At Peace in the World - Hybrid Retreat with Howie Cohn, IN-PERSON [Feb20ac]

We are excited to offer this retreat as a HYBRID! To register for an in-person ticket, please do so on this page. If you are interested in attending as an Online Attendee, please go to the to register.

To help honour the container of our in-person gathering, we ask you to please commit to attending in-person for the entirety of the retreat if possible. If you are only able to attend a part of the retreat, we encourage you to consider an .

The world is not presently peaceful and harmonious, given war, polarization, greed, and cruelty. We are often heartbroken or angry. Though we don’t have a peaceful world, each of us can be at peace in the world. Inner peace does not depend on circumstances but the way we relate to them. On this retreat we will practice the two most important ways to meet our life peacefully; wisdom and love. Using the time tested practices of Vipassana and Metta (loving kindness) Meditation, together we will strengthen our minds and soften our hearts so that we can peacefully navigate this wondrous world.

Suitable for new and experienced meditators.

The general schedule (all times are Pacific Time):

Friday, February 20: 7:15–9:00 PM
Saturday, February 21: 9:00 AM–5:00 PM
Sunday, February 22: 9:00 AM–3:30 PM

Registration: Please register for your ticket on Eventbrite before the start of the event. There will be no registration onsite at the door. If you are unable to register online or have any questions, please contact [email protected]

In-Person COVID-19 Safety Measures: This retreat is planned to have a limited number of attendees. All health guidelines in place at the time of the retreat for group gatherings will be followed and communicated to attendees. Click for BCIMS' COVID Safety webpage. We encourage attendees to be fully vaccinated including booster vaccinations. We will not be asking for proof of vaccination during sign in. Please do not attend if you have any symptoms of a fever, cough or a cold, or have had recent contact with anyone with COVID.

A mask optional event: This is a mask optional gathering. We will have masks on site for those who prefer to remain masked.

Sliding Scale Retreat Fees: Fees for this retreat are offered on a sliding scale of $90, $140, and $190 for the full weekend. Please choose the rate you can joyfully offer. We are also offering a small set of Friday Night Only tickets for $40. Note that your registration fee goes toward retreat costs and BC Insight Meditation Society organizational expenses which allow us to continue offering retreats such as this one. Financial support for the teacher is offered separately (see below Teacher Dana).

Teacher Dana: In the Buddhist tradition, teachings are given freely because they are considered priceless; in the Buddhist tradition we also practice dana, or generosity, by making monetary offerings to the teachers. Dana is not payment for goods or services rendered; it is given from the heart. Your generosity is a gift that supports not just the teachers, but also the Sangha, the larger Dharma community, and your own practice. More info on Dana is shared below.

Financial Assistance: No one is turned away for lack of funds. If you require additional financial assistance to attend this retreat please contact [email protected].

Cancellation/Refund/Ticket Transfer Policy: You may request a full refund up to 24 hours before the start of retreat. Please note there is a $25 non-refundable registration fee. To cancel your ticket, log on to Eventbrite with your email address. Go to your tickets for this event and click on "Request a Refund". Cancellations within 24 hours of the start of retreat will not receive a refund. Transfers: If you have purchased an In-Person Ticket and wish to transfer to an Online ticket, we invite you to please cancel your In-Person Ticket with at least 24 hours notice to receive a partial refund, and re-register with an . If you request a transfer within 24 hours of the retreat start, the cancellation policy will apply.

Ridesharing: The information collected during registration regarding ridesharing will be shared by email to all interested attendees 7 days prior to the retreat. Attendees are then responsible for connecting directly with each other to make any ridesharing arrangements.

Accessibility: Please visit this outlining accessibility to the Asian Library, located in the Asian Centre.

Before you go: Information about preparing for the retreat, including what to bring, and safety reminders, are sent to attendees a few days before the start of the retreat. You may also to view the information and reminders.

In-person offering: Envelopes labelled "Dana" will be available at the retreat for you to offer cash dana to devon and nico.

Other options for offering dana:

• PayPal donations are also welcome at [email protected]. If the option is available, pleasemake the donations to “Friends and Family”.
• Interac transfers may be sent to [email protected]

Howard Cohn is a founding teacher of Spirit Rock Meditation Center in the San Francisco Bay area. He has guided Mission Dharma Meditation Community in San Francisco, and has been in private practice as a counselor/mentor and led Vipassana retreats worldwide since 1985. He incorporates the influences of Theravada, Zen, Tibetan Dzogchen, and Advaita Vedanta in his teaching, with an emphasis on reawakening our natural peace and freedom. He is the author of Invitation to Meditation.

For more information about Howard and his practice: .

Like all phenomena, the schedule is subject to change. All times listed are Pacific Standard.

Friday

6:30 - 7:15 PM Check in

7:15 - 9:00 PM Sit and Dharma Talk

9:00 PM Evening Session Ends

Saturday

9:00 - 9:45 AM Instruction and sitting meditation (latecomers: please walk)

9:45 - 10:30 Instruction and walking meditation

10:30 - 11:15 Sitting meditation

11:15 - 12:00 Walking meditation, or practice discussion at the front of the hall for new meditators

12:00 PM - 12:30 Sitting

*12:30 - 1:30 Lunch (Optional lunch gathering for newcomers, see below)

1:30 - 2:00 Sitting

2:00 - 2:15 Dana Talk

2:15 to 2:30 Questions and Response

2:30 - 2:45 Walking meditation

2:45 - 3:30 Dharma talk

3:30 - 4:15 Walking meditation, or practice discussion at the front of the hall for retreatants A through G

4:15 - 5:00 Sitting

Sunday

9:00 AM - 9:45 Instruction and sitting meditation (latecomers: please walk)

9:45 - 10:30 Walking meditation, or practice discussion at the front of the hall for meditators H through O

10:30 - 11:15 Sitting meditation

11:15 - 12:00 PM Walking meditation or practice discussion at the front of the hall for meditators P through Z

12:00- 12:30 Sitting

12:30 - 1:30 Lunch

1:30 - 2:00 Sitting

2:00 - 2:30 Walking meditation

2:30 - 3:20 Dharma talk / Questions and Response

3:20 - 3:25 Teacher Closing / Dedication of Merit

3:25 - 3:30 Closing Announcements

**3:30 – 4:30pm OPTIONAL Post-Retreat Gathering in the foyer

*Optional Lunch Gathering for folks newer to meditation: one of BCIMS' Guiding Teachers will be holding space in an informal setting on Saturday during lunch. This is an opportunity for retreatants to check-in, ask questions, and share in community.

**Post-Retreat Gathering in the Asian Centre Foyer: Please join us immediately following the retreat in the Foyer from 3:30pm-4:30pm for treats and to come out of noble silence in conversation with fellow retreatants. This will be an opportunity to connect with Dharma friends old and new - we would love to see you there!

Event Venue & Nearby Stays

UBC Asian Centre, 1871 West Mall, Vancouver, Canada