Prices TBA.

Waking Up in Free Fall

Das weekend retreat introduces the view that certain turning points, or “bardos”, in our lives can be transformative if we know how to embrace fear with an open heart. It introduces Susan Gillis Chapman’sneubook, Which Way Is Up? (verfügbar Juni 4, 2024), which usesher journey through cancer treatment as an example ofthis kind of Bardo.

Wir may not have faced a cancer diagnosis, Aber we have allcollectivelyexperienced a free-fall during the Covid 19 pandemic, Wann normal life seemed to flip upside down.While our individual stories are unique, the felt experience of groundlessness is shared by us all. This retreatis an opportunity to be gently guided by Susan and her colleague, Elsa Commerse through the three kinds of fear that soften and awaken us when they are held with loving kindness.

Retreat Schedule

Friday August 2: 6:30 – 8 Uhr

Saturday August 3 & Sunday August 4: 10 Bin – 4 Uhr

RückzugLeaders

Susan Chapman

Susan Chapman has been on the Buddhist path since 1974, when she began studying with Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche. She has a BA in Philosophy and Literature from University of British Columbia and an MA in Buddhist and Western Psychology from Naropa University. She is a retired family therapist. Susan founded the Juneau Shambhala Center during her time living in Alaska and later spent nine yearsin retreat atGampo Abbey, under the mentorship of Pema Chodron.She returned to Vancouver in 2008 and currently lives in Burnaby, BC with her husband Jerry and cat, Schwindlig. Ihr erstes Buch, Die fünf Schlüssel zur achtsamen Kommunikation, was published in 2012.

Elesa Commerse

Elesa Commerse is the Co-Director of Touching Earth Mindfulness Learning Center, in Chicago. Her root teachers include her beloved mother, Evelyn Winslow, PemaChodron and the Ven. ThichNhat Hanh, with whom she studied for over thirty years. She created, “Finding Your Way,” the DVD/CD tool kit to help those newly diagnosed with breast cancer. To help yoga students learn Sanskrit chanting, she created “How Silent Is This Place,” a three volume CD and songbook set. With Dr. Barbara Meyer, she co-created the meditation card deck, “Befriending the Body, Befriending the Mind.” To help mayors across America, she directed and produced the documentary on the youth violence epidemic decimating Black boys and men, “All Rise: In Search of Hope.” Her basic meditation CD is, “Sit Comfortably.” She writes the meditation column forYoga Chicago magazine.Elesa is a graduate of the Temple of Kriya Yoga. She earned aBachelor’s degree in Psychology from Smith College and an MBA from The Wharton School.