Concentration is one of the 5 strengths of Buddhist practice (along with faith, energy, mindfulness and wisdom). How concentrated is your mind?

Join InsightLA Senior Teacher Melissa McKay for a non-residential weekend retreat devoted to developing concentration and thereby, a steady and peaceful mind.

A Steady, Peaceful Mind

Our minds aren’t naturally concentrated.  It takes intention and practice to develop concentration as a habit of mind.  Doing so brings great benefit to our efforts in the world.  When our attention is focused versus scattered our work is more effective, our creative capacity broadens and deepens, we listen better and feel more connected and at ease in our life.  

Concentration also benefits our spiritual development.  When the mind is concentrated, the negativity of the mind is held at bay, making us serene, tranquil, joyful, and able to see more clearly.  A concentrated mind is quiet, clear and luminous, ripe for blissful states of consciousness.

Who is this retreat for?

This non-residential retreat is for anyone who would like to work on developing concentration, tranquility, joy, and bliss. We will learn about the 40 different concentration objects that the Buddha taught.

Expect both sitting and walking meditation practices, dharma talks, and space for optional sharing and discussion. 

Participants are welcome to sign up for one or both days of this retreat. The schedule is as follows: 

Friday:
6-7:30pm  Introduction and Talk
7:30-7:45  Stretch
7:45-8:30 Meditation

Saturday and Sunday:
6-6:45am  Optional meditation at home
6:45-8    Breakfast at home
8:30-9:30   Guided meditation
9:30-10:15  Walking meditation
10:15-11    Sitting meditation
11-11:30  Walking meditation
11:30-1pm   Lunch and rest
1-2     Sitting meditation
2-2:45  Walking meditation 
2:45- 3:30  Sitting meditation
3:30- 4  Tea and optional talking
4-5   Questions and Discussion
5-9  Optional home practice on Saturday night

Time in retreat allows us to step out of the complexity of our life, to listen deeply to our body, heart and mind.

A retreat provides an opportunity and a caring container, deepening our meditation practice. The mindfulness practice on retreats is often accompanied and complemented by training in loving-kindness meditation.

Most of the retreat is held in silence, with periods of sitting and walking meditation There are teaching talks, guided meditations, and time for questions and answers. Three healthy vegetarian meals are provided for participants and dietary restrictions are accommodated to whenever possible.

Retreatants are encouraged to practice mindfulness in a continuous way, staying with their own present experience as it unfolds, moment to moment. In this silent and mindful environment, awareness sharpens, the body quiets, the mind clears, and space opens for insight and understanding to develop.

By cultivating the power of awareness, clarity and kindness, we discover our path to inner freedom and a peaceful heart for the benefit or our relationship to ourselves, our community and our wider world.

Dana/Generosity: Teacher compensation is not included in the registration fee. There will be an opportunity at the end of retreat to make a donation to the teachers. Thank you for your support! *note: as of June 2023, we will not be accepting cash. Credit cards and checks are accepted. 

Schedule:
Friday
3:00 pm – 5:00pm Arrive and Settle
5:30 pm – 6:30 pm Dinner
7:00 – 9:00 pm Opening Ceremony

Monday
11:00 am Retreat Ends

To see clearly is to see things as they are, absent of our judgments and stories. When we see clearly, we shed negativity and stress and live more freely.

Join Senior Teacher Melissa McKay for a non-residential weekend vipassana retreat. Cultivate tranquility and clear inner seeing by spending time in silence, alternating between periods of sitting and walking meditation.

About Vipassana

Vipassana is an ancient, transformative meditation technique. Through self-observation, deep insight arises. In Vipassana, we focus attention on the body and mind, observing sensations and the movement of energy as it arises, then dissipates again. 

Among the many benefits of Vipassana is the cultivation of inner peace and clarity. To see clearly is to see things, including ourselves, as they truly are.

Who is this retreat for?

This weekend retreat is for anyone who is ready to deepen their meditation practice and live with greater lucidity and therefore, ease.  

Suitable for all levels, this non-residential weekend experience is a good opportunity for those who would like to learn more about intensive retreat practice. 

To see clearly is to see things as they are, absent of our judgments and stories. When we see clearly, we shed negativity and stress and live more freely.

Join Senior Teacher Melissa McKay for a non-residential weekend vipassana retreat. Cultivate tranquility and clear inner seeing by spending time in silence, alternating between periods of sitting and walking meditation.

About Vipassana

Vipassana is an ancient, transformative meditation technique. Through self-observation, deep insight arises. In Vipassana, we focus attention on the body and mind, observing sensations and the movement of energy as it arises, then dissipates again. 

Among the many benefits of Vipassana is the cultivation of inner peace and clarity. To see clearly is to see things, including ourselves, as they truly are.

Who is this retreat for?

This weekend retreat is for anyone who is ready to deepen their meditation practice and live with greater lucidity and therefore, ease.  

Suitable for all levels, this non-residential weekend experience is a good opportunity for those who would like to learn more about intensive retreat practice. 

Where is this event located? 

This event will take place in-person at the Benedict Canyon Retreat House. Find directions, information on what to bring and more at the link. As a non-residential retreat, participants will return home Friday and Saturday evening.

Join me for two days of intensive Metta meditation practice.  The retreat will be held mostly in silence alternating between sitting and walking meditation.

In Buddhist practice, Metta is one of the four brahma viharas which means highest abodes or dwelling place.  What that means it is one of the most sublime dwelling places for our hearts and minds.  When it is present, it breaks down the walls of limited and negative thinking.  It helps us to overcome worry and fears, doubts and sorrows.  It brings clarity, serenity and confidence to our minds.  And it is a powerful healer of all that afflicts us both mentally and physically. 

Everyone is welcome, regardless of previous meditation experience.

The ancient Buddhist teaching of metta meditation is a training in discovering and harnessing this power of love.

Join Melissa McKay at the beautiful Benedict Canyon Retreat House for a non-residential, in-depth, two day exploration of this heart-based practice.  

A Two Day Metta Retreat

The suttas say that by practicing metta we familiarize ourselves with the quality of loving-kindness. We personally experience its effect as it expands our hearts and minds and helps us overcome our fears and self-doubt.

Further, we gain faith and trust in loving-kindness as a truly helpful and powerful force that can help heal others, too.  Metta liberates our own minds and. as the antidote for divisiveness and hatred, is the force we need to heal our society.

4 Wednesdays and 4 Thursdays in person in Bozeman.

Plus a daylong on September 30th with a zoom option for non locals. See website for details.

Concentration is one of the 5 strengths of Buddhist practice (along with faith, energy, mindfulness and wisdom). How concentrated is your mind?

On August 4th, join InsightLA Senior Teacher Melissa McKay for a non-residential weekend retreat devoted to developing concentration and thereby, a steady and peaceful mind.

A Steady, Peaceful Mind  

Our minds aren’t naturally concentrated.  It takes intention and practice to develop concentration as a habit of mind.  Doing so brings great benefit to our efforts in the world.  When our attention is focused versus scattered our work is more effective, our creative capacity broadens and deepens, we listen better and feel more connected and at ease in our life.  

Concentration also benefits our spiritual development.  When the mind is concentrated, the negativity of the mind is held at bay, making us serene, tranquil, joyful, and able to see more clearly.  A concentrated mind is quiet, clear and luminous, ripe for blissful states of consciousness.

To see clearly is to see things as they are, absent of our judgments and stories. When we see clearly, we shed negativity and stress and live more freely.

Join Senior Teacher Melissa McKay for a non-residential weekend vipassana retreat. Cultivate tranquility and clear inner seeing by spending time in silence, alternating between periods of sitting and walking meditation.

About Vipassana

Vipassana is an ancient, transformative meditation technique. Through self-observation, deep insight arises. In Vipassana, we focus attention on the body and mind, observing sensations and the movement of energy as it arises, then dissipates again. 

Among the many benefits of Vipassana is the cultivation of inner peace and clarity. To see clearly is to see things, including ourselves, as they truly are.

An open heart is a free heart. What would it feel like to move through the world free from negativity, ill-will, or habitual reactivity to your likes and dislikes? Join Senior Teacher Melissa McKay for a non-residential weekend metta retreat. Cultivate a more expansive heart, and free yourself from the resistance and aversion that causes us pain.  

What is Metta?

Metta is a Pali word which is often translated as loving kindness, benevolence, friendliness or goodwill. It is a powerful mindstate we can harness to free the mind of negativity for a life of greater happiness and ease. Metta meditation is a heart-opening form of meditation in which we send loving kindness to ourselves and others, typically in the form of a wish. 

Join Senior Teacher Melissa McKay for a 2-day plus 1-evening non-residential Vipassana retreat at the Benedict Canyon Retreat House. 

The weekend will be spent in silence with alternating periods of sitting and walking meditation to cultivate tranquility and clear inner seeing. When we see clearly we shed the negativity and stress of the mind and live more freely.  

This retreat is good for experienced students or beginners that want to learn about intensive retreat practice. You are welcome to participate from early morning until late evening on Saturday or you can opt for an early ending at 5:30pm. 

See schedule below:

Friday:
6-7pm  Introduction and Talk
7-7:45pm Walking meditation
7:45-8:30  Sitting meditation

Saturday:
6-6:45  Sitting meditation (at home – optional)
6:45-8  Breakfast (at home)
8:30-9:30am  Guided meditation at Benedict Canyon Retreat House
9:30-10:30 Walking meditation
10:30-11:30 Sitting meditation
11:30-12  Group questions and discussion
12-1:30pm  Lunch and resting
1:30-2:15 Sitting meditation
2:15-3:15 Walking meditation
3:15-4 Sitting meditation
4-4:30 Tea break
4:30-5:30 Dharma talk
5:30-8:30  Continue practice (optional)

Sunday:
6-6:45  Sitting meditation (at home optional)
6:45-8  Breakfast (at home)
8:30-9:30am  Guided meditation at Benedict Canyon Retreat House
9:30-10:30 Walking meditation
10:30-11:30 Sitting meditation
11:30-12  Group questions and discussion
12-1:30pm  Lunch and resting
1:30-2:15 Sitting meditation
2:15-3:15 Walking meditation
3:15-4 Sitting meditation
4-4:30 Tea break
4:30-5:30 Dharma talk and closing

Join InsightLA senior teacher Melissa McKay for two days of practicing Metta meditation. Metta means friendliness, benevolence or lovingkindness. It is called a liberating practice because when metta is there, it frees the mind from fear, worry, doubt, anger and annoyance and many other afflictive emotion.

It is possible to develop in any human heart and in this two day retreat, we will be doing just that. The benefits of metta practice are vast and the emphasis will be on practicing so that we can experience the many benefits for ourselves.
 

Concentration is one of the 5 strengths of Buddhist practice (along with faith, energy, mindfulness and wisdom).  Our minds aren’t naturally concentrated.  It takes intention and practice to develop concentration as a habit of mind.  Doing so brings great benefit to our efforts in the world:  when the attention is not scattered our work is more effective, we compete better, our creative capacity broadens and deepens, we listen better and feel more serene in our life.  

Concentration also brings benefits to our spiritual development.  When the mind is concentrated, the negativity of the mind is held at bay–making us serene, tranquil, joyful, and able to see more clearly.  When the mind is concentrated, it is quiet, clear and luminous and can lead to blissful states of consciousness.  

In this retreat we will work on developing concentration, tranquility, joy, and bliss and learn about the 40 different concentration objects that the Buddha taught.

You are welcome to sign up for one day or both days of this retreat.

The Buddha taught his followers that if they wanted something they should put in the causes to make that thing happen.  In the discourse on loving kindness he said, “Here’s what should be done by one who is skilled in goodness and who knows the path of peace….” He then followed with instructions for cultivating lovingkindness.  There is a path to war and there is a path to peace.  Which one will we follow? 

Metta practice helps us to follow the path of peace. It brings peace with in us and helps us to overcome stress and difficult emotions. And it helps us to make clear and wise actions in the world that lead to good things for ourselves and our communities.

Join us for a weekend retreat of loving kindness practice.  The retreat will be practice based alternating between sitting and walking meditation.  You have the option of joining for one day. 

Make your home your temple for this weekend vipassana retreat.  We will practice mindfulness in all activities and in formal sitting meditation and walking meditation periods.  

You are welcome to sign up for one day (Saturday) or both days of this retreat.

Schedule PT:
Saturday:
9am Welcome/ Opening meditation
10am Walking meditation
11am Sitting meditation
12pm Lunch/ home duties
2pm Sitting meditation
3pm Walking meditation
4pm Dharma Talk.
5pm optional continued practice for the evening

Sunday:
9am Guided sitting meditation
10am Walking meditation
11am Sitting meditation
12pm Lunch/ home duties
2pm Sitting meditation
3pm Walking meditation
4pm Dharma Talk.
5pm optional continued practice for the evening

The Buddha had a fine understanding of the human psyche.  He saw clearly what agitates and torments the minds of humans.  He said, “I teach one thing and one thing only, stress and the end of stress.”  And the whole of his path is for that purpose: alleviating or potentially eradicating stress.  

It is commonly understood that mindfulness and meditation practice alleviate stress and they surely do, but the lines aren’t always drawn between stress and other parts of Buddhist practice.  In this series, we will address the deeper causes of anxiety and stress in our minds and work with the tools of practice to live with less stress and anxiety.

Schedule 6-7:30pm PT:
April 4
April 11
April 18
April 25