ANNOUNCING A: Four Month Abhidhamma/Insight Retreat, Galiano Island, BC

In response to our requests for another long retreat and a deep study of Abhidhamma, Lama Mark has proposed a four month retreat on Galiano Island, September 18, 2010-January 15, 2011. Sponsored by Crystal Mountain Society.

The Abhidhamma(Pali for “Higher Laws” or “Higher Phenomena”) is one of the three-baskets (collections) of the Buddha’s teachings. In the Theravadin tradition it is considered to be the pinnacle of the Buddha’s teachings. It is a deep study via meditative analysis of mind and form, states, meditative concentration, realms of being, mental processes, cognition and stages of liberation; all from the perspective of the Buddha’s meditative insight. Abhidhamma studies combined with meditation are essential for better understanding the whole of Buddhist Teachings, especially the progressive unfoldment through meditative concentration and insight knowledge.

The Course/Retreat Plan is to have approximately three-months of Abhidhamma teachings, study and short meditation retreats, followed by 3-4 weeks of deep retreat on these profound teachings of Insight. Lama Mark stated that he will give the entire transmission of the text, the Abhidhammathasangaha, with some teachings from the Abhidhammakosa interspersed with modern cognitive, neuroscience, life sciences, ecology, physics/chemistry and space science perspectives. Be prepared to translate, study, investigate together, do lab explorations and meditate! The emphasis of this program will be on combining intellectual rigour with insight meditation in the tradition of Abhidhamma as Lama Mark received it from the Venerable Namgyal Rinpoche.

The empowerment of Sarasvati will be given on October 16th.

Crystal Mountain Retreat and Study CentreGaliano Island, BC, Canada