Samadhi: The Deep Clear Lake
Summer 2022 6-Week Course and Retreat with Henry Shukman
6-week course: July 31 – September 4
Weekend retreat: September 10 – 11
(Course & Retreat are Online Only)
“If you’ve ever wondered why and how it’s possible to fall in love with meditation, and with life itself – here is the answer.
If you’re not sure you’ll ever find the real peace of meditation, this course is for you.”
– Henry Shukman
Guest Teachers
Roshi Joan Halifax
Roshi Joan Halifax, Ph.D. is a Buddhist teacher, Founder and Head Teacher of Upaya Zen Center in Santa Fe, New Mexico, a social activist, and author. She is a pioneer in the field of end-of-life care and has lectured on the subject of death and dying at many academic institutions and medical centers around the world. Her newest book is Standing at the Edge: Finding Freedom Where Fear and Courage Meet.
Natalie Goldberg
Natalie Goldberg is the author of fifteen books, including Writing Down the Bones, which has sold over one million copies, has been translated into fourteen languages, and started a revolution in the way we practice writing in this country. For more than forty years Natalie has practiced zen and taught seminars in writing as a practice. People from around the world attend her life-changing workshops, and she has earned a reputation as a great teacher.
We are excited to welcome Roshi Joan Halifax, Ph.D., as a guest teacher for our session on Sunday, August 14, and Natalie Goldberg for our session on Sunday, August 28.
Samadhi: The Deep Clear Lake
Samadhi, the old traditions call it. A state of deep centeredness, of union, of wholeness. All our woes, all our travails, are put to one side, and we replenish in the healing balm of one of the true treasures of meditation.
Meditation can be like a deep clear lake – a marvelous place of peace, wider than our ordinary sense of self. It’s not magical, it’s not beyond the reach of an ordinary meditator. All it takes is a little guidance, a little pointing in the right direction and soon enough all of us will find it.
That’s what this special 6-week course is about. We gather for Six Sunday Sessions of the Original Love program, devoted to developing absorption, or samadhi. Akin to flow states that we may know from other activities, meditative absorption is as beautiful as any flow state – and maybe just a wee bit better. It depends on nothing – just the bare wonder of our existing.
If you’ve ever wondered why and how it’s possible to fall in love with meditation, and with life itself – here is the answer. If you’re not sure you’ll ever find the real peace of meditation, this course is for you.
Each week we’ll explore different approaches to samadhi, and gently bring ourselves into the depths of our being, where a great wholeness, filled with peace and energy, is just waiting to for us.
Guided Meditations
For the 6-week course participants, Henry will be recording 2 guided meditations per week. At the end of the 6 weeks, you’ll have a set of 12 meditations to keep and review. These guided meditations can serve as touchstones in your week, helping you deepen your experience of Samadhi and meditative absorption.
Facilitated Community Sharing Groups
Our Community Sharing Groups have been supportive and deep platforms for experiencing the joy and healing balm of Sangha.
Here are some words from our Sharing Group participants:
“The sharing groups supported me so very much. People’s willingness to share and be vulnerable was inspirational! This experience encouraged me to be more honest and vulnerable. Our facilitator was great. She created a feeling of safety and structure.” – LJ
“It was very nourishing to share with the group and to hear my own thoughts, and to listen and to get to know the others. I picked up tips and ideas too. Hearing the shares from the other participants was very connecting and real. The facilitator helped create an atmosphere of kindness, calm, and humanity.” – ET
And our facilitators found the experiences equally transformative:
“Facilitating the Sharing Groups made me realize just how connected we truly are. This journey of the heart is truly a shared one. I was the facilitator, but I felt equally supported by the participants. It was a gift in every way. Honored to be a small part.” – Shana Smith
In addition to our live Community Sharing Groups, we are offering an “asynchronous” way to engage with a Community Sharing Group through our online community forum. These groups will have a dedicated facilitator, be the same size, receive the same discussion prompts, and carry the same intention and commitment as in-person groups, but will engage purely online through a private page on the Forum.
Members of these online groups will receive the week’s sharing prompt after each Sunday Session and will be asked to check in on the forum at least twice throughout the week to a) post their own reflection on the prompt, and b) read and acknowledge what others have shared. This is a great option for folks who can’t join the scheduled meeting times.
The Community Sharing Groups are offered as an optional addition to the 6 week course. See below for how to register!
(Please note: Community Sharing Groups are included in the Original Love 1-Year Program.)
Course information
Schedule:
6-week course:
Sundays July 31 – September 4, 2022, 10am – 12pm MT
Weekend retreat:
Saturday & Sunday September 10 – 11, 10am – 3pm MT
Facilitated community sharing groups:
These optional groups will be meeting in-between Sunday sessions. The available times are:
- Sunday 12:15pm MT
- Monday 6:30pm MT
- Wednesday 11am MT and 6:30 pm MT
- Friday 11am MT
- Asynchronous option, which does not require you to be there live (good for those in other time zones or with busy schedules)
For those of you in different time zones, or who can’t make the scheduled meeting times – all events (except the Sharing Groups) are being recorded and you will have access to recordings shortly after each event.
Cost:
6-Week Course: $249
Weekend Retreat: $195
6-Week Course & Community Sharing Group: $349
6-Week Course + Weekend Retreat: $395
6-Week Course + Weekend Retreat + Community Sharing Group: $495
Scholarships
We have a limited number of scholarships available. We don’t want anybody not to be able to take the program because of financial need. If you need financial assistance, please contact Jeremy.
Original Love is 100% online in 2022: there are no in-person events this year.
If you have any questions, please contact Jeremy. We’re happy to answer any questions and look forward to having you join us!