Meditation and Inner Freedom
A weekend retreat with Dr. Ashwani Kumar
May 25-27, 2018 (Friday 7 pm – Sunday 4:30 pm)
Exploring the true meaning and significance of meditation can revolutionize one’s life. This workshop, led by Dr. Ashwani Kumar*, provides an opportunity to deeply understand what meditation and awareness are and how they open us to an authentic, passionate and free life.
We will explore the following questions: What is meditation? What is awareness? How is meditative awareness connected to living an authentic and free life? How do the demands and pressures of modern life—like the expectations that we struggle, achieve, and accumulate—undermine our innate freedom? How does meditative awareness develop our deeper intrinsic intelligence, which would lead to an unencumbered life that is natural and peaceful, as well as creative and passionate?
Over the weekend, we will discover what we can do at the level of our bodies, minds, and emotions to lay a foundation for the meditative movement to emerge from deep within ourselves, so that we may reclaim our intrinsic connection to the creative and intelligent movement of life.
The retreat will involve a) dialogues; b) experimenting with relaxation exercises that release tensions from the body and the mind and create a sense of awareness; c) learning to observe and experience our thoughts and emotions, free from judgment and desire to change. Such an endeavour demands a sincere interest in learning about ourselves and an open-minded willingness to engage with one another. The serene and peaceful grounds of the Centre are an ideal location for this potentially transformative exploration.
“The ability to observe without evaluating is the highest form of intelligence.” — “Freedom is found in the choiceless awareness of our everyday life.”
J. Krishnamurti
*Dr. Ashwani Kumar is a Professor of Education at Mount Saint Vincent University in Halifax. He is passionate about holistic education and has spoken at Krishnamurti schools and study centers in the US, Canada, the UK, and India. He is the author of the book Curriculum As Meditative Inquiry (Palgrave Macmillan, 2013) which explores Krishnamurti’s insights regarding meditation, consciousness, and education.
Cost:
Shared accommodation (double occupancy) with meals:
Regular rate: $250 Early bird rate*: $220
Private accommodation with meals:
Regular rate: $300 Early bird rate*: $270
Day Commuter – with meals:
Regular rate: $190 Early bird rate*: $170
Day Commuter – without meals:
Regular rate: $140 Early bird rate*: $120
* valid up to 30 days before the event
Stay for an additional 1-3 nights after the retreat at a discounted rate of only $40/night.
Persons with financial constraints may be offered a special discount. Please contact the program manager, Ralph Tiller, here.
