January 25 - 28; 3 days with Lama Michael Conklin, Dora DeCoursey and Bill Spangle

Calm-Abiding and Insight Retreat

The practice of Calm Abiding, or Shamatha, builds a stable foundation for the realization of Insight into the nature of "how things are"; the nature of mind. The union of Calm Abiding and Insight allows Mahamudra to dawn - realization free from conceptual contrivance and effort. Participants will explore selected practices from the Tibetan tradition and will learn a number of antidotes to common obstacles. This retreat is suitable for beginning and experienced meditators regardless of background. There will be some limited opportunity for personal interviews and coaching.

Participants must: 1) between 4 pm & 7 pm on Friday, , 2) attend the orientation session, and 3) stay through the final clean up and close of the retreat on Monday, around 2 pm.

Recommended Readings:

The following books are recommended for this retreat, but not required:

• Advice to Beginners by Kyabje Bokar Rinpoche (all levels)
• The Practice of Tranquility and Insight by Khenchen Thrangu Rinpoche (all levels)
• The Bridge of Quiescence by B. Alan Wallace (all levels)
• Crystal Clear by Khenchen Thrangu Rinpoche (Intermediate/Advanced)
• Lamp of Mahamudra by Tsele Natsok Randrol (Intermediate/Advanced) – In particular the chapter on Shamatha, Vippasana and the union thereof
• The Mahamudra Eliminating the Darkness of Ignorance by the 9th Karmapa (Intermediate/Advanced) – Good for step by step practical instructions through stages of insight practice.

If you order books online, please go to http://www.kcc.org/ and then to the link to Amazon or Powell’s. Accessing Amazon or Powell’s web sites via the KCC home page allows KCC to receive a portion of the profits from such sales.

Lama Michael Conklin is a long-time student of the late Kalu Rinpoche. Lama Michael completed the traditional 3-Year retreat in Oregon in 1989. He teaches in Portland at Kagyu Changchub Chuling, a center founded by Kalu Rinpoche.

Registration is through KCC.
For more information call 503-284-6697 ext. 3 or visit the KCC website at http://www.kcc.org/sangha/retreats/CMJAN08

Accommodations
Cloud Mountain offers mostly double and dormitory-style rooms. Guest rooms include electric lights, heat, single or bunk beds and small wardrobes. Toilets and hot shower facilities are in a separate building. There are flush toilets at several locations on the property.

Chores
Retreatants will be asked to participate in a small daily chore (for example, helping in the kitchen, cleaning, etc.), as well as helping out with final clean-up at the end of the retreat. No chores will interfere with attending scheduled meditation sessions.

Sponsor
Kagyu Changchub Chuling (KCC) http://www.kcc.org/, a Dharma Center in Portland, Oregon, is sponsoring this retreat. KCC was founded in 1976 by the Very Venerable Kalu Rinpoche, one of the eminent meditation masters of modern Tibet and a holder of the Karma Kagyu and Shangpa Kagyu lineages. The mission of KCC is to make the teachings of these lineages accessible for all practitioners, whether they are just beginning to investigate Buddhism or are long-time students.

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