January Retreat - Four Pointers to the Essence

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Lama Scott Dashon Smith & Five Cram

Join Lama Dashon as Sangha to go deeper in retreat for a month. You are invited to make the retreat your own, make the commitment to join as much or as little as you are able to. Join simply the teachings. Dive deep with all sessions. 

Our revels now are ended.....Go well, everyone. Thank you for your presence. I hope it has been an engaging, illuminating and nurturing time for you. 

This retreat website will remain available as a resource, so you can continue to access the recordings and other retreat materials.

How was it for you? Do you have any reflections or any suggestions that would help those shaping future retreats? Tell us here

Grateful thanks to our teachers Five and Lama Dashon, for giving their time and teachings so generously. If you haven’t already done so, details of how to make an offering of Dana in the 'Making offierings in gratitude' section of the website

Thanks also to the team who held and provided tech support to the retreat: Alan, Eli, Kshanti, Utah and Zungdzin; everyone who Omzed or contributed to the feast …. and of course each of us for being present and connecting in our different ways.

Continue to connect

  • If you don’t already receive email news and updates from the Awakened Heart Sangha you can sign up here 
  • Participate in retreats, teachings. courses, full moon feasts and other events, both online and in person – you can find details here
  • Maybe you feel inspired to be part of the team of volunteers offering holding or technical support to future retreats? If so, we would love to hear from you. Training and support will be provided. Contact Eli to find out more: [email protected]ku.gro.sha@ile
  • Join us for Morning, Shakyamuni and Evening Puja and other online meditations which continue throughout the year – details and information about how to join here 
  • Online Omzes are always needed for these pujas – Lama Shenpen enjoys hearing our different voices. Again, support and training are offered. Contact Damzig: [email protected]ku.gro.sha@gizmad .

Any missing links or lingering questions email [email protected]moc.liamg@1791amiynnedlap

Lama Dashon is going to give instructions on how the teachings of the Four Noble Truths he gave from last year can be integrated into our Formless Meditation practice and the Mahāmudrā path.

Each week, we will explore how each of the Four pointers we receive: Wake; Heart; Open; Be - are guiding us through the Four Truths and the Eight-fold path and pointing to the Indestructible Heart Essence - the True Source of Peace.

Each day we will recite the Heart Sutra and/or others from the Prajnaparamita collection of sutras and reflect on how they are pointing us to the same realisation.

In addition each Saturday starting on the 10th January Five will offer exercises from his book Opening to Insight  to help us integrate the pointers of the Heart Sutra and other teachings into our Formless Meditation practice, and deepen our view. 

We will look at questioning our experience, shaking up fixed ideas, contemplating wholeness, thinking and believing, and similar themes.