Fall Dharma newsletter for Anushka
Wishing you well over the waves…..
Hello dharma friends. This is the first newsletter I am sending out using this platform, so greetings. For those who have recently joined, this is a periodic email about Dharma, current events, and retreats I am teaching.
1. Olympics and Equanimity
Perhaps you caught some of the Paris Olympics this past month. Being a longtime sports fan, I was happy to get to see some of it, including the renewed success of the US Women’s National Soccer team. One thing that struck me in watching the medal ceremonies was the relative reactions of the teams who won Gold (elated), Silver (sad they just lost the gold medal) and Bronze (happy they got a medal at all and used to the idea they were not getting gold). Being a sports fan puts you on a similar roller coaster of emotions! Here’s a talk I gave some time ago about the Dhamma of Sports.
2. September Retreat: What the Buddha Taught
I am teaching an insight meditation retreat at Spirit Rock (“What the Buddha Taught”) that still has some spots left September 26-30. The all South Asian teaching team (Gullu Singh, Neesha Patel) will share practices and stories from the time of the Buddha, making these teachings relevant for modern times. Open to all people of all experience levels, Spirit Rock is offering several “bring a friend” discounts that you can see on the webpage. The retreat starts on a Thursday afternoon and ends on a Monday morning so you won’t have to take too many vacation days to do the whole retreat. Join us!
3. October Retreat: Three Views for Freedom
In October I will be at Big Bear Retreat Center in southern California teaching a retreat for San Diego Insight on the Three Characteristics. October 26-30 in Southern California. Big Bear is in the mountains nestled in a beautiful forest area. You can find details here.
4. October Retreat: Honolulu Weekend
I am teaching a weekend nonresidential retreat for Vipassana Hawaii October 12-13, and also giving a public talk Wed October 9th. Since it is nonresidential I imagine it will mostly be suitable for those in Hawaii to attend. The theme is “Developing Dharma Wisdom While Living Wholeheartedly and Joyfully”. Something we may need as the US election approaches!
4. Election action
A common misunderstanding is that Dharma practice means that you are supposed to sit and observe what is happening in the world without taking action. Not so! It is helpful to take compassionate action in the world (in addition to your sitting practice) to move things in the direction of justice and goodwill. This upcoming US election is an important one with critical civil rights at stake. I strongly encourage you to get involved in local, state-wide and national political races for candidates that you can support. I have been involved in the past with the groups like Seed the Vote, They See Blue (South Asians mobilizing for democracy) and the Green Party, and have knocked on doors for local candidates in San Francisco races. Find a group or candidate you can support and get involved this fall!
5. March Monthlong at Spirit Rock
I am also teaching a monthlong retreat in the spring in 2025 and 2026 for those who are considering diving in for a longer period. This requires an application and has a prerequisite of at least 14 nights of silent residential retreat time, including a minimum of two silent residential retreats with each of these six nights or longer. In case you want to plan ahead to meet these requisites!
6. Calendar for 2025
Here is the rest of my current calendar for 2025 Retreats. More info and links when available at www.anushkaf.org
June 6-8 Vancouver Insight Meditation Weekend, BCIMS
June 12-16 Vancouver LGBTQI+ Retreat, w Shelly Graf BCIMS
July 9-18, 18-27 Metta Retreat & Insight Meditation Retreat, w Tempel Smith. John Martin, Bonnie Duran, Kristina Bare Spirit Rock, CA
Aug 11-16 Body as Nature, Body in Nature Retreat, w Dawn Scott, Jozen Tamori Gibson, Spirit Rock, CA
Aug 29-Aug 31 Labor Day Retreat, w Pascal Auclair, IMS, MA
Sept 1-7 LGBTQ Retreat, w Pascal Auclair, IMS, MA
Sept 12-18 Gaia House UK CDL Program (by application) w Zohar Lavie, River Wolton
Nov 1-7 LGBTQI+ Retreat, w John Martin, Victoria Cary, Spirit Rock, CA