A Week of Meditation: Shamatha-Vipashyana Weekthun 2
with John Rockwell and Matilda Perks
August 26 - September 3, 2023
“In the practice of meditation, you step beyond your hope and fear. You develop trust in the strength of your being and in your ability to extend yourself to others, and you find you have tremendous willingness to do so.”
– Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche
Overview
A weekthün is a one-week, group meditation retreat of shamatha-vipashyana, or mindfulness-awareness practice. This is the basic sitting meditation that goes back to the Buddha, which also includes contemplative practices for cultivating insight and compassion. Practising together as a group creates an atmosphere of courage and wakefulness. This mutual support and inspiration is at the heart of this month-long journey.
This weekthün is the second week of the full, month-long dathün. As such, it follows the basic schedule developed by Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche. The daily schedule begins at 7am and ends around 9pm most evenings. Sitting meditation sessions are alternated with walking meditation throughout the day. 
The three main meals are served and eaten in the meditation hall using the Zen contemplative eating practice of oryoki. After lunch, there is a mid-day work period, when participants have light cleaning and kitchen tasks, which are opportunities for meditation in action.
Silence or “functional talking” is practised most of the time. Silence is not regarded as cutting off or isolating ourselves, but as a profound way to open our awareness and senses to ourselves and our world.
The retreat will be led by John Rockwell (johnrockwell.ca) and Matilda Perks, who have a long and strong heart connection to this path of practice. They will be supported by a staff of experienced meditation instructors. There will be regular dharma talks and individual meetings with a meditation instructor to talk with about your practice throughout the retreat.
Recommended Reading
- The Heart of the Buddha: Entering the Tibetan Buddhist Path, by Chögyam Trungpa
- The Path Is the Goal: A Basic Handbook of Buddhist Meditation by Chögyam Trungpa
- The Wisdom of No Escape and the Path of Loving Kindness, by Pema Chödrön
- Don’t Bite the Hook: Finding Freedom from Anger, Resentment and Other Destructive Emotions, by Pema Chödrön
Who Should Attend
If you are newer meditator, but have made some progress establishing a regular practice and would like to go further, you may find a week of meditation very helpful.
Since weekthün is an intensive retreat, we want to insure all participants are ready physically and emotionally to spend a whole week engaged primarily in sitting and walking meditation. Therefore we do ask you to tell us a bit about your practice and motivation to attend, and ask for the name and contact information of an experienced meditator or teacher who knows you and your path of practice.
For More Information
If you have any question about the appropriateness of this weekthün for you, or any other questions about practice or the program content, please email [email protected]
If you have questions about accommodations, costs, travel, Covid-19 protocols or other logistical issues, please email Guest Services for Dorje Denma Ling.
Costs
Tuition: CAD $450
Meal Service: CAD $160
Accommodations: Varies by selection. (Options can be viewed on the Registration Page. To view pricing by lodging type, visit this page.)
Scholarships and Payment Plans
Dorje Denma Ling has two scholarship funds available to support those who require assistance to attend dathün: one fund was offered through the generosity of the Pema Chodron and one fund has been made possible through the generosity of Dorje Denma Ling supporters. The Pema Foundation fund is specifically to support relatively new practitioners, BIPOC practitioners, and those under 40.
If you need assistance, please fill out and return the Financial Aid Form or contact our Finance Manager, Suzy Ulrich. These scholarship funds are limited and will be offered on a first-come, first-serves basis, so please apply promptly if you need assistance.
If you don’t need assistance, but would prefer to spread your payments out over a number of months to ease cashflow issues, please contact Suzy Ulrich and she can set that up for you.
Covid Considerations
Please read the full details of our Covid policy here.
Useful Links
Leaders
John Rockwell has been on the path of dharma for 45 years. He met Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche in 1975 and studied and practiced the Buddhist and Shambhala teachings for 12 years with him, and in particular worked with him on translating Tibetan texts into English. For ten years, he studied and taught at Naropa University in the Buddhist Studies department. For many years, he served as an acharya or senior teacher for Sakyong Mipham Rinpoche, and also studied intensively with Khenpo Tsultrim Gyamtso Rinpoche. John’s inspiration is to share the profound and practical teachings that he has received. Explore John’s…
Learn more about John Rockwell
Matilda (Tillie) Perks is a Ph.D. student at McGill University who studies the history of Buddhist modernism(s) and Tibetan Buddhism outside of Tibet with a focus on the life and works of Tibetan lama, Chögyam Trungpa (1940-1987), and the development of the Vajradhatu community. She was born into the Shambhala community and has been a practitioner of Buddhist meditation for 25 years.
Learn more about Matilda Perks
