Cultivating True Love in the Presence of Suffering
You are invited to join us online for the retreat for OI members and formal aspirants, from Thursday, June 24 to Sunday, June 27 with the theme Cultivating True Love in the Presence of Suffering.
The OI Retreat this year is being hosted by Blue Cliff Monastery in collaboration with Deer Park Monastery and Magnolia Grove Monastery.
Our beloved teacher, Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh, teaches us that when we practice true love, we awaken to the understanding that our suffering is interconnected with the suffering of others. If we cut ourselves off from the reality of suffering, whether our own or that of others, we cannot have compassion. True love invites us to move beyond contemplation in the presence of suffering to compassionate involvement. Just as our Trainings invite us to be aware of suffering, we acknowledge the suffering of these past months for so many: Covid, unprovoked police shootings of BIPOC people, climate change, political polarization, social and economic injustices, growing threats to the rights of members of the LGBTQIA+ community. We practice to see clearly our own suffering in the moment, so that we do not compound suffering in ourselves or in those whom we aspire to serve. Practicing true love in this way, we have compassion and understanding to act to alleviate the causes of suffering and to cultivate joy and peace in ourselves and others.
In this retreat, lay and monastic Order of Interbeing members and aspirants will come together to deepen our understanding of and connection with one another in our suffering, honor our lineage, celebrate our diversity, and share the teachings and practices that support us as together we practice true love and build Beloved Community.
The times invite us to pause, look deeply, and transform the causes of suffering within ourselves, within others, and within our society. Hearing the teachings from diverse voices, we will look deeply at the intersection of mindfulness practice and cultural and individual trauma, and develop our capacities to alleviate suffering in ourselves and in our communities.
Exclusive Dharma talks and other retreat programs to be co-offered by senior monastic and lay Teachers
LIVE - Thursday evening, 7: 30-9:00 PM EST
Title: Embracing and healing the suffering within ~ the path to peace and joy
Co-offered by Br. Phap Dung (Br. Dharma Embrace) and Jo-Ann Rosen
Description: The recognition and transformation of suffering is at the core of our practice. Peace and joy arise naturally as we heal our inner suffering. While simple to state, it is often not easy to do. In recent years, many practitioners have expanded their awareness of suffering to include the continuing impact of individual, collective & generational trauma on our nervous systems. This emerging awareness can help us identify unhealed trauma and adopt practices that will enable us to look deeply and not turn away.
Brother Pháp Dung
(Br. Dharma Embrace)
Jo-Ann Rosen
LIVE - Friday morning, 11:30 AM-1 PM EST
Title: Understanding and alleviating the suffering of others
Co-offered by Sr. Dang Nghiem (Sr. D) and Kaira Jewel
Description: Thay writes in The Heart of the Buddha’s Teaching: “Without understanding, our actions might cause others to suffer. We may be motivated by the desire to make others happy, but if we do not have understanding, the more we do, the more trouble we may create.” During this session the presenters will explore some of the causes and conditions that enable us to truly offer compassionate presence to those who are suffering, and also the causes and conditions that despite our good intentions result in compounding the suffering in those we wish to serve. Particularly relevant at this moment are the many ways our unconscious socialization and biases lead us to be ignorant of or misunderstand the lived experience of members of other racial and ethnic groups, and thereby create suffering, separation and resentment. Understanding can grow only when we have looked deeply into our own suffering and biases and also, through deep listening, are able to more fully comprehend the suffering of others.
Sister Đẳng Nghiêm (Sr. D)
Kaira Jewel
LIVE - Saturday morning, 11:30 AM-1 PM EST
Title: Cultivating the true love that leads to compassionate involvement ~ embracing and healing the suffering in society
Co-offered by Sr. Chan Duc ( Sr. Annabel) and Larry Ward
Description: The 10th Mindfulness Training is clear: “as members of a spiritual community, we should take a clear stand against oppression and injustice.” Thay’s life and the early history of the Order of Interbeing exemplify that when we only focus on being happy and comfortable, and do not address the root causes of great suffering, we are not embodying our Bodhisattva vows. During this session, presenters will clarify how Thay’s teachings on Engaged Buddhism can guide monastic and lay practitioners in their efforts to live mindfully and joyfully and, also, alleviate the societal suffering resulting from racism, social injustice, environmental destruction, sexual and gender- based violence, and other causes.
Sister Chân Đức
(Sr. Annabel or Sr. True Virtue)
Larry Ward
LIVE - Sunday morning, 1:30 AM-1 PM EST
short presentations and a Question and Answer
Q & A Panel: Sr. The Nghiem (Sr. True Vow), Br. Phap Luu (Br. Stream), Marisela Gomez and Brian Kimmel (BK)
Title: Manifesting our Bodhisattva aspirations ~ responding to the cries of our challenging times
Description: We will hear from a panel of practitioners who are involved in anti-racism, climate change, and other streams of socially engaged activism. This work has an understandable quality of urgency to it and that sense of urgency can easily throw us off balance and activate our nervous systems. Panelists will share about the practices they use to reduce stress and nourish equanimity. Following the presentations, there will be an opportunity to ask questions and explore the ways that socially engaged practice may look different for each of us.
Sister Thệ Nghiêm (Sr. True Vow)
Br Pháp Lưu
(Br. Dharma Stream)
Marisela Gomez
Brian Kimmel (BK)
The baseline cost of the retreat is $120. As we wish to make this retreat accessible to everyone, no one will be turned away for lack of funds. Retreat schedules for each time zone.
We want to encourage you to create a space for yourself in this retreat. Please consider what you most enjoy about coming to a monastery and try to recreate it, as best you can, in your home or somewhere else. Whether participating in an in-person or an online retreat, it is helpful when we maintain the energies of mindfulness and concentration. When we do this, we ourselves and many others will be more deeply nourished during our time together.