Practice With Friends
Join us for a full day of deepening - settling into longer meditation, exploring life-affirming mindfulness, and strengthening the bonds of spiritual friendship that sustain our practice.
This isn't a retreat from life. It's a retreat into life - meeting ourselves and each other with presence, wisdom, and open hearts.
This isn't a retreat from life. It's a retreat into life - meeting ourselves and each other with presence, wisdom, and open hearts.
What Makes This Retreat Different?
Life-affirming mindfulness means:
- Your body knows things your mind doesn't - we'll move, walk, even dance
- Community practice deepens individual practice - we'll share authentically
- Joy and ease are part of the path - this is nourishing, not endurance training
- Spiritual friendship is essential - we practice together because we can't awaken alone
The Day Together
We'll move through sitting meditation, a dharma talk from Robert, walking meditation, sharing circles, and embodied movement practice with music.
Lunch is potluck for in-person participants (bring a dish to share) - sharing food is practice, an act of generosity and care for the sangha. Online participants can break for lunch or gather informally.
The day includes both silent practice and authentic sharing, extended meditation and gentle movement, teaching and community connection. We'll follow a natural rhythm, remaining responsive to what the group needs.
Lunch is potluck for in-person participants (bring a dish to share) - sharing food is practice, an act of generosity and care for the sangha. Online participants can break for lunch or gather informally.
The day includes both silent practice and authentic sharing, extended meditation and gentle movement, teaching and community connection. We'll follow a natural rhythm, remaining responsive to what the group needs.
Two Ways to Join
In Person
7645 SW 84th Ave, Portland, OR 97223
Join us for the full embodied experience - sitting together, walking together, sharing food, practicing in community.
Bring:
Join us for the full embodied experience - sitting together, walking together, sharing food, practicing in community.
Bring:
- A dish for potluck lunch (enough for 3-4 people)
- Comfortable clothes for sitting and moving
- Water bottle
- Cushion if you have a favorite (chairs and cushions available)
Online via Zoom
Connect from anywhere.
Join us virtually for the full day. You'll be part of all practices, sharing circles, and teachings. During lunch, take a break or join others online informally. Link provided upon registration.
Both formats are real retreat. Both are valuable. Both create spiritual friendship.
Why Spiritual Friends Matter:
The Buddha said spiritual friendship isn't just part of the path - it's the whole of the path.
When we practice with spiritual friends, we see ourselves reflected in others' experience. We receive encouragement when practice is difficult. We celebrate breakthroughs together. We discover that our "personal" struggles are universal.
This day is an investment in those friendships - the relationships that sustain awakening.
Join us virtually for the full day. You'll be part of all practices, sharing circles, and teachings. During lunch, take a break or join others online informally. Link provided upon registration.
Both formats are real retreat. Both are valuable. Both create spiritual friendship.
Why Spiritual Friends Matter:
The Buddha said spiritual friendship isn't just part of the path - it's the whole of the path.
When we practice with spiritual friends, we see ourselves reflected in others' experience. We receive encouragement when practice is difficult. We celebrate breakthroughs together. We discover that our "personal" struggles are universal.
This day is an investment in those friendships - the relationships that sustain awakening.
Who This is For
Everyone is welcome - complete beginners, experienced practitioners, and everyone in between.
This retreat is for you if:
This retreat is for you if:
- You want to deepen your practice beyond weekly sessions
- You're curious about life-affirming mindfulness
- You're seeking spiritual community
- You want to practice with your whole body, not just sitting still
This is accessible to all levels. If sitting is challenging, use a chair. If movement is difficult, adapt as needed. The invitation is to practice at your own edge, not beyond it.
Registration Details
When: Saturday, February 21, 2025
Time: 9:00 AM - 4:30 PM Pacific
Where: Hybrid - In person (7645 SW 84th Ave, Portland) AND Online (Zoom)
Dana: $80 suggested (no one turned away for lack of funds)
Register by: February 14th (space limited for in-person
Register: HERE
Questions: [email protected]
Following the Buddhist tradition of dana, the dharma is offered freely. The suggested contribution helps sustain the teaching, but no one is turned away for lack of funds.
Join us Saturday, February 21st. Nine hours of practice. In person and online. With spiritual friends.
This is how we support each other's awakening.
With metta,
Robert Beatty
Meditation Teacher
Author of Mindfulness for a Happy Life
Time: 9:00 AM - 4:30 PM Pacific
Where: Hybrid - In person (7645 SW 84th Ave, Portland) AND Online (Zoom)
Dana: $80 suggested (no one turned away for lack of funds)
Register by: February 14th (space limited for in-person
Register: HERE
Questions: [email protected]
Following the Buddhist tradition of dana, the dharma is offered freely. The suggested contribution helps sustain the teaching, but no one is turned away for lack of funds.
Join us Saturday, February 21st. Nine hours of practice. In person and online. With spiritual friends.
This is how we support each other's awakening.
With metta,
Robert Beatty
Meditation Teacher
Author of Mindfulness for a Happy Life