A Fresh Mind for a New Year: A 3-Day Hybrid Meditation Retreat (MAD-V-O-123023)

A Fresh Mind for a New Year

A 3-Day Hybrid Meditation Retreat on Awareness, Compassion, and Wisdom

December 30 – January 1

With Tergar Guides Cortland Dahl and Kasumi Kato

The state of the world these days can leave us feeling stressed out and overwhelmed. Our personal problems and the challenges we face as a species never seem to end. How can we stay balanced with so much turmoil in our lives?

The practice of meditation is a powerful method to train the mind to be more wise, caring, and resilient. In this retreat with Cortland Dahl and Kasumi Kato, we will explore three forms of meditation that help us to calm our minds, open our hearts, and awaken wisdom. These practices help us move beyond the endless cycle of daily stress so we can lead rich, fulfilling lives and tackle the problems of the world with kindness and insight.

In this three-day retreat, we will spend one day meditating on mindful awareness, one day on kindness and compassion, and one day on wisdom practices to gain insight into the workings of our minds. The retreat will include periods of guided and unguided meditation, breaks for stretching and walking meditation, and short teachings and reflections. 

This retreat is open to both beginning and experienced meditators. It is a hybrid event, with the option to attend either in-person or online via Zoom. We ask that participants commit to attending the entire retreat in-person or online when they register. As much as possible, we encourage those who can attend in person to do so. 

Details

• Location: Tergar Madison (301 S. Blount St, Suite 104, Madison, WI) & via Zoom (Hybrid event)

• Time: 8am to 8pm CT (Saturday and Sunday); 8am to 5pm (Monday)

• Meals: Vegetarian lunch and light dinner provided for in-person attendees

FAQ

• Can I attend part of the retreat?

  • We ask that all attendees commit to attending all sessions to maintain the retreat environment.

• I’ve never done a retreat before. Is it appropriate for me to attend?

  • This retreat is open to meditators at all levels, including those who are doing a retreat for the first time. It is recommended to have some prior experience with meditation, but if this is your first time, we would love to have you join us.

• What meals will be offered?

  • Caterers are still being confirmed, but currently three vegetarian lunches and two light dinners will be provided to in-person attendees.

• How much time would I have to sit for each day? How intense is it? 

  • The full schedule is still being determined, but there will be periods of meditation of 30-45 minutes with short breaks for stretching or walking meditation, in addition to longer breaks for lunch and dinner. The opening morning and closing afternoon of the retreat will allow for talking and socializing, with the middle portion of the retreat held in silence.

About the Facilitators:

Cortland Dahl, Ph.D. is a scientist, Buddhist scholar and translator, and meditation teacher. His eclectic background includes eight years living in Tibetan refugee settlements in India and Nepal and scientific research at the Center for Healthy Minds at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. He has published numerous scientific articles, released twelve books of translations of ancient Tibetan meditation manuals, and with, Yongey Mingyur Rinpoche co-founded Tergar, a global network of meditation groups and centers. His work as a Buddhist scholar and translator includes extensive work translating seminal works from the Mahamudra and Dzogchen lineages and the creation of online courses on these teachings.

Kasumi Kato is an experienced educator and meditation practitioner. She holds two master’s degrees from the University of Wisconsin, where she taught the Japanese language for nearly two decades.

Kasumi’s interest in meditation began in her childhood in Japan, where she learned to meditate from a young age. In 2011, she encountered Mingyur Rinpoche’s teachings and has been practicing under his guidance ever since. She has completed over a year in solitary meditation retreat, in addition to many group retreats in the Tergar community. Kasumi has also studied with some of the most respected teachers in the Tibetan tradition, including Tsoknyi Rinpoche, Jetsun Khandro Rinpoche, and Thrangu Rinpoche.

Kasumi currently works full-time for Tergar International as a curriculum specialist, developing Tergar meditation and training programs. She also leads Joy of Living workshops and Path of Liberation retreats around the world and oversees the activities of Tergar Japan.

Outside of her professional work, Kasumi lives with her husband Cortland and stepson, CJ, in Madison, Wisconsin. In her free time, Kasumi enjoys personal retreats, traveling, and hiking in nature.

Cost: 

Base fee - $200
Sponsor fee - $250
Reduced fee - $150

Please note: nobody will be turned away for lack of funds. If you require an additional discount to attend, please contact us at the email address below to discuss options.

Contact:

Tergar Madison Meditation Community
301 S. Blount St., Madison, WI
madison.coordinator@tergar.org
(608) 440-3757