Be in nature at our annual autumn retreat.
September 20th-22nd, 2024
at Sarana Springs near Chatsworth, ON
Contemplating Sky and Earth at Sarana Springs
At Sarana Springs, we gather each fall to renew ourselves and reconnect with our meditation practice. In the Zen tradition, this retreat time is called a "backward step." We step away from our daily routines and enter into silent sitting and reflection on our inner and outer lives.
In silent retreat, everything becomes part of our practice: the sky, the stories in our minds, and the natural world around us. Since the time of the Buddha, meditating in nature has been recommended. As we listen, the Earth is our witness. It is said that during Buddha's final moments of enlightenment, he called to the Earth and asked her to be his witness.
Remember that our mindfulness practice is about where we place our attention. This inner stability strengthens our conscious awareness of what we choose to focus on in each moment. It is how compassion arises. Do your thoughts and emotions lead to ease, caring, and peace, or to distress, impatience, and anxiety? What voices inside do you need to let go of that are no longer serving you? How do you connect with an inner space of acceptance supported by an open and loving presence?
Between our practice periods, we will explore Buddhist and Indigenous teachings that invite us to come home, both to our hearts and to our shared heart with the Earth. One Indigenous prayer states: As it is above, so it is below; Sky and Earth meet in our hearts. Our hearts and the heart of the Earth are One. In this way, we are always in a reciprocal relationship with all of Creation, and in each moment, there is an opportunity to return to a state of Oneness.
Please join us this fall for a nourishing weekend of community practice.
(Rev) Andrew Blake, Retreat Director
The Details
During this retreat, you will:
Experience daily seated and walking meditation practices
Explore compassion for yourself and others through guided contemplation
Deepen your listening skills in a semi-silent retreat environment
Enhance your connection with nature and integrate it into your daily awareness
If you are a beginner to meditation and mindfulness practice, we ask that you contact (Rev.) Andrew, our Retreat Director to discuss your practice and how this can be of best support to you.
Dates and Times:
September 20th-22nd, 2024
Arrival 5:30 pm on Friday
Departure 4:30 pm on Sunday
Location:
This retreat will take place in person at Sarana Springs near Chatsworth, ON. To see directions and learn more, see our page Visit Sarana Springs.
Pricing:
The registration fee is sliding scale, meaning you can contribute more to support if you are able to support our work and make this retreat accessible to all. It is not required, and all fees include the same amenities.
The registration fee includes catering. Accommodation fees are extra.
Base: $395
Supporter: $450
Patron: $495
Payment Arrangements/Financial Assistance: Don't hesitate to get in touch with us directly at info@saranainstitute.org if you want to discuss payment arrangements or financial constraints. We want you to attend the Autumn Retreat regardless of your financial situation.
Accommodations:
Camping options are available, and we have limited on-site accommodations in small cabins. Please contact us to reserve your spot. Accommodation fees are separate from the retreat cost.
Local Hotels, Inns, and B&Bs:
There are also some hotels, inns and B&Bs in Owen Sound and the surrounding area. If you are searching for accommodations on Airbnb, look for places closest to Holland Centre.
Danby House: https://www.danbyhouse.ca/
Two Sisters Inn: https://twosistersinn.com/
Travelodge Owen Sound: https://www.wyndhamhotels.com/en-ca/travelodge/
Quality Inn Owen Sound: https://www.choicehotels.com/ontario/owen-sound/quality-inn-hotels/cna74
Airbnb: https://www.airbnb.ca/
Meals:
We can accommodate most diets, food sensitivities, and allergies. Please inform us of your dietary requirements. Meals will be primarily vegtarian, with some protein options available.
Further Questions?
Contact us by email at info@saranainstitute.org.
About (Rev.) Andrew Blake, Retreat Director
(Rev.) Andrew’s path has guided him through a network of spiritual and healing traditions for over 50 years. These teachings, approaches, and mentors have nurtured both his own healing and awakening, helping him see life more clearly. They have also deeply informed what he has integrated and now brings back as teachings for his community.
As cofounder and program director at Sarana Institute, Andrew’s training and experiences in community life have matured through various programs he has created. These include the Mindfulness + Compassion Certificate Program for Healthcare, Palliative Care, and Caregiving Professionals; the Young Adult Nature Awareness (YANA) program, which supports the upcoming generation aged 18-35 with essential life skills and strategies; and other online programs that support individual meditation practices, including the Tuesday Night Meditation Sangha.
Beginning his spiritual practice and training in his teens, Andrew has studied, practiced, and trained extensively in numerous spiritual wisdom traditions and healing approaches that support both personal and collective transformation. His career began as a Registered Massage and Shiatsu Therapist, then as a Registered Psychotherapist, and later he graduated as a Buddhist Chaplain under the mentorship of his preceptor, Roshi Joan Halifax, PhD, at Upaya Institute in Santa Fe, NM. He often says, “I wear many hats.”
In his twenties, Andrew received rich spiritual training from his root teacher, Ven. Dhyani Ywahoo, the 27th generation holder of Tsalagi (Cherokee) wisdom teachings. Her school, Sunray Meditation Society, is rooted in both Indigenous and Tibetan Buddhist traditions.
Andrew took refuge first with His Holiness the Dalai Lama in 1980 and has since undergone lifelong Buddhist training, beginning in the Nyingma school of Tibetan Buddhism and continuing with many other lamas and teachers. He has consistently translated his experiences and Buddhist studies into teaching opportunities for his community.
Reflecting on his journey, Andrew says, “I’ve been teaching most of my life now, and meditation classes on Tuesday nights for over 40 years. The one thing I’ve learned is that one never truly knows; we are constantly discovering new ways of knowing that gradually transform our lived experiences, illuminate greater meaning and aliveness, and turn our suffering into greater ease of being and joy.”
Contact (Rev.) Andrew anytime at andrew@saranainstitute.org.
