Heart of Recovery
The Awakened Heart - A Weeklong Retreat
Recovery, Mindfulness & Spiritual Growth
Note: This retreat begins with a weekend program and extends into a weeklong version with additional teachings and practices. See below.
Grounded in the principles of meditation and select Buddhist teachings, this program provides tools to gain insight into the connection between body, mind, and breath while working with difficult emotions. Participants are invited to explore these practices within a compassionate community, fostering a sense of connection and mutual support.
Guided by the lens of the Shambhala path, the program integrates themes from Eric's book, Recovery Lojong, which bridges recovery with mindfulness and spiritual growth. Together, we’ll explore how the principles of recovery align with meditation and Buddhist fundamentals, empowering participants to cultivate greater clarity, resilience, and joy in their lives.
This program is ideal for those ready to explore the intersection of recovery and spirituality with curiosity and an open heart. The fruition of recovery is a sense of connection and opening of our hearts to help others. Over the course of the weekend we will discuss the journey from self-centered to other-centered as we continue to develop the bravery of living a life free from our addictions.
Going Deeper
Heart of Recovery begins with the weekend program that covers the above fundamentals. The weeklong program continues from there and deepens our practice and understanding of the journey of awakening our hearts. Participants in the weeklong program will be given the opportunity to explore additional ideas from the practice of Lojong.
The practice of lojong is a traditional training system designed to provide an opening of the heart (i.e. spiritual awakening) so that we can be of service to the world around us. These practices can help us traverse the challenges of addiction and recovery.
Activities & Teachings
Through group meditation, discussions, and talks we will explore the journey of sobriety, framed around what is traditionally called the “three yana journey” of Buddhism (yana can be translated as “vehicle”), overlaying those journeys with the path of our freedom from addictions of all types. There will be periods of:
- Silence
- Meditation
- Formal Discussions
- Casual Discussions and Conversation
- Exploration of the Awakening Springtime Environment of Karmê Chöling
Who Should Attend
Participants who have a commitment to bringing caring attention to an addiction in sobriety are welcome to attend. Previous experience with meditation is not necessary, nor is experience with the 12 Step recovery method. Participants will be guided through the teachings and practices of both of these disciplines.
Note on sobriety: This retreat is for anyone seeking release from addictive behaviours and patterns in their lives (whether with food, drugs, alcohol, sex etc…), including those in painful relationships with addicts. All participants are required to commit to abstain from drinking or other non-prescribed substances, regardless of whether they are working specifically with drug and alcohol issues during the weekend and on the Karmê Chöling land.
Arrival & Departure
Friday, please arrive 3:00 - 6:00pm for registration.
Dinner will be served at 6:30pm.
The program will officially begin at 7:30pm.
On Thursday, the program will finish by 12:30pm with lunch afterwards.
Getting Here
Visit our Directions and Transportation page to see different options for traveling to Karmê Chöling.
Pricing
Karmê Chöling values its commitment to making programs affordable and available to all who wish to study with us. To support this commitment we provide two program price options.
Generosity Price: $825.00
You're able to help us with this commitment by choosing the "Generosity Price". The money above the basic tuition cost goes into a scholarship fund for those who might not be able to attend a program otherwise.
Tuition: $685.00
This is the price of the program, it does not include housing options or material fees.
Please Note:
Price does not include accommodations, which will be added during the registration process.
Policies
Payment Policies:
Please read the payment policy before proceeding with registration.
Financial Aid:
Karmê Chöling offers full-time student discounts, scholarships and other financial aid.
Program Credit:
If using existing program credit to pay for a program, you must pre-register for this program at least two weeks prior to the program start date by calling the front desk (802-633-2384 x3000). Program credit may not be used to pay for housing or practice materials and may not be used on or after arrival day.
Instructor
Eric Rainbeau is a meditation instructor and teacher trained in the Shambhala Buddhist tradition. Finding the teachings of Chogyam Trungpa Rinpoche at the beginning of his sobriety, his journey has been about learning to bridge and weave Buddhism and 12 Step Recovery, in a grounded and practical way. He has written two books Basic Sobriety; Shambhala Buddhism and the Twelve Steps and Recovery Lojong; A Twelve Step Look at the Traditional Mind Training Slogans, (both available through Lulu Books) and has led the Heart of Recovery program at the Shambhala St. Petersburg Meditation Center for the last 13 years.
Instructor:
Eric Rainbeau
Date & Time Details:
Location:
On-Land
Program Fee:
Generosity Price - $825
Tuition - $685
Room/Meals Fee:
This will be added in during the registration process.
View accommodations
Wellness Update:
Read our Wellness Policy
Getting to Karmê Chöling:
Contact Us:
Karmê Chöling
(802) 633-2384
info@karmecholing.org
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