Meditation Mentoring Program (MMP)

Chris is currently working individually with students through his Meditation Mentoring Program, which now includes a monthly group meditation practice period and discussion.

This group is intentionally kept small. Currently there are a few spaces available.

Meditation Mentoring Program

Quiet Morning, Still Mind
1/2-day Spring retreat

Saturday, May 6. 9:30am-1:00pm

Description
To develop our meditation practice we first reduce external distractions–retreat is particularly helpful for this. Supported by silence, instructive teacher reflections, and community, we then turn our attention to our own mind and body, strengthening our ability to rest our attention fully on present moment experience. As the mind becomes more stable we gain some space from the minutiae of daily life–its many responsibilities and stressors–as well as habituated beliefs and conditioned responses to our life, and this allows the body to relax and the mind to grow more quiet.

Join Chris for a morning of insight meditation practice consisting of sitting and walking, silence, dharma reflections, and discussion. Beginners and experienced meditators are welcome.  

May 6, Saturday. 9:30am-1:00pm

Pre-registration required (space limited)

Center for Mindfulness & Insight Meditation, Wenham, MA.

Chris will be on silent self-retreat between April 6-13. Chris will be completely off-line and unavailable during this time.

Meditation class and dharma discussion. Beginners and experienced meditators welcome.

May 17, Wednesday. 7:00-8:30pm

Pre-registration required (space limited)

Center for Mindfulness & Insight Meditation, Wenham, MA.

Mindfulness & Discernment
1/2-day  retreat

Saturday, June 3. 9:00am-12:30pm

Description

This half-day retreat integrates periods of silent sitting and walking meditation with a teacher led discussion focused on helping students refine their own meditation by strengthening discernment. The value of extended periods of silent meditation, common to retreat, is that the mind has more time to become stable and quiet. With a concentrated mind we can more easily turn our attention to mindfulness, or insight meditation. The benefit of discussing our meditation practice in a structured and pragmatic way is that we develop skills relevant to the maturation of insight. The format of this retreat will consist of uninterrupted periods of mediation practice, with a teacher-led discussion at the end of the retreat. 

Meditation instruction will be offered: this retreat is open to beginners and experienced meditators, and for anyone seeking an extended period of silent practice.  

Pre-registration required (space limited)

Center for Mindfulness & Insight Meditation, Wenham, MA.

Meditation class and dharma discussion. Beginners and experienced meditators welcome.

June 7, Wednesday. 7:00-8:30pm

Pre-registration required (space limited)

Center for Mindfulness & Insight Meditation, Wenham, MA.

Meditation class and dharma discussion. Beginners and experienced meditators welcome.

June 10, Saturday. 9:30-11:00pm

Pre-registration required (space limited)

Center for Mindfulness & Insight Meditation, Wenham, MA.

Gone Tomorrow, Here Today: Practicing with the Truth of Aging, Sickness, and Death

Saturday, September 23. 10:00am-5:30pm (with a break for lunch)

Cambridge Insight Meditation Center

Description
Both provocative and compelling, Buddhist teachings on aging, sickness, and death convey a truth about our lives so significant that exploring them can enrich our meditation practice and our whole life in profound ways. While there may be a tendency to dismiss or turn away from these existential “truths”, there is an opportunity to use our practice to contemplate them in a manner consistent with the Dharma’s goal of insight and freedom.

• How does turning towards these truths facilitate greater meaning and purpose in our lives?
• How might these teachings foster non-attachment and joy?
• How might we use our practice to cultivate kind and compassionate responses to these inevitable challenges of being human?
• How do centuries-old Buddhist practices centered around aging, sickness, and death support us in living with more equanimity and fearlessness in the days we have left?

In this workshop, we will explore these questions in depth. We will integrate silent periods of sitting and walking meditation with periods of guided meditation, teacher reflections, and group discussions, as well as time for personal reflection.

This program is open to all, including beginners and experienced meditators, those confronting difficulties associated with aging, sickness, and death, and anyone interested in exploring how the tradition of Dharma practice draws upon these teachings as daily reminders. Everyone is welcome.

This program will not be recorded. Full and partial scholarships are available up to 72 hours before the start of the program.

Beginning November 2024, and continuing through August 2025, Chris will be offering a year-long “path program” at Barre Center for Buddhist Studies. The program will include four residential retreats and structured, teacher-supported practice and study between residential retreats.

Check back for more information or contact Chris directly. This page will be updated with a full program description and application guidelines when available.