Awareness in Christ Retreat: Mahamudra

Awareness in Christ Retreat is a series of meditative explorations into key aspects of deeper meditation in the context of micro-retreat. We will cover salient dimensions of jhana (lucid concentration), aruppa (immaterial absorption), vipassana (deep insight), mozhao-chan  默照禅 (silent illumination), huatou-chan 话头禅 (critical phrase), mahamudra (nature of awareness), and dzogchen (pristine awareness in essence and effulgence)—all luminously held in the presence and power of Christ.

We shift from meditation of the early Buddhist texts and the Chan/Zen tradition into the highest practices of Tibetan Buddhism. Today's retreat focuses on mahamudra (the great seal) that focuses on the nature of mind—luminous, aware, and empty. In terms of method, Mahamudra bears close resonance with both mozhao (默照 ) or silent iluumination and huatou (话头) or critical phrase. In terms of essence, Mahamudra is the innate awakened nature of who we are, that is none other than the buddha-nature or suchness articulated in Chan/Zen. "Nothing to gain, nothing to lose, nothing to prove, nothing to hide, nobody to be, nothing to do, nowhere to go" is one way of describing Mahamudra's ethos of free and bright spontaneity. The retreat is offered in two blocks: first from 9:00 to 11:00am SGT and second from 1:00 to 3:00pm SGT. Anyone is free to attend either the morning or afternoon block, or both.

In each retreat block, we begin with a guided meditation session with pointing-out instructions for about 45 minutes. This is followed by a 30 minute break where we can choose to continue sitting, do walking meditation, or have a restfully meditative break, each in our own locations. After that, we come together for co-presencing of awareness in loving silence, with or without guidance/pointing-out instructions. This is followed by Q&A and a time of sharing and discussion. A short affirmation and blessing will wrap up our time together.

All registrants for this retreat will receive a single Zoom link for both morning and afternoon blocks. Please indicate which retreat block you wish to attend, or if you wish to attend both blocks.