David Loy Non-Residential Weekend Retreat

A New Buddhist Path: Enlightenment, Evolution, and Ethics in the Modern World
Money, Sex, War, Karma
The World is Made of Stories

You might also like to listen to a short interview here with David, where he talks about the interface of inner transformation through spiritual practice and a world in crisis.

We recommend attending both days but we do have space for those who are only able to attend either day separately.

DAY ONE Saturday 14 Jan at 9 for 9.30 am – 5 pm:
Awakening from the Illusion of our Separation
Our usual sense of self is haunted by a sense of lack: “something is wrong with me”… “I’m not good enough”. Why do we never have enough money, fame, sex, etc.? Because we try to fill up our sense of lack with them – but it doesn’t work. The sense of self needs to be deconstructed and reconstructed, which the Buddhist path (among some others) shows us how to do. The karma teaching is about reconstructing the self by transforming our motivations. Contemplative practices deconstruct the self, helping us to “let go” and realize our true nature.

DAY TWO Sunday 15 Jan at 9 for 9.30 am – 4 pm: 
Buddhism and the Ecological Challenge
The ecological crisis – which includes global warming but is much bigger than that – is the greatest challenge that humanity has ever faced. What does Buddhism offer, if anything, that can help us understand and respond appropriately? And what does ecological crisis mean for how we understand and practice Buddhism (or any spiritual path) today? Among other things, we will reflect together on the parallels between our perennial individual predicament (according to traditional Buddhism) and our collective predicament today in relation to the biosphere. What does this all imply about how we understand the bodhisattva path? What does it mean to be an “Ecosattva”?
READ HERE – David’s Article on Climate Change and Buddhism: A TALE of TWO ICEBERGS

Please bring your own packed vegetarian lunch each day. Teas and biscuits will be provided for tea time. Please also bring your own meditation bench/cushion and mat or blanket for comfort (no larger than an average zabuton due to space restrictions please) or let me know if you'd like to borrow a meditation bench or zenchair. There are plenty of upright chairs at the venue.

Cost: 

As the above rate does not include a teacher's fee, we will be collecting dana (donation) for David's teachings. Dana is a free-will offering of appreciation for the teachings received, as they are given freely in keeping with the classical Buddhist tradition. Please bring your dana offering in cash on the day. 

Payment timeline: 50% non-refundable deposit payable now and balance due by 13 January. 

Banking Details:
Account Name: Stillmind Retreats
Cheque Account: 62506345637
First National Bank, Rondebosch
Branch Code: 201509
Reference: Your name & LOY.  

Please send Proof of Payment to sue.stillmind@gmail.com

David Loy is from the U.S., a teacher in the Sanbo Zen tradition of Japanese Buddhism and a professor of Buddhist Studies. His articles appear regularly in journals such as Tricycle and Buddhadharma, and his latest book is A New Buddhist Path: Enlightenment, evolution and ethics in the modern world. David offers lectures, workshops and retreats nationally and internationally, focusing primarily on the encounter between Buddhism and modernity. He is especially concerned about social and ecological issues. David has taught before in South Africa, at UCT, and is looking forward to returning with his wife Linda. - Visit David's website.