Retreat Information

~ May all beings be free from suffering ~

Insight Meditation of Cleveland

Will be offering a

Weekend Vipassana Retreat

With Amita Schmidt

September 18 - 20, 2009

Insight Meditation of Cleveland will be sponsoring a 3-day Vipassana Meditation retreat at The Jesuit Retreat House in Parma, Ohio, over the weekend of September 18, 19 and 20, 2009. Vipassana (or insight) meditation is a simple practice of mindful awareness of our bodies, feelings, thoughts and consciousness. Through mindfulness, insights begin to arise naturally and we see more clearly how the mind works. As we see more clearly, the grasping qualities of the mind loosen their hold and we experience freedom from suffering. The retreat will be led by Amita Schmidt and will consist of alternating periods of sitting and walking meditation.

Amita Schmidt has been practicing Vipassana meditation for more than 20 years. She was the resident teacher from 2000-2006 at the Insight Meditation Society (Barre, MA). She is also the co-founder of Southwest Sangha, a self-retreat center and Buddhist community in southern New Mexico. She is the author of Dipa Ma: The Life and Legacy of a Buddhist Master (BlueBridge, May 2005) and a contributor to Buddha Laughing: A

Tricycle Book of Cartoons. She is a licensed clinical social worker who co-authored “Healing Trauma with Meditation” in Tricycle Magazine (Fall 2004). Amy is currently a student of Adyashanti, and due to the impact of his teachings on her practice, she includes inquiry and open awareness as part of her teaching. Amy is currently working on a new book entitled Radiance: Recognitions of True Nature. She has led several retreats in our area and spiritually supports our sangha. Her website is www.amitaschmidt.org.

The retreat will be silent. It begins on Friday evening and concludes after lunch on Sunday. Meals include supper on Friday; breakfast, lunch and supper on Saturday; breakfast and lunch on Sunday. Meals are vegetarian. Please bring a meditation cushion or bench if you have one available. A very limited supply will be available at the retreat.

This year we are offering three levels of registration fees:

- $165 – covers accommodations and meals at Jesuit Retreat House (JRH)

- $188 – covers JRH costs and helps cover Amita’s airfare

- $200 – covers JRH costs, helps cover Amita’s airfare, and helps with our scholarship fund

Due to the generosity of our sangha members, there is a scholarship fund available for part or all of your payment if needed. Just let us know when you register. Please do not let money deter your from attending the retreat. If you can afford it, please consider a donation to help with our scholarship funds.

The Buddha’s teachings are considered to be priceless, and are therefore offered freely. The registration fee does not cover any payment to the teacher. Meditation teachers in this tradition are able to continue their work only through voluntary donations of their students. This practice of dana (generosity) is an integral part of the retreat experience.

For more information, contact John at info@imcleveland.org. Please register by July 31, 2009.

RETREAT REGISTRATION FORM

Retreat Registration Form