Earth in Mind
4 day silent retreat With Rupert Marques and Robyn Gibson
15 – 19 November 2019
About the Retreat
We live in a time where the marriage of outer engagement and inner understanding is an essential feature of the movement toward an enlivening and equitable human presence on this earth. This retreat is an opportunity to explore this through slowing down and settling into a rhythm and quality of presence that supports us in remembering what is important, what nourishes us and allows us to more freely bring ourselves to this life.
Supported by our relationship with the wider natural world, we will combine nature-based practice with contemplative practice, exploring the mutuality of these ways of deepening presence. Meditation instruction based on the four foundations of mindfulness, dharma talks, and guided relaxation will be offered, as well as opportunity for group inquiry and individual interviews with teachers. In support of deepening this exploration, the majority of the retreat will be held in silence, interspersed with periods of shared inquiry.
Three threads of practice – individual contemplative practice, community inquiry and connection with the land – will serve as the foundation through which to explore a number of themes, including Belonging, Engagement and Reciprocity. To live in these times with the enormity of the problems we collectively face is at once both a challenge and a privilege; to live when so much is in the balance and yet so much is possible. This retreat is offered as support and inspiration for our collective engagement, well-being and even our flourishing in the midst of these times.
““Mindfulness must be engaged. Once there is seeing, there must be acting. Otherwise, what is the use of seeing?””
Rupert Marques
Rupert has practiced in the insight meditation tradition for nearly 25 years in Europe, America and Asia. His primary teachers have been Christina Feldman and Joseph Goldstein. Also the work of Toni Packer and John Tarrant have been influential in his practice and teaching. Rupert has taught at various retreat centers in Europe and is based at Ecodharma, a contemplative retreat community in the Spanish Pyrenees dedicated to exploring the role of the Dharma in the movements for social justice and ecological sustainability. At Ecodharma he directs the Nature-based Practice strand of the work that marries contemplative practice with a range of approaches within the field of experiential ecopsychology in a wilderness setting.
Robyn Gibson
Robyn has been teaching in the Melbourne Insight Meditation tradition since 2016, and has practiced in this tradition for over 10 years. Prior to this, she trained and practiced in hatha yoga for many years. She facilitated the Castlemaine Insight Meditation group for 8 years, managed many retreats for MIM teachers, and was the Executive Officer of Melbourne Insight Meditation for 3 years. Robyn is interested in the intersection between contemplative dharma practice and social and ecological responsiveness.
Retreat fees
$420 + dana for the teachers*
Bookings
To book your place on this retreat, go to
www.melbourneinsightmeditation.org
Enquiries
insightretreats@hotmail.com