Aging with Wisdom and Creativity: Deepening our Practice through Reflection and Writing - VIRTUAL RETREAT

The process of aging offers us a myriad of challenges and opportunities.  Understanding that there is no time to lose encourages us to explore the quality of our lives. We can no longer escape the truth of impermanence and the recognition of our own mortality.  As we embrace that realization we are offered a doorway into the path of reflection, deepening wisdom and love. 

This retreat offers a space for us to spend time reflecting on this journey and expressing our findings in writing.  Please join us in what promises to be a rich and deepening experience. 

In This Retreat You Will Have the Opportunity to:

• Write using different forms – stories, poems, journaling, prompted writings.  
• Spend time each day in meditation and awareness practice. 
• Pay close attention to what is going on inside and outside of yourself and allow the words to arise that express what you find.
• Use small group sharing as a creative way to explore the issues of aging and to honor it as a timeless process.

What Do I Need?

• All you need to attend is a notebook, a pen or pencil, a curious mind, and a willing heart. 

Who Should Attend? 

• This retreat is open to all; no writing or meditation experience necessary.

To prepare for this retreat, we encourage you to:

• Read Aging with Wisdom: Reflections, Stories & Teachings by Olivia Hoblitzelle.

What is a Virtual Retreat?

Virtual Retreats are Tara Mandala At-Home intensive retreats, teachings and in-depth workshops during which practitioners receive dharma teachings, engage in guided practice, experience hands-on learning, and connect with other participants through an easy-to-use online platform (Zoom) during consecutive days (with few exceptions) and daylong offerings. This modality of learning is appropriate for practitioners who are able to create a practice container of their own, setting aside a dedicated retreat space, removing themselves from social media, and taking care of necessities with the mind of compassion in action for the specific dates and times that the teachings occur.

Virtual Retreats are meant to be attended live given that direct transmission (Tib. lung) may be given. However, access to recordings of the sessions are available for additional viewing for various timeframes specified by the price level selected.

Tiered-Prices

Tara Mandala offers tiered pricing for all virtual retreats to allow participants the opportunity to consider offering additional financial support for Tara Mandala while gaining greater access to the recordings of the teachings post-retreat. These are difficult times for everyone, and Tara Mandala is no exception. We encourage you to select at the highest level within your capacity to assist Tara Mandala in covering the costs to offer these wonderful teachings. We thank you in advance for your support and your practice!

$283 – Tier 1 (includes access to recordings of all sessions for up to 7 days from the end of the retreat)
Registration at this level covers the basic costs of holding this specific retreat. 

$345 – Tier 2 (includes access to recordings of all sessions for up to 30 days from the end of the retreat)
Registration at this level covers basic costs of this retreat and supports the year round staff at Tara Mandala.

$382 – Tier 3 (includes access to recordings of all sessions for up to 1 year from the end of the retreat)
Registration at this level covers basic costs for this retreat, supports year around staff as well as facilities maintenance and other critical operational needs.

Choosing Tier 2 or Tier 3 levels will allow Tara Mandala Retreat Center to continue to operate, be a repository for wisdom literature, a center for translation, a beacon for the feminine in Buddhism, and an active dharma center that provides refuge for deep practice and transformation.

There are many ways to support and engage with Tara Mandala’s activities. Click here to learn more. We appreciate your support and generosity! 

Offering dana to the teacher: The practice of offering dana, which means “generosity,” is the traditional offering the student makes to the teacher as a symbol of appreciation, gratitude, and reciprocity for receiving the precious teachings. Information on offering dana to the teacher will be provided during the virtual retreat. To learn more about dana and suggested dana ranges, please click here. 

Note: Tara Mandala has two scholarship funds and offers deferred payment plans as resources for anyone with financial limitations. For more information and to apply, visit our Scholarships and Financial Assistance Page. 

VIRTUAL RETREAT SCHEDULE
Listed times are the online portions of the retreat. All times are Mountain Time.
Please use this link to see how this daily schedule translates into your timezone.

Friday, May 14
8:00am – 8:45am: Guided Meditation (optional)
9:00am – 12:00pm: Session 1
2:00pm – 5:00pm: Session 2
6:00pm – 7:00pm: Powerpoint presentation 

Saturday, May 15
8:00am – 8:45am: Guided Meditation (optional)
9:00am – 12:00pm: Session 1
2:00pm – 5:00pm: Session 2
6:00pm-7:00pm – TBA

Sunday, May 16:
8:00am – 8:45am: Guided Meditation (optional)
9:00am – 11:45am: Session 1
12:00-1:00 Closing Gathering