About two thousand years ago, an enigmatic monk named Bodhidharma taught students the path to awakening. His teachings are even more relevant today. Let go of your day-to-day concerns at this powerful weekend retreat.  Walk with us on Bodhidharma’s path of awakening.  

This workshop unifies body, mind and spirit through Zen and QiGong practices.  We will learn and practice zazen, or seated meditation, and kinhin or walking meditation; we’ll engage in dharma study of Bodhidharma’s teachings, and we’ll learn the QiGong practices of Yi Jin Jing and Xi Sui Jing.    

When we are not engaged in something that requires concentration, our “monkey mind” busies itself with all sorts of thinking. Zazen is a practice in which we “drop body and mind” and are fully present to our moment by moment experience. We let go of any expectation of improving or getting anything from our practice: we just sit. Somehow, this simple practice is transformative. Our mind slows down. We develop insight into our habits of mind. We become intimate with our life and the life of the world.   

Qigong is an ancient practice for health and longevity.  Through this practice we develop and nurture our Qi, which in turn improves its ability to keep our organs healthy and functioning optimally.  While the primary Daoist goal was longevity, the Buddhist goal was enlightenment. With the arrival of Boddhidharma in China in the 6th century, the teachings evolved and the two end goals became intertwined.

In this workshop you will be introduced to two routines developed by Bodhidharma at the Shaolin Temple. These routines were secret until the 1980s. Yi Jin Jing, tendon changing classic, changes and strengthens ligaments, tendons and muscles, and increases the Qi flow to the 12 organs.  Xi Sui Jing, bone marrow cleansing classic, is an internal practice that cleanses and purifies the bone marrow and the brain. 

Together these practices provide a strong mind-body foundation to help transform daily living.

When not in class, relax in the Center’s beautiful environment. Enjoy the view from the patio or a nearby hike, curl up with a book in the library or contemplate the stars while sitting by the fire pit.

The workshop is open to practitioners at all levels of experience. It is offered at the Dharmakaya Center for Wellbeing in Cragsmoor, NY.