Join us in the heart of the Rocky Mountains to be embraced by the freshness of spring unfolding & nourished by the practices of mindful meditation. Our retreat will be spacious, with times of sitting & walking; silence & connection, creative play & the opportunity to slow down to deepen our awareness of the preciousness of each moment. We will explore the seven factors of awakening – mindfulness, investigation, energy, joy, tranquility, concentration & equanimity. We will come fresh to the mindful practice of meeting each moment in an open & curious way to awaken to the wonders & beauty of life & the joy of coming together once again in person.
About Alexa
Alexa has been practicing in the Plum Village tradition of Vietnamese Zen Buddhism for more than thirty years. She received Lamp Transmission to be a Dharma Teacher from Ven. Thich Nhat Hanh in 2014. Alexa is a Marriage & Family Therapist, an expressive artist & a lover of poetry. Her teachings support deepening practice by focusing on body awareness, encouraging creativity & watering seeds of joy.
To Register
Registration is $290 for the retreat. This fee covers shared, dorm-style, accomodation at the nordic centre and all vegetarian food. The Retreat will begin Friday afternoon and end Sunday by 12pm.
Please note registration is now full to join the waitlist please fill out this form and we will finalize registration by the end of April: https://forms.gle/Yt6h9p34MGmFjKV26
Schedule (To be Confirmed)
FRIDAY
5:00pm Registration
5:30-6:30pm Dinner
7:00pm Orientation to meditation and practices for the weekend
7:50 – 8:15pm Guided Meditation
8:15 – 8:25pm Stretching
8:25 -8:45pm Deep meditation/Dedication of Merit
SATURDAY
6:00am Wake up
6:30am Sitting Meditation
8:30am Breakfast
9:30am Guided meditation
10:00am Dharma Talk
11-11:30am Creative Practice
11: 30am Outdoor Walking
12:30pm Lunch
1:30-3:00pm Personal Time
3:30 – 4:45pm Dharma Discussion
5:00-6:00pm Dinner
7:00 – 8:30pm Sitting Meditation and MTT Ceremony
SUNDAY
6:00am Wake Up
6:30 – 8:00am Meditation
8:15am Breakfast
9:00am Cleanup
10:00am Closing
10:30am-1:00pm Optional hike and picnic lunch in Canmore
Brother Phap Hai Talk on January 18th 2023
The Wild Rose Sangha is delighted to announce that Brother Phap Hai (Dharma Ocean), senior monastic disciple of Thich Nhat Hanh will be visiting our community online on January 18th at 5:30pm Mountain time. Author of the Book, The Eight Realizations of Great Beings, Br. Phap Hai will share wisdom from his writing which explores the sutra: The Eight Realizations of Great Beings. This profound Buddhist sutra illuminates how we can touch the deeper truths of life and learn to relieve our own suffering.
All beings are welcome to attend.
Registration is now closed.
About Brother Phap Hai
Originally from Australia, Brother Phap Hai is a senior student of Zen master Thich Nhat Hanh. Prior to becoming a monk, he trained as a chef. Brother Phap Hai is known for his ability to convey complex teachings in an accessible and humorous manner and leads retreats and workshops throughout the United States, Canada, South America, Australia, and Asia. He currently resides at Deer Park Monastery, in California, where he breathes, walks, and smiles on a regular basis.
About The Eight Realizations of Great Beings
Claim Your Spiritual Strength: Holding Steady in the Winds of Change
Day of Mindfulness Saturday November 12th 2022
What is it that keeps you going when things get tough? The wisdom of the Buddha’s teachings combined with faith in ourselves and our practice can provide solid ground to lean into when facing personal and universal challenges and obstacles. Since one of our spiritual strengths is being part of a sangha community, participating in a day of mindfulness can bring solidity and joy to our practice.
Please join us for an online Day of Mindfulness with Dharma teacher Alexa Singer-Telles. The day will involve sitting, walking, a talk, creative writing, mindful lunch, and a dharma sharing.
When: Saturday November 12th, 2022, 9am-3pm MST
Where: Zoom
Registration: REGISTRATION IS NOW CLOSED
Cost: Suggested Dana $30 CDN (Sliding scale, pay what you can). You can donate here
If you would prefer to pay via etransfer there is information on the registration form about how to do that.
About Alexa
Alexa began practicing in the tradition of Vietnamese Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh in 1991, and co-founded River Oak Sangha in Redding, CA that same year. In 2004 she was ordained into the core community of Plum Village, the Order of Interbeing. Alexa received Lamp Transmission (dharma teacher authorization) in 2014, from the Venerable Thich Nhat Hanh in Plum Village.
Alexa is a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and an expressive artist. Her joy is to bring the beauty of spirit into form. Her retreats and days of mindfulness encourage your creativity by including ceremony, poetry, creative writing, movement, and art. She has led retreats from California to Canada. Her new sangha, MotherRoot, offers days of mindfulness online on a somewhat regular basis.
Anchored in Awareness article by Alexa Singer-Telles.
Sept 25th, Day of Mindfulness
Peace in Oneself, Peace in the World
The Wild Rose Sangha will be hosting a Day of Mindfulness with the theme Peace in Oneself, Peace in the World. Former nun in the Plum Village Tradition, Melina Body, will be joining us for part of the day.
When: Sunday September 25th 2022 from 9:00am to 4:00pm MST
Where: FCJ Centre and online.
Who: All are welcome to join
What: A schedule of the day will be posted here later in September.
Registration: Please register here.
Suggested Donation: $50 for in person retreat (A vegetarian lunch will be offered to all in person attendees), $30 for online.
To donate online.
Donations can also be accepted via etransfer, details of how to send donations via are on the registration page. If you would like to attend but do not have the means to donate, please let us know on the registration page as scholarships are available.
About Melina
Hello! I started meditating in 2003 after I found “Call Me By My True Names,” a poem by Thich Nhat Hanh, on the internet. I soon attended my first retreats in Asia and North America and never looked back. I first studied with Insight teachers Molly Swan and Norman Feldman at home in Canada then in 2012 I ordained with the Vietnamese Zen Master and peace activist Thich Nhat Hanh at Plum Village, France. I spent six challenging and insight-filled years inside the monasteries and another 3+ years outside of the monasteries sharing mindfulness practices with communities across Canada and the US, taking time for longterm silent retreats in the Insight tradition, and training in anti-racism. I’ve now left the robes behind but my dedication to meditation and mindfulness for all remains the same. In the spring of 2021 I knew it was time to return to lay life and share what I’ve learned with a broader community.
I am a queer, white settler in Canada, a cancer survivor and a writer. It is my honour and my passion to support people in practical and creative ways to develop mindfulness, compassion, and joy in daily life.
You can find out more about me and my work at: www.melinabondy.com