Ecotherapy Vision Quest (with 1000-armed Chenrezi Wongkur)
Retreat with Lama Linda (Linda Hochstetler)
July 4-7, 2024
Dharma Centre of Canada
Ecotherapy Vision Quests offer participants an opportunity to push the boundaries of what they think they can do, but from within a Western context. This event will include opportunities to participate in a 36 hour fast, combined with ritual ceremonies involving nature and the elements. The purpose is to contact the inner voice of awakening and spirituality and to listen to its wisdom to benefit your life. The fasting component also includes individual meditation and solitude. Journalling and artwork during this time is encouraged.
This retreat will kick off with a Wongkur celebration, a ceremony centred on the Buddhist archetype of 1000-armed Chenrezi and will involve chanting, visualising and a 7-chakra stimulation. Previous experience with Buddhist archetypes is not required.
Teacher: Lama Linda (Linda Hochstetler) has studied both Vajrayana Buddhism and Mindfulness Meditation for more than a quarter century. She studied Vajrayana Buddhism under Namgyal Rinpoche (the first Canadian-born Rinpoche) from 1995 until his death in 2003 and trained in mindfulness meditation with Jon Kabat-Zinn in the 90s. She has received permission to teach in the Namgyal lineage and currently studies Vajrayana Buddhism with Qapel (Doug Duncan) of Clear Sky Meditation Centre. She is a registered social worker with a specialty in illness, dying and death, and also offers Ecotherapy to individuals and groups as a way of connecting spiritually with nature. In 2021 she authored her first book - 21 Days to Die: The Canadian Guide to End of Life. www.lindahochstetler.com.
Important Details
When: Please plan to arrive between 3-5pm on the first day. The retreat will begin with a property orientation at 5:30pm followed by a light supper and the first evening class and will finish after lunch on the final day.
Rate: $444- non-members $405- members (with $30 going to Awakened in Toronto-AIT)
(To find out how to become a member please visit our membership page)
Rates include: Single accommodation and all meals. They do not include instructor fees. The teacher is sharing his/her experience within the traditional Buddhist understanding of Dana. To understand more about Dana, please read the following:
What is Dana? Teachers give the teachings of awakening (Dharma) freely so that anyone, no matter their financial means can attend classes. Each time one receives teachings, it is an opportunity to consciously practice generosity. Giving money and other means of support expresses gratitude and support to the teacher and helps to ensure that these teachings continue. Each person receiving Dharma teachings determines the kind and amount of Dāna according to one’s heart and one’s financial means. When deciding how much to offer, one should think about what these teachings mean to you and try to give accordingly. It is recommended that students make an offering of dāna at the beginning of a class or retreat to establish the intention to make the most of this opportunity for one’s own progression and for the benefit of all others.
Deposit: A 50% deposit is required to hold your space upon registration.
Cancellation policy:
All cancellation are subject to a fee of $100. These funds will support other low income practitioner (Practitioner Support Fund).
Loss of 50% of deposit if cancel within 14 days ( = 25% of the retreat cost) – Funds to go into the Renewal Project (Buildings Renewal Fund)