Breath as Music: A Monastic Weekend Retreat with Ajahn Nisabho (In-Person in Winthrop & Online)

Join Ajahn Nisabho for two days of meditation and teachings, 9 am - 5 pm on Saturday, June 17th, and Sunday, June 18th, at the Methow Valley Wellness Center in Winthrop, WA and online. Mindfulness of breathing, or ānāpānasati, is frequently taught as the practice of simply bringing attention to a single point or quality of breath. However, the active minds of meditators today often fail to grow calm through this approach, and practice becomes more a burden than a joy. Relying on over a decade of practice in the Thai Forest tradition, Tan Nisabho describes an approach to breath meditation that works with, rather than against, the thinking mind. By conceiving of the breath as a broad energy permeating the body, pairing it with brightening practices such as loving-kindness, and situating it within a field of open awareness, practice may again become a respite from, rather than one more of, the day’s duties. The analogy of music, and of learning an instrument, helps unify and simplify the practice into an intuitive approach accessible to all.

To learn about future monastic teachings in the area, check out the website and newsletter of Cascade Hermitage, the event's host and a nascent monastic retreat in the Winthrop, WA.
To learn about monastic teachings and events in the wider Northwest and Seattle, check out the website and newsletter of Seattle-based Clear Mountain Monastery. We hope to hear from you!

No tickets are necessary.

To register for in-person attendance, email Sarah Conover cascadehermitage@gmail.com. In your email, you may ask about convenient places to stay, as well as rideshares.

Those unable to attend in-person are also welcome to tune in via Zoom or YouTube livestream (no registration necessary).

Schedule

9 - 10 am: Brief welcome, Introduction, and Guided Meditation

10 - 10:30 am: Dhamma talk

10:30 - 11:30 am: Sitting and Walking meditation

11:30 am - 12:30 pm: Potluck Lunch

12:30 - 1:00 pm: Rest/ free time

1:00 - 1:30 pm: Dhamma talk

1:30 - 2:00 pm: Group Q&A

2:00 - 3:30 pm: Walking and sitting meditation (and individual interviews)

3:30 - 4:00 pm: Group Q&A

4:00 - 4:30 pm: Walking and sitting meditation

4:30 - 5 pm: Closing comments, and spreading blessings

5 - 6 pm: Informal Teatime, Q&A, clean-up, and general hobnobbing with old and new friends!

Note: Participants need not attend the full two days if they're unable, and may attend as much of the retreat as they can. Those participants coming from out-of-town may leave at 3:30 pm on Sunday in order to allow for the drive home.

Meal

Participants may bring a dish for a potluck lunch! 

What to Bring

• A meditation cushion (some spare cushions and chairs are available for sitting at the venue)
• A blanket if you get chilly sitting still
• A dish for a shared meal!
• Your intention to practice in community!

COVID Policy

Vaccinations: Recommended but we will not be verifying immunization status.
Masks: Optional. We ask everyone to respect each person’s decision to wear or not wear a mask. Individuals may socially distance as desired. We are following current Washington State recommendations. We will adjust as needed in the future.

Donations (Dana)

All teachings are offered completely free of charge, with no expectation of anything in return. However, those attendees who feel inspired to donate may do so at the event or by clicking the links below. Such contributions help support future offerings and the growth of Dhamma! 

Clear Mountain Monastery

Clear Mountain Monastery is an aspiring Buddhist Forest Monastery in the greater Seattle area. Dana to help support resident and visiting monastics along with future events may be offered at https://www.clearmountainmonas...

Biographies

Ajahn Nisabho

After finishing college in 2012, Ajahn Nisabho left his native Washington to go forth as a Buddhist monk in Thailand. He received full ordination the following spring under Ajahn Anan, a senior disciple of renowned meditation master, Ajahn Chah, and spent the following years training in forest monasteries throughout Thailand, Australia, and the US. While staying with some of the lineage’s most respected teachers, he grew to believe the Thai Forest Tradition’s balance of communal life with solitary forest dwelling, careful adherence to the monastic precepts, and focus on meditation represented a faithful embodiment of the original Buddhist path. Moreover, his time with contemporary masters such as Ajahn Anan, Ajahn Pasanno, and Ajahn Jayasaro, convinced him that such a path could yield great fruit in the heart even amidst the complexities of modern life. He currently resides in Seattle as part of Clear Mountain Monastery’s aspiration.