Dear friends,
Once again this winter, Blue Cliff Monastery will hold a Three-Month Peaceful Dwelling Retreat (Winter Retreat) for its monastic and lay residents. Traditionally, Buddhist monastics in Asia observe these three months during the rain season in the summer; hence its other name is the Rains Retreat. Monastics remain within the monastery boundaries, without having to travel outside, and devote their time and energy to the practice. This tradition dated back to the Buddha’s time and continues to this day in many Buddhist monastic communities all over the globe.
In the west in general and in New York in particular, thanks to our Teacher’s wisdom, the cold season in the winter time has been selected as a more suitable season for us to observe these three months; hence its name: the Winter Retreat. During this time, we enjoy devoting more time to cultivating our practice, deepening our mindfulness and concentration, broadening our understanding of the Dharma, and touching more deeply the present moment.
This year, our Winter Retreat will begin on Sunday, November 13th, 2022 and end on Sunday, February 12th, 2023.
If you wish to attend the retreat in its entirety and are a mindfulness practitioner, familiar with the practices of Blue Cliff Monastery and Plum Village, we invite you to come join the Winter Retreat with us. Please register for a Seasonal Retreat and arrange to arrive by Friday, November 11th to settle in and to be present for the Counting Stick ceremony, taking attendance, Saturday evening, November 12th. As with our residents, you are requested to remain within the monastery’s boundaries for the duration of the retreat except in emergency situations. This is so as to foster a more suitable environment for the collective mindfulness practice of the whole community. A retreat program will be available as we come nearer to the starting date.
Blue Cliff will remain open to welcome short-term guests, new as well as seasoned practitioners, who wish to come to join us for the practice. We will continue to receive Seasonal Retreat registrations for week-end, week-long, and extended stays. Day visitors are welcome to join us for our Day of Mindfulness on Thursdays and Sundays. Please check our website often for updates and changes.
If you are not able to attend in person, please stay in touch by visiting Blue Cliff Monastery youtube channel for weekly Dharma talks and other activities in order to continue to nourish your practice.
Thank you for your presence and practice. May you and your loved ones be healthy, peaceful and happy.
The Blue Cliff Community.