Weekend Meditation Retreat with Anushka Fernandopulle June 6-8 [2025Jun6ac]

RETREAT DESCRIPTION

Buddha’s Teachings on Anatta: Exploring the Idea of "Self" with Wisdom and Love

Anatta or Not-Self is one of the more cryptic aspects of the Buddha’s teachings. What do I believe to be myself? Does this make sense? What is a wise and loving way to relate to myself and others? This weekend residential retreat, open to all, is an opportunity to explore these questions through Buddhist teachings and silent contemplative practices. Guidance in vipassana (insight) and metta (lovingkindness) meditation will be offered, encouraging greater awareness, calm abiding, and open-heartedness. We will practice mindfulness in sitting meditation, walking meditation, and while eating. Through these ancient practices, still relevant for modern times, compassion and wisdom deepen, and our innate freedom is revealed. Suitable for new and experienced students alike.

The general schedule (all times are PST):

Friday June 6: 7:15pm-8:45pm

Saturday June 7: 9:30am - 4:30pm

Sunday June 8: 9:30am - 3:30pm

GENERAL INFORMATION

Registration: Please register for your ticket on Eventbrite before the start of the event. There will be no registration onsite at the door. If you are unable to register online or have any questions, please contact jess@bcims.org

In-Person COVID-19 Safety Measures: This retreat is planned to have a limited number of attendees. All health guidelines in place at the time of the retreat for group gatherings will be followed and communicated to attendees. Please note we will continue to monitor BC's COVID protocols and will communicate any potential changes to the event via email.

We encourage attendees to be fully vaccinated including booster vaccinations. We will not be asking for proof of vaccination during sign in.

A mask mandatory event: This event requires all attendees to be masked while indoors, including while seated in the meditation hall.

Please do not attend if you have any symptoms of a fever, cough or a cold, if you have had recent contact with anyone with COVID, or if you have tested positive for COVID. Refunds are available upon request.

Click here for BCIMS' COVID Safety webpage.

Cancellation Policy: You may request a refund up to 24 hours before the start of retreat. Please note there is a $25 non-refundable registration fee. To cancel your ticket, log on to Eventbrite with your email address. Go to your tickets for this event and click on "Request a Refund".

Ridesharing: The information collected during registration regarding ridesharing will be shared by email to all interested attendees 7 days prior to the retreat. Attendees are then responsible for connecting directly with each other to make any ridesharing arrangements.

Sliding Scale Retreat Fees: Fees for this retreat are offered on a sliding scale of $80, $140, and $200 for the full weekend. Please choose the rate you can joyfully offer. We are also offering a small set of Friday Night Only tickets for $40.

Teacher Dana: In the Buddhist tradition, teachings are given freely because they are considered priceless; in the Buddhist tradition we also practice dana, or generosity, by making monetary offerings to the teachers. Dana is not payment for goods or services rendered; it is given from the heart. Your generosity is a gift that supports not just the teachers, but also the Sangha, the larger Dharma community, and your own practice. Note that your registration fee goes toward BC Insight Meditation Society organizational expenses which allow us to continue offering retreats such as this one. More info on Dana is shared below.

Financial Assistance: No one is turned away for lack of funds. If you require additional financial assistance to attend this retreat please contact jess@bcims.org.

Accessibility: Please visit this UBC website outlining accessibility to the Asian Library, located in the Asian Centre.

Before you go: Information about preparing for the retreat, including what to bring, and safety reminders, are sent to attendees a few days before the start of the retreat. You may also click here to view the information and reminders.

DANA

In-person offering: Envelopes labelled "Dana" will be available at the retreat for you to offer cash dana to Anushka.

Other options for offering dana: Dana may be offered to Anushka virtually. More info will be shared with registrants on retreat.

TEACHER BIO

Anushka Fernandopulle has trained for over 35 years in the Theravada Buddhist tradition in the U.S., India and Sri Lanka and teaches retreats and workshops around the globe. Her teaching is informed by nature, creative arts, political engagement and modern urban life. Anushka is a Core Teacher at Spirit Rock Meditation Center in California and lives in San Francisco. She has also worked a leadership coach and organizational consultant influenced by a BA in anthropology/religion from Harvard and an MBA from Yale. For more info see www.anushkaf.org.

With heartfelt gratitude, BCIMS acknowledges we are based in what is now known as Vancouver, BC, the beautiful, traditional, and unceded lands of the Skwxwú7mesh (Squamish), xʷməθkwəy̓əm (Musqueam), and Səl̓ílwətaʔ/Selilwitulh (Tsleil-Waututh) peoples, who live on and have stewarded this land for thousands of years.