on Wednesday, June 1, 2016.
Precepts and Silence
While attending this retreat all participants are expected to abide by the ethical precepts for lay practitioners. This includes abstinence from sexual activity. We will maintain periods of silence throughout this retreat, the length of which will vary so that there will be less silence in the beginning and end of the retreat and a period of complete silence in the middle.
Internet
While it is possible to access internet on campus (at the library and even in the dorm rooms), we ask that – in keeping with the spirit of an intensive meditation retreat — you minimize internet activity, limiting it altogether if possible.
Food
Three vegetarian meals will be served each day. While the kitchen at St. John’s University is not able to cater to special dietary needs, vegan protein and gluten-free options will be available.
Location
St. John’s University is situated about 80 miles northwest of Minneapolis, Minnesota, just off Interstate 94 in the town of Collegeville. The closest major airport is Minneapolis/St. Paul International (MSP).
Transportation To and From MSP
Executive Express provides a shuttle service from Minneapolis/St Paul airport (MSP) to St. John’s. They will pick you up from the airport and take you to the campus. They are offering a $10 discount each way for people attending the retreat. In order to make a booking online and receive the discount, go to this Executive Express link and make your reservation. The cost of a round trip is approximately $84.
As well, we have set up a Ride and Travel group in the Tergar Learning Community (TLC). Once you are a TLC member (membership is free), you can make a posting to request a ride, offer a ride, share accommodation information, etc.
Please note: You must be logged in to Tergar Learning Community to access the Ride and Travel group page. If you get an error message on TLC, please log in to TLC, then copy and paste the following URL into your browser window: https://learning.tergar.org/groups/rideshare-and-travel-info/
Please note, Tergar is not involved in organizing rides/travel for participants. The TLC page relies on participants to contact each other directly. We would appreciate it if locals would take the time to check the RideShare and Travel page to see if rides might be needed. Thank you.
PLEASE NOTE: If you are interested in and meet the qualifications for Exploring the Nature of Mind: Heart Advice on the Path of Awakening, taking place immediately after the Essential Teachings on the Joy of Living retreat, you must register separately for that event. Click here for more information.
Location
St. John's University, Collegeville MN, United States