Saturday 11/4 10am-4pm, with a break for lunch
In these times, we are so busy, constantly rushing and trying to keep up, checking our phones and email, and we are becoming more and more distracted. We are less able to focus on the task at hand, which impairs our ability to do things well – our jobs, driving, listening, sports, and also spiritual practice. And our minds are more agitated, speedy, dissatisfied. Recent research has suggested that people spend as much as 50% of their days in mental distraction. In addition, a distracted mind is more prone to falling under the sway of disturbing emotions – depression, anger, obsession, fear, overwhelm – and a focused mind can lead to greater inner peace, joy and emotional balance. A concentrated mind is also needed to develop deep spiritual realizations.
In this daylong we will practice cultivating a focused and calm mind through shi-né (shamatha or calm abiding) practice as well as practices to open the heart and feel a greater sense of appreciation and caring for others, learning to cherish others more and more.
Benefits
• Learn how to develop inner peace and greater emotional balance with the methods of calm-abiding.
• Reconnect and find joy with your daily practice.
• Cultivate a greater sense of caring and interconnection with others.
This daylong is for all levels, for anyone who is interested in learning how to focus the mind and open the heart, as well as for people who want to deepen their existing shamatha practice.
at Diamond Light Meditation Center
2791 24th Street Room 14 (upstairs)
Sacramento CA 95818
parking lot in back, ADA accessible
suggested donation: $20-$60, no one turned away for lack of funds
to register: email diamondlight.sac@gmail.com
scholarships available, email for more information
donate at the door or online: http://
Emily Hsu is an FPMT registered teacher who graduated in 2004 from FPMT’s seven year Masters Program of Sutra and Tantra at Istituto Lama Tsong Khapa in Italy. In 2005 she completed a ten-month solitary retreat to integrate the material, and since that time has mainly been teaching and doing some retreat every year. She taught at Ocean of Compassion (Gyalwa Gyatso) Buddhist Center and other Bay Area centers for ten years, with the last four years as resident teacher until leaving in 2016 to do longer retreat.
Emily teaches Basic Program, Discovering Buddhism, introductory courses, meditation, and leads retreats, with particular emphasis on emptiness, bodhicitta, Lamrim, and calm abiding (shi-ne or shamatha) meditation.