When confronted by difficult circumstances, our "normal" patterns and rhythms of doing life are disrupted. These disorienting disruptions can provide an opportunity to notice how we respond to change and see more clearly what guides and informs our decisions and actions. As we shift our attention in this way we discover that what we might ordinarily call problems are actually profound practice opportunities.
A Bodhisattva trains to meet these circumstances in the most wholesome manner, with mindful attention and loving kindness. Without that practice, we are easily pulled back into old patterns of conditioning and habit. The Bodhisattva’s path invites and encourages us to meet life as it is and calls forward our most skillful response in each moment. This commitment to awakening is made manifest when we take responsibility for our motivations, our reactions, and act with clarity and shared purpose.
In this weekend retreat, we will explore the guiding principles of the Bodhisattva Way which include the Refuges and Precepts common to all Buddhist traditions. These guidelines provide a framework to support our individual and collective commitment to living fully and lovingly for the benefit of all beings.
Flint Sparks is a Soto Zen teacher and former psychologist dedicated to assisting people in the unending path of growing up and waking up. He is an experienced therapist and a master teacher who assists people in the skillful removal of blocks to love, both inside and outside. He is a clear and caring resource on the path of freedom from unnecessary suffering. His traditional Zen ordination and training began at San Francisco Zen Center more than twenty years ago, and Flint is currently a senior teacher at the Apamada Zen Center in Austin, Texas. He lives on Molokai in Hawaii and leads Zen retreats throughout North America and Europe. He has been a beloved teacher to the EBS community since 2019, and we are delighted to welcome him back to Little Rock.
Retreat Schedule:
Friday, October 7 Evening talk, starting at 7:00 pm
Saturday, October 8, all day practice, starting at 9:00 am and ending at 5:00 pm with a mid-day break for lunch
Sunday, October 9, half-day practice, starting at 9:00 am and ending at noon.
Registration:
Seating in the EBS meditation hall is limited to 35 people. In-person registration costs $130 for the whole weekend, $10 for Friday night.
The retreat will also be offered on Zoom. Registration for Zoom costs $65 for the whole weekend, $5 for Friday night. Some of the live events will be recorded and posted online at a later time.