Resting in Awareness: Not Moving Forwards, Not Moving Backwards, Not Standing Still – with Heather Sundberg

On Zoom Saturday January 30th, from 10 am to 3:30 pm (with lunch break Noon to 1 pm)

This daylong is directed towards those who are already familiar with basic Buddhist teachings and have their own meditation practice.

“The Dhamma is not to be found in moving forwards, moving backwards, or standing still.

This is your place of non-abiding.” Ajahn Chah

Our daylong will be grounded in this beautiful and conceptually mind-stopping teaching, which Ajahn Chah offered to a student right before he had a stroke that left him unable to speak for the rest of his life.  

So, if we can’t move forwards, can’t move backwards, can’t stand still, where do we rest the mind?  Where is the refuge place?  

Heather will share the expanded version of this rarely taught teaching, and explore it through talks and guided practice with our community, helping us find a resting place in Awareness, which is not defined by time or place.

In this daylong we will explore the experience of Awareness through this teaching from the following perspectives:

• How to practice with teachings which temporarily stop or baffle the conceptual mind;
• How to rest in the middle of experience, supported by Awareness – that which knows experience;
• Developing Parami qualities of heart and wisdom in relation to Awareness;
• Working with the tendencies of mind to move towards or away from experience, or try to hold onto stability in the midst of changing conditions;
• How to not ‘make a stand on self’, but instead to experience a sense of okayness supported by resting in Awareness;
• From the refuge of Awareness, experiencing mental patterns of liking and disliking through a fresh lens.

Heather Sundberg has taught insight meditation since 1999, and completed the Spirit Rock/IMS Teacher Training program under Jack Kornfield and Joseph Goldstein. She has been a visiting teacher for Dharma Zephyr daylongs and residential retreats since 2011. As a teacher, Heather’s style is warm and practical. She emphasizes embodiment, awareness-emptiness and strong heartfulness in practice. She carries an interesting combination of supporting a ‘less is more’ easeful style of practice, plus a passionate ‘no holds barred’ attitude about awakening. For more information see: www.heathersundberg.com.

Dana (donation): The Teacher offers the teachings freely in the tradition of the Buddha, and her livelihood is completely sustained by the generosity of the communities she serves.  Dana (donation) for these priceless teachings will be gratefully accepted by the teacher, giving participants the opportunity to freely engage in the practice of generosity, the first step toward freedom.  Donations can be made through the Pay Pal button at www.heathersundberg.com. 

Registration: To sign up and obtain the Zoom link, please email your name and phone number to Tom Gray at eltigre@charter.net before January 30th.