Awareness in Christ Retreat: Silent Illumination

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), anuttara-yoga tantra (highest integral blissful wisdom), mahamudra (nature of awareness), and dzogchen (pristine awareness in essence and effulgence)—all luminously held in the presence and power of Christ.

Today's retreat focuses on mozhao (默照) or silent illumination. We shift from meditation of the early Buddhist texts into meditation of the Chan/Zen tradition, a lineage traceable according to traditional accounts to Maha Kasyapa, one of the chief disciples of the Buddha. Of the two main meditative approaches in Chan/Zen, silent illumination—a profound awareness practice orally transmitted in the Caodong school of Chinese Chan was later put into writing by Hongzhi Zhengjue 宏智正觉  (1091-1157 C.E.). Silent illumination evinces a free-flowing, open and clear awareness that shines brightly without noise or distraction on all that appears. This wonderful "method of no-method" can be seen as an advanced or subtle level of mindfulness practice where concentration and insight are seamlessly fused. 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.