The Fullness of Being

Note: The Fullness of Being retreat is open to everyone and also fulfills the 5-day retreat prerequisite for aspiring MBSR Teachers or as professional development for experienced mindfulness teachers (if in doubt, please check with your training organization). What is “fullness of being”? “Fullness of being” refers to living life authentically, able and content to be fully who we are. One way to discover and experience such fullness of being is through the path of mindfulness meditation—a path that strengthens our human capacities for openness, deep caring, resilience, insight, and more. The practice of silent meditation has been encouraged throughout time in many contemplative traditions as a way to reconnect us with our unconditional confidence, natural wakefulness, and inherent goodness. Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction The Fullness of Being program is based on the work of Jon Kabat-Zinn, professor of medicine at the University of Massachusetts Medical Center. He developed the Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) programs. These are evidence-based, 8-week courses, created in 1979 and are now offered throughout the world. The aim of MBSR is to explore the practice of mindfulness as a universal approach to meeting human suffering. This includes the suffering that results from losing touch with our innate capacity to be fully who we are with wisdom and good heart. The Fullness of Being retreat is offered in the tradition of Jon Kabat-Zinn’s MBSR program and will emphasize the direct experience of mind, body, and heart, while also honoring the contemplative roots of mindfulness meditation. Silent Retreat Overview The leaders of this silent retreat, along with the community of retreatants, will co-create a space of both structure and ease. To support our collective intention to show up in the world and be fully human and uniquely who we are, retreat leaders will offer meditation instruction and talks related to mindfulness, all held in a respectful container of noble silence. New & Experienced Mindfulness Practitioners Meeting ourselves and each other in retreat can be both challenging and rewarding. Prior mindfulness meditation experience can be helpful when engaging extended periods of meditation in retreat. However, The Fullness of Being retreat is also open to new mindfulness meditators willing to commit to the retreat’s program. Retreat Co-leaders Led by Janet Solyntjes and Rebecca Eldridge—both practitioners in the tradition of Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche and MBSR Teacher Trainers from the original UMass Medical School’s Center for Mindfulness (CFM). (see bios below) Program Details The daily schedule will integrate periods of formal practice (such as sitting and moving) and informal practice (such as eating), all held within the container of noble silence. The retreat leaders will offer mindfulness meditation instruction and guidance, and talks to illuminate the foundational principles of mindfulness for cultivating a stable, clear, and open sense of being. Participants will have an opportunity to meet once with a retreat leader in a small group setting to discuss their retreat and practice experience, and there may also be a need to meet individually with a retreat leader. Sample Daily Schedule: 7:00 am - Program Session 8:00 am - Breakfast 9:00 am - Program Session 12:00 pm - Break 12:30 pm - Lunch 1:30 pm - Open Time 3:00 pm - Program Session 4:00 pm - Tea Break 4:30 pm - Program Session 6:00 pm - Break 6:30 pm - Dinner 7:00 pm - Program Session 8:00pm - End of day Program Goals Provide a safe, nourishing environment for cultivating a deep and grounded mindfulness meditation practice. Foster a rigorous retreat experience accessible for all retreatants. Offer excellent support and guidance from highly trained, experienced meditation teachers. Practice noble silence to develop a strong container for deepening meditation practice. Attendance Requirement: Participate in all practice sessions and a small group check-in about retreat and practice Attitudes to Cultivate Non-judging Patience Beginner’s mind Trust Non-striving Acceptance Letting Be Generosity Gratitude Self-compassion and Kindness Arrival & Departure Friday, please arrive 3:00 - 6:00pm for registration. Dinner will be served at 6:30pm. The program will officially begin at 7:30pm. On Wednesday, the program will finish by 12:30pm with lunch afterwards. Getting Here Visit our Directions and Transportation page to see different options for traveling to Karmê Chöling.