First Steps: A Daylong Meditation Retreat for Beginners

Saturday May 18, 2013 from 9am to 4pm

* registration is now full, email connect [at] briandeanwilliams.com to be added to the waitlist *

Mountain Rain Zendo, Vancouver BC

facilitated by Brian Dean Williams

photo by Tali Serota

Have you ever said: “My mind is too busy, I can’t meditate” ?

or, “I’ve considered meditation but found the teachings / teachers too inaccessible” ?

Have you been curious about meditation for awhile but never tried a retreat?

This daylong retreat might be a fit.  This is for newcomers to meditation and Buddhist practice, at a relaxed pace with an emphasis on kind awareness.  With a mix of discussing basic Buddhist principles and practicing seated and walking meditation, the intention is provide a gateway into greater awareness, acceptance, and compassion.  This is intended to be a welcoming / safe space for people of all backgrounds, including people of colour and people from LGBTQ communities.  There is no need to be Buddhist or to abandon existing beliefs / practices to participate in this retreat.

Facilitator:  Brian lives in East Vancouver with his family.  He is a local therapist, activist, educator, and meditation facilitator with a keen interest in social justice.  Brian trained with Noah Levine in Los Angeles at the Against the Stream meditation centre.  He uses a secular Buddhist approach and practices in the Thai Forest lineage, with some Tibetan influences as well.  His approach to facilitation is warm, humorous, and welcoming.

Cost: non-refundable $20 deposit by cash, cheque, or Paypal: http://tinyurl.com/cbo5vcs (you don’t need a PayPal account, just a credit card). No-one turned away for lack of funds.

on day of retreat, dana / donation accepted by facilitator

Location: Mountain Rain Zendo, 2016 Wall Street, Vancouver BC

Time: doors open at 9am, session begins at 9:30am.  Retreat ends at 4pm.