silent awareness - april 8, 15, 22, 29 - 10 am pacific time
Retreat & Workshop Summary
“In total silence the mind comes upon the eternal.” J. Krishnamurti
There is a silence which predates time. It was there before we were born and will be there when we die. The Buddha called it “empty space, the home of the awakened mind.” In the Book of Acts, it is the silence in which “we live and move and have our being.” To the mystic, it is the voice of the eternal calling us home to our true self. This powerful and healing Presence has always been within us and around us, yet with rare exceptions, it goes unnoticed. Why? What stands in the way?
In this four-part series, we explore what prevents us from being aware of the awareness that radically changes everything we think we know about life and death. In the deepest sense, we are the awareness that is silent, but we have forgotten it. The question is, and always has been, can we learn to remember? What is required of us?
In each session, we look at ways we can be aware of the silence which transcends the ordinary mind. The bold aim of this program is to encounter the inner peace which sets us free.
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PAPERBACK AND AUDIO BOOK AVAILABLE IN MAY, 2021
A Zoom Gathering -- Learn More
Each Thursday morning is both a retreat and a practice workshop to bring more stillness into your life. To register, CLICK BELOW.
a new mind and heart - feb 20, mar 20, April 17, may 15
Retreat Summary
“The human crisis is so extraordinary, so intricate so subtle, that it urgently demands that we have a new mind and a new heart." J. Krishnamurti
If there was ever a time for a new mind and heart, it’s now. A harmonious and compassionate world is something we all long for, but what is required of us? We know the answer intellectually — we need a radical inner transformation. But the intellect is not going to transform us.
This monthly series explores what a new mind and heart point to, and together we’ll engage directly with this transformative possibility. We won’t merely discuss it; we’ll give it the fullness of our attention to see if we can learn to let go of the known. Each of our 90 minute explorations includes a presentation, intervals of meditative silence, music, body relaxation and time for open sharing in a supportive space of fellowship we co-create as a group.
Monthly Themes:
Breaking Free: An exploration of what Krishnamurti called the “old brain” and the “new brain.” Can we break out of the field of time?
Attention & Energy: A new mind and heart requires our sustained attention, and attention needs energy. Can we learn to let go and just attend to what is front of us, without wasting energy on anxiety and stress?
Authority & Fear: Our lives often seem stuck at the intersection of authority and fear. What are we afraid of? What tyrant lives rent-free in our head? In understanding how fear and authority constrain us, a new mind and heart can come into being.
The Crucible of Sorrow: The sorrow of humanity is our sorrow. At birth, we are the heirs to loss and grief. Understanding our collective and individual sorrow reveals our deep interconnectedness and can take us to the threshold of something entirely new.
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Each Saturday morning retreat is designed to help open us to new possibilities. And to make it accessible to everyone, it's on a donation basis. Join in! CLICK BELOW
The Silent teaching of a global crisis - DEC. 15, 2020
THE SILENT TEACHING OF A GLOBAL CRISIS - DECEMBER 15, 10AM - NOON - Zoom Webinar
This has been a year of profound change -- a year of loss and sorrow; division and disrespect, but also of resilience, renewal and optimism. So much has happened that many of us are in the midst of re-evaluating our lives and our priorities.
As this tumultuous year draws to a close, it seems to me that we are at the threshold of a great reckoning and a great awakening. To help bring more awareness to our inner passage through this global and individual crisis, I'll be facilitating a gathering via Zoom on December 15 from 10 AM to Noon, Pacific Time, hosted by Krotona.
Please join us for a sensitive exploration into the urgency for transformational change, sacred wholeness and healing at a time of upheaval and possibility.
One 2 Hour Session on Zoom - December 15, 2020 - 10 AM - Noon - Pacific Time
This program has ended.
Beauty & Sensitivity in a troubled world Nov. 20 -22, 2020
Beauty & Sensitivity in a Troubled World - 4 PM- 5:30 PM
When Krishnamurti spoke of beauty, he linked it to a heightened sensitivity, and to a quality of seeing which transcends the conditioned mind. He suggested that sensitivity is what makes the perception of beauty possible.
In a highly polarized world burdened by multiple crises on a scale we’ve not seen before, how do we approach living with sensitivity? Can we have an authentic relationship with beauty in such a world?
We'll be guided by various statements made by Krishnamurti about beauty and sensitivity.
For example:
- “Sensitivity is the highest form of intelligence. From this sensitivity for the whole of existence, springs goodness, love; and without this sensitivity there is no beauty.”
- “It is only in the renewal of that sensitivity that we can have understanding of what is true relationship.”
- “Beauty is only possible when there is silence.”
Our inquiry together will create an opportunity for open sharing with time for you to participate in the fullness of our mutual attention and listening. Each session will include a talk, along with images, music, and moments of meditative stillness.
Three Sessions via Zoom - Nov. 20 -22, 2020 - Fri - Sun - 4 PM - 5:30 PM
Pacific Time.
Excerpt from Krishnamurti's Notebook:
“A curious thing is happening; there is a heightening of sensitivity;
Sensitivity, not only to beauty, but also to all other things.
The blade of grass was astonishingly green;
that one blade of grass contained the whole spectrum of color;
it was intense, dazzling and such a small thing, so easy to destroy.”
This program has ended.
words of encouragement during the covid19 pandemic
TOGETHER IN TROUBLED TIMES
Hello Dear Friends,
The world has radically changed over the past year. Many of us feel a sense of personal and collective loss about the state of the world. Upheaval and conflict are on the rise, and our lives have been greatly disrupted by the pandemic of Covid19. We don't know when, or even if, we can return to the life we once took for granted. We are sharing in a global experience and learning how interdependent we truly are.
A health and economic crisis like this is bound to stimulate a lot of fearful thinking. Thoughts, in the form of questions arise, such as: What will happen to me? Will I get sick? Will my loved ones get sick? Will I be able to get medical help? What about my job or business – will it be there for me when this is over? When you are aware of what you are thinking and feeling, you may notice that the anxiety you feel is coming from within yourself, as a response to your thoughts and to what you see on television or the Internet. It’s okay, it’s happening to all of us. But we don’t have to let it overwhelm us.
Please listen to the audio I put together for suggestions that can help you relax and let go of anxiety and fear. Just click on the audio link above. It's about 2 minutes long.
Covid19 Pandemic
Please send your prayers and good wishes to the doctors, nurses and all the health care providers whose courage and compassion have been so inspiring. And let's not forget all the essential workers on the job even during a lock down. They all deserve our gratitude and respect.
Archived Reteats & Workshops
Mayn2020 - Krishnamurti Educational Centre of Canada.
Silence: Our Wisdom Teacher A Meditative Inquiry April 2020 Ojai
Silence: Our Wisdom Teacher A Meditative Inquiry April 2020 Ojai
An exploration into interior silence, and what it teaches us about ourselves, our relationships with others, and the natural world. Our retreat includes a mixture of speech, deep listening, sacred music, body relaxation, communion with nature, and periods of group silence.
"It is only in alert silence that truth can be." J .Krishnamurti
Silence: Our Wisdom Teacher A Meditative Inquiry April 2020 Ojai
Silence: Our Wisdom Teacher A Meditative Inquiry April 2020 Ojai
Silence: Our Wisdom Teacher A Meditative Inquiry April 2020 Ojai
What is our relationship with silence? Can we approach silence as a great work of art that brings us closer to what the Buddha called “the other shore,” and what the Christ referred to as the “kingdom of heaven?” Join for a deep dive into the awareness that is timeless.
"We need silence just as much as we need air." Thich Nhat Hanh
Weekend Retreat at Krotona in Ojai, CA - Oct. 2019
Silence: Our Wisdom Teacher A Meditative Inquiry April 2020 Ojai
Weekend Retreat at Krotona in Ojai, CA - Oct. 2019
In stillness we are free of conflict and confusion. When we become still, new possibilities appear that reduce stress and strengthen us from within. This retreat is an entry point into the way of stillness. Join us for a day of relaxation and quietude in a beautiful natural setting at Krotona in Ojai.
BREAKING FREE - FOUR DAY WORKSHOP - Oct. 2019
Four Winds Gallery, Santa Barbara, CA. May 2019
Weekend Retreat at Krotona in Ojai, CA - Oct. 2019
The great wisdom teachings of the world share one fundamental principle – the call to awaken to inner freedom. While this “waking-up” can happen in a timeless flash of insight, it seldom lasts long.
Awakening is both instantaneous and at the same time a process. This workshop and retreat explores a deeper dimension of being.
At Krotona in Ojai.
Four Winds Gallery, Santa Barbara, CA. May 2019
Four Winds Gallery, Santa Barbara, CA. May 2019
Four Winds Gallery, Santa Barbara, CA. May 2019
This program will explore the existential question: Who Am I? It the most fundamental of all questions -- it is central to understanding of our purpose in life. Our exploration will include the views of Ramana Maharshi, J. Krishnamurti and GI Gurdjieff.
Seating is limited.
RENEWAL: Weekend Retreat April 2019
Four Winds Gallery, Santa Barbara, CA. May 2019
Four Winds Gallery, Santa Barbara, CA. May 2019
Spring is a time of renewal. Flowers bloom with vibrant color, birdsong fills the air, and all of nature is alive with new energy and beauty. But does this renewal happen within us? Are we renewing our energy, vitality, and creativity? Join us in a supportive and quiet atmosphere where inner tranquility is lovingly welcomed like an old friend.
Lunch is provided.
April 16 - 19, 2019 - 10 AM - Noon
A Wisdom Teaching from the Ancient World to Ours
The Sermon on the Mount was radical and revolutionary in its time because it challenged religious and secular authorities with a call for mercy, compassion, freedom from oppression, and spiritual unfoldment without the burden of dogma or the abuse of power.
The main focus of this workshop will be on deeper insights into the eight Beatitudes, arguably the most beautiful, elusive and compelling portion of the Sermon. We'll explore the spiritual and ethical values they convey to our violent world. Most importantly, we will have an exchange about the inner transformation that the Christ consciousness points to beyond dogma.
Also included in this series is a discussion of the Aramaic Jesus, or Yeshua, the Aramaic name for Jesus.. Aramaic is the language Jesus spoke.
Dates: April 16 -19, 2019
ARCHIVED Workshops & Retreats 2018 and 2017
Silence & Freedom
The Ocean of Stillness One Day Silent Retreat
Krishnamurti on Nature
What is inner freedom? Why is it so elusive? How does a silent mind bring us closer to what is beautiful and true? Our guides in this inquiry will be The Voice of the Silence by HP Blavatsky and Freedom from the Known by J. Krishnamurti. Our aim is to encounter the inner silence which ends conflict and opens us to wonder
October 23 - 26, 2018
Workshops & Retreats
Krishnamurti on Nature
The Ocean of Stillness One Day Silent Retreat
Krishnamurti on Nature
Krishnamurti wrote with great sensitivity about the beauty and wonders of nature. His observations of the natural world convey, perhaps better than anything else, his teaching about attention, inner freedom and the art of living. This program explores Krishnamurti’s profound kinship with nature, and what we can learn from his insights.
April 17 - 20, 2018
Workshops & Retreats
The Ocean of Stillness One Day Silent Retreat
The Ocean of Stillness One Day Silent Retreat
The Ocean of Stillness One Day Silent Retreat
Inner silence is often imagined as an ocean; vast, deep, powerful and unknown. When the mind is silent, life has exquisite beauty, balance and equilibrium.
In the ocean of silence, there are no deadlines and no stress. To still the mind and relax in a supportive environment is the aim of this retreat.
Saturday, October 29, 2018 Workshops & Retreats
Freedom & The Search for Meaning
Freedom & The Search for Meaning
The Ocean of Stillness One Day Silent Retreat
The quest for meaning and a longing for freedom are fundamental questions of human existence. What does it mean to be free? Is it possible to be free of seeking? Our intention will be to delve deeply into these perennial questions.
Workshops & Retreats
Weekend Retreat
Freedom & The Search for Meaning
Loving the Earth
Sages from every tradition tell us that peace has to come from within before it can flourish in our lives and in the world. With stillness, deep listening and communion with nature, we'll relax and explore the stability and comfort of inner peace.
Workshops & Retreats
Loving the Earth
Freedom & The Search for Meaning
Loving the Earth
Join us for a tribute to the Earth. We’ll explore explore the beauty of the Earth; its sacred places, and discuss how a loving response to the natural world contributes to our well-being, and bring us closes to wholeness and peace.
A few archived workshops & retreats 2015 - 2017
Hearts of Fire
The Power of Gratitude Weekend Retreat
The Power of Gratitude Weekend Retreat
Three remarkable women; three remarkable stories about the search for the meaning of existence. Mary Magdalene, “the Apostle to the Apostles;" Sufi mystic, Rabi’a al-Adawiyya, and Yeshe Tsogyal, a Tibetan yogini who helped bring Buddhism to Tibet. They left a spiritual legacy which helps illuminate our own search for inner freedom. spiritual awakening
The Power of Gratitude Weekend Retreat
The Power of Gratitude Weekend Retreat
The Power of Gratitude Weekend Retreat
Feeling and expressing Gratitude is powerful and life-affirming. Gratitude widens our horizons and lifts of our spirits.
What might our lives be like if we lived every day as a “thank-you?”
Workshops & Retreats
A Poet, a Nun and a Yogi
The Power of Gratitude Weekend Retreat
A Poet, a Nun and a Yogi
What can the lives and work of three famous seekers of wisdom tell us about ourselves?
Dante Alighieri, Teresa of Avila, and the Tibetan saint Milarepa each had a deep connection with a larger vision of life.
Workshops & Retreats
Warriors of Light
Warriors of Light
A Poet, a Nun and a Yogi
Hildegard of Bingen and Julian of Norwich were spiritual visionaries. They offered wisdom to a fragmented and chaotic world that was quite similar to our own. They spoke of a divine unity that connects us to one another and to all of creation. We’ll explore what these two women can teach us, and how we can benefit from listening to them.
Workshops & Retreats
Can War Ever End?
Warriors of Light
Can War Ever End?
Can the cycle of war ever come to an end? Why is there perpetual conflict throughout the world?
Join us for a discussion about the causes of conflict that lead to war, and what,
if anything, can be done to prevent it.
Proceeds will be donated to Save the Children.
At the Ojai Retreat
Ojai, CA workshops & retreats
A Still Mind
Warriors of Light
Can War Ever End?
The stress and turbulence of daily life can be overwhelming. We long for a place to retreat and feel refreshed by a sense of beauty and inner quiet. But where is that quiet space we need?
We'll explore a practice of quietude inspired by the wisdom of Ramana Maharshi and J. Krishnamurti.
Workshops & Retreats