In an effort to include everyone, regardless of their ability to pay, we have changed our retreats from tuition based to donation based.  We ask that you donate as much as you can to help with the operating cost of Flowering Lotus.    We ask for a minimum donation of $50 per person to the teacher and $150 directly to the Center.  Although a more usual donation would be $100-$195 for the teacher and a weekend retreat would cost $295-$425 at most centers. 

Practicing Compassion in Daily Life with Bhante Suhita Dharma
January 29-30, 2011
Bhante Suhita Dharma will discuss various ways in which we can expand compassion  in our lives through meditation
and other practices.  This will be a mini-retreat beginning Saturday morning at 7:45 am  and ending Sunday at 11 am.  Kindly bring your own linen and towels.  This is a pot-luck retreat.  Please bring a vegetarian dish and the center  will provide the salad bar and beverages. 

Vitality In Times of Stress:  A Retreat of Kundalini Yoga
with Bill Savage
July 22-24, 2011
In this three-day Kundalini Yoga retreat, we will rediscover our always-present, though often-hidden, sources of vitality and seek understandings of our experiences of stress.    All of this will take place through the flow of six yoga sessions. In addition, early each morning we will join in the beautiful practices of chanting and spiritual awakening, and on the second night, come together in a healing meditation.   Kundalini Yoga as taught by Yogi Bhajan is a yoga of awareness and energy. A Kundalini Yoga session comprises mantra (chanting and music), pranayama (breathing), mudra (hand gestures), bandha (body locks), asana (body postures), savasana (relaxation) and samadhi (meditation).

Bill Savage completed his Level One Kundalini Yoga teacher training in October 2007 in Thailand, and the five Level Two modules of Authentic Relationships, Conscious Communication, Mind & Meditation, Lifecycles & Lifestyles, and Vitality & Stress by September 2010.  Bill has worked as a math and English teacher, a professor of language and education, and has also consulted internationally as an organizational and community development facilitator with humanitarian organizations, most recently in the areas of child rights, HIV and AIDS, and maternal health.

People tend to like it when meditation produces peak experiences of bliss and inner peace.  We may find it unpleasant when the simplicity of silent meditation brings us face to face with our core anxiety, irritability and judgmental thinking.  We may even feel disconcerted when negative feelings such as anger or fear arise.  Meditation is a dynamic vehicle for uncovering, lifting and ridding ourselves of many deep-seated negative emotions.  This silent retreat is an invitation to nurture our ability to become our own best friend by practicing kindness, honesty and wise compassion toward the person with whom we have the greatest intimacy:  ourself.

Mushim Patricia Ikeda is a Buddhist teacher, writer, diversity consultant, and community activist. She is based in Oakland, California where she is a core teacher at the East Bay Meditation Center, www.eastbaymeditation.org

Through Insight Meditation we learn to clearly see the truth of our experience and to free ourselves from old patterns of reactivity and suffering. Mindfulness is the basic practice of Insight Meditation. With systematic instructions in both sitting and walking meditation, the emphasis will be on establishing mindfulness in both stillness and movement in order to deepen and sustain awareness in daily life. Participants will practice Noble Silence, limiting speaking to only what is necessary. There will be times for questions and discussion, as well as dharma talks, as a way to support your understanding of the practice.  This is an excellent opportunity for those new to meditation and also ideal for experienced practitioners who wish to deepen their meditation.

Carla Brennan M.Ed., is a Vipassana teacher at Bloom of Present Insight Meditation Sangha of Santa Cruz &
San Lorenzo Valley that has been practicing Buddhist meditation since 1975 in the Zen, Vipassana, and Tibetan traditions. Her many teachers include Zen Master Sueng Sahn, Jack Kornfield, and Lama Surya Das. Carla is a Spirit Rock Meditation Center visiting teacher. She is a former psychotherapist.   Carla is also an artist and craftsperson; she creates pastel paintings, photographs and makes beaded jewelry. If you are interested in seeing her creative work go to: www.stonesandbones.etsy.com or www.artists.com.

How do we carry the benefits of sitting meditation into the world once we stand up and walk away from the cushion? “Meditation in Motion” is an integrated movement philosophy that uses Tai Chi, Chi Gung, Yoga and various gentle Martial Arts techniques to strengthen the physical and metaphysical connections between your mind, body & spirit. Learn to balance your Ying & Yang, and harness the universal, natural and innate energies of Fire, Water, Earth, Air and Space through short, easy to learn movement practices. Increase your awareness, concentration, and mindfulness and learn to stay in the present moment as you move through your daily journey.

Master John W. Ellis IV, is a martial artist with more than 25 years of experience in helping people strengthen the connections between the mind, body and spirit. He teaches a variety of people, including toddlers, youth, adults, senior citizens, athletes, the physically challenged, teen mothers and autistic children.   He has more than 20 years of meditation practice in Christian, Zen, Vipassana and New Thought traditions. John teaches the Five Realms of Life, a Meditative Movement practice that explores the properties of Fire, Water, Earth, Air and Space.

Dolores Watson, Founder of Flowering Lotus Meditation and Retreat Center, has been involved with healing modalities of mind, body and spirit for many years.   Certified to teach hatha yoga and meditation by Integral Yoga over 35 years ago, she has continued expanding her knowledge of  healing through meditation, visualizations and affirmations. 

Pat Brawley, Ph.D. is a Professional Counselor, Therapist, Life Coach, Researcher and Writer with over twenty years experience focusing on the interaction between mind and body.  She maintains a therapy and consulting practice and is a university professor.  She is strongly influenced by mindfulness and meditation practice, Buddhist psychology, yoga and humanistic values and beliefs.