Turning the Mind into an Ally: An Introduction to Meditation with Greg Smith

Learn to train and calm the mind through the practice of meditation. Ideal for beginners as well as those who would like to stabilize and deepen their meditation experience.

During this retreat, we will receive practical instructions for living in an awakened way through peaceful abiding meditation, which connects us with our mind’s inherent stability, clarity and strength. The program will also include basic grounding in the principles of meditation, as well as contemplative techniques to gain insight into the state of our minds and the state of our lives.

We will draw from Turning the Mind into an Ally, the best-selling book by Sakyong Mipham Rinpoche.

Many of us are slaves to our minds. Our own mind is our worst enemy. We try to focus, and our mind wanders off. We try to keep stress at bay, but anxiety keeps us awake at night. We try to be good to the people we love, but then we forget them and put ourselves first. And when we want to change our life, we dive into spiritual practice and expect quick results, only to lose focus after the honeymoon has worn off. We return to our state of bewilderment. We're left feeling helpless and discouraged. It seems we all agree that training the body through exercise, diet, and relaxation is a good idea, but why don't we think about training our minds?

— From Turning the Mind into an Ally by Sakyong Mipham Rinpoche

Also offered January 29 to 31.

Extend Your Stay. We are offering a 25% housing discount for additional nights. Come early and relax before your program starts or stay an extra day or more after this program to savor your retreat experience.

Please arrive between 2 and 5pm on Friday, November 27. Program ends with lunch at 12:30pm on Sunday, November 29. View Detailed Program Information.