“The Union of Shamatha and Vipashyana”

A community practice weekend, December 2-4, 2005 led by Acharya Michael Greenleaf

According to the Buddha, true meditation practice includes either cultivating mind's inherent stability (Shamatha), or arousing mind's capacity for insight (Vipashyana). Shamatha is said to be common to other traditions. Vipashyana is the practice of contemplative insight distinguishing the Buddhist tradition. The union of Shamatha and Vipashyana is said to be essential for overcoming the confusion of ego and discovering our awakened nature or basic goodness as human beings. In this workshop we will explore the practices of peaceful abiding and arousing insight. Questions to be addressed include: What is the nature of mind at rest and the distracted mind? What allows the mind to settle in its inherent stability and what are the obstacles to this? What are the modes of insight and how is insight aroused? What is joined when peaceful abiding and insight are in union? What is the role of a daily discipline, daily life and periodic retreats? The format includes talks, discussion, meditation, instruction as well as contemplative exercises. The workshop is open to anyone with an interest in deepening his or her practice and understanding of meditation.

Acharya (or “senior teacher”) Michael Greenleaf is a practitioner in the Shambhala Buddhist tradition and a student of Chogyam Trungpa Rinpoche and Sakyong Mipham Rinpoche. Acharya Greenleaf has been a faculty member for the Shambhala Vajrayana Seminaries since 1999. He is a member of the core faculty at Karme Choling Shambhala Buddhist Retreat Center. He has twice been a member of the residential staff at Karme Choling, in the 1970's and again in the 1990's with his wife Jeanine. He and Jeanine live in West Barnet, Vermont.

Schedule: Friday 12/2 7pm Talk (Open to all) Saturday, 12/3 9am-5pm Sunday, 12/4 9am- 4pm + reception