Both our internal and external worlds are largely out of our control. This is obviously the case with the world around us. Nobody is asking us to sign off on what is going to happen next in the world, but this is true for what happens in our bodies and minds as well. The body grows old, becomes sick or injured, and dies without our consent, and we don’t choose what thoughts arise in the mind, or how we feel. We of course do have control over our speech and actions, and over what thoughts we allow to continue propagating in the mind, but both the internal and external worlds largely unfold as they will. Actually, when brought within the scope of our insight practice, this quality of uncontrollability is a doorway to the knowledge and understanding of anatta, or not-self. Our retreat will explore this. We will also discuss the pragmatics of how one can learn to be happy in an internal and external universe, that is for the most part uncontrollable, without abdicating the agency that we do have.
This short retreat is open to both beginners and experienced meditators. While it will be conducted mainly in silence, there will be brief instructions in vipassana meditation, a Dhamma talk, and a discussion period at the end.
Wenham CfMIM currently offers retreats once per month. We recommend and encourage participation in these monthly programs—the extended practice period, two-hours longer than our weekly classes, supports the mind in becoming stable and thus insight can arise more naturally.