BEGIN:VCALENDAR VERSION:2.0 PRODID:-//Clear Sky Meditation Centre - ECPv6.13.2.1//NONSGML v1.0//EN CALSCALE:GREGORIAN METHOD:PUBLISH X-WR-CALNAME:Clear Sky Meditation Centre X-ORIGINAL-URL:https://test.clearskycenter.org X-WR-CALDESC:Events for Clear Sky Meditation Centre REFRESH-INTERVAL;VALUE=DURATION:PT1H X-Robots-Tag:noindex X-PUBLISHED-TTL:PT1H BEGIN:VTIMEZONE TZID:America/Chicago BEGIN:DAYLIGHT TZOFFSETFROM:-0600 TZOFFSETTO:-0500 TZNAME:CDT DTSTART:20230312T080000 END:DAYLIGHT BEGIN:STANDARD TZOFFSETFROM:-0500 TZOFFSETTO:-0600 TZNAME:CST DTSTART:20231105T070000 END:STANDARD BEGIN:DAYLIGHT TZOFFSETFROM:-0600 TZOFFSETTO:-0500 TZNAME:CDT DTSTART:20240310T080000 END:DAYLIGHT BEGIN:STANDARD TZOFFSETFROM:-0500 TZOFFSETTO:-0600 TZNAME:CST DTSTART:20241103T070000 END:STANDARD BEGIN:DAYLIGHT TZOFFSETFROM:-0600 TZOFFSETTO:-0500 TZNAME:CDT DTSTART:20250309T080000 END:DAYLIGHT BEGIN:STANDARD TZOFFSETFROM:-0500 TZOFFSETTO:-0600 TZNAME:CST DTSTART:20251102T070000 END:STANDARD BEGIN:DAYLIGHT TZOFFSETFROM:-0600 TZOFFSETTO:-0500 TZNAME:CDT DTSTART:20260308T080000 END:DAYLIGHT BEGIN:STANDARD TZOFFSETFROM:-0500 TZOFFSETTO:-0600 TZNAME:CST DTSTART:20261101T070000 END:STANDARD END:VTIMEZONE BEGIN:VTIMEZONE TZID:America/Edmonton BEGIN:DAYLIGHT TZOFFSETFROM:-0700 TZOFFSETTO:-0600 TZNAME:MDT DTSTART:20230312T090000 END:DAYLIGHT BEGIN:STANDARD TZOFFSETFROM:-0600 TZOFFSETTO:-0700 TZNAME:MST DTSTART:20231105T080000 END:STANDARD BEGIN:DAYLIGHT TZOFFSETFROM:-0700 TZOFFSETTO:-0600 TZNAME:MDT DTSTART:20240310T090000 END:DAYLIGHT BEGIN:STANDARD TZOFFSETFROM:-0600 TZOFFSETTO:-0700 TZNAME:MST DTSTART:20241103T080000 END:STANDARD BEGIN:DAYLIGHT TZOFFSETFROM:-0700 TZOFFSETTO:-0600 TZNAME:MDT DTSTART:20250309T090000 END:DAYLIGHT BEGIN:STANDARD TZOFFSETFROM:-0600 TZOFFSETTO:-0700 TZNAME:MST DTSTART:20251102T080000 END:STANDARD END:VTIMEZONE BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20230713T190000 DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20230803T200000 DTSTAMP:20260503T090835 CREATED:20230702T213153Z LAST-MODIFIED:20230708T102019Z UID:19801-1689274800-1691092800@test.clearskycenter.org SUMMARY:Meditation Circle: Community Classes for Inner Well-Being (Online or In-Person) DESCRIPTION:Online or In-Person at Clear SkyThursdays 7-8pm MST \nWeekly Meditation Classes\nHow do you grow your inner well-being?  These community classes at Clear Sky Center help you develop a stronger meditation practice.   \nJoin us for Meditation Circle\, Thursday nights (7:00-8:00pm MST) at Clear Sky Center.   \nThese classes run throughout the year except for when we are closed for group retreats. This current series will be on ‘The Art of Conscious Living’\, and runs for four weeks: Thursday\, July 13th to August 3rd.  Drop ins are welcome\, and we also encourage you to attend all classes if possible. \nThere are two ways to attend – in person or online. Just click the appropriate button to register. See you soon!  \n \n \n Registration – In Person Class\n \n \n Registration – Online Class\n \nQuestions?  \nContact Richard via email or phone: \nrichard@planetdharma.com | 250-429-3929 \n \n\n\n “Meditation is like turning on a light in a dark room. The power of awareness lets us see what is there – in our bodies\, emotions\, mind\, workplaces\, homes and relationships. Seeing what is there gives us the freedom and the courage to make deeply impactful changes.” \n\n Duncan Cryle\n \n\n\nSeries Overview: The Art of Conscious Living\n\nwith Duncan Cryle\nOnce you can reach some kind of calm and clarity in your daily meditation\, what does it look like to apply it? What kind of a person do you show up as? For this meditation circle series\, we will explore character traits you can bring to your life\, work and relationships that are based on a clear loving meditative state.  Drawing from contemporary studies\, we’ll look at seven core ways of showing up from embracing personal responsibility\, to authentically communicating and relating with integrity.  These seven ways can be seen as how the meditative mind of openness and peace moves in the world.  Learning and cultivating these offer a way to bridge between your inner life and your life in the world.  \nAlong with this study\, we’ll continuing building the foundation of breathing meditation practice together.  And we’ll continuing coming together as a virtual community to share and learn together. \n“Living consciously is a state of being mentally active rather than passive. It is the ability to look at the world through fresh eyes … Living consciously is seeking to be aware of everything that bears on our interests\, actions\, values\, purposes and goals. It is the willingness to confront facts\, pleasant and unpleasant. It is the desire to discover our mistakes and correct them … it is the quest to keep expanding our awareness and understanding both of the world external to self and of the world within” \n–Nathaniel Branden \n \n \n \n \n\n\n “I feel like we’re so disembodied today in our technological culture that meditation is my little kindness to myself in saying ‘hello body\, you’re part of my day.'” \n\n Karen McAllister\n \n\nMeditation Circle Teachers\n \nKaren McAllister\nAs Clear Sky’s Chair of the Board and Director of Business Development\, I’m passionate about teaching the much-ignored principles of nurturing the factors – like honor your space\, structure\, and communication – that create the conditions we need to wake up more in daily life. I see how I learned and embodied these principles in my different roles at Clear Sky as the center went from self-starter to second-stage growth. This is what I call “the hands-on way of doing an MBA with a spiritual bottom line!” \nIn my free time\, I love travelling\, speaking Portuguese and reading history\, architecture and art books. \nDuncan Cryle\nThrough 30+ years of personal practice and 15+ teaching meditation and mindfulness\, alongside an active career working all over the world\, I’ve learnt a lot about an integrating mindfulness into daily life.  As a founding member of Clear Sky in 2004\, I’m amazed at the power of a beautiful\, natural and dedicated space for supporting people to deepen their meditation and feel more connected.  Alongside. my Clear Sky work\, I hold a director position at a large software company where I also run a volunteer global mindfulness program to 1000s employees.  I was formerly one of the pioneers of IBM’s mindfulness movement.  I’m passionate about how mindfulness-based approaches can transform how we live and work together\, and be of better service in the world. \n \n \nMaureen Smith\nMaureen Smith (MSW\, RCSW) is a therapist and meditation teacher. Passionate about what she does\, she will guide you to a more alive\, aware and mindful path of living. \nMaureen is a well-respected Cranbrook-based therapist and educator. She works with individuals and couples in the public sector in addictions and mental health. Not only was Maureen the first acting caretaker at Clear Sky Meditation Center in BC\, she has studied numerous meditation practices intensively for over 10 years. She has a Master of Social Work degree and is a Registered Clinical Social Worker in British Columbia. \nCara Conroy-Lau\nCara brings a joyful East meets West approach to meditation and holistic health. \nAs a New Zealand-born citizen of the world\, she grew up in New Zealand\, Singapore\, Japan and China. Cara has trained in mind-body integrative health for over 18 years. She is the founding acupuncturist at Cranbrook Acupuncture Clinic. \nCara has been training in meditation and Buddhist philosophy since her early 20’s\, and has a particular interest in Asian philosophy.  She is a long time resident at Clear Sky Centre\, and was the Centre’s first farm and food forest manager from 2009-2012.  \n \n \n Registration – Online Class\n \n \n Registration – In Person Class\n \nCourse Cost: Dāna\n \nWe offer this course on the basis of dāna.  If you’re not familiar with dāna\, you may have come across related approaches such as “pay from the heart.” \nDāna is a Sanskrit term that translates as “generosity” in English. The practice of generosity is central to spiritual unfoldment\, whatever path you follow. In our own Buddhist lineage\, teachings have always been given on the basis of dāna\, and we are committed to this practice and its development in the West. \nDāna is a radical and – we believe – viable economic alternative to capitalism. We all know there must be something better than capitalism or its hungry cousin\, consumerism. We maintain that\, together\, we can offer a financial model that is based in life-affirming mutual support. Please join us in co-creating this promising economic alternative. \n \n \nTo help you choose an amount that feels right for you\, we recommend this heart-based exercise from our friends at Planet Dharma.  \nChecking in with your heart\n1) Take a few quiet breaths and center yourself. Spend a few moments to reflect on each of the below: the beauty and integrity of dāna practice; the value of receiving direct teachings from lineage holders in a recognized spiritual tradition; the reality of your financial situation. \n2) Spend another few moments contacting a sense of health\, strength and abundance. You have a healthy mind\, a body\, senses\, the good karma to have heard the teachings\, and conditions to support your practice of Dharma. Celebrate this! \n3) Now check with your heart and mind what amount feels both consistent with your situation\, and expressive of your aspiration. \nIt’s our joy to offer this course\, and we trust you’ll match our time\, energy\, and passion by giving an amount of money that feels good and healthy to both you and us. \n \n Register Now – Online Class\n \n \n Register Now – In Person Class URL:https://test.clearskycenter.org/event/meditation-circle-july-2023/ LOCATION:Clear Sky Meditation Center\, 3567 Cockell Road\, PO BOX 19\, Fort Steele\, British Columbia\, V0B 1NO\, Canada CATEGORIES:Coaching,Online Courses ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://test.clearskycenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/2.png ORGANIZER;CN="Clear Sky Center":MAILTO:contact@clearskycenter.org END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/Edmonton:20230721T170000 DTEND;TZID=America/Edmonton:20230723T170000 DTSTAMP:20260503T090835 CREATED:20230328T193439Z LAST-MODIFIED:20230622T025534Z UID:18673-1689958800-1690131600@test.clearskycenter.org SUMMARY:As the Spirit Moves (In-Person and Online) DESCRIPTION:“If you want truth\, it costs all of you.” -Qapel \nShow up for teachings from Qapel and find out what he’ll teach. It will be eclectic and sure to inspire. In the spirit of Guru Yoga – unorganised\, undetermined\, unregulated. No seatbelts allowed.  \n \n Attend In-Person\n \n \n Attend Online\n \n \nBuddhism\nfocus area\nGuru Yoga\npractice\nWeekend\nDuration\nAdvanced\nSkill Level\nIn-Person & Online \nformat\nSection Headline\nJoin Qapel (Achariya Doug Duncan) for an eclectic weekend of ‘old school’ style dharma teachings. In the past\, people ‘showed up’ for dharma teachings\, regardless of topic. The teachings given were inspired by the energy of the people there. \nIn the spirit of Guru Yoga this course will be relatively unorganised\, undetermined and unregulated. So\, think of this weekend like a challenge – what will happen if you have no idea what will be taught\, where the teachings might flow\, how the spirit will move? \nIn tantrayana\, guru yoga is considered the pinnacle practice – and our Western egos tend to have a hard time with this. So\, throw down the glove! Are you willing to take this leap of faith. Can your ego handle it?  \n \n Attend In-Person\n \n \n Attend Online\n \n \n \n \n “I have yet to encounter another setting where I grow as much as I do while at Clear Sky. The balance of support\, genuine care and challenge is rare and precious.\nWhen it comes to spiritual transformation\, Clear Sky is a place and group of people that is not only talking-the-talk but actively walking-the-walk.”\n Ruth L. \nCourse Details\nTime and Location\nAs the Spirit Moves will be led by Qapel (Achariya Doug Duncan) at Clear Sky Meditation Center in Eastern BC. \nAn online option is also available for those not in Western Canada\, to make participation possible from anywhere in the world. \nWhat Does the Course Cost?\nIn-Person Participants: 1) dāna to the Teachers and 2) accomodation and meal costs for your stay Clear Sky Meditation Centre. \nOnline Participants: 1) dāna to the Teacher and 2) online administration fee of $150. \n \nMeet the Teachers\n \nQapel (Achariya Doug Duncan) \nQapel studied with the Ven. Namgyal Rinpoche from 1974 until the latter’s passing in 2003. Doug received lay ordination from Namgyal Rinpoche in 1978\, and is a lineage holder in that teaching. He also received teachings from the 16th Karmapa and other Tibetan Rinpoches\, as well as from the Ven. Sayadaw U Thila Wunta and from a Master of the Western Mystery School. In addition\, Doug has undertaken numerous three-month solitary meditation retreats. \nDoug has been leading retreats\, teaching and training in universal practices of spiritual unfoldment since 1985\, helping thousands of students in numerous countries liberate themselves from suffering. His teaching also draws on contemporary psychology and science. In 2004 he co-founded Clear Sky Retreat Center in the BC Rockies where he is resident teacher along with Catherine Pawasarat Sensei. \nMore About Qapel | About the Lineage \nAbout Clear Sky\nLocated in the BC rocky mountains\, we offer over 300-acres to deepen your practice and reconnect with nature.  \nFounded by Qapel Doug Duncan and Catherine Pawasarat Sensei\, we are home to students from around the globe who are dedicated to co-creating a supportive and innovative space for awakening in our modern world. \nIn adherence with our quadruple bottom line\, we source our food as local and organic as possible. \nEVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW on how to get here\, what to bring and what to expect.  \n \n \n Attend In-Person\n \n \n Attend Online\n \n \n \n \n “This retreat centre is the REAL THING. It’s a modern monastery with people grounded in the present and practicing old and new methods of living in a spiritual community. This group walks the talk. I have made the trek from Ontario all the way to this remote corner of BC every year for the last 16 years to study with these teachers\, interact with these fellow seekers\, and bask in the beauty of this gorgeous property.”\n Linda H.\n \nFAQs\n Dana and Pricing \nDana: \nThis retreat is offered on the basis of dāna (generosity). \nDāna is a Sanskrit term meaning “generosity”\, and is the traditional way in which Buddhist teachings are offered.  With dāna\, we give as a mutual exchange of generosity. You may have come across this in the form of “pay from the heart”. It’s our joy to offer this course\, and we trust you’ll match our time\, energy\, and passion by giving an amount of money that feels good and healthy to both you and us. \nYou will be sent a link to offer “dana” to the teachers after registration.  \nFor more information on dāna click here. \nPricing: As a charitable organization\, we strive to provide locally sourced organic meals and comfortable accommodations at an affordable price. Fees vary depending on your accommodation choice and early bird pricing. \n Detailed Daily Schedule (Long retreats) \nSpecific times may change – this is a rough guide (MST) \n6:30 – 7:30 AM: Walk &/or Personal Practice7:30 – 8:15 AM: Breakfast: Prepare\, eat\, clean up8:15 – 8:45 AM: Walk &/or Personal Practice9:00 – 10:00 AM: Class with Teachers10:00 – 10:30 AM: Walk10:30 – 11:30 AM: Group Practice led by Sangha11:30 – 12:30 PM: Personal Practice12:30 – 1:30 PM: Lunch: Prepare\, eat\, clean up1:30 – 3:00 PM: Personal Practice3:00 – 4:00 PM: Group Practice led by Sangha4:00 – 5:30 PM: Personal Practice5:30 – 7:00 PM: Dinner: prepare\, eat\, clean up7:00 – 7:30 PM: Walk &/or Personal Practice7:30 – 8:30 PM: Group Practice and Q & A with Teachers8:30 – Beyond: Personal Practice & bed \n Food\, Weather\, Accommodation and How to Get Here \nClick here for details on how to get here\, what to bring and what to expect.  \n \n \n \n Attend In-Person\n \n \n Attend Online URL:https://test.clearskycenter.org/event/as-the-spirit-moves/ CATEGORIES:Featured Courses,Group Retreats and Courses,Online Courses ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://test.clearskycenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/As-the-Spirit-Moves-online.jpg END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/Edmonton:20230811T150000 DTEND;TZID=America/Edmonton:20230820T150000 DTSTAMP:20260503T090835 CREATED:20230205T223441Z LAST-MODIFIED:20230729T135159Z UID:18756-1691766000-1692543600@test.clearskycenter.org SUMMARY:Breathing 2.0 Meditation Retreat DESCRIPTION:“The meditation on Mindfulness of Breathing is not only suitable for all beings\, it is also the direct way to enlightenment.” \nNamgyal Rinpoche \nBreathing practice is suitable whether you are a new or seasoned meditator. \nIf you have a background in Vipassana retreats and are interested in doing something that is similar but a next step\, with a live teacher\, then this retreat may be for you. \nLed by Catherine Pawasarat Sensei\, this retreat gives an opportunity for more detailed instructions based on the Buddhist suttas\, and opportunities for asking questions and receiving feedback on your practice. \nIn-person and Online options available. \nIn-Person Registration Deadline: July 28th \nOnline Registration Deadline: August 4th \n \n Attend In-Person (Registration Closed)\n \n \n Attend Online\n \n \nBuddhism \nfocus area\nMeditation Retreat \npractice\nTen Days \nDuration\nAll Levels \nSkill Level\nIn-Person & Online \nformat\nBreathing Meditation Retreat\nThe 2022 Breathing Retreat was so powerful for participants that we just had to push the 2.0 ‘repeat’ button. \nRepetition for mastery is what meditation is all about. Whether you are a new or a seasoned practitioner\, we continually hone our attentiveness to the breath until calm\, clarity and wisdom emerges. \nAt this retreat\, the practice itself is life changing\, profound and healing. And most importantly\, you will benefit from the rare in-person guidance of an accomplished  meditation teacher and wisdom holder – Catherine Pawasarat Sensei. \nBreathing meditation is suitable for all types of people.  It develops concentration\, calm\, bliss and insight – altogether leading to awakening and healing. \nIf you have a background in Vipassana retreats and are interested in doing something that is similar but a next step\, with a live teacher\, then this retreat may be for you. This retreat gives an opportunity for more detailed instructions based on the Buddhist suttas\, and opportunities for asking questions and receiving feedback on your practice. \nAn online option is also available for those not in Western Canada\, to make participation possible from anywhere in the world. \nWhile we believe any undertaking can be a vehicle for awakening\, there’s no substitute for the power of one’s own profound experience of truth\, gained through meditation. This is why meditation is one of the four foundational practices of our teaching. \nA guiding text for this retreat is the Ānāpānasati Sutta\, or Mindfulness of Breathing Discourse.  In it\, the Buddha describes 16 steps of practice divided into four areas of mindfulness. \nThis simple yet powerful framework will extend your meditation experience to everything from subatomic particles to the vastness of space\, and all that’s between.  It includes practice in all four postures – sitting\, walking standing and lying down.  Finally\, we will also offer support for bridging the gap between retreat and daily life when you get home. \n \n Attend In-Person (Registration Closed)\n \n \n Attend Online\n \n \n \n \nWhat Do Previous Retreatants Say?\n “I greatly appreciate the depth of knowledge and level of expertise that is shared by Sensei. Her teachings are always well prepared and transformative in my spiritual growth.”\n Michele C.Astrologer \nSchedule\nArrival: August 11th at 3pm\, MT \nSample brief daily schedule: \n9am Class with Teacher \n11am Group Meditation led by a Senior Student \n12:30pm Lunch \n3pm Group Meditation led by a Senior Student \n6pm Dinner \n7:30 pm Meditation and Q&A with Qapel  \nDeparture: August 20th at 3 pm  \n*Daily schedule is subject to changes closer to the course date. \n \nQuestions about the retreat? Phone 250-429-3929\, or contact maureen@clearskycenter.org.\n \n \nMeet the Teachers\n \nCatherine Pawasarat Sensei \nCatherine Pawasarat Sensei is a contemporary Dharma teacher\, attendant\, consort\, co-teacher via Planet Dharma and co-founder of Clear Sky Retreat Center.  \nShe has trained daily with Acariya Doug Duncan since 1998 in an intensive spiritual apprenticeship that is rare in the modern West. She received lay ordination from Namgyal Rinpoche in 2003. In addition to Buddhist philosophy and its applications to daily life\, Catherine also draws on generative living and the arts. \nMore About Sensei | About the Lineage \n \n\nReady to Register?\nIf you have questions about the retreat\, please phone 250-429-3929\, or contact bookings@clearskycenter.org. \nRegistration details are coming very soon. In the meantime\, you can also use the above contact details to pre-register for the retreat.\n \n Attend In-Person (Registration Closed)\n \n \n Attend Online\n \nAbout Clear Sky\nLocated in the BC rocky mountains\, we offer over 300-acres to deepen your practice and reconnect with nature.  \nFounded by Qapel Doug Duncan and Catherine Pawasarat Sensei\, we are home to students from around the globe who are dedicated to co-creating a supportive and innovative space for awakening in our modern world. \nIn adherence with our quadruple bottom line\, we source our food as local and organic as possible. \nEVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW on how to get here\, what to bring and what to expect.  \n \n \n \n \n “This retreat centre is the REAL THING. It’s a modern monastery with people grounded in the present and practicing old and new methods of living in a spiritual community. This group walks the talk. I have made the trek from Ontario all the way to this remote corner of BC every year for the last 16 years to study with these teachers\, interact with these fellow seekers\, and bask in the beauty of this gorgeous property.”\n Linda H.Dharma Teacher & Author\n \nFAQs\n In-Person Attendance: Dana and Cost \nDana: \nThis retreat is offered on the basis of dāna (generosity). \nDāna is a Sanskrit term meaning “generosity”\, and is the traditional way in which Buddhist teachings are offered.  With dāna\, we give as a mutual exchange of generosity. You may have come across this in the form of “pay from the heart”. It’s our joy to offer this course\, and we trust you’ll match our time\, energy\, and passion by giving an amount of money that feels good and healthy to both you and us. \nYou will be sent a link to offer “dana” to the teachers after registration.  \nFor more information on dāna click here. \nPricing:  \nIn addition to Dana to the Teacher\, Clear Sky Meditation Centre provides an incredible space for your retreat.  Situated on a beautiful 310-acre property in the Rocky Mountains\, the center and its karma yogis provide you nourishing daily meals and comfortable accomodation. Read more: Staying with us (Clear Sky Meditation Centre) \nPlease go to the retreat registration page for this retreat for details of the all inclusive fee for the retreat. \n Online Attendance: Dana\, Cost and Requirements \nDana: \nThis retreat is offered on the basis of dāna (generosity). \nDāna is a Sanskrit term meaning “generosity”\, and is the traditional way in which Buddhist teachings are offered.  With dāna\, we give as a mutual exchange of generosity. You may have come across this in the form of “pay from the heart”. It’s our joy to offer this course\, and we trust you’ll match our time\, energy\, and passion by giving an amount of money that feels good and healthy to both you and us. \nYou will be sent a link to offer “dana” to the teachers after registration.  \nFor more information on dāna click here. \nPricing: \nIn order to bring you this retreat at home\, there is an additional admin fee* of $350 CAD. The admin fee is to cover the costs of running these online courses – for equipment and software to provide you the teachings online. \nIf you are taking this retreat online\, we require that you devote your full attention to the retreat for the entire week. \nRequirements include: \n\nBlock out the retreat duration and be focused on the retreat for this entire period\, using this time and participating in the retreat as if you were at Clear Sky in person.  This includes a rigorous\, full\, daily meditation schedule.\nParticipate in all of the daily classes and group practices via online streaming.\nSet up a quiet space or location where you can focus on the Meditation Retreat\, and not need to engage in conversation or work with others.\nPut away your phone\, digital devices and other distractions.\nIf there are enough people in the same time zone as you\, you could also make a cohort to meet to do a group practice throughout the retreat.\nNote: full details/ requirements will be sent to you after registering\n\n  \nAbout the administrative fee* \nIn a traditional model of in-person teachings\, a retreat center or urban meditation center invites teachers to visit. In these cases the centers have infrastructure and organization costs to cover\, which might be covered by an admin fee. For the teaching itself\, dāna to the teachers is offered in a bowl. This honors both the sustainability of the teachers and of the supporting center. \nWe’ve tried to recreate this approach online.The teachers’ time and the teaching themselves are offered on the basis of dāna\, separate to the admin fee. With our dāna offering we are making a direct gift of generosity to the teachers to support their teachings and livelihood. Learn more about the practice of dāna here. \nThe admin fee goes to support the infrastructure and organization necessary to support them to teach. As anyone with an online business will know\, it can be surprising the costs of setting up a good infrastructure to support effective teaching and connection online. \nBelow are a few of the work and benefits that your admin fee payment is supporting: \n\nhigh speed internet (to allow interviews and classes on-line)\nonline class systems (Zoom)\nregistration / admin systems (Eventbrite\, Basecamp)\ncommunication systems to keep everyone informed\, share connection details\, teachings and other resources (Mailchimp)\nonline storage (for example\, Dropbox\, to allow us to let students watch recordings and to store and share selected teachings in other forms such as podcasts and videos after the Teachings)\nquality sound\, video and editing equipment (both for live teachings and to provide good enough quality for later sharing as podcasts and video). We are regularly updating our equipment to improve your user experience.\nonline calendar booking system to allow students to book interviews\nwebsite hosting and maintenance for sharing upcoming courses\, teachings\, blogs and other resources.\n\nMay all our efforts be sustainable\, abundant and for the benefit of all beings! \n*We also do not wish to exclude anyone from the Teachings\, so if you are not currently in a financial position to afford the admin fee\, please contact us so we can support you to attend. \nWe welcome any questions. Please feel free to contact Ava@clearskycenter.org. \n Detailed Daily Schedule (Long retreats) \nSpecific times may change – this is a rough guide (MST) \n6:30 – 7:30 AM: Walk &/or Personal Practice7:30 – 8:15 AM: Breakfast: Prepare\, eat\, clean up8:15 – 8:45 AM: Walk &/or Personal Practice9:00 – 10:00 AM: Class with Teachers10:00 – 10:30 AM: Walk10:30 – 11:30 AM: Group Practice led by Sangha11:30 – 12:30 PM: Personal Practice12:30 – 1:30 PM: Lunch: Prepare\, eat\, clean up1:30 – 3:00 PM: Personal Practice3:00 – 4:00 PM: Group Practice led by Sangha4:00 – 5:30 PM: Personal Practice5:30 – 7:00 PM: Dinner: prepare\, eat\, clean up7:00 – 7:30 PM: Walk &/or Personal Practice7:30 – 8:30 PM: Group Practice and Q & A with Teachers8:30 – Beyond: Personal Practice & bed \n Food\, Weather\, Accommodation and How to Get Here \nClick here for details on how to get here\, what to bring and what to expect.  \n Scholarship Application \nWe aim to make our retreats as accessible as possible.  \nAs a centre run entirely by Karma Yoga (selfless service)\, retreat fees only cover food\, accommodation and the equipment required to offer them online. \nThe teachings themselves are offered on the basis of Dāna (pay-from-the-heart).  \nFor some\, this is still a barrier of entry. \nIf you are seeking financial assistance to attend a retreat\, please complete a Scholarship Application form. \n \n \n \n Attend In-Person (Registration Closed)\n \n \n Attend Online URL:https://test.clearskycenter.org/event/breathing-meditation-retreat/ CATEGORIES:Featured Courses,Group Retreats and Courses,Online Courses ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://test.clearskycenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/Breathing-Meditation-Retreat.jpg END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20230907T190000 DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20230928T200000 DTSTAMP:20260503T090835 CREATED:20230810T174907Z LAST-MODIFIED:20230918T165911Z UID:20058-1694113200-1695931200@test.clearskycenter.org SUMMARY:Meditation Circle: Community Classes for Inner Well-Being (Online or In-Person) DESCRIPTION:Online or In-Person at Clear SkyThursdays 7-8pm MST \nDrop-Ins Welcome \nWeekly Meditation Classes\nHow do you grow your inner well-being?  These community classes at Clear Sky Center help you develop a stronger meditation practice.   \nJoin us for Meditation Circle\, Thursday nights (7:00-8:00pm MST) at Clear Sky Center.   \nThese classes run throughout the year except for when we are closed for group retreats. This current series will be on ‘The Art of Conscious Living’\, and runs for four weeks: Thursday\, September 7th to 28th.  Drop ins are welcome\, and we also encourage you to attend all classes if possible. \nThere are two ways to attend – in person or online. Just click the appropriate button to register. See you soon!  \n Registration – In Person Class Registration – Online Class \nQuestions?  \nContact Richard via email or phone: \nrichard@planetdharma.com | 250-429-3929 \n \n\n“Meditation is like turning on a light in a dark room. The power of awareness lets us see what is there – in our bodies\, emotions\, mind\, workplaces\, homes and relationships. Seeing what is there gives us the freedom and the courage to make deeply impactful changes.” \nDuncan Cryle\n\nSeries Overview: Inner and Outer Awareness\nwith Karen McAllister\nHaving a daily meditation practice expands our awareness and ability to hold the good\, the bad\, and the ugly with expansiveness and compassion. \nMeditation explores self-awareness (what’s going on with me?) and self management (how do I manage what’s going on with me?) \nThen\, there’s the interpersonal (the inner and outer world at play)\, social awareness (what’s going on around me?) and relationship management (how do I manage what’s going on with us?) \nIn this series\, we will dig deeper into how our meditation practice can inform our compassionate action out in the world and vice versa. \n \n\n“I feel like we’re so disembodied today in our technological culture that meditation is my little kindness to myself in saying ‘hello body\, you’re part of my day.'” \nKaren McAllister\n\nMeditation Circle Teachers\n \nKaren McAllister\nAs Clear Sky’s Chair of the Board and Director of Business Development\, I’m passionate about teaching the much-ignored principles of nurturing the factors – like honor your space\, structure\, and communication – that create the conditions we need to wake up more in daily life. I see how I learned and embodied these principles in my different roles at Clear Sky as the center went from self-starter to second-stage growth. This is what I call “the hands-on way of doing an MBA with a spiritual bottom line!” \nIn my free time\, I love travelling\, speaking Portuguese and reading history\, architecture and art books. \nDuncan Cryle\nThrough 30+ years of personal practice and 15+ teaching meditation and mindfulness\, alongside an active career working all over the world\, I’ve learnt a lot about an integrating mindfulness into daily life.  As a founding member of Clear Sky in 2004\, I’m amazed at the power of a beautiful\, natural and dedicated space for supporting people to deepen their meditation and feel more connected.  Alongside. my Clear Sky work\, I hold a director position at a large software company where I also run a volunteer global mindfulness program to 1000s employees.  I was formerly one of the pioneers of IBM’s mindfulness movement.  I’m passionate about how mindfulness-based approaches can transform how we live and work together\, and be of better service in the world. \n \nMaureen Smith\nMaureen Smith (MSW\, RCSW) is a therapist and meditation teacher. Passionate about what she does\, she will guide you to a more alive\, aware and mindful path of living. \nMaureen is a well-respected Cranbrook-based therapist and educator. She works with individuals and couples in the public sector in addictions and mental health. Not only was Maureen the first acting caretaker at Clear Sky Meditation Center in BC\, she has studied numerous meditation practices intensively for over 10 years. She has a Master of Social Work degree and is a Registered Clinical Social Worker in British Columbia. \nCara Conroy-Lau\nCara brings a joyful East meets West approach to meditation and holistic health. \nAs a New Zealand-born citizen of the world\, she grew up in New Zealand\, Singapore\, Japan and China. Cara has trained in mind-body integrative health for over 18 years. She is the founding acupuncturist at Cranbrook Acupuncture Clinic. \nCara has been training in meditation and Buddhist philosophy since her early 20’s\, and has a particular interest in Asian philosophy.  She is a long time resident at Clear Sky Centre\, and was the Centre’s first farm and food forest manager from 2009-2012.  \n Registration – Online Class Registration – In Person Class \nCourse Cost: Dāna\n \nWe offer this course on the basis of dāna.  If you’re not familiar with dāna\, you may have come across related approaches such as “pay from the heart.” \nDāna is a Sanskrit term that translates as “generosity” in English. The practice of generosity is central to spiritual unfoldment\, whatever path you follow. In our own Buddhist lineage\, teachings have always been given on the basis of dāna\, and we are committed to this practice and its development in the West. \nDāna is a radical and – we believe – viable economic alternative to capitalism. We all know there must be something better than capitalism or its hungry cousin\, consumerism. We maintain that\, together\, we can offer a financial model that is based in life-affirming mutual support. Please join us in co-creating this promising economic alternative. \n \n \nTo help you choose an amount that feels right for you\, we recommend this heart-based exercise from our friends at Planet Dharma.  \nChecking in with your heart\n1) Take a few quiet breaths and center yourself. Spend a few moments to reflect on each of the below: the beauty and integrity of dāna practice; the value of receiving direct teachings from lineage holders in a recognized spiritual tradition; the reality of your financial situation. \n2) Spend another few moments contacting a sense of health\, strength and abundance. You have a healthy mind\, a body\, senses\, the good karma to have heard the teachings\, and conditions to support your practice of Dharma. Celebrate this! \n3) Now check with your heart and mind what amount feels both consistent with your situation\, and expressive of your aspiration. \nIt’s our joy to offer this course\, and we trust you’ll match our time\, energy\, and passion by giving an amount of money that feels good and healthy to both you and us. \n Registration Coming Soon – Online Class Registration Coming Soon – In Person Class URL:https://test.clearskycenter.org/event/meditation-circle-september-2023/ CATEGORIES:Coaching,Online Courses ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://test.clearskycenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/2.png ORGANIZER;CN="Clear Sky Center":MAILTO:contact@clearskycenter.org END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/Edmonton:20230916T080000 DTEND;TZID=America/Edmonton:20230917T150000 DTSTAMP:20260503T090835 CREATED:20230702T231813Z LAST-MODIFIED:20230731T153543Z UID:19672-1694851200-1694962800@test.clearskycenter.org SUMMARY:Integrating Mindfulness: Weekend Retreat (In-Person & Online) DESCRIPTION:“Participating in the Integrating Mindfulness course has been one of the most transformative experiences of my life. It has helped me cultivate greater awareness and compassion and provided me with practical tools for managing stress and anxiety. I am deeply grateful for the Clear Sky community and support provided by the course.” – Artin \nTaking a pause out of the busyness of life is essential for healthy balance and growth. \nIf you are struggling to integrate your meditation practice with the constant distractions and challenges of daily life\, this weekend retreat may be for you. \nBased on Clear Sky Center’s Five Principles of a Mindful Container\, learn how to manage your time and energy\, develop supportive habits and build a regular meditation practice. \nMany people do a meditation retreat to handle burn out\, but then go back home quickly end up being overwhelmed again. What’s unique about this retreat is it offers a middle way. It combines restorative meditation time\, with time to reflect on what changes you could make to manage your energy better and for long term sustainability. \nNote: This retreat can be attended onsite or online. We encourage onsite participation where possible so you can enjoy additional meditation and grounding exercises in nature on Clear Sky’s beautiful 310 acres.. \nRegistration Deadline: \nIn-Person: Saturday\, September 9th\, 2023 \nOnline: Friday\, September 15th\, 2023 \n\nAttend In-Person\n\n\nAttend Online\n \nMeditation \n& Daily Life \nfocus area\nInteractive \nWorkshop \npractice\nWeekend \nRetreat \nDuration\nAll \nLevels \nSkill Level\nIn-Person \n& Online \nformat\nBring Mindfulness to all areas of your life\nIn our post-COVID world\, people are struggling with time management\, distraction and feeling pulled in several directions. \nAttention deficit disorder is the name of the day. Despite having a meditation or mindfulness practice\, you find yourself being pulled here\, there and everywhere. \nThe new normal is a frazzled\, distracted\, cut-down\, fractured state. \nAlong with this\, we also hear people struggling with isolation and loneliness. It is hard to make meaningful connections when we are all constantly running and primarily interacting online. \nTaking a pause out of the busyness of life is an essential part of healthy balance. \nWe all need a supportive environment to gain new insights and growth. We all need space to step back\, reconnect with ourselves and our meditation practice\, and take time to reflect on how we spend our time and energy. By examining your structures and routines\, you can make specific changes to help you integrate more spaciousness in your life. \nIt’s especially healing to do this with experienced guides and like-minded people so we can benefit from the support of group connection. \n\nAttend In-Person\n\n\nAttend Online\n \nThere are big areas of my life I needed to look at that I didn’t know I needed to. I am more aware of them now\, and have perspective on how to bring daily mindfulness to them. Now I have a technique to structure my life and prioritize the things I actually want to do\, and a dialogue technique that is helping in my relationships. Integrating Mindfulness allows you to think about issues in a different way (such as money!). Insightful and nourishing.” – Daniel \n“I was hesitant to commit to another course when things are already so busy\, but thankfully I committed and encountered incredible wisdom! Now I have an increased awareness of the healing power of community. I’m cleaning up my money relationship\, building better habits\, and learning how to deal with blind spots. Integrating Mindfulness provides teachings and practical opportunities for application: anyone wanting to take up the spiritual path would benefit” – Ben \nUsing Clear Sky’s Five Principles of a Mindful Container\, this retreat will help you craft a life more in line with your vision and values. \nBy focusing on creating healthy structures and routines\, you will have the opportunity to identify where your time and energy leaks away. \nMeditations and exercises will help you reconnect with your core values and design structure and habits in your life to support them. \nWe are here for you. We care deeply for your state. We want you to be held\, focused and have the experience of being in a clear\, aware\, blissful and loving state. \nWe want to help you understand what you need and to take care of yourself. A depleted mind and body cannot be of service to the world. Only through healing yourself can you truly be of service to others. \n \nWhat to Expect:\n\nThe weekend will be a mixture of group and individual meditation time\, instructional classes/Q&A\, breakout groups\, practical exercises to explore\, and free time to reflect and enjoy nature.\nGroup meditation sits will help you reconnect / strengthen your meditation practice\nBreakouts/group discussion allow you to make connections\, build community\, and share and learn with like-minded people.\nIf attending at Clear Sky Center: along with wholesome local organic food\, you can expect personalized meditation guidance (eg. posture)\, time to explore our 300-acres of walking trails and healing exercises and meditations outside.\nIf you cannot come in person: we will give you guidelines to craft a supportive home retreat\, based on the same five principles we use here at Clear Sky to create an amazing space for transforming struggle and embracing vitality.\n\n\n \nJoin Karen and Duncan for a weekend retreat and:  \n\nUnderstand how to create a supportive container in your life for your daily meditation\nReconnect and deepen your meditation practice\nGain a very clear picture of your blocks around time management and how to shift these\nCreate good habits to better manage your energy and time to go to what you value the most\nLearn how to integrate meditation and stillness into your daily life\n\n\n\n\n\n\nWhat is really important\, what is not? I’ve been running round in circles and always end up the same: no direction\, but stress! In Integrating Mindfulness\, I realized things that aren’t my highest priorities have been taking up a lot of time and money\, and I was missing a daily\, intentional structure. With these teachers\, you’ll get clarity about what you do\, why you do it\, and how you can change to something better.\nJutta\nMindfulness is so much more than just truly enjoying my cup of tea! I was struggling to find balance with all the big life issues that are changing in my life; finding Integrating Mindfulness was serendipity. It is what I need in my spiritual toolbox to help me stay open and connected. I am more aware now when I am losing myself in grief\, when I am handling difficult conversations\, and in seeing how human differences are to be enjoyed\, as I enjoy different flowers. There is so much more to discover about life. Integrating Mindfulness is about interactions with fellow travellers! If you want to take mindfulness deeper\, you need this course.\nKirsty\nI am doing a lot of other courses. They are all good—this one is special. Integrating Mindfulness provides a good foundation to support any other studies. People who express feeling unhappy\, overwhelmed\, lacking connection\, would find an ideal fit here. Now\, I am committed to being aware of my boundaries\, and doing what it takes to maintain them\, including clear communication to others. I’m going to continue working on my spiritual container and structure. I plan to come to Clear Sky for more!\nKim \nBased on Clear Sky’s Five Principles\, Integrating Mindfulness helps you build a sustainable meditation practice that permeates your body\, career\, relationships and all other areas of your life. \nYou can learn more about our Five Principles here and get our free pdf overview by clicking the link below. \n\nFREE PDF – Five Principles of a Mindful Container\n\n\n \n“Mindfulness is like turning on a light in a dark room. The power of awareness lets us see what is there – in our bodies\, emotions\, mind\, workplaces\, homes and relationships. Seeing what is there gives us the freedom and the courage to make deeply impactful changes. I’ve found it helps craft our lives\, environment and structures in a way that deeply supports connection and growth”. \nDuncan Cryle\n\nMeet the Teachers\n \nKaren McAllister\nAs Clear Sky’s Chair of the Board and Director of Business Development\, I’m passionate about teaching the much-ignored principles of nurturing the factors – like honor your space\, structure\, and communication – that create the conditions we need to wake up more in daily life. I see how I learned and embodied these principles in my different roles at Clear Sky as the center went from self-starter to second-stage growth. This is what I call “the hands-on way of doing an MBA with a spiritual bottom line!” \nIn my free time\, I love travelling\, speaking Portuguese and reading history\, architecture and art books. \nDuncan Cryle\nThrough 30+ years of personal practice and 15+ teaching meditation and mindfulness\, alongside an active career working all over the world\, I’ve learnt a lot about an integrating mindfulness into daily life.  As a founding member of Clear Sky in 2004\, I’m amazed at the power of a beautiful\, natural and dedicated space for supporting people to deepen their meditation and feel more connected.  Alongside. my Clear Sky work\, I hold a director position at a large software company where I also run a volunteer global mindfulness program to 1000s employees.  I was formerly one of the pioneers of IBM’s mindfulness movement.  I’m passionate about how mindfulness-based approaches can transform how we live and work together\, and be of better service in the world. \n\nThe key word is integrating—not compartmentalizing\, but establishing a wholeness. I was looking to ground\, focus\, and develop a formal practice\, one in which I could develop commitment to self. I have found that I am deep in shadow\, and am struggling with subtle traumas that need to be nurtured with loving kindness. Going forward\, it’s small steps to reach out to community and allow myself to be vulnerable.\nJennifer\nBefore Integrating Mindfulness\, I had been struggling with consistent meditation practice. Now I have a dedicated space for my practice. I am solidifying my need for community. And I am reassessing myself and my blocks and shadows.\nLeslie\nWhat is really important\, what is not? I’ve been running round in circles and always end up the same: No direction\, but stress! In Integrating Mindfulness\, I realized things that aren’t my highest priorities have been taking up a lot of time and money\, and I was missing a daily\, intentional structure. With these teachers\, you’ll get clarity about what you do\, why you do it\, and how you should do it to feel and think better.\nJutta \nGuided Meditations with Karen and Duncan\nhttps://youtu.be/ct6k3BeP7NMhttps://youtu.be/9pBmztHyOFY \nBody Scan with Karen McAllister (10 minutes) \nTransforming Difficult Emotions with Duncan Cryle (9 minutes) \nAbout Clear Sky\nLocated in the BC rocky mountains\, we offer over 300-acres to deepen your practice and reconnect with nature. \nFounded by Qapel Doug Duncan and Catherine Pawasarat Sensei\, we are home to students from around the globe who are dedicated to co-creating a supportive and innovative space for awakening in our modern world. \nIn adherence with our quadruple bottom line\, we source our food as local and organic as possible. \nEVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW on how to get here\, what to bring and what to expect.  \n\n\n\n \nFAQs\nIn-Person Attendance: Dana and Cost \nPricing: \nThe base price of the course includes accommodation at Clear Sky\, lunch and dinner on Saturday 16th June\, and breakfast and lunch on Sunday 17th June\, as well as a course fee to cover the basic costs of running the course. \nAccommodation is available in shared rooms or in a private cabin. The base price is between $199 to $247 CAD depending on the accommodation option selected.  There is a 10% early bird discount on this for those booking before August 27th. \nYou are also welcome to arrive instead on Friday night to start the retreat fresh\, and/or stay an extra night on the Sunday to give yourself time to integrate before leaving. You can select these options on the booking page\, as well as booking a pick up/drop off from the airport if you need one. \nRead more: Staying with us (Clear Sky Meditation Centre) \nDana / Pay-from-the-heart \nThe base price covers the cost to run the retreat\, and does not include any fees to the teachers. The teachers offer their time and guidance on the basis of dāna (generosity). \nDāna is a Sanskrit term meaning “generosity”\, and is the traditional way in which Buddhist teachings are offered.  With dāna\, we give as a mutual exchange of generosity. You may have come across this in the form of “pay d the heart”. It’s the teachers  joy to offer this course\, and we trust you’ll match their time\, energy\, and passion by giving an amount of money that feels good and healthy to both you and us. \nThe booking form includes a box for offering dana.  We suggest a range from $60-300 CAD according to your means. \nFor more information on dāna click here. \nOnline Attendance: Dana\, Cost and Requirements \nDana / Pay-from-the-heart: \nThis retreat is offered on the basis of dāna (generosity). \nDāna is a Sanskrit term meaning “generosity”\, and is the traditional way in which Buddhist teachings are offered.  With dāna\, we give as a mutual exchange of generosity. You may have come across this in the form of “pay from the heart”. It’s our joy to offer this course\, and we trust you’ll match our time\, energy\, and passion by giving an amount of money that feels good and healthy to both you and us. \nWe suggest a range of $120-360 CAD. And we request a minimum contribution of $120 to recognize the administrative/logistic costs and support for running the retreat. \nFor more information on dāna click here. \nIf you are taking this retreat online\, we will provide guidelines to help you create a supportive environment and structure. \nIn general\, we request you devote your full attention to the retreat for the weekend\, including: \n\nBlock out the retreat duration from appointments and activities\, so you can be focused on the retreat for this entire period\, using this time and participating in the retreat as if you were at Clear Sky in person.\nParticipate in all of the daily classes and group practices via online streaming (class recordings will be available on pre-agreement for those in a time zone where live attendance is not feasible)\nSet up a quiet space or location where you can focus on the retreat\, and not need to engage in conversation or work with others.\nSet aside your phone\, digital devices and other distractions.\nIf there are enough people in the same time zone as you\, you could also make a cohort to meet to do a group practice throughout the retreat.\nWe welcome any questions. Please feel free to contact duncan@clearskycenter.org.\n\nDaily Schedule \nSpecific times may change but the below gives an initial guide to the expected schedule.  Times are in MST Mountain Standard Time. \nSaturday 16th: \n9.30 am – Welcome / intro class \n10.30 am – Group meditation \n11.00 am – Break \n11.15 am –  Class and group exercises / Q&A \n12.15 pm – Break \n12.30 pm – Lunch \, time for rest\, walking\, individual meditation \n2.30 pm – Afternoon class and exercises/Q&A \n3.30 pm – Group meditation \n4-6 pm – Open time for exploring exercises\, or onsite / land activity \n6 pm – Dinner \n7.30 pm – Q&A/short class and group meditation \nSunday 16th: \n7.30 am – morning group meditation \n8.30 am – breakfast \n9.30 am – class and exercises/Q&A \n10.30 am – Group meditation \n11.00 am – break \n11.15 am – Free time for exploring the exercises and individual meditation \n12.15 pm – break \n12.30 pm – lunch\, rest\, walking\, individual practice \n2.30 pm – Afternoon class and exercises \n3.30 pm – Group meditation \n3.30- – 4pm –  Closing circle \nFood\, Weather\, Accommodation and How to Get Here \nClick here for details on how to get here\, what to bring and what to expect.  \nScholarship Application \nWe aim to make our retreats as accessible as possible. \nAs a centre run entirely by Karma Yoga (selfless service)\, retreat fees only cover food\, accommodation and the equipment required to offer them online. \nThe teachings themselves are offered on the basis of Dāna (pay-from-the-heart). \nFor some\, this is still a barrier of entry. \nIf you are seeking financial assistance to attend a retreat\, please complete a Scholarship Application form. \n\nAttend In-Person\n\n\nAttend Online URL:https://test.clearskycenter.org/event/weekend-retreat/ CATEGORIES:Featured Courses,Group Retreats and Courses,Online Courses,Special Events ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://test.clearskycenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/2023-Programming-Horizontal-Instagram-Post-Square-5.png END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/Edmonton:20230924T153000 DTEND;TZID=America/Edmonton:20230924T170000 DTSTAMP:20260503T090835 CREATED:20230822T170027Z LAST-MODIFIED:20230822T171254Z UID:20107-1695569400-1695574800@test.clearskycenter.org SUMMARY:Spiritual Awakening\, Healing & Ecological Restoration: A Buddhist Mystic Perspective DESCRIPTION:“Each person is a replica of the entire cosmos.” \n-Catherine Pawasarat Sensei \nWhat’s the connection between Buddhist-style enlightenment and the environment? \nJoin Catherine Pawasarat Sensei at the 39th annual Women & Spirituality Conference in Minnesota US\, Sept 23-24th\, 2023. She will be presenting on September 24th\, 2:30pm Central Time.  \nOnline or In-Person tickets to the conference are available. \n \n Attend In-Person\n \n \n Attend Online\n \n \nBuddhism \nfocus area\nWomen & Spirituality Conference \nLocation\n3:30-5:30 MDT \nDuration\nAll Levels \nSkill Level\nIn-Person & Online \nformat\nSpiritual Awakening\, Healing & Ecological Restoration: A Buddhist Mystic Perspective\nWhat’s the connection between Buddhist-style enlightenment and the environment? The historical Buddha experienced enlightenment while sitting beneath a bodhi tree\, while some Buddhist sects still emphasize the value of practicing in forests. \nHow does Buddhist enlightenment connect with healing\, ecology\, and nature mysticism? Other spiritual traditions? \nLearn from Catherine Sensei’s experiences and have an opportunity to share your own in small groups. \nCatherine Sensei will be at the conference the Women & Spirituality conference for the whole weekend\, Sept 23-24th. She will be joined by Karen McAllister and Dan O’Brien\, representing Clear Sky Meditation Centre. They will be at a combined Planet Dharma and Clear Sky Meditation Centre booth. Come say hi! \nPresentation: Sunday 24th\, 2:30-4pm (Central Daylight Saving Time). \nHow to attend: In Person Tickets and Online Tickets are available. \n \n Attend In-Person\n \n \n Attend Online\n \n \n \n \n “I greatly appreciate the depth of knowledge and level of expertise that is shared by Sensei. Her teachings are always well prepared and transformative in my spiritual growth.”\n Michele C.Astrologer\n \nCatherine Pawasarat Sensei \nCatherine Pawasarat Sensei is a contemporary Dharma teacher\, attendant\, consort\, co-teacher via Planet Dharma and co-founder of Clear Sky Retreat Center.  \nShe has trained daily with Acariya Doug Duncan since 1998 in an intensive spiritual apprenticeship that is rare in the modern West. She received lay ordination from Namgyal Rinpoche in 2003. In addition to Buddhist philosophy and its applications to daily life\, Catherine also draws on generative living and the arts. \nMore About Sensei | About the Lineage \nAbout the Conference\nThis presentation by Catherine Pawasarat Sensei is part of the 39th Annual Women & Spirituality Conference in Rochester Minnesota\, USA. \nThe Women and Spirituality Conference is a two day multi-faith gathering celebrating diversity\, inclusion\, spiritual experience and healing. Register now for two days of interactive\, experiential workshops with engaging leaders and speakers.  \nRegistration\nTo attend\, please register via the buttons below. The online option is $69 and the in-person ticket is $149 (USD). These tickets give access to the whole conference and speakers\, including Catherine Sensei’s presentation. We also invite you to practice generosity\, or Dāna  to Catherine Sensei directly here: Offer Dāna  \n \n \n Attend In-Person\n \n \n Attend Online URL:https://test.clearskycenter.org/event/spiritual-awakening-healing-ecological-restoration/ CATEGORIES:Featured Courses,Online Courses ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://test.clearskycenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Spiritual-Awakening-Square.jpg END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20230928T080000 DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20261231T170000 DTSTAMP:20260503T090835 CREATED:20220205T181428Z LAST-MODIFIED:20230928T024915Z UID:14666-1695888000-1798736400@test.clearskycenter.org SUMMARY:Personal Coaching (Online) Ongoing DESCRIPTION:  \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nAre you ready to unfold?\nGiven Covid-19 and the big life-changes many of us are experiencing\, this is a perfect time to receive support in areas that may need deep care or are holding us back. We can use this unique time to nurture what is seeking our attention or we might not have prioritized before.  \nKaren McAllister and Duncan Cryle are offering live group coaching to a smaller group\, exclusively to graduates of the Integrating Mindfulness course. \n REGISTER HERE \nFor those looking to go deeper\n \nOur personal coaching program is for you if after completing our 6 week Integrating Mindfulness Online Course\, you want to go deeper. As we only had a little time on each principle during the course\, 1:1 coaching supports you to take a deep dive into one or two areas in your life that are calling for your attention. Many people join our group coaching sessions after Integrating Mindfulness\, but you might find group-work triggers more protectiveness in you than it does vulnerability\, being real\, and exploring what you really need right now.  \nMaybe life is calling you to change. What used to work\, no longer does. You’re ready to answer the call to change. You want to wake up more deeply and step more fully into your power. You now have clarity and strength to be with and explore past hurts\, patterns\, relationships and or beliefs that are holding you back. You may have tried new routines with meditation and yoga\, new diets and even explored how to improve your relationships with yourself\, others\, money\, and time. The thing is\, often we can’t shift habitual patterns without understanding what’s holding them in place and why. The reason these may not have worked is that you may have lacked support from someone with experience to see behind the appearance to what is driving the behaviour you want to shift.  \nAbout the Program\nWe have seen that personal coaching with Karen and Duncan frees up energy and has led to the following:  \n\nDeeper involvement in spiritual teachings\, relationships and service with community\nMore emotional honesty\nMore relaxation and joy\nA career path plan that is in alignment with your vision and values\nImproved relationships\nA new business\nImproved finances\nBetter time management\n\nHere is what we can offer you:  \n\n15 mins free consultation (to connect and see if a coaching program could support you)\nFour 1:1 personal coaching sessions for anyone who has attended Integrating Mindfulness.\nPay from the heart min $75 max $250/hr \n\nLogistics: \n\nRegister and commit to a series or one session\nBook your first call on the calendar link provided in the registration confirmation email\nSet time aside prior to your first call to get clear on what it is that you want to work on.\nCalls will be over zoom and we recommend that you set aside 15-60 minutes before and after for prep and integration.\nSet aside a minimum of 2 hours per week to work on this.\n\n \nMeet Your Coaches\nKaren and Duncan have both been on their spiritual paths for over 20 years working closely with highly accomplished teachers\, Qapel Doug Duncan and Catherine Pawasarat Sensei\, while also living in and supporting conscious community the entire time. They have been through many personal transformations themselves and led many others along the way. They are gifted at holding a beautiful and safe space for you as you peel back the layers.  \nExperienced and professionals in their careers\, Karen is a certified coach and Duncan a former IBM executive. They can provide guidance\, mentorship\, and structures for you to dig more deeply and be accountable to yourself without being fooled by your own stories. If you are willing to share what’s really going on by being emotionally honest\, listening\, receiving and following through on feedback\, you can benefit from working with a coach that is walking their talk\, a coach that has addressed their own challenges and deeper issues around aspects of the spiritual container in their lives. For this reason\, they can give real live\, experiential guidance and mentorship in these areas.  \n \nKaren McAllister\nAfter meeting our founding teachers in Japan\, I managed the meditation centre there for many years while serving simultaneously as part of the Clear Sky Board. In 2003\, I helped search for a site for Clear Sky\, looking at around 30 properties until we found our current location in the magical Kootenays. \nI’m now Chair of the Board and Director of Business Development. I’m passionate to be teaching the much-ignored principles of nurturing the factors – like honor your space\, structure\, and communication – that create the conditions we need to wake up more in daily life. I see how I learned and embodied these principles in my different roles at Clear Sky\, as the centre went from self-starter to second-stage growth. This is what I call “the hands-on way of doing an MBA with a spiritual bottom line!” \nIn my free time\, I love travelling\, speaking Portuguese and reading history\, architecture\, and art books. \n Talk with Karen \nDuncan Cryle\nI’m the former Clear Sky Chair\, a certified Mindfulness teacher\, Dharma teacher\, and a member of senior management at a dynamic award winning international software firm. \nThrough 15 years of teaching meditation and mindfulness\, alongside an active career working all over the world\, I’ve learnt a lot about an integrated spiritual path.  With a Ph.D. in philosophy in my pocket\, I was gung ho to join a monastery until I met my root teachers Qapel Doug Duncan and Catherine Pawasarat Sensei in Japan in 2001\, who turned my views upside down and encouraged me to grow and contribute at the busy end of life! \nA founding member of Clear Sky in 2004\, I’m amazed at the power that working together in compassionate service has for enriching and widening spiritual growth.  Combined with a dynamic relationship and a challenging career\, I have fun with a wide-ranging and holistic approach to spiritual growth. \nEmail me at Duncan [at] clearskycenter.org to ask about personal coaching with me. \n Contact Duncan “I am at the point now where I feel ready to apply for school\, to change direction in my career\, and better understand how my relationship with my father has created this. I have stopped hanging on to some of the past to protect the hurt\, which has made me feel more ready to move on.” Kyle “Karen is both knowledgeable and kind. Not only is she wise and helpful with Buddhist teachings\, but when she shares it is from the heart with incredible tenderness.” Kakoom REGISTER NOW \nLatest News URL:https://test.clearskycenter.org/event/personal-coaching-online/ LOCATION:Online CATEGORIES:Coaching ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://test.clearskycenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/Screen-Shot-2020-06-13-at-10.49.12-AM.png END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/Edmonton:20231006T080000 DTEND;TZID=America/Edmonton:20231022T170000 DTSTAMP:20260503T090835 CREATED:20230206T002516Z LAST-MODIFIED:20230917T163026Z UID:18754-1696579200-1697994000@test.clearskycenter.org SUMMARY:The Mind’s Cutting Edge: 12 Manjushris Meditation Retreat DESCRIPTION:“Without signs and words\, transmission happens in the deepest silence.” \n-Qapel Doug Duncan \nDo you wish to embrace wisdom and its different manifestations? Manjushri is the Vajrayana Buddhist archetype of wisdom. In this retreat we will focus on developing cognitive intelligence\, discrimination\, clarity and rigor in terms of thinking. Our methodology will be the Twelve Manjushri deity yoga practice from the Vajrayana tradition. \nHail to the wisdom that is ripening! \nRegistration Deadline: September 22nd \nSuper Early Bird ends August 6th! \n \n Register Now\n \n \nVajrayana Buddhism \nfocus area\nMeditation Retreat \npractice\nTwo Weeks \nDuration\nIntermediate \nSkill Level\nIn-Person \nformat\n12 Manjushri Meditation (Retreat)\nManjushri\, or Mañjuśrī (Sanskrit: मञ्जुश्री) is associated with prajñā (wisdom) in Mahāyāna Buddhism. Our deity yoga work with this particular aspect of the awakened mind will relate to the development of cognitive intelligence.  \nWhile Manjushri is most commonly depicted alone\, this Twelve Manjushri practice is a particular deity yoga practice with 12 emanations of Manjushri in one sadhana.   \nManjushri’s name means “Gentle Glory” in Sanskrit – and this practice of twelve manjushris will be 12 times that!   \nPrerequisites/Preparation: to be announced. \n \n Register Now\n \n \n \n \n “Qapel and Sensei teach in a light\, but profound way – taking us on a brilliant journey of understanding with guile and humour.\nTheir male and female perspectives help balance with differing approaches to explaining a complex but genius system that holds all life understanding from religion\, science\, psychotherapy and wisdom traditions.”\n Jonathan C. Shiatsu\, Qigong & Meditation Teacher\n \nWhat’s Expected of Me if I Come to This Retreat?\n\nPre-requisites/Preparation: to be announced.\nA strong foundation of parami and a willingness to see other dimensions and cultivate your mind\, drug free.\nThe more extensive meditation experience you’ve had the better. For beginners to meditation\, we suggest the Breathing Retreat in August.\nYou are responsible for your own wellbeing.\nTo maximize your depth of practice\, we ask that you refrain from reading\, using the internet\, phone or listening to music during the course.\n\n \nThe 12 Manjushri Empowerment (Wongkur)\nDuring this retreat\, a tantric initiation or empowerment (Wongkur) will be given by Qapel and Sensei. This provides the foundation for the meditation practice and reflection throughout the retreat. \nWhat is Wongkur? (Vajrayana Empowerments)\nInitiations\, empowerments\, or wongkur (Tib. དབང་\, wang) are considered the spring from which all blessings flow. More literally\, these are ritual celebrations in which a specific teaching is transmitted from Teacher to student that enables the student to practice a new form of “Arising Yoga” or “Deity Practice”. \nFor more information about wongkur\, we recommend reading ‘What is Wongkur’\, which includes ‘A Western Psychological Orientation to Deity Yoga’ by the Venerable Namgyal Rinpoche and ‘A Traditional Tibetan Vajrayana Buddhist View’ by His Holiness the 41st Sakya Trizin. It is extensive article\, published by Wesley Knapp. Visit and support his archival work at the Sakya Namgyal Archive.  \n \n Download PDF – What is Wong Kur?\n \nSchedule\nArrival: October 5th at 3pm\, MT \nSample brief daily schedule: \n9am Class with Teacher \n11am Group Meditation led by a Senior Student \n12:30pm Lunch \n3pm Group Meditation led by a Senior Student \n6pm Dinner \n7:30 pm Meditation and Q&A with Qapel  \nDeparture: October 22nd  \n*Daily schedule is subject to changes closer to the course date.  Questions about the retreat? Phone 250-429-3929\, or contact maureen@clearskycenter.org. \n  \nIn order to give enough time to rest from travel before the retreat starts\, we recommend that domestic travellers arrive one day early\, and long distance international travellers arrive two days early. After the retreat we also suggest staying for at least another day for integration\, however you are also welcome to stay longer for one of  our hybrid stay options. \nBooking a flight? Airport pickups can be booked when you register for the retreat. On the rare chance that this retreat is cancelled or if unforseen global circumstances cause travel interruptions\, we highly recommend purchasing travel insurance and modifiable tickets.  \n \n \n \nMeet the Teachers\n \nDoug Qapel Duncan \n \nCatherine Pawasarat Sensei \nDoug Duncan and Catherine Pawasarat are Dharma and meditation teachers who founded Clear Sky Meditation Center\, BC\, Canada. \nAchariya Doug Duncan received lay ordination from Namgyal Rinpoche in 1978\, and is a lineage holder in that teaching. Known for his direct\, humorous and compassionate engagement with students\, Doug embraces various traditions\, contemporary psychology\, and science\, to mentor all beings to a more awakened state. \nCatherine Pawasarat has trained daily with Acariya Doug Duncan since 1998 in an intensive spiritual apprenticeship that is rare in the modern West. She received lay ordination from Namgyal Rinpoche in 2003. In addition to Buddhist philosophy and its applications to daily life\, Catherine also draws on generative living and the arts. With Doug she is co-founder of Clear Sky Retreat Center in the BC Rockies. \n \n Register Now\n \nAbout Clear Sky\nLocated in the BC rocky mountains\, we offer over 300-acres to deepen your practice and reconnect with nature.  \nFounded by Qapel Doug Duncan and Catherine Pawasarat Sensei\, we are home to students from around the globe who are dedicated to co-creating a supportive and innovative space for awakening in our modern world. \nIn adherence with our quadruple bottom line\, we source our food as local and organic as possible. \nEVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW on how to get here\, what to bring and what to expect.  \n \n \n \n \n “This retreat centre is the REAL THING. It’s a modern monastery with people grounded in the present and practicing old and new methods of living in a spiritual community. This group walks the talk. I have made the trek from Ontario all the way to this remote corner of BC every year for the last 16 years to study with these teachers\, interact with these fellow seekers\, and bask in the beauty of this gorgeous property.”\n Linda H.Dharma Teacher & Author\n \nFAQs\n Dana and Pricing \nDana: \nThis retreat is offered on the basis of dāna (generosity). \nDāna is a Sanskrit term meaning “generosity”\, and is the traditional way in which Buddhist teachings are offered.  With dāna\, we give as a mutual exchange of generosity. You may have come across this in the form of “pay from the heart”. It’s our joy to offer this course\, and we trust you’ll match our time\, energy\, and passion by giving an amount of money that feels good and healthy to both you and us. \nYou will be sent a link to offer “dana” to the teachers after registration.  \nFor more information on dāna click here. \nPricing:  \nIn addition to Dana to the Teacher\, Clear Sky Meditation Centre provides an incredible space for your retreat.  Situated on a beautiful 310-acre property in the Rocky Mountains\, the center and its karma yogis provide you nourishing daily meals and comfortable accomodation. Read more: Staying with us (Clear Sky Meditation Centre) \nPlease go to the retreat registration page for this retreat for details of the all inclusive fee for the retreat. \n Detailed Daily Schedule (Long retreats) \nSpecific times may change – this is a rough guide (MST) \n6:30 – 7:30 AM: Walk &/or Personal Practice7:30 – 8:15 AM: Breakfast: Prepare\, eat\, clean up8:15 – 8:45 AM: Walk &/or Personal Practice9:00 – 10:00 AM: Class with Teachers10:00 – 10:30 AM: Walk10:30 – 11:30 AM: Group Practice led by Sangha11:30 – 12:30 PM: Personal Practice12:30 – 1:30 PM: Lunch: Prepare\, eat\, clean up1:30 – 3:00 PM: Personal Practice3:00 – 4:00 PM: Group Practice led by Sangha4:00 – 5:30 PM: Personal Practice5:30 – 7:00 PM: Dinner: prepare\, eat\, clean up7:00 – 7:30 PM: Walk &/or Personal Practice7:30 – 8:30 PM: Group Practice and Q & A with Teachers8:30 – Beyond: Personal Practice & bed \n Food\, Weather\, Accommodation and How to Get Here \nClick here for details on how to get here\, what to bring and what to expect.  \n Scholarship Application \nWe aim to make our retreats as accessible as possible.  \nAs a centre run entirely by Karma Yoga (selfless service)\, retreat fees only cover food\, accommodation and the equipment required to offer them online. \nThe teachings themselves are offered on the basis of Dāna (pay-from-the-heart).  \nFor some\, this is still a barrier of entry. \nIf you are seeking financial assistance to attend a retreat\, please complete a Scholarship Application form. \n Microdosing/Psychedelics \nWe recognize and respect plant medicine as an important part of some people’s spiritual paths.  \nPlease note\, the meditation practice on this retreat is very powerful. Consuming mind-altering substances will detract from your experience and could cause negative side-effects.  \nWe ask that you refrain from microdosing or consuming mind-altering substances during this retreat and in the days immediately following it.  \n \n \n \n Register Now URL:https://test.clearskycenter.org/event/12-manjushri-retreat/ CATEGORIES:Featured Courses,Group Retreats and Courses ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://test.clearskycenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/Manjushri-Meditation-Retreat.jpg END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/Edmonton:20231112T093000 DTEND;TZID=America/Edmonton:20231210T110000 DTSTAMP:20260503T090835 CREATED:20230609T213532Z LAST-MODIFIED:20231114T002148Z UID:19686-1699781400-1702206000@test.clearskycenter.org SUMMARY:Warriors of the Heart: The Bodhisattva Path (Online) DESCRIPTION:“My body\, every possession and all goodness\, past\, present and future\, without remorse I dedicate to the well-being of the world.” \n–Shantideva\, in Bodhicaryavatara (The Way of the Bodhisattva) \nWhat is the Path or Way of the Bodhisattva? We will explore guidance on the Bodhisttva’s way of life via the historical teachings of Shantideva and the Bodhisattvacaryāvatāra.  And\, most imporantly\, how does that historical path of the Bodhisattva look today\, for us now\, in the fourth turning of the wheel of Dharma? \n\nRegister Now\n\n \nVajrayana \nBuddhism \nfocus area\nOnline Course & \nWeekend Home Retreat \npractice\nFive \nWeeks \nDuration\nAll \nLevels \nSkill Level\nOnline or \nIn-Person \nformat\nThe Bodhisattva Vow:\n“However innumerable beings are\, I vow to met them with kindness and interest. \nHowever inexhaustible the states of suffering are\, I vow to touch them with patience and love. \nHowever incomparable the mystery of being is\, I vow to experience it fully. \nFrom this moment forth\, with wisdom and compassion as my lamp and staff\, I dedicate all my life energy to the welfare of all beings.” \nHow does the Bodhisattva vow manifest in your life in the world?\nMany of us are familiar with\, or recite the Bodhisattva vow regularly. It may even be our lifelong vow. And yet\, you may be asking yourself how does this profound vow translate to various complex situations in life? \nTake heart\, the way of the Bodhisattva is an actual path that beings have been journeying on for more than a millenia. Shantideva\, a prince that gave up the throne\, is one noble example.  In this course we will learn from these experiences and apply them to our modern context. \nJust like Shantideva in the 8th century\, we are all asking how our practice can be meaningful when there’s so much suffering in the world. And there’s different variations of how we relate to the varying cultural and generational forms of struggle – like social justice\, climate change and war.  We can study the path of the Bodhisattva to help us skilfully answer these questions. They are still applicable today. And may be more applicable than ever. \n\nRegister Now\n\n\n\n\n \nCourse Learning Goals:\n\nWhat is the historical path of the Bodhisattva (inspired by Shantideva from the 8th century).\nDo I wish to take such a vow\, and if so\, what does that actually mean?\nHow can I approach the many forms of suffering in the world – war\, environmental disaster\, social injustice from the perspective of the Bodhisattva path?\nHow does Bodhisattva activity translate to the various situations and contexts of modern life?\nWhere does the Bodhisattva path sit within the Theravadin\, Mahayana and Vajrayana traditions of Buddhism?\n\nRecommended Course Reading:\nThe Way of the Bodhisattva by Shantideva \n\n“I have yet to encounter another setting where I grow as much as I do while at Clear Sky. The balance of support\, genuine care and challenge is rare and precious.\nWhen it comes to spiritual transformation\, Clear Sky is a place and group of people that is not only talking-the-talk but actively walking-the-walk.”\nRuth L. \nCourse Schedule\nNovember 12th – December 10th\, 2023\nWith a new format: Morning (9:30am Class) Mountain Time\n\nSunday\, November 12th – 9:30-11am Class\nSunday\, November 19th– 9:30-11am Class\nSunday\, November 26th – 9:30-11am Class\nSunday\, December 3rd – 9:30-11am Class\n\nThe formal and participatory teachings for this course will occur on four Sundays. There will be a live group class in the morning (9:30-11am MT). We encourage you to connect with sangha outside of class times to discuss and deepen your learning of the material. \nFlash Retreat Weekend: December 8-10th\nTo deepen and integrate your experience\, the final weekend during the course will also be a Flash Retreat (December 8-10th). This can be done at home\, or together with us at Clear Sky Meditation Centre\, in Eastern British Columbia. We highly recommend clearing your schedule over the weekend to focus on the retreat. Formal group sessions will also be held at these times: \n\nFlash Retreat morning group workshop time:   9:30-10:30am\nFlash Retreat afternoon group workshop time: 2:30-3:30pm\n\nIf you’d like to join the Flash Retreat from Clear Sky\, please contact ava@clearskycenter.org. \n\n\n\n\nRegister Now\n \nMeet the Teachers\n \nDoug Qapel Duncan \n \nCatherine Pawasarat Sensei \nDoug Duncan and Catherine Pawasarat are Dharma and meditation teachers who founded Clear Sky Meditation Center\, BC\, Canada. \nAchariya Doug Duncan received lay ordination from Namgyal Rinpoche in 1978\, and is a lineage holder in that teaching. Known for his direct\, humorous and compassionate engagement with students\, Doug embraces various traditions\, contemporary psychology\, and science\, to mentor all beings to a more awakened state. \nCatherine Pawasarat has trained daily with Acariya Doug Duncan since 1998 in an intensive spiritual apprenticeship that is rare in the modern West. She received lay ordination from Namgyal Rinpoche in 2003. In addition to Buddhist philosophy and its applications to daily life\, Catherine also draws on generative living and the arts. With Doug she is co-founder of Clear Sky Retreat Center in the BC Rockies. \nCourse Details\nTime and Location\nEach of the four weekly classes in this online course will be video streamed live at 9:00am MST. The recording will be available for one week after each class. \nIn addition to the classes there will be Q&A / participatory style workshop sessions at 3pm MST each Sunday.  Finally the course ends with a Flash Retreat on June 3-4th\, 2023. \nWhat Does the Course Cost?\nThis course is offered based on the unique combination of 1) dāna  and 2) a $80-120 USD administrative fee. Register four + weeks prior: $80 | Register two to four weeks prior: $100 | Register less than two weeks prior: $120. \n\n \nAbout Clear Sky\nLocated in the BC rocky mountains\, we offer over 300-acres to deepen your practice and reconnect with nature. \nFounded by Qapel Doug Duncan and Catherine Pawasarat Sensei\, we are home to students from around the globe who are dedicated to co-creating a supportive and innovative space for awakening in our modern world. \nIn adherence with our quadruple bottom line\, we source our food as local and organic as possible. \nEVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW on how to get here\, what to bring and what to expect.  \n\n\n\n\n“This retreat centre is the REAL THING. It’s a modern monastery with people grounded in the present and practicing old and new methods of living in a spiritual community. This group walks the talk. I have made the trek from Ontario all the way to this remote corner of BC every year for the last 16 years to study with these teachers\, interact with these fellow seekers\, and bask in the beauty of this gorgeous property.”\nLinda H.\n \nFAQs\nDana and Pricing \nYou may have come across this elsewhere in the form of “pay from the heart”. Dāna is a Sanskrit term meaning “generosity”. With dāna\, we give as a mutual exchange of generosity. It’s our joy to offer this course\, and we trust you’ll match our time\, energy\, and passion by giving an amount of money that feels good and healthy to both you and us. \nThe dharma has been built on generosity. No-one is excluded for lack of funds but it is also extremely beneficial to give as much as you are able \nTypically people give in a range of $120-$500 USD for a course. \nAs we’re committed to ensuring everyone has access to the Dharma\, please feel comfortable to give less if you are not financially secure.  Another form of giving dāna is to offer service\, and if you are interested in providing support in a non-financial way\, we invite you to contact us. \nConversely\, if you are financially secure\, we invite you to generate merit by providing more financial support to the Triple Gem. Contributions like these make the difference in supporting our teachers\, teachings\, and center. \nLearn more about the practice of dāna here. \nOnline Participants & Admin Fee \nIn a traditional model of in-person teachings\, a retreat center or urban meditation center invites teachers to visit. In these cases the centers have infrastructure and organization costs to cover\, which might be covered by an admin fee. For the teaching itself\, dāna to the teachers is offered in a bowl. This honors both the sustainability of the teachers\, and of the supporting center. \nWe’ve tried to recreate this approach online. The teachers’ time and the teaching themselves are offered on the basis of dāna\, separate to the admin fee. With our dāna offering we are making a direct gift of generosity to the teachers to support their teachings and livelihood. \nThe admin fee* goes to support the infrastructure and organization necessary to support them to teach. As anyone with an online business will know\, it can be surprising the costs of setting up a good infrastructure to support effective teaching and connection online. The admin fee changes based on date of registration. Register four + weeks prior: $80 | Register two to four weeks prior: $100 | Register less than two weeks prior: $120. \n*We also do not wish to exclude anyone from the Teachings\, so if you are not currently in a financial position to afford the admin fee\, please contact the course Registrar via registrar@planetdharma.com so we can support you to attend. \n— \nBelow are a few of the work and benefits that your admin fee payment is supporting: \n\nhigh speed internet (to allow interviews and classes on-line)\nonline class systems (Zoom)\nregistration / admin systems (Eventbrite\, Basecamp)\ncommunication systems to keep everyone informed\, share connection details\, teachings and other resources (Mailchimp)\nonline storage (for example\, Dropbox\, to allow us to let students watch recordings\, and to store and share selected teachings in other forms such as podcasts and video later\, and Amazon cloud)\nquality sound\, video and editing equipment (both for live teachings and to provide good enough quality for later sharing as podcasts and video). We are regularly updating our equipment to improve your user experience.\nonline calendar booking system to allow students to book interviews\nwebsite hosting and maintenance for sharing upcoming courses\, teachings\, blogs and other resources.\n\nWe welcome any questions. May all our efforts be sustainable\, abundant and for the benefit of all beings! \n\n\n\nRegister Now URL:https://test.clearskycenter.org/event/bodhisattva-path-online-course/ CATEGORIES:Online Courses,Special Events ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://test.clearskycenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/2023-PD-courses-Square-IG-Post.png END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20231116T190000 DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20231207T200000 DTSTAMP:20260503T090835 CREATED:20230918T165250Z LAST-MODIFIED:20231110T195124Z UID:20294-1700161200-1701979200@test.clearskycenter.org SUMMARY:Meditation Circle: Community Classes for Inner Well-Being (Online or In-Person) DESCRIPTION:Online or In-Person at Clear SkyThursdays 7-8pm MST \nDrop-Ins Welcome \nWeekly Meditation Classes: Simplify and Renew\nHow do you grow your inner well-being?  These community classes at Clear Sky Center help you develop a stronger meditation practice.   \nJoin us for Meditation Circle\, Thursday nights (7:00-8:00pm MST) at Clear Sky Center.   \nThese classes run throughout the year except for when we are closed for group retreats. This current series theme is “Simplify and Renew”\, with Maureen Smith\, and runs for four weeks: Thursday\, November 16th to December 7th.  Drop ins are welcome\, and we also encourage you to attend all classes if possible. \nThere are two ways to attend – in person or online. Just click the appropriate button to register. See you soon!  \n \n \n Registration – Attend In-Person\n \n \n Registration – Attend Online\n \nQuestions?  \nContact Cara via email or phone: \ncara@clearskycenter.org | (250) 421-8280 \n \n\n\n “Meditation is like turning on a light in a dark room. The power of awareness lets us see what is there – in our bodies\, emotions\, mind\, workplaces\, homes and relationships. Seeing what is there gives us the freedom and the courage to make deeply impactful changes.” \n Duncan Cryle\n \n\nSeries Overview: Simplify and Renew\nwith Maureen Smith\nIncrease joy\, calm and energy in your life. Reduce upset and stress by using more effectively what you have available to you right at your fingertips. \nUsing the senses\, we will explore how they are always available to support\, stabilize and uplift. \n \n \n\n\n I feel like we’re so disembodied today in our technological culture that meditation is my little kindness to myself in saying ‘hello body\, you’re part of my day.’ \n Karen McAllister\n \nMeditation Circle Teachers\n \nKaren McAllister\nAs Clear Sky’s Chair of the Board and Director of Business Development\, I’m passionate about teaching the much-ignored principles of nurturing the factors – like honor your space\, structure\, and communication – that create the conditions we need to wake up more in daily life. I see how I learned and embodied these principles in my different roles at Clear Sky as the center went from self-starter to second-stage growth. This is what I call “the hands-on way of doing an MBA with a spiritual bottom line!” \nIn my free time\, I love travelling\, speaking Portuguese and reading history\, architecture and art books. \nDuncan Cryle\nThrough 30+ years of personal practice and 15+ teaching meditation and mindfulness\, alongside an active career working all over the world\, I’ve learnt a lot about an integrating mindfulness into daily life.  As a founding member of Clear Sky in 2004\, I’m amazed at the power of a beautiful\, natural and dedicated space for supporting people to deepen their meditation and feel more connected.  Alongside. my Clear Sky work\, I hold a director position at a large software company where I also run a volunteer global mindfulness program to 1000s employees.  I was formerly one of the pioneers of IBM’s mindfulness movement.  I’m passionate about how mindfulness-based approaches can transform how we live and work together\, and be of better service in the world. \n \n \nMaureen Smith\nMaureen Smith (MSW\, RCSW) is a therapist and meditation teacher. Passionate about what she does\, she will guide you to a more alive\, aware and mindful path of living. \nMaureen is a well-respected Cranbrook-based therapist and educator. She works with individuals and couples in the public sector in addictions and mental health. Not only was Maureen the first acting caretaker at Clear Sky Meditation Center in BC\, she has studied numerous meditation practices intensively for over 10 years. She has a Master of Social Work degree and is a Registered Clinical Social Worker in British Columbia. \nCara Conroy-Lau\nCara brings a joyful East meets West approach to meditation and holistic health. \nAs a New Zealand-born citizen of the world\, she grew up in New Zealand\, Singapore\, Japan and China. Cara has trained in mind-body integrative health for over 18 years. She is the founding acupuncturist at Cranbrook Acupuncture Clinic. \nCara has been training in meditation and Buddhist philosophy since her early 20’s\, and has a particular interest in Asian philosophy.  She is a long time resident at Clear Sky Centre\, and was the Centre’s first farm and food forest manager from 2009-2012.  \n \n \n Registration – Attend Online\n \n \n Registration – Attend In-Person\n \nCourse Cost: Dāna\n \nWe offer this course on the basis of dāna.  If you’re not familiar with dāna\, you may have come across related approaches such as “pay from the heart.” \nDāna is a Sanskrit term that translates as “generosity” in English. The practice of generosity is central to spiritual unfoldment\, whatever path you follow. In our own Buddhist lineage\, teachings have always been given on the basis of dāna\, and we are committed to this practice and its development in the West. \nDāna is a radical and – we believe – viable economic alternative to capitalism. We all know there must be something better than capitalism or its hungry cousin\, consumerism. We maintain that\, together\, we can offer a financial model that is based in life-affirming mutual support. Please join us in co-creating this promising economic alternative. \n \n \nTo help you choose an amount that feels right for you\, we recommend this heart-based exercise from our friends at Planet Dharma.  \nChecking in with your heart\n1) Take a few quiet breaths and center yourself. Spend a few moments to reflect on each of the below: the beauty and integrity of dāna practice; the value of receiving direct teachings from lineage holders in a recognized spiritual tradition; the reality of your financial situation. \n2) Spend another few moments contacting a sense of health\, strength and abundance. You have a healthy mind\, a body\, senses\, the good karma to have heard the teachings\, and conditions to support your practice of Dharma. Celebrate this! \n3) Now check with your heart and mind what amount feels both consistent with your situation\, and expressive of your aspiration. \nIt’s our joy to offer this course\, and we trust you’ll match our time\, energy\, and passion by giving an amount of money that feels good and healthy to both you and us. \n \n Registration – Attend Online\n \n \n Registration – Attend In-Person URL:https://test.clearskycenter.org/event/meditation-circle-november-2023/ CATEGORIES:Coaching,Online Courses ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://test.clearskycenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/2.png ORGANIZER;CN="Clear Sky Center":MAILTO:contact@clearskycenter.org END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20240208 DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20240301 DTSTAMP:20260503T090835 CREATED:20231205T030926Z LAST-MODIFIED:20240201T171912Z UID:20623-1707350400-1709251199@test.clearskycenter.org SUMMARY:Meditation Circle: Body\, Speech & Mind - Liberating Stuck Patterns DESCRIPTION:Online or In-Person at Clear SkyThursdays 7-8pm MST \nDrop-Ins Welcome \nCommunity Meditation Classes\nHow do you grow your inner well-being?  These community classes at Clear Sky Center help you develop a stronger meditation practice.   \nJoin us for Meditation Circle\, Thursday nights (7:00-8:00pm MST) at Clear Sky Center.   \nThese classes run semi-regularly throughout the year\, interspersed with our other retreats and offerings. \nThis Series Topic: Body\, Speech & Mind Liberating Stuck Patterns \nThe next series runs from Thursday\, February 8th to 29th\, 2024 and is with Duncan Cryle – see below for details. \nDrop ins are welcome\, and we also encourage you to attend all classes if possible. \nThere are two ways to attend – in person or online. Just click the appropriate button to register. See you soon!  \n \n \n Attend In-Person\n \n \n Attend Online\n \nQuestions?  \nContact Cara via email or phone: \ncara@clearskycenter.org | 250-421-8280 \n \n\n\n “Meditation is like turning on a light in a dark room. The power of awareness lets us see what is there – in our bodies\, emotions\, mind\, workplaces\, homes and relationships. Seeing what is there gives us the freedom and the courage to make deeply impactful changes.” \n Duncan Cryle\n \nNext Series: Body\, Speech & Mind: Liberating Stuck Patterns\nwith Duncan Cryle\nFrom the time we are born and all through our formative years\, traumas and conditioned patterns and blocks get laid down in our bodies. They get deeply ingrained in habitual tensions and postures. Likewise deep emotional and communication patterns are laid in from a young age\, as well as imbibing many unconscious mental views. Meditation is a powerful tool for bringing these shapings in body\, speech and mind to consciousness\, and letting them shift and ease. Along with our regular core breathing practice together we’ll explore other meditative exercises to open up\, and have space to share with each other our explorations. \nExcited? In the meantime\, you’re invited to enjoy our online guided meditations.  \n \n \n\n\n I feel like we’re so disembodied today in our technological culture that meditation is my little kindness to myself in saying ‘hello body\, you’re part of my day.’ \n Karen McAllister\n \nMeditation Circle Teachers\n \nKaren McAllister\nAs Clear Sky’s Chair of the Board and Director of Business Development\, I’m passionate about teaching the much-ignored principles of nurturing the factors – like honor your space\, structure\, and communication – that create the conditions we need to wake up more in daily life. I see how I learned and embodied these principles in my different roles at Clear Sky as the center went from self-starter to second-stage growth. This is what I call “the hands-on way of doing an MBA with a spiritual bottom line!” \nIn my free time\, I love travelling\, speaking Portuguese and reading history\, architecture and art books. \nDuncan Cryle\nThrough 30+ years of personal practice and 15+ teaching meditation and mindfulness\, alongside an active career working all over the world\, I’ve learnt a lot about an integrating mindfulness into daily life.  As a founding member of Clear Sky in 2004\, I’m amazed at the power of a beautiful\, natural and dedicated space for supporting people to deepen their meditation and feel more connected.  Alongside. my Clear Sky work\, I hold a director position at a large software company where I also run a volunteer global mindfulness program to 1000s employees.  I was formerly one of the pioneers of IBM’s mindfulness movement.  I’m passionate about how mindfulness-based approaches can transform how we live and work together\, and be of better service in the world. \n \n \nMaureen Smith\nMaureen Smith (MSW\, RCSW) is a therapist and meditation teacher. Passionate about what she does\, she will guide you to a more alive\, aware and mindful path of living. \nMaureen is a well-respected Cranbrook-based therapist and educator. She works with individuals and couples in the public sector in addictions and mental health. Not only was Maureen the first acting caretaker at Clear Sky Meditation Center in BC\, she has studied numerous meditation practices intensively for over 10 years. She has a Master of Social Work degree and is a Registered Clinical Social Worker in British Columbia. \nCara Conroy-Lau\nCara brings a joyful East meets West approach to meditation and holistic health. \nAs a New Zealand-born citizen of the world\, she grew up in New Zealand\, Singapore\, Japan and China. Cara has trained in mind-body integrative health for over 18 years. She is the founding acupuncturist and owner of Cranbrook Acupuncture Clinic. \nCara has been training in meditation and Buddhist philosophy since her early 20’s\, and has a particular interest in healing internalised prejudices and biases.  She is a long time resident at Clear Sky Centre\, and was the Centre’s first farm and food forest manager from 2009-2012.  \n \n \n Attend Online\n \n \n Attend In-Person\n \nCourse Cost: Dāna\n \nWe offer this course on the basis of dāna.  If you’re not familiar with dāna\, you may have come across related approaches such as “pay from the heart.” \nDāna is a Sanskrit term that translates as “generosity” in English. The practice of generosity is central to spiritual unfoldment\, whatever path you follow. In our own Buddhist lineage\, teachings have always been given on the basis of dāna\, and we are committed to this practice and its development in the West. \nDāna is a radical and – we believe – viable economic alternative to capitalism. We all know there must be something better than capitalism or its hungry cousin\, consumerism. We maintain that\, together\, we can offer a financial model that is based in life-affirming mutual support. Please join us in co-creating this promising economic alternative. \n \n \nTo help you choose an amount that feels right for you\, we recommend this heart-based exercise from our friends at Planet Dharma.  \nChecking in with your heart\n1) Take a few quiet breaths and center yourself. Spend a few moments to reflect on each of the below: the beauty and integrity of dāna practice; the value of receiving direct teachings from lineage holders in a recognized spiritual tradition; the reality of your financial situation. \n2) Spend another few moments contacting a sense of health\, strength and abundance. You have a healthy mind\, a body\, senses\, the good karma to have heard the teachings\, and conditions to support your practice of Dharma. Celebrate this! \n3) Now check with your heart and mind what amount feels both consistent with your situation\, and expressive of your aspiration. \nIt’s our joy to offer this course\, and we trust you’ll match our time\, energy\, and passion by giving an amount of money that feels good and healthy to both you and us. \n \n Attend Online\n \n \n Attend In-Person URL:https://test.clearskycenter.org/event/meditation-circle-feb-2024/ CATEGORIES:Coaching,Online Courses ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://test.clearskycenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/2.png ORGANIZER;CN="Clear Sky Center":MAILTO:contact@clearskycenter.org END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/Edmonton:20240307T100000 DTEND;TZID=America/Edmonton:20240307T113000 DTSTAMP:20260503T090835 CREATED:20240121T232558Z LAST-MODIFIED:20240225T223724Z UID:21133-1709805600-1709811000@test.clearskycenter.org SUMMARY:Creating Supportive Structures for Resilience & Growth (Free Webinar) DESCRIPTION:“Participating in the Integrating Mindfulness course has been one of the most transformative experiences of my life. It has helped me cultivate greater awareness and compassion and provided me with practical tools for managing stress and anxiety. I am deeply grateful for the Clear Sky community and support provided by the course.” – Artin \nFinding a refuge in the struggles and distractions of our lives is essential for healthy balance and spiritual growth. \nWe all get into funks from time to time\, or hit moments of anxiety or despair. What holds us when the s@#t hits the fan? Do you have in your life somewhere you can truly take refuge? And if not\, how can you access one\, or create one? \nCentral to a supportive container is cultivating healthy structures\, routines and boundaries.  These help you live in line with your vision and values. \nJoin us for a free introductory webinar to explore how to let go and shift unhelpful patterns and habits\, to create new supportive structures in your life\, and better align your time with the values\, community connection and contribution you aspire too. \nNote: Recording will be emailed after the class.  \n \n Register Now\n \n \nMeditation \n& Daily Life \nfocus area\nWorkshop \npractice\n1.5 Hours \nDuration\nMarch 7th\, 2024 \n5-6:30pm UK time / 10-11:30am MST \nDay/Time\nOnline \nformat\nCreating the Container for Spiritual Growth\nSupportive structures and routines increase your well-being\, spiritual growth\, and resilience.  They help you integrate the healing power of awareness into your daily life\, and build a regular meditation practice. They build positive conditions to support your clarity\, kindness\, and wisdom. \nWith so many struggles and distractions pulling at our attention\, we need well-defined and consciously chosen boundaries in order to truly thrive. \nUsing Clear Sky Center’s Five Principles of a Mindful Container\, learn how to explore how to manage your time and energy\, develop supportive rituals\, and craft healthy boundaries in your life.  \nJoin us for free introductory webinar to explore how to creating supportive structures in your life\, and better align your time with the values\, community connection and contribution you aspire too. \nThis webinar is also an opportunity to find out more about our foundational course\, Integrating Mindfulness. \n \n Register Now\n \n \n \n \n \n \nThis workshop is based on Clear Sky’s Five Principles of a Supportive Container.  \nYou can learn more about our Five Principles here and get our free pdf overview by clicking the link below. \n \n FREE PDF – Five Principles of a Spiritual Container\n \n \n\n\n I am doing a lot of other courses. They are all good—this one is special. Integrating Mindfulness provides a good foundation to support any other studies. People who express feeling unhappy\, overwhelmed\, lacking connection\, would find an ideal fit here. Now\, I am committed to being aware of my boundaries\, and doing what it takes to maintain them\, including clear communication to others. I’m going to continue working on my spiritual container and structure. I plan to come to Clear Sky for more! \n kiM\n \n\n\n There are big areas of my life I needed to look at that I didn’t know I needed to. I am more aware of them now\, and have perspective on how to bring daily mindfulness to them. Now I have a technique to structure my life and prioritize the things I actually want to do\, and a dialogue technique that is helping in my relationships. Integrating Mindfulness allows you to think about issues in a different way (such as money!). Insightful and nourishing. \n Daniel\n \n\n\n Before Integrating Mindfulness\, I had been struggling with consistent meditation practice. Now I have a dedicated space for my practice. I am solidifying my need for community. And I am reassessing myself and my blocks and shadows. \n leslie\n \n\n\n What is really important\, what is not? I’ve been running round in circles and always end up the same: no direction\, but stress! In Integrating Mindfulness\, I realized things that aren’t my highest priorities have been taking up a lot of time and money\, and I was missing a daily\, intentional structure. With these teachers\, you’ll get clarity about what you do\, why you do it\, and how you can change to something better. \n JUTTA\n \nMeet the Teachers \n \nKaren McAllister\nAs Clear Sky’s Chair of the Board and Director of Business Development\, I’m passionate about teaching the much-ignored principles of nurturing the factors – like honor your space\, structure\, and communication – that create the conditions we need to wake up more in daily life. I see how I learned and embodied these principles in my different roles at Clear Sky as the center went from self-starter to second-stage growth. This is what I call “the hands-on way of doing an MBA with a spiritual bottom line!” \nIn my free time\, I love travelling\, speaking Portuguese and reading history\, architecture and art books. \nDuncan Cryle\nThrough 30+ years of personal practice and 15+ teaching meditation and mindfulness\, alongside an active career working all over the world\, I’ve learnt a lot about an integrating mindfulness into daily life.  As a founding member of Clear Sky in 2004\, I’m amazed at the power of a beautiful\, natural and dedicated space for supporting people to deepen their meditation and feel more connected.  Alongside. my Clear Sky work\, I hold a director position at a large software company where I also run a volunteer global mindfulness program to 1000s employees.  I was formerly one of the pioneers of IBM’s mindfulness movement.  I’m passionate about how mindfulness-based approaches can transform how we live and work together\, and be of better service in the world. \n \nWhat Previous Students Are Saying\n \n\n\n “I think this course is a beautiful\, utterly grounded and relevant way of making the spiritual life very real and integrated with how we are living every day of our lives. It lays an important foundation for a meditation practice that can actually go somewhere and lead to a well-rounded and truly fulfilling life.” \n Ruth – Embodied in Motion\n \n \n\n\n “It’s really\, really brought me back home to myself. I found myself in the past very scattered and would put off all the important things\, the spiritual aspects of life\, the mindfulness and so on\, just to blast through my day and get things done\, but now I am really taking pause. I still don’t get everything done\, but I don’t get everything done in a much more calm and soulful way.” \n Emmanuel – ActionAid Brasil\n \n \n Register Now URL:https://test.clearskycenter.org/event/supportive-habits-for-resilience-growth-free-webinar/ CATEGORIES:Featured Courses,Online Courses ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://test.clearskycenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/Supportive-Habits-Workshop.jpg END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/Edmonton:20240308T190000 DTEND;TZID=America/Edmonton:20240317T170000 DTSTAMP:20260503T090835 CREATED:20231212T032055Z LAST-MODIFIED:20240224T201700Z UID:20687-1709924400-1710694800@test.clearskycenter.org SUMMARY:The Five Stages of Emptiness Meditation Retreat (In-Person or Online) DESCRIPTION:“We really should say that reality is an infinite universe of empty\, but we need words to wrap our cognitive brains around it.” \n― Qapel Doug Duncan \nAre you ready to deepen your meditation practice? Perhaps you’ve heard of ’emptiness’ or shunyata\, but would like more experiential contact with it. In this retreat\, we will study how we construct reality from false views and learn how to penetrate through this illusion into greater clarity\, freedom and joy. \nJoin Qapel Doug Duncan & Catherine Pawasarat Sensei for a week long insight meditation retreat on the deepening of the stages of emptiness.  \nRegistration Deadline:  \nIN-PERSON – February 23rd\, 2024 \nONLINE – March 1st\, 2024 \n \n Attend In-Person – Registration Closed\n \n \n Attend Online\n \nBuddhism \nfocus area\nMeditation \npractice\nOne Week \nDuration\nIntermediate  \nSkill Level\nIn-Person & Online \nformat\nThe Five Stages of Emptiness\nHow deeply do you understand emptiness?  This retreat focuses on the progressive stages of meditation on emptiness. We will study\, reflect and meditate on the spacious potentiality behind all phenomena. The aim here being to gain experiential\, first hand physiological contact with the intellectural descriptions of emptiness from Buddhist philosophy or quantum physics. \nThis retreat is led by Qapel (Achariya Doug Duncan) and Catherine Pawasarat Sensei at Clear Sky Meditation Center in Eastern BC. We invite retreatants who wish to embark on a week of earnest study\, meditation and reflection. \nWhile we believe any undertaking can be a vehicle for awakening\, there’s no substitute for the power of one’s own profound experience of truth\, gained through meditation. This is why meditation is one of the four foundational practices of our teaching. \nAn online option is also available for those not in Western Canada\, to make participation possible from anywhere in the world. However\, online participants must attend in a retreat like setting in their own locations – in silence and free from distractions including work or family duties. \nTexts for this course: \n\nProgressive Stages of Meditation on Emptiness by Khenpo Tsultrim Gyamtso Rinpoche (Author)\, Lama Shenpen Hookham (Translator) \n\n \n Attend In-Person – Registration Closed\n \n \n Attend Online\n \n \n \n \n “Clear Sky is my favourite place to retreat.\nI am so grateful to find such an amazing place to study various meditation practices\, walk in stunning nature and eat fresh food from the farm.\nI always enjoy going there for more.”\n Maya L. \nMeet the Teachers\n \n \nQapel Doug Duncan and Catherine Pawasarat are Dharma and meditation teachers who founded Clear Sky Meditation Centre\, BC\, Canada. \nAchariya Doug Duncan received lay ordination from Namgyal Rinpoche in 1978\, and is a lineage holder in that teaching. Known for his direct\, humourous and compassionate engagement with students\, Doug embraces various traditions\, contemporary psychology\, and science\, to mentor all beings to a more awakened state. \nCatherine Pawasarat has trained daily with Acariya Doug Duncan since 1998 in an intensive spiritual apprenticeship that is rare in the modern West. She received lay ordination from Namgyal Rinpoche in 2003. In addition to Buddhist philosophy and its applications to daily life\, Catherine also draws on generative living and the arts. With Doug she is co-founder of Clear Sky Retreat Center in the BC Rockies. \nArrivals and Departures\nFor those traveling short distances\, please arrive by 3pm on March 8th. For those coming from international or longer distance travel\, please plan to arrive 1-2 days early to allow time to rest and acclimatize before the start of retreat.  \nDepartures will begin on March 17th\, however we also recommend adding some extra nights to your stay for a more easeful transition from retreat to daily life. \nIf you have questions about the retreat\, please phone (250) 429-3929\, or contact bookings@clearskycenter.org.  \n \n \n \n Attend In-Person – Registration Closed\n \n \n Attend Online\n \nAbout Clear Sky\nLocated in the BC rocky mountains\, we offer over 300-acres to deepen your practice and reconnect with nature.  \nFounded by Qapel Doug Duncan and Catherine Pawasarat Sensei\, we are home to students from around the globe who are dedicated to co-creating a supportive and innovative space for awakening in our modern world. \nIn adherence with our quadruple bottom line\, we source our food as local and organic as possible. \nEVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW on how to get here\, what to bring and what to expect.  \n \n \n \n \nWhat’s Expected of Me?\n\nAn open mind and heart\, and a spirit of adventure are excellent things to bring!\nIt’s human to have some apprehensions about doing something new\, meeting new people\, or going to a new place. Particularly when all three happen together. We try to make this as supportive as possible.\nWhen exploring our growth edges\, it’s natural to feel uncertain and awkward. And it’s very fruitful to transform that emotional tension into creative energy by drawing on your own inner resources – such as inquiry\, going with the flow\, and self-reflection\, just a few of the many kinds of constructive engagement.\nTo maximize your retreat experience\, we ask that you refrain from reading\, using the internet\, phone or listening to music during the course.\nStudents are expected to be silent during the silent parts of the retreat\, and participate in all classes\, group meditations\, activities\, and discussions.\nWe ask that you refrain from microdosing or consuming mind-altering substances in the days before this retreat\, during\, and in the days immediately following it.\n\nhttps://youtu.be/5sOJTUdKqG8?si=prw6wQBO4hE8yVxj\n \n “I feel like a whole new world of understanding has opened up for me to explore. The teachings were interesting\, vibrant\, and so very relevant to our lives. Qapel and Catherine Sensei have done a wonderful job at distilling these vast teachings without oversimplying concepts. The teachings were visual\, informative\, and interactive. It was a great and lots of fun!”\n Jenai L. \n \nFAQs\n Dana and Pricing \nDana: \nThis retreat is offered on the basis of dāna (generosity). \nDāna is a Sanskrit term meaning “generosity”\, and is the traditional way in which Buddhist teachings are offered.  With dāna\, we give as a mutual exchange of generosity. You may have come across this in the form of “pay from the heart”. It’s our joy to offer this course\, and we trust you’ll match our time\, energy\, and passion by giving an amount of money that feels good and healthy to both you and us. \nYou will be sent a link to offer “dana” to the teachers after registration.  \nFor more information on dāna click here. \nPricing: As a charitable organization\, we strive to provide locally sourced organic meals and comfortable accommodations at an affordable price. Fees vary depending on your accommodation choice and early bird pricing. \n Online Retreatants: Admin Fees & Requirements \nIn order to bring you this retreat at home\, there is an additional admin fee* of $350 CAD. The admin fee is to cover the costs of running these online courses – for equipment and software to provide you the teachings online. \nIf you are taking this retreat online\, we require that you devote your full attention to the retreat for the entire week. \nRequirements include: \n\nBlock out the retreat duration and be focused on the retreat for this entire period\, using this time and participating in the retreat as if you were at Clear Sky in person.  This includes a rigorous\, full\, daily meditation schedule.\nParticipate in all of the daily classes and group practices via online streaming.\nSet up a quiet space or location where you can focus on the Meditation Retreat\, and not need to engage in conversation or work with others.\nPut away your phone\, digital devices and other distractions.\nIf there are enough people in the same time zone as you\, you could also make a cohort to meet to do a group practice throughout the retreat.\nNote: full details/ requirements will be sent to you after registering\n\nAbout the administrative fee* \nIn a traditional model of in-person teachings\, a retreat center or urban meditation center invites teachers to visit. In these cases the centers have infrastructure and organization costs to cover\, which might be covered by an admin fee. For the teaching itself\, dāna to the teachers is offered in a bowl. This honors both the sustainability of the teachers and of the supporting center. \nWe’ve tried to recreate this approach online.The teachers’ time and the teaching themselves are offered on the basis of dāna\, separate to the admin fee. With our dāna offering we are making a direct gift of generosity to the teachers to support their teachings and livelihood. Learn more about the practice of dāna here. \nThe admin fee goes to support the infrastructure and organization necessary to support them to teach. As anyone with an online business will know\, it can be surprising the costs of setting up a good infrastructure to support effective teaching and connection online. \nBelow are a few of the work and benefits that your admin fee payment is supporting: \n\nhigh speed internet (to allow interviews and classes on-line)\nonline class systems (Zoom)\nregistration / admin systems (Eventbrite\, Basecamp)\ncommunication systems to keep everyone informed\, share connection details\, teachings and other resources (Mailchimp)\nonline storage (for example\, Dropbox\, to allow us to let students watch recordings and to store and share selected teachings in other forms such as podcasts and videos after the Teachings)\nquality sound\, video and editing equipment (both for live teachings and to provide good enough quality for later sharing as podcasts and video). We are regularly updating our equipment to improve your user experience.\nonline calendar booking system to allow students to book interviews\nwebsite hosting and maintenance for sharing upcoming courses\, teachings\, blogs and other resources.\n\nMay all our efforts be sustainable\, abundant and for the benefit of all beings! \n Sample Daily Schedule \nSpecific times may change – this is a rough guide (MST) \n6:30 – 7:30 AM: Walk &/or Personal Practice7:30 – 8:15 AM: Breakfast: Prepare\, eat\, clean up8:15 – 8:45 AM: Walk &/or Personal Practice9:00 – 10:00 AM: Class with Teachers10:00 – 10:30 AM: Walk10:30 – 11:30 AM: Group Practice led by Sangha11:30 – 12:30 PM: Personal Practice12:30 – 1:30 PM: Lunch: Prepare\, eat\, clean up1:30 – 3:00 PM: Personal Practice3:00 – 4:00 PM: Group Practice led by Sangha4:00 – 5:30 PM: Personal Practice5:30 – 7:00 PM: Dinner: prepare\, eat\, clean up7:00 – 7:30 PM: Walk &/or Personal Practice7:30 – 8:30 PM: Group Practice and Q & A with Teachers8:30 – Beyond: Personal Practice & bed \n Food\, Weather\, Accommodation and How to Get Here \nClick here for details on how to get here\, what to bring and what to expect.  \n PSYCHEDELICS/MICRODOSING \nWe recognize and respect plant medicine as an important part of some people’s spiritual paths.  \nPlease note\, the meditation practice on this retreat is very powerful. Consuming mind-altering substances will detract from your experience and could cause negative side-effects.  \nWe ask that you refrain from microdosing or consuming mind-altering substances in the days before this retreat\, during\, and in the days immediately following it. \n SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATION \nWe aim to make our retreats as accessible as possible.  \nAs a centre run entirely by Karma Yoga (selfless service)\, retreat fees only cover food\, accommodation and the equipment required to offer them online. We do not have paid staff.  \nThe teachings themselves are offered on the basis of Dāna (pay-from-the-heart).  \nFor some\, this is still a barrier of entry. \nIf you are seeking financial assistance to attend a retreat\, please complete a Scholarship Application form. \n \n \n \n Attend In-Person – Registration Closed\n \n \n Attend Online URL:https://test.clearskycenter.org/event/five-stages-emptiness-retreat-online/ CATEGORIES:Featured Courses,Group Retreats and Courses,Online Courses,Special Events ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://test.clearskycenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/2024-PD-courses-Square-IG-Post-4.png END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/Edmonton:20240323T100000 DTEND;TZID=America/Edmonton:20240427T120000 DTSTAMP:20260503T090835 CREATED:20230905T161824Z LAST-MODIFIED:20240322T215551Z UID:20192-1711188000-1714219200@test.clearskycenter.org SUMMARY:Integrating Mindfulness: Tools for Holistic Living (In-Person or Online) DESCRIPTION:“Participating in the Integrating Mindfulness course has been one of the most transformative experiences of my life. It has helped me cultivate greater awareness and compassion and provided me with practical tools for managing stress and anxiety. I am deeply grateful for the Clear Sky community and support provided by the course.” – Artin \nWith all that’s happening in the world\, how do we collectively come up for air?  How do we create a refuge in our lives where we can recharge and flourish? \nThis course is for those who want to find meaning and embrace their life fully.  It is to help integrate and apply awareness  in your life\, for your own sustainability and happiness.  To be able to be of better service to those around you and to our planet. \nNOTE: This course can be attended online or in-person at Clear Sky. \n \n Attend Online (Register Here)\n \n \n Attend In-Person (Register Here)\n \n \nMeditation  \n& Daily Life \nfocus area\nInteractive \nWorkshop \npractice\nSix Weeks  \n  \nDuration\nMar 23-Apr 27\, 2024 \n10:00am-12:00pm MT \nDay/Time\nIn-Person \nOnline \nformat\nBring Mindfulness to all areas of your life\nIn our post-COVID world\, we are all struggling with unprecedented psychological and economic pressures. Myriads of distractions pul us in different directions. It seems that the new normal is a frazzled\, distracted\, cut-down\, fractured state. \nDespite having a meditation or mindfulness practice\, you may find yourself being inconsistent\, or feeling that your meditation is disconnected from the rest of your life\, or just somehow not helping you meet your challenges in the way you would like. \nAlong with this\, we also hear people struggling with isolation and loneliness. It is hard to make meaningful connections when we are all constantly running\, and interacting more and more online. \nWe all need a supportive environment to gain new insights and growth. We all need space to step back\, reconnect with ourselves and our meditation practice\, and take time to reflect on how we spend our time and energy. \nFlourishing in our distracted and difficult world relies on bringing awareness to the people and things that nourish us\, letting go of what doesn’t\, and creating a container to protect our happiness and life-energy. The course will teach you how to create a supportive container for your mindfulness practice and year-round growth. \nThis course will help you integrate mindfulness into your daily life – to transform your environment; your habits and use of time; how you listen and speak; areas of life where you may be stuck such as money\, health\, food\, or life vision; and how you relate to others and build community. \nIt’s especially healing to do this with experienced guides and like-minded people so we can benefit from the support of group connection \n \n Attend Online (Register Here)\n \n \n Attend In-Person (Register Here)\n \n \n\n\n “Deep transformational growth is really supported by having a container\, a supportive structure around us. I feel like we’re so disembodied today in our technological culture that this is my little kindness to myself in saying ‘hello body\, you’re part of my day.'” \n Karen McAllister\n \nJoin Karen and Duncan for an interactive six-week course and learn how to:  \n\nStrengthen your mindfulness or meditation practice to experience more calm and clarity\nCreate supportive structures that help you stay balanced\, protect your happiness and support your year-round growth.\nApply the power of awareness to:\n\n\nDevelop a supportive environment\, and healthy consciously-chosen structures and routines in your daily life;\nCultivate more meaningful conversations and connections in your relationships and community;\nBring awareness and transformative change to big areas of your life that may be draining energy – concerns about your future\, money\, time management\, food and health.\n\n4. Integrate and weave mindfulness into your all aspects of your daily work and life. \n \n \n \n \n \n \nThree interwoven approaches\nThis course supports you to: \n• cultivate your mindfulness practice; \n• craft a supportive environment or refuge; \n• powerfully integrate mindfulness into all aspects of our life and work. \n \nWhat Previous Students are Saying\n There are big areas of my life I needed to look at… that I didn’t know I needed to. I am more aware of them now\, and have perspective on how to bring daily mindfulness to them. Now I have a technique to structure my life and prioritize the things I actually want to do\, and a dialogue technique that is helping in my relationships. Integrating Mindfulness allows you to think about issues in a different way (such as money!). Insightful and nourishing.\n Daniel\n Participating in the Integrating Mindfulness course has been one of the most transformative experiences of my life. It has helped me cultivate greater awareness and compassion and provided me with practical tools for managing stress and anxiety. I am deeply grateful for the Clear Sky community and support provided by the course.\n Artin\n “I’m so stressed out… I cannot see an end to it”—says everybody. I’m always considering options\, and I had doubts around the authenticity of the Integrating Mindfulness programme\, but I’m glad to report those doubts were completely unfounded. With this course\, you learn to stop and breathe\, and the teachers will show you that it is indeed possible—necessary\, even—to put mindfulness at the very centre of your life. At first it might not seem there have been any changes\, but on reflection the changes have been huge.\n Pat\n I wanted more clarity on which direction to go. In Integrating Mindfulness\, I found fluidity and a variety of approaches to things I need\, like scheduling\, conversation\, clearer speech\, and language. In it\, I also discovered a definite need for clearing and dissolution. The question of work and overall change remains\, but I have moved forward on that journey.\n Zoe\n Previous\n Next \nBased on Clear Sky’s Five Principles\, Integrating Mindfulness helps you build a sustainable meditation practice that permeates your body\, career\, relationships and all other areas of your life.  \nYou can learn more about our Five Principles here and get our free pdf overview by clicking the link below. \n \n FREE PDF – Five Principles of a Mindful Container\n \n \n \n\n\n “Mindfulness is like turning on a light in a dark room. The power of awareness lets us see what is there – in our bodies\, emotions\, mind\, workplaces\, homes and relationships. Seeing what is there gives us the freedom and the courage to make deeply impactful changes. I’ve found it helps craft our lives\, environment and structures in a way that deeply supports connection and growth”. \n Duncan Cryle\n \nA supportive structure\nUsing our five principles of creating a supportive container for mindfulness and growth\, this course teaches you how to apply mindfulness across all areas of your life\, and to create an environment that supports you physically\, mentally and emotionally. The course includes meditations\, exercises and community check-ins. \n• Week 1: Creating a supportive space for your growth; \n• Week 2: Transforming habit and making friends with structure; \n• Week 3: Quieting the monkey mind and creating generative conversations; \n• Week 4: Cleaning up big areas of your life frees up energy; \n• Week 5: The power of mindfulness for real and lasting change; \n• Week 6: Community and transforming our relationships with others. \nWhat Previous Students are Saying\n I was hesitant to commit to a six week class when things are already so busy\, but thankfully I committed and encountered incredible wisdom! Now I have an increased awareness of the healing power of community when trying to heal deep\, sticky\, collective traumas. I’m cleaning up my money relationship\, building better habits\, and learning how to deal with temptation and blind spots. The next plan is to create a meditation room. Integrating Mindfulness provides teachings and practical opportunities for application; anyone wanting to take up the spiritual path would benefit.\n Ben \n Seeing two sides of a story\, being still more often\, and listening are principles I’m taking with me. I have a lot of friends who need to take time to take Integrating Mindfulness and see things differently. You will see things clearer.\n Yvette\n What is really important\, what is not? I’ve been running round in circles and always end up the same: No direction\, but stress! In Integrating Mindfulness\, I realized things that aren’t my highest priorities have been taking up a lot of time and money\, and I was missing a daily\, intentional structure. With these teachers\, you’ll get clarity about what you do\, why you do it\, and how you should do it to feel and think better.\n Jutta\n The key word is integrating—not compartmentalizing\, but establishing a wholeness. I was looking to ground\, focus\, and develop a formal practice\, one in which I could develop commitment to self. I have found that I am deep in shadow\, and am struggling with subtle traumas that need to be nurtured with loving kindness. Going forward\, it’s small steps to reach out to community and allow myself to be vulnerable.\n Jennifer\n Previous\n Next \nMeet the Teachers \n \nKaren McAllister\nAs Clear Sky’s Chair of the Board and Director of Business Development\, I’m passionate about teaching the much-ignored principles of nurturing the factors – like honor your space\, structure\, and communication – that create the conditions we need to wake up more in daily life. I see how I learned and embodied these principles in my different roles at Clear Sky as the center went from self-starter to second-stage growth. This is what I call “the hands-on way of doing an MBA with a spiritual bottom line!” \nIn my free time\, I love travelling\, speaking Portuguese and reading history\, architecture and art books. \nDuncan Cryle\nI’m the former Clear Sky Chair\, a certified Mindfulness teacher\, Dharma teacher\, and a member of senior management at a dynamic award winning international software firm. \nThrough 30 years of study with my root teachers Qapel and Sensei\, 15 years of teaching meditation and mindfulness\, and an active career working all over the world\, I’ve learnt a lot about an integrated spiritual path.  With a Ph.D. in philosophy in my pocket\, I was gung ho to join a monastery until I met my root teachers Qapel (Doug Duncan) and Sensei (Catherine Pawasarat) in Japan in 2001\, who turned my views upside down and encouraged me to grow and contribute at the busy end of life! \nA founding member of Clear Sky in 2004\, I’m amazed at the power that working together in compassionate service has for enriching and widening spiritual growth.  Combined with a dynamic relationship and a challenging career\, I have fun with a wide-ranging and holistic approach to spiritual growth. \n \nWhat Previous Students are Saying\n Before Integrating Mindfulness\, I had been struggling with consistent practice\, conflicts within marriage about my practice\, and finances. Now I have a dedicated space for my practice\, am solidifying my need for sangha\, and am reassessing myself and my blocks and shadows. I would encourage someone interested in this to be open to change\, and know that change is always occurring—it doesn’t need to be a negative.\n Leslie \n Mindfulness is so much more than just truly enjoying my cup of tea! I was struggling to find balance with all the big life issues that are changing in my life; finding Integrating Mindfulness was serendipity. It is what I need in my spiritual toolbox to help me stay open and connected. I am more aware now when I am losing myself in grief\, when I am handling difficult conversations\, and in seeing how human differences are to be enjoyed\, as I enjoy different flowers. There is so much more to discover about life. Integrating Mindfulness is about interactions with fellow travellers! If you want to take mindfulness deeper\, you need this course.\n Kirsty\n I am doing a lot of other courses. They are all good—this one is special. Integrating Mindfulness provides a good foundation to support any other studies. People who express feeling unhappy\, overwhelmed\, lacking connection\, would find an ideal fit here. Now\, I am committed to being aware of my boundaries\, and doing what it takes to maintain them\, including clear communication to others. I’m going to continue working on my spiritual container and structure. I plan to come to Clear Sky for more!\n Kim\n Before Integrating Mindfulness\, I was exploring many directions\, and this was sapping my energy and making me ungrounded. I have been intending to discover a “middle way.” Through this course\, I have been getting clearer on my core\, non-negotiable values. I have gained confidence in asserting and communicating my boundaries and initiating conversations\, whereas in the past I avoided conflict. My sense of self-worth is deepening and I am valuing my time and energy more. I am discovering solutions for meeting my basic needs\, not subscribing to short-term gratification impulses\, and being in communion with conscious community\, all simultaneously.\n Aila\n I needed to feel some faith again. Since Integrating Mindfulness\, I’m beginning to see how mindfulness is a part of everything\, and how much of my life I have let slip out of my hands by not being mindful. I’m seeing how much power I will regain as I learn to be aware of myself more constantly and expand my ability to actually choose what I want to choose in each moment. I’m more able to notice where I focus on the negative to find more balance and look for the positive\, as my relationship and perspective with life have become quite one-sided in the negative. Even minor shifts towards expanding to view life as potentially perfect helps me to feel more peace; less frantic about myself and the state of all existence. Talk about life-changing!\nIntegrating Mindfulness will give you the opportunity to peel back some of the daily veils put up around painful and confusing areas of your life. With that opportunity comes the chance to begin to understand yourself more deeply\, and with the support of others\, to care for yourself and your own life with the intentionality you need to live a sort of life that you genuinely want to live. You can read and try all sorts of things by yourself\, but doing it with a group\, and with Karen and Duncan as wonderful teachers who really know what they are doing\, will set you up to get closer to the direction and peace that you so deeply crave.\n Erika\n Previous\n Next\n \n Attend Online (Register Here)\n \n \n Attend In-Person (Register Here)\n \n [wufoo username=”5principles” formhash=”ze64plr0w2w6oi” autoresize=”true” height=”786″ header=”show” ssl=”true”] URL:https://test.clearskycenter.org/event/integrating-mindfulness-2024/ CATEGORIES:Online Courses,Special Events ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://test.clearskycenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/Integrating-Mindfulness-Feature-Image.jpg END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/Edmonton:20240414T093000 DTEND;TZID=America/Edmonton:20240505T110000 DTSTAMP:20260503T090835 CREATED:20240121T231048Z LAST-MODIFIED:20240404T150427Z UID:21095-1713087000-1714906800@test.clearskycenter.org SUMMARY:From Ordinary to Extraordinary: Walking the Eightfold Noble Path (Online) DESCRIPTION:The Eightfold Noble path is about methodology—walking the talk. And what is the talk that this Buddhist wisdom ennobles us to walk? Freedom. Compassion. Wisdom. As applicable now as 2\,500 years ago\, when the Buddha first taught it. \nWalking the Eightfold Noble – and Ennobling Path\nWe want peace and harmony—well-being? Wholeness? What about… emptiness? Whatever we think and say we want—which at our core is all the same—how do we put all the talk and philosophy into place in a meaningful\, practical\, and grounded way in our lives? \n\nRegister Now\n\n \nTheravadan \nBuddhism \nfocus area\nOnline Course & \nWeekend Home Retreat \npractice\nFour \nWeeks \nDuration\nAll \nLevels \nSkill Level\nOnline or \nIn-Person \nformat\n8 steps of the eightfold path:\n\nRight View: sammā-diṭṭhi\nRight Intention: sammā-saṅkappa\nRight Speech: sammā-vācā\nRight Action: sammā-kammanta\nRight Livelihood: sammā-ājīva\nRight Effort: sammā-vāyāma\nRight Mindfulness: sammā-sati\nRight Concentration: sammā-samādhi\n\nThough the word ‘sammā’ is often translated as “right\,” the original Pali could be better translated as “complete” or total. The Western mind is quite steeped in notions of “good” and “bad\,” “right” and “wrong”—but this idea of “complete” is more about wholeness. The eightfold path is something we practice and develop over time for an ever more complete understanding or embodiment of that quality—from Complete View to Complete Concentration. We like to use the image of a mandala as an example: your being is a mandala\, but you’re most likely only seeing and manifesting certain\, fragmented parts\, where the Eightfold Path gets you to the whole picture. \nOur thinking and perceptions get us stuck. Through this study\, the practice of this Path\, and by really seeing the stuckness of our patterns\, we will begin to loosen our tight sense of who we are. The results? Greater freedom\, compassion\, and clarity. From ordinary to extraordinary. It’s a win-win. \nComplete Living:\nLiving in accordance with truth means living by the laws of nature. The human task of awakening is to realign with nature and its laws. To do so\, we have to work with our views\, our livelihood\, and our speech. \nBy seeking the best state of being\, and the best supporting conditions for that state of being\, we can see through what the consumer marketplace usually offers: second-rate goods dressed up to be shiny and appealing. The best life we can live is one that is complete\, in its integrity. \n\nRegister Now\n\n \nIn this talk\, Qapel and Sensei explore the topic of Right Effort\, from the Buddha’s Noble Eightfold Path. They explain that wholesome effort is when we are in the moment and not distracted by conflicted emotions or primitive thinking. \n\n\n\n“I have yet to encounter another setting where I grow as much as I do while at Clear Sky. The balance of support\, genuine care and challenge is rare and precious.\nWhen it comes to spiritual transformation\, Clear Sky is a place and group of people that is not only talking-the-talk but actively walking-the-walk.”\nRuth L. \nCourse Schedule\nApril 14th – May 5th\, 2024\nWith a new format: Morning (9:30am Class) Mountain Time\n\nSunday\, April 14th – 9:30-11am Class\nSunday\, April 21st– 9:30-11am Class\nSunday\, April 28th – 9:30-11am Class\nSaturday & Sunday\, May 4th-5th – 9:30am and 2:30pm (approx 60-90 min classes)\n\nThe formal and participatory teachings for this course will occur on Sundays with a Saturday-Sunday flash retreat on the fourth weekend. Class times are estimates and may change slightly. \nWe encourage you to connect with sangha outside of class times to discuss and deepen your learning of the material. \nFlash Retreat Weekend: May 4th-5th \nTo deepen and integrate your experience\, the final (fourth) weekend during the course will also be a Flash Retreat (May 4 – 5). This can be done at home\, or with us at Clear Sky Meditation Centre\, in Eastern British Columbia. We highly recommend clearing your schedule over the weekend to focus on the retreat. Formal group sessions will be held at these approximate times. \n\nFlash Retreat morning group workshop time:   9:30 am MT\nFlash Retreat afternoon group workshop time: 2:30 pm MT\nSessions will be 60-90 mins in length.\n\nIf you’d like to join the Flash Retreat from Clear Sky\, please contact ava@clearskycenter.org. \n\n\n\n\nRegister Now\n \nMeet the Teachers\n \nDoug Qapel Duncan \n \nCatherine Pawasarat Sensei \nDoug Duncan and Catherine Pawasarat are Dharma and meditation teachers who founded Clear Sky Meditation Center\, BC\, Canada. \nAchariya Doug Duncan received lay ordination from Namgyal Rinpoche in 1978\, and is a lineage holder in that teaching. Known for his direct\, humorous and compassionate engagement with students\, Doug embraces various traditions\, contemporary psychology\, and science\, to mentor all beings to a more awakened state. \nCatherine Pawasarat has trained daily with Acariya Doug Duncan since 1998 in an intensive spiritual apprenticeship that is rare in the modern West. She received lay ordination from Namgyal Rinpoche in 2003. In addition to Buddhist philosophy and its applications to daily life\, Catherine also draws on generative living and the arts. With Doug she is co-founder of Clear Sky Retreat Center in the BC Rockies. \nCourse Details\nTime and Location\nEach of the four weekly classes in this online course will be streamed live at 9:30-11am MST.  We ask participants to attend live whenever possible. The recording of each class will be available for one week after each class. We encourage you to connect with sangha outside of class times to discuss and deepen your learning of the material. \nThe course culminates with a Flash Retreat on May 4-5\, 2024\, with formal workshop times held at approx. 9:30-10:30am and 2:30-3:30pm Mountain Time on Saturday and Sunday. \nWhat Does the Course Cost?\nThis course is offered based on the unique combination of 1) dāna  and 2) a $80-120 USD administrative fee. Register four + weeks prior: $80 | Register two to four weeks prior: $100 | Register less than two weeks prior: $120. \n\n \nAbout Clear Sky\nLocated in the BC rocky mountains\, we offer over 300-acres to deepen your practice and reconnect with nature. \nFounded by Qapel Doug Duncan and Catherine Pawasarat Sensei\, we are home to students from around the globe who are dedicated to co-creating a supportive and innovative space for awakening in our modern world. \nIn adherence with our quadruple bottom line\, we source our food as local and organic as possible. \nEVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW on how to get here\, what to bring and what to expect.  \n\n\n\n\n“This retreat centre is the REAL THING. It’s a modern monastery with people grounded in the present and practicing old and new methods of living in a spiritual community. This group walks the talk. I have made the trek from Ontario all the way to this remote corner of BC every year for the last 16 years to study with these teachers\, interact with these fellow seekers\, and bask in the beauty of this gorgeous property.”\nLinda H.\n \nFAQs\nDana and Pricing \nYou may have come across this elsewhere in the form of “pay from the heart”. Dāna is a Sanskrit term meaning “generosity”. With dāna\, we give as a mutual exchange of generosity. It’s our joy to offer this course\, and we trust you’ll match our time\, energy\, and passion by giving an amount of money that feels good and healthy to both you and us. \nThe dharma has been built on generosity. No-one is excluded for lack of funds but it is also extremely beneficial to give as much as you are able \nTypically people give in a range of $120-$500 USD for a course. \nAs we’re committed to ensuring everyone has access to the Dharma\, please feel comfortable to give less if you are not financially secure.  Another form of giving dāna is to offer service\, and if you are interested in providing support in a non-financial way\, we invite you to contact us. \nConversely\, if you are financially secure\, we invite you to generate merit by providing more financial support to the Triple Gem. Contributions like these make the difference in supporting our teachers\, teachings\, and center. \nLearn more about the practice of dāna here. \nOnline Participants & Admin Fee \nIn a traditional model of in-person teachings\, a retreat center or urban meditation center invites teachers to visit. In these cases the centers have infrastructure and organization costs to cover\, which might be covered by an admin fee. For the teaching itself\, dāna to the teachers is offered in a bowl. This honors both the sustainability of the teachers\, and of the supporting center. \nWe’ve tried to recreate this approach online. The teachers’ time and the teaching themselves are offered on the basis of dāna\, separate to the admin fee. With our dāna offering we are making a direct gift of generosity to the teachers to support their teachings and livelihood. \nThe admin fee* goes to support the infrastructure and organization necessary to support them to teach. As anyone with an online business will know\, it can be surprising the costs of setting up a good infrastructure to support effective teaching and connection online. The admin fee changes based on date of registration. Register four + weeks prior: $80 | Register two to four weeks prior: $100 | Register less than two weeks prior: $120. \n*We also do not wish to exclude anyone from the Teachings\, so if you are not currently in a financial position to afford the admin fee\, please contact the course Registrar via registrar@planetdharma.com so we can support you to attend. \n— \nBelow are a few of the work and benefits that your admin fee payment is supporting: \n\nhigh speed internet (to allow interviews and classes on-line)\nonline class systems (Zoom)\nregistration / admin systems (Eventbrite\, Basecamp)\ncommunication systems to keep everyone informed\, share connection details\, teachings and other resources (Mailchimp)\nonline storage (for example\, Dropbox\, to allow us to let students watch recordings\, and to store and share selected teachings in other forms such as podcasts and video later\, and Amazon cloud)\nquality sound\, video and editing equipment (both for live teachings and to provide good enough quality for later sharing as podcasts and video). We are regularly updating our equipment to improve your user experience.\nonline calendar booking system to allow students to book interviews\nwebsite hosting and maintenance for sharing upcoming courses\, teachings\, blogs and other resources.\n\nWe welcome any questions. May all our efforts be sustainable\, abundant and for the benefit of all beings! \n\n\n\nRegister Now URL:https://test.clearskycenter.org/event/the-eightfold-ennobling-path/ CATEGORIES:Online Courses,Special Events ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://test.clearskycenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/2024-PD-Courses-Facebook-Covers.jpg END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/Edmonton:20240511T090000 DTEND;TZID=America/Edmonton:20240512T170000 DTSTAMP:20260503T090836 CREATED:20240107T141734Z LAST-MODIFIED:20240209T212014Z UID:20951-1715418000-1715533200@test.clearskycenter.org SUMMARY:Come to Your Senses: A Spring Renewal Retreat DESCRIPTION:With Maureen Smith & Dean Nicholson \nLife is busy.  It is easy to get caught up in the everyday demands and worries of work\, family\, finances and social media.  Do you find it hard to slow down\, pause\, connect with yourself and rest in the moment?  Do you long for a chance to feel refreshed and rejuvenated?If this sounds like you\, then take a much needed break\, and join us for this two day in-person retreat of self-discovery and renewal.  Tune into your senses and experience the wonder and beauty of everyday moments.  Learn and practice simple mindfulness techniques that will increase your ability to stay grounded\, calm and enlivened at work and at home.  \n \n REGISTER NOW\n \nCourse Details\nA 2-day residential retreat at Clear Sky Meditation Center (click here for details)\nWhat you can expect\nThis two-day retreat is an opportunity to unplug from your devices and rejuvenate in nature while being guided in sense-based meditations. Through the profound exploration of the senses we learn to be more conscious\, slow down and taste the beauty of what life is meant to be for each of us. Perhaps you are looking for an opportunity to learn and grow at Clear Sky Retreat Center\, or you want to connect with your inner wisdom or gain sustainable skills for living well – if any of these scenarios apply to you\, come and join us!As local meditation teachers and counsellors we embrace the complexity of modern life and see the benefit of combining our passions. You may know us as counsellors through our private practice business Alive Mindfully. You may have meditated with us at Meditation Circle or Start Your Morning with Calm. We are offering Come to Your Senses\, a two day residential retreat\, as meditation teachers with Clear Sky Retreat Center. However you know us\, or if we haven’t met before\, we welcome you to join us in exploring nature\, the senses and Clear Sky.In this retreat we will be giving you a taste of Clear Sky’s 5 principles which are designed specifically to support you to live in health and integrity.This weekend we invite focused attention\, sincerity and aspiration thereby honoring the space we inhabit and our time together. The carefully crafted structure and routine of this weekend will create a health-focused retreat\, in a space beyond words in which we can relax.Starting when you first arrive we will gently and skillfully guide you into a weekend retreat community focused on health\, inner peace and respect. Using thoughtful communication we will shape the space where we meet. You may be amazed at how being in a room with other people who are disciplined in their speech can create a healthy resonance in your being.Being present in the moment with our senses means we are focused\, calm\, and concentrated. This frees up energy and affords us the opportunity to clean up big areas of our life\, which in turn frees up more energy.Together we will support each other in this powerful opportunity to unwind and reconnect with our essential human birthright of joy and compassion.Join us for this two day residential retreat and discover the power of meditation in nature with others.\n \nMeet Your Teachers\n \nMaureen Smith\nA Registered Clinical Social Worker and Certified Imago Relationship Therapist\, Maureen has been a Mental Health and Substance Use Counsellor since 2011. Initially drawn to social work in order to support folks in Hospice and Palliative Care\, she is also a Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) facilitator and meditation teacher. \nSince 2005\, Maureen has been a resident and co-manager of the Clear Sky Retreat Center.  The year 2000 was when Maureen began studying meditation and mindfulness with awakening masters Qapel (Doug Duncan) and Sensei (Catherine Pawasarat).   Maureen believes life is a delicately woven tapestry.  Her life’s purpose is exploring consciousness and gaining wisdom into human nature in order to support people to grow into fully developed human beings.  \nDuring her time-out relaxation moments\, Maureen enjoys gazing at the sky through leaves on tree branches\, hiking\, creating art and reading. \nDean Nicholson\nDean is a psychotherapist\, educator and meditation practitioner.  He has a Masters Degree in Counselling Psychology and over 34 years of clinical counselling experience in the mental health and substance use field.  He provides individual counselling in-person and virtually through www.alivemindfully.ca.  Dean has facilitated hundreds of therapy groups and leads meditation classes and retreats. \nDean is a resident at the Clear Sky Meditation Center\, and studies meditation and mindfulness with awakening masters Qapel (Doug Duncan) and Sensei (Catherine Pawasarat).  Dean actively lives the healing practices he teaches his clients. \nFor fun Dean enjoys music\, film and literature\, and exploring the natural wonders of the East Kootenay area. \n \nCourse Details\n\nLocation: Clear Sky Meditation Center\, 3567 Cockell Road\nDate: May 11-12\, 2024\nTime: 9:00am -5:000pm MT\nCost: Private Cabin – $365              Shared Room – $314\n\n \n REGISTER NOW\n \n \n Dean is a very skilled\, knowledgeable and interactive presenter. He delivered a two day introductory Counselling Skills Training for the Akisqnuk First Nation Health and Administrative staff which was very well received and beneficial to all participants.\n Gerard GregoireAkisqnuk First Nation Health\n You are never quite sure how the unknown is going to be\, but mindfulness will exceed your expectations and open your eyes to how beautiful the mind really is. Maureen’s warm personality and patience helped ease us into it\, especially for those of us in unfamiliar waters. Her delivery\, tone and pace were perfect for me to digest.\n Gareth WebbCounsellor\, Youth Substance Use\n As I mentioned I have some experience (but don’t have a structured daily practice except in times of Crisis). The wording that Maureen used was very clear and could easily be understood and added to my knowledge. Also she made it very easy to incorporate into everyday life. The second best thing was the profound peace that I felt by the end of the second day. I left feeling absolutely lovely and this state lasted the rest of the weekend. Thank you.\n Ann Morin MSW\, Invermere BC\n Dean is a professional with an amazing ability to understand what I couldn’t. Dean never did the work for me and he always seems to know what to say to help guide me towards making up my own mind and figuring out my issues. Having Dean as a counsellor is like having a caring knowledgeable friend help you through hard times.\n PK\n I appreciated the longer meditations in all the senses.\nAlthough I have been engaged in guided meditations fairly consistently for 2 years plus; having your support really helped me to ‘stretch out’.\n Doug P. URL:https://test.clearskycenter.org/event/come-to-your-senses-a-spring-renewal-retreat-3/ CATEGORIES:Group Retreats and Courses ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://test.clearskycenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/Untitled-design-1.png ORGANIZER;CN="Clear Sky Center":MAILTO:contact@clearskycenter.org END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/Edmonton:20240524T150000 DTEND;TZID=America/Edmonton:20240602T150000 DTSTAMP:20260503T090836 CREATED:20230907T232718Z LAST-MODIFIED:20240421T092324Z UID:20221-1716562800-1717340400@test.clearskycenter.org SUMMARY:Breathing Meditation Retreat DESCRIPTION:“The meditation on Mindfulness of Breathing is not only suitable for all beings\, it is also the direct way to enlightenment.” \nNamgyal Rinpoche \nSummer Meditation Retreat | May 24 – June 2\, 2024 \nThis breath will change your life. Join Catherine Pawasarat Sensei in an eight-day breathing meditation retreat. This practice is suitable whether you are a newbie or seasoned meditator\, or have always wanted to do a vipassana or longer retreat. Gift yourself the in-person guidance of an accomplished meditation teacher and a balanced meditative approach of the four classical meditation postures. \nIn-person at Clear Sky Center. An online option is so available for those not in Western Canada. \nIn-Person Registration Deadline: Saturday\, May 11th \nOnline Registration Deadline: Saturday\, May 18th (Early bird admin fees available until May 3rd only) \n \n Attend In-Person\n \n \n Attend Online\n \n \nBuddhism \nfocus area\nMeditation Retreat \npractice\nTen Days \nDuration\nAll Levels \nSkill Level\nIn-Person & Online \nformat\nA Life Changing Experience\nEight Day Breathing Meditation Retreat \nIt’s with you every moment of your life. It is the universe\, alive. And it is a tool for liberation\, free and always\, every second\, readily available. The breath. \nOver and over again\, we hone our attentiveness to the breath until calm\, clarity and wisdom emerges. And it always emerges. \nAt this retreat\, the practice itself is awakening\, life-changing and healing. And most importantly\, you will reap great benefit from the rare in-person guidance of an accomplished meditation teacher and wisdom holder\, Catherine Pawasarat Sensei. Sensei’s teaching is radical\, down to earth\, and one-of-a-kind. \nIf you have a background in Vipassana retreats and are interested in doing something that is similar but a next step\, with a live teacher\, then this retreat may be for you. You will receive more detailed instructions based on the Buddhist suttas\, and opportunities for asking questions and receiving feedback on your practice. This is priceless. \nIn the words of our Teachers’ Teacher\, the Venerable Namgyal Rinpoche\, “meditation on Mindfulness of Breathing is not only suitable for all beings\, it is also the direct way to enlightenment.” \nAn online option is also available for those not in Western Canada\, to make participation possible from anywhere in the world. \nWhile we believe any undertaking can be a vehicle for awakening\, there’s no substitute for the power of one’s own profound experience of truth\, gained through meditation. This is why meditation is one of the four foundational practices of our teaching. \nAnother of our foundation practices is learning. A guiding text for this retreat is the Ānāpānasati Sutta\, or Mindfulness of Breathing Discourse. It is an incredibly powerful methodology. In it\, the Buddha describes 16 steps of practice divided into four areas of mindfulness: body\, feeling\, mind\, and mental objects. It is a guide to liberation. \nThis simple yet powerful framework will extend your meditation experience to everything from subatomic particles to the vastness of space\, and all that’s between. It includes practice in all four postures—sitting\, walking\, standing\, and lying down. Experience will transform. And\, finally\, we will offer support for bridging the gap between retreat and daily life when you get home. \n \n Attend In-Person\n \n \n Attend Online\n \n \n \n \nWhat Do Previous Retreatants Say?\n “I greatly appreciate the depth of knowledge and level of expertise that is shared by Sensei. Her teachings are always well prepared and transformative in my spiritual growth.”\n Michele C.Astrologer \nSchedule\nArrival: \nFor those traveling short distances\, please arrive by 3pm on May 24th. For those coming from international or longer distance travel\, please plan to arrive 1-2 days early to allow time to rest and acclimatize before the start of retreat.  \nSample brief daily schedule: \n9am Class with Teacher \n11am Group Meditation led by a Senior Student \n12:30pm Lunch \n3pm Group Meditation led by a Senior Student \n6pm Dinner \n7:30 pm Meditation and Q&A with Qapel  \nDeparture: \nDepartures will begin on June 2nd\, however we also recommend adding some extra nights to your stay for a more easeful transition from retreat to daily life. \n*Daily schedule is subject to changes closer to the course date.  Questions about the retreat? Phone 250-429-3929\, or contact maureen@clearskycenter.org.\n \n \nMeet the Teachers\n \nCatherine Pawasarat Sensei \nCatherine Pawasarat Sensei is a contemporary Dharma teacher\, attendant\, consort\, co-teacher via Planet Dharma and co-founder of Clear Sky Retreat Center. Anapanasati Breathing meditation is a much loved practice for Sensei\, a central focus of her 2023 one month meditation retreat. It is also connected with one branch of our lineage’s roots in the Burmese Theravadin tradition through the meditation master Venerable Sayadaw U Thila Wunta. \nShe has trained daily with Acariya Doug Duncan since 1998 in an intensive spiritual apprenticeship that is rare in the modern West. She received lay ordination from Namgyal Rinpoche in 2003. In addition to Buddhist philosophy and its applications to daily life\, Catherine also draws on generative living and the arts. \nMore About Sensei | About the Lineage \nWhat’s Expected of Me?\n\nAn open mind and heart\, and a spirit of adventure are excellent things to bring!\nIt’s human to have some apprehensions about doing something new\, meeting new people\, or going to a new place. Particularly when all three happen together. We try to make this as supportive as possible.\nWhen exploring our growth edges\, it’s natural to feel uncertain and awkward. And it’s very fruitful to transform that emotional tension into creative energy by drawing on your own inner resources – such as inquiry\, going with the flow\, and self-reflection\, just a few of the many kinds of constructive engagement.\nTo maximize your retreat experience\, we ask that you refrain from reading\, using the internet\, phone or listening to music during the course.\nStudents are expected to be silent during the silent parts of the retreat\, and participate in all classes\, group meditations\, activities\, and discussions.\nWe ask that you refrain from microdosing or consuming mind-altering substances in the days before this retreat\, during\, and in the days immediately following it.\n\nhttps://youtu.be/5sOJTUdKqG8?si=prw6wQBO4hE8yVxj\n \nReady to Register?\nIf you have questions about the retreat\, please phone 250-429-3929\, or contact bookings@clearskycenter.org. Register via the appropriate button below: \n  \n \n Attend In-Person\n \n \n Attend Online\n \nAbout Clear Sky\nLocated in the BC rocky mountains\, we offer over 300-acres to deepen your practice and reconnect with nature.  \nFounded by Qapel Doug Duncan and Catherine Pawasarat Sensei\, we are home to students from around the globe who are dedicated to co-creating a supportive and innovative space for awakening in our modern world. \nIn adherence with our quadruple bottom line\, we source our food as local and organic as possible. \nEVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW on how to get here\, what to bring and what to expect.  \n \n \n \n \n “This retreat centre is the REAL THING. It’s a modern monastery with people grounded in the present and practicing old and new methods of living in a spiritual community. This group walks the talk. I have made the trek from Ontario all the way to this remote corner of BC every year for the last 16 years to study with these teachers\, interact with these fellow seekers\, and bask in the beauty of this gorgeous property.”\n Linda H.Dharma Teacher & Author\n \nFAQs\n In-Person Attendance: Dana and Cost \nDana: \nThis retreat is offered on the basis of dāna (generosity). \nDāna is a Sanskrit term meaning “generosity”\, and is the traditional way in which Buddhist teachings are offered.  With dāna\, we give as a mutual exchange of generosity. You may have come across this in the form of “pay from the heart”. It’s our joy to offer this course\, and we trust you’ll match our time\, energy\, and passion by giving an amount of money that feels good and healthy to both you and us. \nYou will be sent a link to offer “dana” to the teachers after registration.  \nFor more information on dāna click here. \nPricing:  \nIn addition to Dana to the Teacher\, Clear Sky Meditation Centre provides an incredible space for your retreat.  Situated on a beautiful 310-acre property in the Rocky Mountains\, the center and its karma yogis provide you nourishing daily meals and comfortable accomodation. Read more: Staying with us (Clear Sky Meditation Centre) \nPlease go to the retreat registration page for this retreat for details of the all inclusive fee for the retreat. \n Online Attendance: Dana\, Cost and Requirements \nDana: \nThis retreat is offered on the basis of dāna (generosity). \nDāna is a Sanskrit term meaning “generosity”\, and is the traditional way in which Buddhist teachings are offered.  With dāna\, we give as a mutual exchange of generosity. You may have come across this in the form of “pay from the heart”. It’s our joy to offer this course\, and we trust you’ll match our time\, energy\, and passion by giving an amount of money that feels good and healthy to both you and us. \nYou will be sent a link to offer “dana” to the teachers after registration. \nFor more information on dāna click here. \n  \nPricing: \nIn order to bring you this retreat at home\, there is an additional admin fee* of $350 CAD\, with registration at least three weeks or more before the retreat. Registrations three weeks or less from the the retreat start date will incur a $450 admin fee.The admin fee is to cover the costs of running these online courses – for equipment and software to provide you the teachings online. \nIf you are taking this retreat online\, we require that you devote your full attention to the retreat for the entire week. \nRequirements include: \n\nBlock out the retreat duration and be focused on the retreat for this entire period\, using this time and participating in the retreat as if you were at Clear Sky in person.  This includes a rigorous\, full\, daily meditation schedule.\nParticipate in all of the daily classes and group practices via online streaming.\nSet up a quiet space or location where you can focus on the Meditation Retreat\, and not need to engage in conversation or work with others.\nPut away your phone\, digital devices and other distractions.\nIf there are enough people in the same time zone as you\, you could also make a cohort to meet to do a group practice throughout the retreat.\nNote: full details/ requirements will be sent to you after registering\n\nAbout the administrative fee* \nIn a traditional model of in-person teachings\, a retreat center or urban meditation center invites teachers to visit. In these cases the centers have infrastructure and organization costs to cover\, which might be covered by an admin fee. For the teaching itself\, dāna to the teachers is offered in a bowl. This honors both the sustainability of the teachers and of the supporting center. \nWe’ve tried to recreate this approach online.The teachers’ time and the teaching themselves are offered on the basis of dāna\, separate to the admin fee. With our dāna offering we are making a direct gift of generosity to the teachers to support their teachings and livelihood. Learn more about the practice of dāna here. \nThe admin fee goes to support the infrastructure and organization necessary to support them to teach. As anyone with an online business will know\, it can be surprising the costs of setting up a good infrastructure to support effective teaching and connection online. \nBelow are a few of the work and benefits that your admin fee payment is supporting: \n\nhigh speed internet (to allow interviews and classes on-line)\nonline class systems (Zoom)\nregistration / admin systems (Eventbrite\, Basecamp)\ncommunication systems to keep everyone informed\, share connection details\, teachings and other resources (Mailchimp)\nonline storage (for example\, Dropbox\, to allow us to let students watch recordings and to store and share selected teachings in other forms such as podcasts and videos after the Teachings)\nquality sound\, video and editing equipment (both for live teachings and to provide good enough quality for later sharing as podcasts and video). We are regularly updating our equipment to improve your user experience.\nonline calendar booking system to allow students to book interviews\nwebsite hosting and maintenance for sharing upcoming courses\, teachings\, blogs and other resources.\n\nMay all our efforts be sustainable\, abundant and for the benefit of all beings! \n*We also do not wish to exclude anyone from the Teachings\, so if you are not currently in a financial position to afford the admin fee\, please contact us so we can support you to attend. \nWe welcome any questions. Please feel free to contact Ava@clearskycenter.org. \n Detailed Daily Schedule (Long retreats) \nSpecific times may change – this is a rough guide (MST) \n6:30 – 7:30 AM: Walk &/or Personal Practice7:30 – 8:15 AM: Breakfast: Prepare\, eat\, clean up8:15 – 8:45 AM: Walk &/or Personal Practice9:00 – 10:00 AM: Class with Teachers10:00 – 10:30 AM: Walk10:30 – 11:30 AM: Group Practice led by Sangha11:30 – 12:30 PM: Personal Practice12:30 – 1:30 PM: Lunch: Prepare\, eat\, clean up1:30 – 3:00 PM: Personal Practice3:00 – 4:00 PM: Group Practice led by Sangha4:00 – 5:30 PM: Personal Practice5:30 – 7:00 PM: Dinner: prepare\, eat\, clean up7:00 – 7:30 PM: Walk &/or Personal Practice7:30 – 8:30 PM: Group Practice and Q & A with Teachers8:30 – Beyond: Personal Practice & bed \n Food\, Weather\, Accommodation and How to Get Here \nClick here for details on how to get here\, what to bring and what to expect.  \n Scholarship Application \nWe aim to make our retreats as accessible as possible.  \nAs a centre run entirely by Karma Yoga (selfless service)\, retreat fees only cover food\, accommodation and the equipment required to offer them online. \nThe teachings themselves are offered on the basis of Dāna (pay-from-the-heart).  \nFor some\, this is still a barrier of entry. \nIf you are seeking financial assistance to attend a retreat\, please complete a Scholarship Application form. \n Psychedelics/Microdosing \nWe recognize and respect plant medicine as an important part of some people’s spiritual paths.  \nPlease note\, the meditation practice on this retreat is very powerful. Consuming mind-altering substances will detract from your experience and could cause negative side-effects.  \nWe ask that you refrain from microdosing or consuming mind-altering substances in the days before this retreat\, during\, and in the days immediately following it. \n \n \n \n Attend In-Person\n \n \n Attend Online URL:https://test.clearskycenter.org/event/breathing-meditation-retreat-2024/ CATEGORIES:Featured Courses,Group Retreats and Courses,Online Courses ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://test.clearskycenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Breathing-Meditation-Retreat-Square.jpg END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20240613 DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20240705 DTSTAMP:20260503T090836 CREATED:20240122T181943Z LAST-MODIFIED:20240505T031134Z UID:21205-1718236800-1720137599@test.clearskycenter.org SUMMARY:Meditation Circle: Living the Body Electric DESCRIPTION:Online or In-Person at Clear SkyThursdays 7-8pm MST \nDrop-Ins Welcome \nLiving the Body Electric\nwith Cara Conroy-Lau\n“I sing the body electric\,\nThe armies of those I love engirth me and I engirth them\,\nThey will not let me off till I go with them\, respond to them\,\nAnd discorrupt them\, and charge them full with the charge of the soul.”\n— Walt Whitman\n  \nLive the body electric with Cara Conroy-Lau and community in this four week meditation circle series. Through breathing meditation and other somatic body awareness practices\, we will deepen our connections to the unified field of the bodymind – observing the layers of what makes us human\, and within it\, pure life-force and potentiality.  \nGrounding and somatic awareness practices from our meditation tradition and The Wakeful Body by Willa B Milla will be introduced.  \n— \nExcited? Before this series starts\, you’re invited to enjoy our online guided meditations.  \n \nAbout these Community Meditation Classes\nHow do you grow your inner well-being?  These community classes at Clear Sky Center help you develop a stronger meditation practice.   \nJoin us for Meditation Circle\, Thursday nights (7:00-8:00pm MST) at Clear Sky Center.   \nThese classes run semi-regularly throughout the year\, interspersed with our other retreats and offerings. \nThis series\, Living the Body Electric\, runs from Thursday\, June 13th to July 4th\, 2024 and is with Cara Conroy-Lau. \nDrop ins are welcome\, and we also encourage you to attend all classes if possible. \nThere are two ways to attend – in person or online. Just click the appropriate button to register. See you soon!  \n \n \n Attend Online\n \n \n Attend In-Person\n \nQuestions?  \nContact Cara via email or phone: \ncara@clearskycenter.org | 250-421-8280 \n \n\n\n “Meditation is like turning on a light in a dark room. The power of awareness lets us see what is there – in our bodies\, emotions\, mind\, workplaces\, homes and relationships. Seeing what is there gives us the freedom and the courage to make deeply impactful changes.” \n Duncan Cryle\n \n \n\n\n I feel like we’re so disembodied today in our technological culture that meditation is my little kindness to myself in saying ‘hello body\, you’re part of my day.’ \n Karen McAllister\n \nMeditation Circle Teachers\n \nKaren McAllister\nAs Clear Sky’s Chair of the Board and Director of Business Development\, I’m passionate about teaching the much-ignored principles of nurturing the factors – like honor your space\, structure\, and communication – that create the conditions we need to wake up more in daily life. I see how I learned and embodied these principles in my different roles at Clear Sky as the center went from self-starter to second-stage growth. This is what I call “the hands-on way of doing an MBA with a spiritual bottom line!” \nIn my free time\, I love travelling\, speaking Portuguese and reading history\, architecture and art books. \nDuncan Cryle\nThrough 30+ years of personal practice and 15+ teaching meditation and mindfulness\, alongside an active career working all over the world\, I’ve learnt a lot about an integrating mindfulness into daily life.  As a founding member of Clear Sky in 2004\, I’m amazed at the power of a beautiful\, natural and dedicated space for supporting people to deepen their meditation and feel more connected.  Alongside. my Clear Sky work\, I hold a director position at a large software company where I also run a volunteer global mindfulness program to 1000s employees.  I was formerly one of the pioneers of IBM’s mindfulness movement.  I’m passionate about how mindfulness-based approaches can transform how we live and work together\, and be of better service in the world. \n \n \nMaureen Smith\nMaureen Smith (MSW\, RCSW) is a therapist and meditation teacher. Passionate about what she does\, she will guide you to a more alive\, aware and mindful path of living. \nMaureen is a well-respected Cranbrook-based therapist and educator. She works with individuals and couples in the public sector in addictions and mental health. Not only was Maureen the first acting caretaker at Clear Sky Meditation Center in BC\, she has studied numerous meditation practices intensively for over 10 years. She has a Master of Social Work degree and is a Registered Clinical Social Worker in British Columbia. \nCara Conroy-Lau\nCara brings a joyful East meets West approach to meditation and holistic health. \nAs a New Zealand-born citizen of the world\, she grew up in New Zealand\, Singapore\, Japan and China. Cara has trained in mind-body integrative health for over 18 years. She is the founding acupuncturist and owner of Cranbrook Acupuncture Clinic. \nCara has been training in meditation and Buddhist philosophy since her early 20’s\, and has a particular interest in healing internalised prejudices and biases.  She is a long time resident at Clear Sky Centre\, and was the Centre’s first farm and food forest manager from 2009-2012.  \n \n \n Attend Online\n \n \n Attend In-Person\n \nCourse Cost: Dāna\n \nWe offer this course on the basis of dāna.  If you’re not familiar with dāna\, you may have come across related approaches such as “pay from the heart.” \nDāna is a Sanskrit term that translates as “generosity” in English. The practice of generosity is central to spiritual unfoldment\, whatever path you follow. In our own Buddhist lineage\, teachings have always been given on the basis of dāna\, and we are committed to this practice and its development in the West. \nDāna is a radical and – we believe – viable economic alternative to capitalism. We all know there must be something better than capitalism or its hungry cousin\, consumerism. We maintain that\, together\, we can offer a financial model that is based in life-affirming mutual support. Please join us in co-creating this promising economic alternative. \n \n \nTo help you choose an amount that feels right for you\, we recommend this heart-based exercise from our friends at Planet Dharma.  \nChecking in with your heart\n1) Take a few quiet breaths and center yourself. Spend a few moments to reflect on each of the below: the beauty and integrity of dāna practice; the value of receiving direct teachings from lineage holders in a recognized spiritual tradition; the reality of your financial situation. \n2) Spend another few moments contacting a sense of health\, strength and abundance. You have a healthy mind\, a body\, senses\, the good karma to have heard the teachings\, and conditions to support your practice of Dharma. Celebrate this! \n3) Now check with your heart and mind what amount feels both consistent with your situation\, and expressive of your aspiration. \nIt’s our joy to offer this course\, and we trust you’ll match our time\, energy\, and passion by giving an amount of money that feels good and healthy to both you and us. \n \n Attend Online\n \n \n Attend In-Person URL:https://test.clearskycenter.org/event/meditation-circle-body-electric-june-2024/ CATEGORIES:Coaching,Online Courses ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://test.clearskycenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/2.png ORGANIZER;CN="Clear Sky Center":MAILTO:contact@clearskycenter.org END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/Edmonton:20240712T170000 DTEND;TZID=America/Edmonton:20240714T170000 DTSTAMP:20260503T090836 CREATED:20231211T225851Z LAST-MODIFIED:20240516T181106Z UID:20667-1720803600-1720976400@test.clearskycenter.org SUMMARY:Razor's Edge: The Dance of Absolute & Relative Truths (In-Person and Online) DESCRIPTION:“If you want truth\, it costs all of you.” -Qapel \nOne weekend. One Teacher. Two truths… in one. Step onto the Razor’s Edge: the paradoxical and joyous dance of Absolute and Relative. It’s the only truth there is. \nEarly Bird Ends: June 7th! \nRegistration Closes: July 5th \n \n In-Person Registration\n \n \n Online Registration\n \nBuddhism\nfocus area\nGuru Yoga\npractice\nWeekend\nDuration\nAll\nSkill Level\nIn-Person & Online \nformat\nRazor’s Edge: The Dance of Absolute & Relative Truths\nThe Razor’s Edge is the line between wisdom and ignorance—and it lives inside of you. A paradoxical\, joyous\, and pristinely aware place\, the edge of is finer than any other. \nThis weekend course is a precious opportunity to study with meditation master and Namgyal lineage teacher Qapel (Achariya Doug Duncan). He will share fundamental Buddhist teachings on the nature of absolute and relative truths\, and how we can best dance between\, within and amidst the two. This is a priceless chance to learn with one who has danced on the Razor’s Edge for decades\, and dedicated his life to the welfare of all beings by sharing how to do so. \nWhat You’ll Learn: How to Dance the Razor’s Edge!\n\nWhat is absolute truth? What is relative truth?\nWhat does the relationship between these truths have to do with you\, and your life?\nHow can you dance with and integrate these two seemingly paradoxical points of view?\nHow might you live and dwell on the “razor’s edge” of this form of wisdom and compassion?\nHow can you do this dance with others? What is your role in bringing this dance into our world?\n\n \n \n \n This course for you if:\n\nYou’re wondering how to truly transform suffering and struggle in your life.\nYou’d like to study fundamental Buddhist philosophical understandings of the nature of reality with a wisdom teacher in the Namgyal lineage.\nYou’d like to bridge the gap between meditative realizations and every day challenges.\nYou have a strong curiosity into the nature of reality.\nYou have the burning question inside of you which has led you to this webpage in the first place.\n\n \n In-Person Registration\n \n \n Online Registration\n \n “I don’t find meditation easy\, but I do find it worth it. I would not have dreamed that a 3 day online retreat could resolve complicated matters that I have wrestled with for years. Yet it did. Thank you\, Sensei. Thank you each one of you at Clear Sky.”\n Kakoom B. \nCourse Details\nTime and Location\nThe Razor’s Edge weekend will be led by Qapel Doug Duncan at Clear Sky Meditation Center in Eastern BC.  This course is offered online or in-person. \nSchedule / Class Times:  Classes will be 60-90 mins in duration\, with classes in the morning and evening and possibly the afternoon each day (Mountain Time) – the exact schedule to be confirmed. Please ensure you are available for the whole weekend to focus on the course material and attend classes live.  \nOnline participants are expected to attend classes live.  We will arrange class times to be comfortable for most time zones. However we understand that some class times might occur after midnight in some regions\, if this is the case for you\, please let us know when you register.  Then we can provide a recording so you can catch up on that particular class. \nWhat Does the Course Cost?\nIn-Person Participants: 1) dāna to the Teacher plus 2) accomodation and meal costs for your stay Clear Sky Meditation Centre. \nOnline Participants: 1) dāna to the Teacher  2) online administration fee of $150 CAD. \nQuestions?\nIf you have questions about the retreat\, please contact the Clear Sky Retreat Manager at 250-429-3929  (phone) or at bookings@clearskycenter.org (email). \n \n \nMeet the Teachers\n \nQapel (Achariya Doug Duncan) \nQapel studied with the Ven. Namgyal Rinpoche from 1974 until the latter’s passing in 2003. Doug received lay ordination from Namgyal Rinpoche in 1978\, and is a lineage holder in that teaching. He also received teachings from the 16th Karmapa and other Tibetan Rinpoches\, as well as from the Ven. Sayadaw U Thila Wunta and from a Master of the Western Mystery School. In addition\, Doug has undertaken numerous three-month solitary meditation retreats. \nDoug has been leading retreats\, teaching and training in universal practices of spiritual unfoldment since 1985\, helping thousands of students in numerous countries liberate themselves from suffering. His teaching also draws on contemporary psychology and science. In 2004 he co-founded Clear Sky Retreat Center in the BC Rockies where he is resident teacher along with Catherine Pawasarat Sensei. \nMore About Qapel | About the Lineage \nAbout Clear Sky\nLocated in the BC rocky mountains\, we offer over 300-acres to deepen your practice and reconnect with nature.  \nFounded by Qapel Doug Duncan and Catherine Pawasarat Sensei\, we are home to students from around the globe who are dedicated to co-creating a supportive and innovative space for awakening in our modern world. \nIn adherence with our quadruple bottom line\, we source our food as local and organic as possible. \nEVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW on how to get here\, what to bring and what to expect.  \n \n \n \n \n \n In-Person Registration\n \n \n Online Registration\n \n “I feel like a whole new world of understanding has opened up for me to explore. The teachings were interesting\, vibrant\, and so very relevant to our lives. Qapel and Catherine Sensei have done a wonderful job at distilling these vast teachings without oversimplying concepts. The teachings were visual\, informative\, and interactive. It was a great and lots of fun!”\n Jenai L. \n \nFAQs\n About Dana \nYou may have come across this elsewhere in the form of “pay from the heart”. Dāna is a Sanskrit term meaning “generosity”. With dāna\, we give as a mutual exchange of generosity. It’s our joy to offer this course\, and we trust you’ll match our time\, energy\, and passion by giving an amount of money that feels good and healthy to both you and us. \nThe dharma has been built on generosity. No-one is excluded for lack of funds but it is also extremely beneficial to give as much as you are able \nTypically people give in a range of $120-$500 USD for a course.  \nAs we’re committed to ensuring everyone has access to the Dharma\, please feel comfortable to give less if you are not financially secure.  Another form of giving dāna is to offer service\, and if you are interested in providing support in a non-financial way\, we invite you to contact us.  \nConversely\, if you are financially secure\, we invite you to generate merit by providing more financial support to the Triple Gem. Contributions like these make the difference in supporting our teachers\, teachings\, and center. \nLearn more about the practice of dāna here. \n About the Admin Fee \nIn a traditional model of in-person teachings\, a retreat center or urban meditation center invites teachers to visit. In these cases the centers have infrastructure and organization costs to cover\, which might be covered by an admin fee. For the teaching itself\, dāna to the teachers is offered in a bowl. This honors both the sustainability of the teachers\, and of the supporting center. \nWe’ve tried to recreate this approach online. The teachers’ time and the teaching themselves are offered on the basis of dāna\, separate to the admin fee. With our dāna offering we are making a direct gift of generosity to the teachers to support their teachings and livelihood. \nThe admin fee* goes to support the infrastructure and organization necessary to support them to teach. As anyone with an online business will know\, it can be surprising the costs of setting up a good infrastructure to support effective teaching and connection online. The admin fee changes based on date of registration. \n*We also do not wish to exclude anyone from the Teachings\, so if you are not currently in a financial position to afford the admin fee\, please contact the course Registrar via registrar@planetdharma.com so we can support you to attend. \n— \nBelow are a few of the work and benefits that your admin fee payment is supporting: \n\nhigh speed internet (to allow interviews and classes on-line)\nonline class systems (Zoom)\nregistration / admin systems (Eventbrite\, Basecamp)\ncommunication systems to keep everyone informed\, share connection details\, teachings and other resources (Mailchimp)\nonline storage (for example\, Dropbox\, to allow us to let students watch recordings\, and to store and share selected teachings in other forms such as podcasts and video later\, and Amazon cloud)\nquality sound\, video and editing equipment (both for live teachings and to provide good enough quality for later sharing as podcasts and video). We are regularly updating our equipment to improve your user experience.\nonline calendar booking system to allow students to book interviews\nwebsite hosting and maintenance for sharing upcoming courses\, teachings\, blogs and other resources.\n\nWe welcome any questions. May all our efforts be sustainable\, abundant and for the benefit of all beings! \n Daily Schedule \nSpecific times may change – this is a rough guide (MST) \n6:30 – 7:30 AM: Walk &/or Personal Practice7:30 – 8:15 AM: Breakfast: Prepare\, eat\, clean up8:15 – 8:45 AM: Walk &/or Personal Practice9:00 – 10:00 AM: Class with Teachers10:00 – 10:30 AM: Walk10:30 – 11:30 AM: Group Practice led by Sangha11:30 – 12:30 PM: Personal Practice12:30 – 1:30 PM: Lunch: Prepare\, eat\, clean up1:30 – 3:00 PM: Personal Practice3:00 – 4:00 PM: Group Practice led by Sangha4:00 – 5:30 PM: Personal Practice5:30 – 7:00 PM: Dinner: prepare\, eat\, clean up7:00 – 7:30 PM: Walk &/or Personal Practice7:30 – 8:30 PM: Group Practice and Q & A with Teachers8:30 – Beyond: Personal Practice & bed \n Food\, Weather\, Accommodation and How to Get Here \nClick here for details on how to get here\, what to bring and what to expect.  \n PSYCHEDELICS/MICRODOSING \nWe recognize and respect plant medicine as an important part of some people’s spiritual paths.  \nPlease note\, the meditation practice on this retreat is very powerful. Consuming mind-altering substances will detract from your experience and could cause negative side-effects.  \nWe ask that you refrain from microdosing or consuming mind-altering substances during this retreat and in the days immediately following it.  \n SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATION \nWe aim to make our retreats as accessible as possible.  \nAs a centre run entirely by Karma Yoga (selfless service)\, retreat fees only cover food\, accommodation and the equipment required to offer them online. We do not have paid staff.  \nThe teachings themselves are offered on the basis of Dāna (pay-from-the-heart).  \nFor some\, this is still a barrier of entry. \nIf you are seeking financial assistance to attend a retreat\, please complete a Scholarship Application form. \n \n \n \n In-Person Registration\n \n \n Online Registration URL:https://test.clearskycenter.org/event/absolute-relative-truth-online-retreat/ CATEGORIES:Featured Courses,Group Retreats and Courses,Online Courses ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://test.clearskycenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/2024-PD-courses-Square-IG-Post-1.png END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20240801 DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20240823 DTSTAMP:20260503T090836 CREATED:20240225T224710Z LAST-MODIFIED:20240225T224843Z UID:21602-1722470400-1724371199@test.clearskycenter.org SUMMARY:Meditation Circle: Summer of the Spotless Mind DESCRIPTION:Online or In-Person at Clear SkyThursdays 7-8pm MST \nDrop-Ins Welcome \nSummer of the Spotless Mind\nwith Maureen Smith\nThe best summer vacation experience ever is actually the spotless mind. Join Maureen Smith and community in this four week meditation circle series on stepping into the brightness of your life.  \nThrough breathing meditation and therapeutic tools we will learn how to self regulate through life’s difficult experiences. Maureen will share from her exciting explorations from EMDR\, psychology and Buddhist approaches to healing\, insight and wisdom.  \n  \n— \nExcited? Before this series starts\, you’re invited to enjoy our online guided meditations.  \n \nAbout these Community Meditation Classes\nHow do you grow your inner well-being?  These community classes at Clear Sky Center help you develop a stronger meditation practice. \nJoin us for Meditation Circle\, Thursday nights (7:00-8:00pm MST) at Clear Sky Center. \nThese classes run semi-regularly throughout the year\, interspersed with our other retreats and offerings. \nThis series\, Summer of the Spotless Mind\, runs from Thursday\, August 1-22\, 2024 and is lead by Maureen Smith. \nDrop ins are welcome\, and we also encourage you to attend all classes if possible. \nThere are two ways to attend – in person or online. Just click the appropriate button to register. See you soon!  \n Attend In-Person Attend Online \nQuestions?  \nContact Cara via email or phone: \ncara@clearskycenter.org | 250-421-8280 \n \n\n“Meditation is like turning on a light in a dark room. The power of awareness lets us see what is there – in our bodies\, emotions\, mind\, workplaces\, homes and relationships. Seeing what is there gives us the freedom and the courage to make deeply impactful changes.” \nDuncan Cryle \n \n\nI feel like we’re so disembodied today in our technological culture that meditation is my little kindness to myself in saying ‘hello body\, you’re part of my day.’ \nKaren McAllister \nMeditation Circle Teachers\n \nKaren McAllister\nAs Clear Sky’s Chair of the Board and Director of Business Development\, I’m passionate about teaching the much-ignored principles of nurturing the factors – like honor your space\, structure\, and communication – that create the conditions we need to wake up more in daily life. I see how I learned and embodied these principles in my different roles at Clear Sky as the center went from self-starter to second-stage growth. This is what I call “the hands-on way of doing an MBA with a spiritual bottom line!” \nIn my free time\, I love travelling\, speaking Portuguese and reading history\, architecture and art books. \nDuncan Cryle\nThrough 30+ years of personal practice and 15+ teaching meditation and mindfulness\, alongside an active career working all over the world\, I’ve learnt a lot about an integrating mindfulness into daily life.  As a founding member of Clear Sky in 2004\, I’m amazed at the power of a beautiful\, natural and dedicated space for supporting people to deepen their meditation and feel more connected.  Alongside. my Clear Sky work\, I hold a director position at a large software company where I also run a volunteer global mindfulness program to 1000s employees.  I was formerly one of the pioneers of IBM’s mindfulness movement.  I’m passionate about how mindfulness-based approaches can transform how we live and work together\, and be of better service in the world. \n \nMaureen Smith\nMaureen Smith (MSW\, RCSW) is a therapist and meditation teacher. Passionate about what she does\, she will guide you to a more alive\, aware and mindful path of living. \nMaureen is a well-respected Cranbrook-based therapist and educator. She works with individuals and couples in the public sector in addictions and mental health. Not only was Maureen the first acting caretaker at Clear Sky Meditation Center in BC\, she has studied numerous meditation practices intensively for over 10 years. She has a Master of Social Work degree and is a Registered Clinical Social Worker in British Columbia. \nCara Conroy-Lau\nCara brings a joyful East meets West approach to meditation and holistic health. \nAs a New Zealand-born citizen of the world\, she grew up in New Zealand\, Singapore\, Japan and China. Cara has trained in mind-body integrative health for over 18 years. She is the founding acupuncturist and owner of Cranbrook Acupuncture Clinic. \nCara has been training in meditation and Buddhist philosophy since her early 20’s\, and has a particular interest in healing internalised prejudices and biases.  She is a long time resident at Clear Sky Centre\, and was the Centre’s first farm and food forest manager from 2009-2012.  \n Attend Online Attend In-Person \nCourse Cost: Dāna\n \nWe offer this course on the basis of dāna.  If you’re not familiar with dāna\, you may have come across related approaches such as “pay from the heart.” \nDāna is a Sanskrit term that translates as “generosity” in English. The practice of generosity is central to spiritual unfoldment\, whatever path you follow. In our own Buddhist lineage\, teachings have always been given on the basis of dāna\, and we are committed to this practice and its development in the West. \nDāna is a radical and – we believe – viable economic alternative to capitalism. We all know there must be something better than capitalism or its hungry cousin\, consumerism. We maintain that\, together\, we can offer a financial model that is based in life-affirming mutual support. Please join us in co-creating this promising economic alternative. \n \n \nTo help you choose an amount that feels right for you\, we recommend this heart-based exercise from our friends at Planet Dharma.  \nChecking in with your heart\n1) Take a few quiet breaths and center yourself. Spend a few moments to reflect on each of the below: the beauty and integrity of dāna practice; the value of receiving direct teachings from lineage holders in a recognized spiritual tradition; the reality of your financial situation. \n2) Spend another few moments contacting a sense of health\, strength and abundance. You have a healthy mind\, a body\, senses\, the good karma to have heard the teachings\, and conditions to support your practice of Dharma. Celebrate this! \n3) Now check with your heart and mind what amount feels both consistent with your situation\, and expressive of your aspiration. \nIt’s our joy to offer this course\, and we trust you’ll match our time\, energy\, and passion by giving an amount of money that feels good and healthy to both you and us. \n Attend Online Attend In-Person URL:https://test.clearskycenter.org/event/meditation-circle-summer-spotless-mind-aug-2024/ CATEGORIES:Coaching,Online Courses ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://test.clearskycenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/2.png ORGANIZER;CN="Clear Sky Center":MAILTO:contact@clearskycenter.org END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/Edmonton:20240907T080000 DTEND;TZID=America/Edmonton:20240922T170000 DTSTAMP:20260503T090836 CREATED:20230416T232247Z LAST-MODIFIED:20240822T162820Z UID:19511-1725696000-1727024400@test.clearskycenter.org SUMMARY:The Movement of the Mandala DESCRIPTION:“The Tarot represents a system of complete liberation for Westerners.” \n-Namgyal Rinpoche \nJoin us for a two-week somatic retreat that helps us weave archetypal energies into our lives in beautiful and healthy ways. \nIt’s creative\, it’s powerful\, it’s magic. \nRegistration is by invite only. \n \nWestern Mysteries \nfocus area\nInteractive \npractice\nTwo Weeks \nDuration\nIntermediate \nSkill Level\nIn-Person \nformat\nEmbodying principles of unfoldment through spiritual theatre\nThe Movement of the Mandala is a powerful embodied retreat on the Tarot’s archetypes\, inspired by the Venerable Namgyal Rinpoche’s teachings. \nThe retreat was first offered by the Venerable Namgyal Rinpoche 50 years ago at the Dharma Centre of Canada in 1974\, Qapel’s first retreat as a new student. A master of both Eastern and Western mystical tradition\, Rinpoche’s innovative course will be offered by Qapel and Catherine Sensei for the first and last time in Qapel’s lifetime. \nWhy the Tarot? \nWe’re all familiar with Eastern spiritual traditions\, but did you know the West also has a legitimate path for spiritual awakening? \nHow are the Emperor and Empress manifesting your life? Are they wise rulers or are they tyrants? Or are they living in another kingdom altogether? \nWestern archetypes are a powerful resource for spiritual awakening. They reveal and help us cultivate dormant aspects in ourselves so we may reach our highest potential. \nIn modern times\, Tarot is often mistaken as ‘woo woo’ fortune telling\, yet it has offered a profound path for spiritual awakening for hundreds of years. In fact\, the Western Mysteries was the path by which Namgyal Rinpoche awakened. \n\n\n\n“Qapel and Sensei teach in a light\, but profound way – taking us on a brilliant journey of understanding with guile and humour.\nTheir male and female perspectives help balance with differing approaches to explaining a complex but genius system that holds all life understanding from religion\, science\, psychotherapy and wisdom traditions.”\nJonathan C. Shiatsu\, Qigong & Meditation Teacher \nThe History of the Movement of the Mandala Retreat\, as first offered by Namgyal Rinpoche\nQapel’s first retreat with his Teacher Namgyal Rinpoche was on the ‘Movement of the Mandala’ in 1974\, an embodied initiation into the Tarot’s archetypes.  We asked him to explain more about the retreat and its history. \n \nA Somatic Retreat\nWhy this retreat? – Embody the Tarot’s principles of universal unfoldment. \nAs archetypes and meditations\, the symbolism of the Tarot is incredibly transformative. The Tarot offers a powerful\, concise path of liberation drawing on universal life experiences to invite us into deeper understanding of the mystical life. \nIn this retreat we will enact and embody the major arcana\, through spiritual somatic theatre.  This form of enriching “passion play” helps us gain a deep imprint of the tarot’s archetypal meanings\, catalytic for spiritual transformation. \nEach Tarot card contains symbolism through which transformation can occur. \nDrawing on Western archetypes\, aspects that exist within each of us\, this retreat helps us: \n\nDiscover which archetypes are stronger and weaker in our being;\nLearn how to integrate all the archetypes into our daily lives;\nUse art\, music and movement to contact the patterns of our being through sensing\, feeling and insight.\n\nWhat Can I Expect? \n\nAn open mind and heart and a spirit of adventure are excellent things to bring!\nRoll up your sleeves and jump into spiritual theatre. You will be asked to prepare sets and costumes before the retreat.\nBecome deeply familiar with the 22 Tarot cards of the major arcana and their main characteristics.\nEmbark on somatic group theatre (and therapy) using the Tarot cards.\nReveal and relate deeper patterns from within our being to the major archetypes.\nExplore techniques in loosening patterns of thought and action.\nExpect long days of Western Mysteries practice and exploration.\nEnjoy the surrounding wilderness at Clear Sky Center.\nIt’s human to have some apprehensions about doing something new\, meeting new people\, or going to a new place – particularly when all three happen together. Knowing this\, we try to make our retreats as supportive as possible.\n\n\n\n\n \nMeet the Teachers\n \nDoug Qapel Duncan \n \nCatherine Pawasarat Sensei \nDoug Duncan and Catherine Pawasarat are Dharma and meditation teachers who founded Clear Sky Meditation Center\, BC\, Canada. \nAchariya Doug Duncan received lay ordination from Namgyal Rinpoche in 1978\, and is a lineage holder in that teaching. Known for his direct\, humorous and compassionate engagement with students\, Doug embraces various traditions\, contemporary psychology\, and science\, to mentor all beings to a more awakened state. \nCatherine Pawasarat has trained daily with Acariya Doug Duncan since 1998 in an intensive spiritual apprenticeship that is rare in the modern West. She received lay ordination from Namgyal Rinpoche in 2003. In addition to Buddhist philosophy and its applications to daily life\, Catherine also draws on generative living and the arts. With Doug she is co-founder of Clear Sky Retreat Center in the BC Rockies. \nAbout Clear Sky\nLocated in the BC Rocky Mountains\, we offer over 300-acres to deepen your practice and reconnect with nature. \nFounded by Qapel Doug Duncan and Catherine Pawasarat Sensei\, we are home to students from around the globe who are dedicated to co-creating a supportive and innovative space for awakening in our modern world. \nIn adherence with our quadruple bottom line\, we source our food as local and organic as possible. \nEVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW on how to get here\, what to bring and what to expect.  \nQuestions? Phone 250-429-3929\, or contact maureen@clearskycenter.org. \nIn order to give enough time to rest from travel before the retreat starts\, we recommend that domestic travellers arrive one day early\, and long distance international travellers arrive two days early. After the retreat we also suggest staying for at least another day for integration\, however you are also welcome to stay longer for one of  our hybrid stay options. \nBooking a flight? Airport pickups can be booked when you register for the retreat. On the rare chance that this retreat is cancelled or if unforseen global circumstances cause travel interruptions\, we highly recommend purchasing travel insurance and modifiable tickets. \n\n\n\n\n \nFor your Listening Pleasure: On the Tarot\nEnjoy Qapel and Sensei’s episodes on the Tarot from their podcast channel\, Dharma if you Dare: \n\n“This retreat centre is the REAL THING. It’s a modern monastery with people grounded in the present and practicing old and new methods of living in a spiritual community. This group walks the talk. I have made the trek from Ontario all the way to this remote corner of BC every year for the last 16 years to study with these teachers\, interact with these fellow seekers\, and bask in the beauty of this gorgeous property.”\nLinda H.Dharma Teacher & Author\n \nFAQs\nDana and Pricing \nDana: \nThis retreat is offered on the basis of dāna (generosity). \nDāna is a Sanskrit term meaning “generosity”\, and is the traditional way in which Buddhist teachings are offered.  With dāna\, we give as a mutual exchange of generosity. You may have come across this in the form of “pay from the heart”. It’s our joy to offer this course\, and we trust you’ll match our time\, energy\, and passion by giving an amount of money that feels good and healthy to both you and us. \nYou will be sent a link to offer “dana” to the teachers after registration. \nFor more information on dāna click here. \nPricing: \nIn addition to Dana to the Teacher\, Clear Sky Meditation Centre provides an incredible space for your retreat.  Situated on a beautiful 310-acre property in the Rocky Mountains\, the center and its karma yogis provide you nourishing daily meals and comfortable accomodation. Read more: Staying with us (Clear Sky Meditation Centre) \nPlease go to the retreat registration page for this retreat for details of the all inclusive fee for the retreat. \nDetailed Daily Schedule (Long retreats) \nSpecific times may change – this is a rough guide (MST) \n6:30 – 7:30 AM: Walk &/or Personal Practice\n7:30 – 8:15 AM: Breakfast: Prepare\, eat\, clean up\n8:15 – 8:45 AM: Walk &/or Personal Practice\n9:00 – 10:00 AM: Class with Teachers\n10:00 – 10:30 AM: Walk\n10:30 – 11:30 AM: Group Practice led by Sangha\n11:30 – 12:30 PM: Personal Practice\n12:30 – 1:30 PM: Lunch: Prepare\, eat\, clean up\n1:30 – 3:00 PM: Personal Practice\n3:00 – 4:00 PM: Group Practice led by Sangha\n4:00 – 5:30 PM: Personal Practice\n5:30 – 7:00 PM: Dinner: prepare\, eat\, clean up\n7:00 – 7:30 PM: Walk &/or Personal Practice\n7:30 – 8:30 PM: Group Practice and Q & A with Teachers\n8:30 – Beyond: Personal Practice & bed \nFood\, Weather\, Accommodation and How to Get Here \nClick here for details on how to get here\, what to bring and what to expect.  URL:https://test.clearskycenter.org/event/the-movement-of-the-mandala/ CATEGORIES:Group Retreats and Courses ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://test.clearskycenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Movement-of-the-Mandala-Square.jpg END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/Edmonton:20240921T093000 DTEND;TZID=America/Edmonton:20240922T203000 DTSTAMP:20260503T090836 CREATED:20240822T172234Z LAST-MODIFIED:20240829T021416Z UID:22674-1726911000-1727037000@test.clearskycenter.org SUMMARY:Clear Sky's 20th Anniversary Celebration! DESCRIPTION:“Happiness can’t arise for me if it doesn’t arise for you.” \n—Qapel and Sensei\, co-founding Teachers of Clear Sky \nHello\, friends! Join us to celebrate the 20th anniversary of our beloved Clear Sky Meditation Center. \n We’d love to have you for quality time with the Teachers and community. \nWe’ll get merry together\, learn about the past\, present\, and future of Clear Sky—and we’ll also be very lucky to receive the Chenrezi empowerment followed by a blessing of the future temple site!  \nSeptember 21-22nd\, 2024 \n \n Online Registration\n \nNOTE: If you’d like to come celebrate in person\, contact Ava MacLean at ava@clearskycenter.org \n \n \n \nWeekend Celebration Schedule\nParty with us online via Zoom or here at Clear Sky! \nIf you’d like to come celebrate in person\, contact Ava MacLean at ava@clearskycenter.org.  \nSaturday\, September 21  \n\n9:30am: The History of Clear Sky with Catherine Sensei \n12:30pm: Lunch\n3pm: The Future of Clear Sky (and the Temple!) with Qapel\n\nSunday\, September 22 \n\n 9:30am: Chenrezig wongkur (in-person only)\n10:30: Blessing at the future Temple site (in-person only)\n\n*Daily schedule is subject to minor changes closer to the date. \n \n \nCelebrating The Teachers\n \nDoug Duncan and Catherine Pawasarat are the Dharma and meditation teachers who founded Clear Sky Meditation Center\, BC\, Canada. \nAchariya Doug Duncan received lay ordination from Namgyal Rinpoche in 1978\, and is a lineage holder in that teaching. Known for his direct\, humorous and compassionate engagement with students\, Doug embraces various traditions\, contemporary psychology\, and science\, to mentor all beings to a more awakened state. \nCatherine Pawasarat has trained daily with Acariya Doug Duncan since 1998 in an intensive spiritual apprenticeship that is rare in the modern West. She received lay ordination from Namgyal Rinpoche in 2003. In addition to Buddhist philosophy and its applications to daily life\, Catherine also draws on generative living and the arts. With Doug she is co-founder of Clear Sky Retreat Center in the BC Rockies. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Online Registration\n \nNote: If you’d like to come celebrate in person\, contact Ava MacLean at ava@clearskycenter.org \nCherishing Clear Sky\nLocated in the B.C. Rocky Mountains\, we offer over 300-acres to deepen your practice and reconnect with nature.  \nFounded by Qapel Doug Duncan and Catherine Pawasarat Sensei\, we are home to students from around the globe who are dedicated to co-creating a supportive and innovative space for awakening in our modern world. \nIn adherence with our quadruple bottom line\, we source our food as local and organic as possible. \n \n \n \n \nFAQs\n Dana – Generosity \nDana: \nThis celebration and the wongkur are offered on the basis of dāna (generosity). \nDāna is a Sanskrit term meaning “generosity”\, and is the traditional way in which Buddhist teachings are offered.  With dāna\, we give as a mutual exchange of generosity. You may have come across this in the form of “pay from the heart”. It’s our joy to offer this course\, and we trust you’ll match our time\, energy\, and passion by giving an amount of money that feels good and healthy to both you and us. \nYou will be sent a link to offer “dana” to the teachers after registration.  \nFor more information on dāna click here. \n \n \n \nIf you’d like to come celebrate in person\, contact Ava MacLean at ava@clearskycenter.org \n \n Online Registration URL:https://test.clearskycenter.org/event/20th-anniversary/ CATEGORIES:Featured Courses,Group Retreats and Courses,Online Courses,Special Events ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://test.clearskycenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/20th-Anniversary.jpg END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20240925T173000 DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20240925T190000 DTSTAMP:20260503T090836 CREATED:20231127T202240Z LAST-MODIFIED:20241023T172916Z UID:20576-1727285400-1727290800@test.clearskycenter.org SUMMARY:FREE WEBINAR: Integrating the Money Shadow in your Spiritual Life DESCRIPTION:Wednesday\, September 25 @ 5:30 pm – 7:00 pm MT\nStruggling in your relationship with money\, values and spiritual beliefs \nThis class is for spiritually-focused people whose spiritual aspiration is the most important thing in their lives\, yet they struggle with their relationship with money and values. \nMany spiritually-focused people feel that their spiritual life is hindering their ability to earn enough money. Or they know they have money issues but do not know what those issues are. They feel confused\, lost\, and have a very scattered relationship to money—the thought of it leads to fear and dissociation. \n\n\nRegister Now\n \nAre you in a fear-state around money and don’t feel capable of earning\, receiving\, or managing money? Perhaps you feel like you’re in survival mode\, disconnected from money or like you work too much and yet you never feel like you have enough. Perhaps you are living in total overwhelm and fear about addressing your debt issues or feel defeated by money and future prospects. Or perhaps you may defer completely to your partner in financial matters and do not know how to discuss your fears and concerns with them in a productive\, generative manner. \nIn all of these situations\, the view around money is the problem. And this webinar will help you see where your limiting beliefs are. \nImagine having a spiritual life and your income stable\, having success in repaying your debts or having money in your savings for retreats. Imagine valuing yourself more\, making solid business decisions or increasing your rates with ease. Understanding your interior money landscape is the first step. \nThis webinar will help you begin the journey to get to a place where your ability to earn money is actively supporting your spiritual life. It’s an opportunity to transform unhelpful money habits in a supportive\, non-judgmental community. It will help you realize that you are not alone. Money troubles come from past and present conditions and are not related to a personal deficiency. \nThis free webinar will help you see the way that our society has programmed us to feel stressed around money—which is the complete antithesis of living in alignment with the universe. \n\nRegister Now\n\n \nMeet your Teacher\n \nKaren McAllister \nKaren has worked with clients to transform their money issues\, helping them become more effective\, professional\, and satisfied with their financial situation\, and growing a sense of abundance. She brings knowledge and experience of financial issues from the practical\, behavioral\, and emotional perspectives. Her real magic and superpowers come from studying with her spiritual teachers\, Acariya Doug Duncan and Catherine Pawasarat Sensei\, for over 20 years. Her teachers specialize in helping their students transcend their issues around money\, sex\, and power. And she is a beautiful example of the fruits of this work\, known in Buddhist philosophy as the bodhisattva path. \nKaren studied Economics in her degree and has been certified by Deborah Price of the The Money Coaching Institute as a Certified Money Coach\, a Couples Money Coach\, and a Business Archetype Coach. She studied with Lynne Twist from the Soul of Money Institute\, including Mastering your Money and Transforming your Life\, and Lynne’s Fundraising from the Heart program. \nFurther\, Karen has made use of that training through her own role as a founding member at Clear Sky\, which operates with a quadruple bottom line. Karen has been Board Chair since 2014 and is leader of Fund Development. Her passion for this arises out of her deep desire to awaken more fully and make the world a better place. She’s seen many amazing spiritual explorers and transformational change agents who want to make a difference yet don’t have the funds they need to truly fulfill their missions–despite the millions of dollars floating around in the economy. And she has also seen the other side. Many spiritual explorers with money who have tried to help others experience more abundance and feel that their efforts have been rejected; or their efforts to be generous have left them feeling taken advantage of or dismissed. Karen’s work is designed to change this. \nKaren wants you to show up as an integrated and whole human being. She’ll help you direct and attract financial resources in meaningful ways\, steering away from greed and fear and towards love\, generosity\, collaboration\, and reciprocity. \n\nWorking with Karen helped me understand that you need to have a vision and to know your values first\, and then in that lens\, we can start to work for money\, save it\, invest it. We have never had real conversations about our relationship to money! Until we understand and heal our thoughts/feelings/beliefs around money\, we will continue to loop the same patterns\, think the same thoughts\, feel the same feelings and stay in the same financial situation. It is difficult to recognize these things within ourselves. Karen’s coaching helped me spot what to work on quicker\, and more effectively. I haven’t found anything else like what she does.\nThank you Karen.\nSerena\nI had been feeling stress and a lack of safety around money\, in an ongoing state of not feeling enoughness. After working with Karen in Money and Spirituality\, I have vision on how to use my money to benefit the world\, and know I want to work with people who share the same vision. This course is a great stepping stone for me to dive deeper into spirituality\, opening up new chapter in my practice. Karen has helped me to begin unknotting the fears that are extremely intertwined with capitalism. I think everybody who has the motivation to free their unhealthy habits and patterns around money should take the course. You will realize you don’t live for money; you use money as a tool to create the life you desire!\nKaren offered us deep insights on many levels and the generosity of her time\, both inside and outside the sessions. She invested as much in the process as we did. The benefits that it brings are significant – on an interpersonal as well as financial level.\nTrinh\nI couldn’t find my blind spots which block me from seeing the root of my Money and Spirituality problems. This course give me more clarity and insight\, particularly around the need to work internally on my first three chakras. If you want to educate yourself and make more conscious financial decisions\, this course if for you.\nIris\nI knew that I have money issues\, but not what those issues were. I was confused\, lost\, and had a very scattered relationship to money—the thought of it led to fear and dissociation. In this course with Karen\, I learnt that my approach to money is mostly from a victim and innocent archetype position\, and that issues with money\, life\, and my business are connected with my relationship to my mother and father. This was groundbreaking for me. I understand which areas of my life I need to heal and work on\, and I also see how these shadows don’t allow me to grow and transform. Karen has such knowledge and wisdom\, and so generously created a safe container where I felt heard\, seen\, and held throughout the program.\nMarina\nI have been living in a survival mode of circular thinking. For so long\, I have been disconnected from money\, operating with a scarcity mindset. Karen taught me a new language. I am now empowered to take up the responsibility of creating change. The Money and Spirituality course helped me get clear on my intention\, motivation\, and needs\, which I now can practice communicating. And\, the reminder that our beliefs and habitual patterns are shaped from our early years was huge for me; we must have the awareness that they’re not our fault\, but also that we have the responsibility to do something about them. I am practicing becoming my own Great Mother!\nSue\n\nRegister Now URL:https://test.clearskycenter.org/event/money-spirituality-free-webinar-sep-2024/ LOCATION:Online CATEGORIES:Coaching,Online Courses ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://test.clearskycenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/2024-Programming-1.jpg ORGANIZER;CN="Clear Sky Center":MAILTO:contact@clearskycenter.org END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20241009T173000 DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20241030T190000 DTSTAMP:20260503T090836 CREATED:20230905T162924Z LAST-MODIFIED:20240908T221511Z UID:20198-1728495000-1730314800@test.clearskycenter.org SUMMARY:Money & Spirituality: Integrating Spiritual and Material (Online) DESCRIPTION:A Four-Week Online Course with Karen McAllister and in partnership with Awaken in Toronto \nOct 9th\, 16th\, 23rd and 30th October  \nWednesdays at 5.30 pm MT – 7 pm MT\n \nClick here to see your timezone –  \nThis course is about healing the split between money and spirituality and integrating your vision and calling into your everyday work. Through this course\, you will come to a place of peace\, power\, and care in your heart in your relationship with money. \nIt is about integrating the spiritual with the material\, or the material with the spiritual\, depending on where your journey begins. \nWhat this means for you\nWorking with your relationship with money is more than just seeing your patterns and recurring behaviours around it. \nMoney is a nexus that is the doorway into greater integration. All of us have some sort of knot around money. By going into that knot\, we can attend to all of these bigger things like the shadow\, dreams\, vision\, values\, priorities\, and awakening. \nWe are inviting you to join us to release these complicated and layered knots around money and allow yourself to let go the dam of resistance\, shame\, guilt\, superiority\, privilege\, and fear. To have the courage to look at your projections onto money and be on your way to a place of integration between the material and the spiritual. \nWe want you to be lighter\, brighter and to give and attract the amount of money you need to manifest your purpose. \n\n\nREGISTER NOW\n\n\n\n \nDo any of these 8 knots sound like you?\n\nYou might be very passionate about your work as an artist\, teacher\, healer\, in business\, or as a transformational change agent. Yet you seem to repel the very resources that you need. Somehow embracing the money thing is felt as inauthentic to your values or being evil on some level. Is it truly noble to be a starving artist or a martyr?\n Perhaps you feel money is elusive and you never seem to have it\, or when it comes in it leaves very quickly. You may feel that you and money just don’t seem to have any relationship at all. Or you don’t feel you are good with it. You might be looking for that Prince Charming\, or a protector to turn up and make it all better for you. Or maybe\, you feel that money should just come because you are devoting your life to a worthy cause or to your awakening. Shouldn’t I just trust in the universe that the money comes? Yet\, it doesn’t.\n Perhaps you over give\, undervalue yourself in your organization\, non-profit or in partnerships\, either in marriage or in business. You might expect others to read your mind and know how to support you\, and they don’t. You might have the experience of feeling unseen\, burnt out\, with health and money issues calling for your attention.\n Or your family may have money but you don’t\, giving you mixed experiences of privilege and scarcity; you may try to help others experience more abundance and feel that your efforts are rejected;  or your efforts to be generous may leave you feeling taken advantage of or dismissed.\n You might be a person with wealth and/or worldly success. In spite of this\, you might feel ostracized by the very people you want to help. You might not feel so cared for or maybe even feel like an outsider by those in the spiritual or transformational world or with a mission-based business. What is this about?\n You may have mixed feelings about having money\, as a spiritual explorer. Perhaps you have come into money without being introduced to the skills to handle it skillfully\, both practically and psychologically.\n Or perhaps you feel overwhelmed with fear of losing money\, even though you have enough of it. Your fear of loss might keep you paralyzed and stuck from making decisions that are more in alignment with your heart and your own awakening.\nYou might feel guilty about having money and find that trusting yourselves and others is an ongoing challenge. You might not like the distance that money causes between you and others.\n\nThese knots can be undone.\nWhat are some of the main patterns that spiritual types have around money? Dissociation and overgiving are two examples. \nKaren McAllister\, Certified Money Coach and Board Chair of Clear Sky Meditation Centre\, shares some of her insights in the main money patterns experienced by spiritual seekers\, artists and those in the non-profit sector. \n \nWhat Previous Participants Have Said\n\n \n\n \nI wanted to better understand myself with and around money. The benefits of this course? Take a closer look at your relationship with money. When\, why\, what\, who\, with money. Now I understand why I do what I do. The next step is taking action\, and knowing when to take that action. I think everyone would benefit from looking into their money relationship\, especially anyone saying money is evil\, or “I don’t seem to have enough.”\nFred\n​​Before Money and Spirituality\, I was unhappy with money in my life but I didn’t know why. After the 4 weeks\, I now know the direction I need to head in to change that. It is now clear how my childhood has been driving my financial decisions as an adult in his 30s. I didn’t realize how much inner healing still needed to be done\, and addressing money brought those issues to light. I am excited to step more into my power. This class is perfect for the “odd balls” who never felt like they fit into society—artists\, spiritual types\, creatives\, and healers—there’s nothing wrong with you or money itself. The view is the problem\, and this class will help you see clearly.\nMike\n​​I was living in total overwhelm and fear about addressing my debt issues. I was deferring almost completely to my partner in financial matters and did not know how to discuss my fears and concerns with him in a productive\, generative manner. I did not have much understanding of how my past money trauma may be affecting me today. When I saw the course was being offered this year\, it still scared me but I knew it was an important part of my work to do it. After taking Money and Spirituality\, I am more empowered\, positive\, and hopeful\, and my Warrior archetype is becoming activated. It’s an opportunity to transform unhelpful money habits in a supportive\, non-judgmental community. It will help you realize that you are not alone\, that money troubles come from past and present conditions and are not related to a personal deficiency. There are ways to understand a person’s interior money landscape\, and steps one can take to heal it.\nJennifer\nI was stuck in a backlog of taxes\, missing day-to-day financial structures and education\, and feeling scarcity around money. Understanding my archetype as well as my beliefs and behaviors around money through this course with Karen were a huge relief. I understand sufficiency and generosity better\, which has made it easier for me to give and to receive. I also brought attention to my own abundance which shifted things and made me see how much I have to offer. I am amazed how big of an impact these seemingly little shifts have. I recommend this to friends; people who spend too much or have shopping addictions\, people who struggle with purpose\, people whose money and work are influenced by others too much\, people who feel they can’t sustain their business. Free yourself from false beliefs about money\, the learned and inherited behavior.\nMaike\nI want to do good in this world. This course has helped me to make business decisions knowing my voice is confident and kind. Learning with Karen gives the gift of a deeper understanding of how you can relate to money and awakening. We can all do it together.\nKerry\nI have struggled with what vision I wish to have and invest money in\, for my personal growth and for the future of others. I felt ignorant in regard to global economy and the notion of a positive future for me and others. The course with Karen forced me to grow up and see the reality of what I can really afford to have in my life\, to go beyond the scarcity mind into more trusting and loving\, to take care of my body and my mind and therefore be in service to others to do the same. There comes clarity of vision\, understanding creative stress vs. emotional tension\, and knowing the future can be positive if our mindset is right and we learn from leaders like Karen what can be if we do something about our life and take up our responsibility for our Earth. I needed inspiration to move out from a limbo I’ve created for myself. As far as I see\, Karen offers one of the most evolved programs there is on the planet. It brings very conscious humans together to learn and ask really great questions.\nMaya\nI was in a fear state around money. I felt restrictive in my being and that I wasn’t capable of earning\, receiving\, or managing money. As a result of my work in the Money and Spirituality course\, my income has been stable\, I’m repaying my debts and have money in my savings! Karen helped me see the way that our society has programmed us to feel stressed around money—which is the complete antithesis to living in alignment with the universe. I now trust that the universe is supporting me\, and that I have the tools and capabilities to manage my money. Instead of feeling like my spiritual life is hindering my ability to earn enough money\, this course helped me get to a place where my ability to earn money is actively supporting my spiritual life. I’d especially recommend this course to spiritually-focused solopreneurs and anyone whose spiritual aspiration is the most important thing in their life.\nAva \nWhat to Expect\nThe course structures itself according to Clear Sky’s Five Principles\, which name the qualities of a supportive space for human flourishing. We apply these principles to help you come to a place of peace\, ease and clarity around your relationship with money. This course falls under the Fourth Principle\, which is\, “Cleaning up big areas of your life frees up energy.” The course structure follows each of the other four principles. \nSession #1: Honor your space. Metaphorically speaking\, we open the door and take a look inside your financial room. For many of us\, it is a room full of cobwebs\, things not in their place\, and dust bunnies running amok. The curtains are closed\, and there is a stale\, musty smell in the room. How did this room get this way? By applying principle #1\, we honor your space\, we face the mess and start cleaning it up. We start revisiting the past to see what was not acknowledged and owned around money in the family system and culture. \nSession #2: Structure and routine are your friends. We look at the money habits that you currently have and write them all down. What do you need to let go of\, and what new habits do you need to take on? How are you going to build them into your structure and routine? We will use the cue\, routine and reward from “The Power of Habit” to help you work new routines around your money life. We will share all the apps\, budget tools\, and a ton of resources for you to guide you in finding the right tool for you around your finances. \nSession #3: Communication shapes the space where we meet. We look at building gratitude and generosity practices to help you overcome the fear and scarcity mentality that takes root in our beings because it is the very water of capitalism that we swim in. A model that promotes a chronic sense of not-enoughness in the being. We will learn to become very mindful of the scarcity we feed ourselves and get really good at cutting these dialogues off skillfully and kindly\, with fierce discernment. \nSession #4: It’s easier with others. What are your relationships with money like with your spouse\, your colleagues\, and your friends? Do you end up feeling betrayed or tight around money with others\, or do you stick your head in the sand and not take responsibility? We will study money and relationships through the lens of the eight money archetypes. Archetypes are powerful teachers and allies\, since they inform us of where we need to grow. \n\n\nI was suffering from chronic not-enough syndrome\, and it was drowning out my reality. When I saw Karen’s Money and Spirituality course\, my whole body was singing\, “yes!” And\, while the course’s primary focus appears to be money\, it has opened so many other doors to personal healing. I now recognize that my relationship with money is just a reflection of my relationship with other things\, everything being linked\, so clearing up one space has an impact on others. I feel less anxious about money; I feel curious excitement for more openness; and I feel I can shift my relationship with money\, power\, and sex even further. Karen’s teaching on gratitude has become a strong spiritual practice for me\, and in the way it has grounded me\, I feel more ready to commit to generosity. I so enjoy Karen’s deeply rooted personal spirituality—it shines in her teachings and I know she walks her talk. It helps me take her and the material seriously. I trust her as a teacher.Thank you Karen.\nSally\nI was feeling scared about selling my house\, sad to be giving up the garden\, and frustrated that I couldn’t find other people who would like to explore co-housing. Thanks to Karen and the Money and Spirituality group course\, I am owning my choice\, and trusting that the timing is right and all will unfold as it is meant to. I feel more trust in the opening up of new possibilities.\nDebi\nI was skint\, and also in a passive\, fatalistically desperate state of mind about it—things had reached an absolute nadir\, and I’d thrown the towel in. Following the Money and Spirituality course\, there is a shift in attitude. I’m focused and proactive. I’m holding the space\, including sitting with the not-knowing\, without the previous despair and cynicism. And\, my next steps are setting up a conscious wellness business! I wanted to before\, but I feel affirmed in it now. There is a greater sense of clarity and hope. Thank you.\nMyriam\nI was working too much\, never had enough\, feeling defeated by money and my future prospects; a total scarcity mindset. This class with Karen shone a light into the darkness. Her Money and Spirituality course provides empowerment\, hope\, community\, and healing; things shifted almost immediately for me as a result of doing this work. I have a plan for repayment of debt\, I am valuing myself more\, and I have an understanding of my archetypes and how they impact my views and actions around money. Interestingly enough I have had an influx of requests for services and people are happily paying my raised rates. I think every person on the planet would benefit from taking this course.\nJenn\nMoney has always been a struggle. Now having taken the Money and Spirituality course\, I am able to question my decisions\, thoughts\, and spending patterns through a different lens. If anyone is struggling with their relationship with money and their values and spiritual beliefs\, then they should look at this course. I believe it is much like therapy. The individual has to want to take the course to deepen their understanding around their relationship with money in their spiritual life. There are many blind spots around money\, and taking the course has the power to illuminate them.\nDana \nMeet your Teacher\n \nKaren McAllister \nKaren has worked with clients to transform their money issues\, helping them become more effective\, professional\, and satisfied with their financial situation\, and growing a sense of abundance. She brings knowledge and experience of financial issues from the practical\, behavioral\, and emotional perspectives. Her real magic and superpowers come from studying with her spiritual teachers\, Acariya Doug Duncan and Catherine Pawasarat Sensei\, for over 20 years. Her teachers specialize in helping their students transcend their issues around money\, sex\, and power. And she is a beautiful example of the fruits of this work\, known in Buddhist philosophy as the bodhisattva path. \nKaren studied Economics in her degree and has been certified by Deborah Price of the The Money Coaching Institute as a Certified Money Coach\, a Couples Money Coach\, and a Business Archetype Coach. She studied with Lynne Twist from the Soul of Money Institute\, including Mastering your Money and Transforming your Life\, and Lynne’s Fundraising from the Heart program. \nFurther\, Karen has made use of that training through her own role as a founding member at Clear Sky\, which operates with a quadruple bottom line. Karen has been Board Chair since 2014 and is leader of Fund Development. Her passion for this arises out of her deep desire to awaken more fully and make the world a better place. She’s seen many amazing spiritual explorers and transformational change agents who want to make a difference yet don’t have the funds they need to truly fulfill their missions–despite the millions of dollars floating around in the economy. And she has also seen the other side. Many spiritual explorers with money who have tried to help others experience more abundance and feel that their efforts have been rejected; or their efforts to be generous have left them feeling taken advantage of or dismissed. Karen’s work is designed to change this. \nKaren wants you to show up as an integrated and whole human being. She’ll help you direct and attract financial resources in meaningful ways\, steering away from greed and fear and towards love\, generosity\, collaboration\, and reciprocity. \nCourse Details\n\nLocation: Online (Zoom)\nDates: Oct 2 – Oct 23\, 2024\n4 x 90 minute sessions + 2 Individual 30 minute sessions\nTime: 5.30 pm – 7 pm MT\nDana: $200CAD – $500CAD recommended range.\nPlease chat with us if you have concerns about the cost. Part of taking the money out of the shadow is stepping forward and having a pricing conversation with us.\n\nThis course is Dana based. We understand that your income might be effected due to COVID either negatively or positively. We do not want to turn away anyone and we are always looking for ways to help you cultivate your generosity practise. Because of this\, we are giving you the opportunity to give the lower rate if you are earning less currently\, or we encourage to give the higher rate if your business is actually more profitable due to COVID. Many people feel guilty because they are doing well. We encourage you to think about paying it forward. \nThere is also an opportunity to give to the scholarship fund\, as another opportunity to practice a heart of openness and giving.\n\nWorking with Karen helped me understand that you need to have a vision and to know your values first\, and then in that lens\, we can start to work for money\, save it\, invest it. We have never had real conversations about our relationship to money! Until we understand and heal our thoughts/feelings/beliefs around money\, we will continue to loop the same patterns\, think the same thoughts\, feel the same feelings and stay in the same financial situation. It is difficult to recognize these things within ourselves. Karen’s coaching helped me spot what to work on quicker\, and more effectively. I haven’t found anything else like what she does.\nThank you Karen.\nSerena\nI had been feeling stress and a lack of safety around money\, in an ongoing state of not feeling enoughness. After working with Karen in Money and Spirituality\, I have vision on how to use my money to benefit the world\, and know I want to work with people who share the same vision. This course is a great stepping stone for me to dive deeper into spirituality\, opening up new chapter in my practice. Karen has helped me to begin unknotting the fears that are extremely intertwined with capitalism. I think everybody who has the motivation to free their unhealthy habits and patterns around money should take the course. You will realize you don’t live for money; you use money as a tool to create the life you desire!\nKaren offered us deep insights on many levels and the generosity of her time\, both inside and outside the sessions. She invested as much in the process as we did. The benefits that it brings are significant – on an interpersonal as well as financial level.\nTrinh\nI couldn’t find my blind spots which block me from seeing the root of my Money and Spirituality problems. This course give me more clarity and insight\, particularly around the need to work internally on my first three chakras. If you want to educate yourself and make more conscious financial decisions\, this course if for you.\nIris\nI knew that I have money issues\, but not what those issues were. I was confused\, lost\, and had a very scattered relationship to money—the thought of it led to fear and dissociation. In this course with Karen\, I learnt that my approach to money is mostly from a victim and innocent archetype position\, and that issues with money\, life\, and my business are connected with my relationship to my mother and father. This was groundbreaking for me. I understand which areas of my life I need to heal and work on\, and I also see how these shadows don’t allow me to grow and transform. Karen has such knowledge and wisdom\, and so generously created a safe container where I felt heard\, seen\, and held throughout the program.\nMarina\nI have been living in a survival mode of circular thinking. For so long\, I have been disconnected from money\, operating with a scarcity mindset. Karen taught me a new language. I am now empowered to take up the responsibility of creating change. The Money and Spirituality course helped me get clear on my intention\, motivation\, and needs\, which I now can practice communicating. And\, the reminder that our beliefs and habitual patterns are shaped from our early years was huge for me; we must have the awareness that they’re not our fault\, but also that we have the responsibility to do something about them. I am practicing becoming my own Great Mother!\nSue\n\nREGISTER NOW URL:https://test.clearskycenter.org/event/money-spirituality-online-2024/2024-10-09/ CATEGORIES:Coaching,Online Courses ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://test.clearskycenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/2024-Programming.png ORGANIZER;CN="Clear Sky Center":MAILTO:contact@clearskycenter.org END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/Edmonton:20241018T170000 DTEND;TZID=America/Edmonton:20241020T150000 DTSTAMP:20260503T090836 CREATED:20240122T001318Z LAST-MODIFIED:20240829T022611Z UID:21146-1729270800-1729436400@test.clearskycenter.org SUMMARY:Hamster Wheel or Heaven? The Wheel of Dependent Origination (In-Person and Online) DESCRIPTION:Hamster Wheel or Heaven: The Wheel of Dependent Origination \n\nEverything depends on everything else. An Ecosystem is pure and simple\, the way things are. Would you like to look closer at the nature of our mind-body continuum? \nWhat makes you “you”? How does everything “you” perceive arise? Why does this matter? Together we’ll study a powerful map of consciousness: the wheel of dependent origination. This is a foundational philosophical doctrine shared by all schools of Buddhism\, recommended for students of all levels. It directly correlates to suffering\, and how to become free\, wise\, and compassionate. \nOctober 18-20th\, 2024 \nOffered in-person and online. \n \n In-Person Registration\n \n \n Online Registration\n \nOctober 18 – 20th\nDate\nBuddhism\nfocus area\nMeditation\nPractice\nAll\nSkill Level\nIn-Person & Online \nformat\n \n \n(Inter)dependent Origination: Paṭiccasamuppāda\nAsk yourself—what makes up a human? The 12 elements of the wheel of dependent origination teach us to look at the basic building blocks of the human being. The result of this understanding? Suffering goes down. Wisdom and compassion go up. This is the power of what it is to know thyself. \nAll schools of Buddhism share this fundamental teaching of the wheel. It is a highly recommended foundational perspective that has deep repercussions on how you see and experience your life\, the body-mind continuum\, and the world around you. \nThe focus of Buddhadharma is to become free of being subject to suffering. There is necessary suffering (sickness\, old age\, diseases\, joint pain\, babies—that which is part and parcel of living)\, and unnecessary suffering (our personal dramas\, relationship pains\, self-image). If you look at the nature of suffering\, you see how nature pushes itself forward because of suffering. The purpose of the wheel of dependent origination is to help us ask\, “What is necessary\, and what isn’t?” \nIn your life\, what is necessary\, and what isn’t?     \n \n \n \n This course for you if:\n\nYou’d like deeper foundational understanding of core Buddhist philosophy.\nYou want to learn a 2000 year old science of consciousness\nYou’d like to deepen your spiritual understanding in modern language and practical applications\, with a wisdom teacher in the Namgyal lineage.\nYou want greater ability to apply your meditation insights in your daily life.\nYou want inspiration and motivation to change your life according to what is possible through conscious awareness.\n\n “I don’t find meditation easy\, but I do find it worth it. I would not have dreamed that a 3 day online retreat could resolve complicated matters that I have wrestled with for years. Yet it did. Thank you\, Sensei. Thank you each one of you at Clear Sky.”\n Kakoom B. \nCourse Details\nTime and Location\nThis weekend retreat will be led by Catherine Pawasarat Sensei at Clear Sky Meditation Center in Eastern BC. This course is offered online or in-person. \nSchedule / Class Times: lFor onsite retreatants\, please arrive in good time for orientation at 5 pm Mountain Time on the Friday. The first class will be at 7 pm Mountain Time. The retreat will formally end at 3 pm Mountain Time on the Sunday. Classes will be 60-90 mins in duration\, with classes in the morning and evening and possibly the afternoon each day (Mountain Time) – the exact schedule to be confirmed. Please ensure you are available for the whole weekend to focus on the course material and attend classes live. \nOnline participants are expected to attend classes live.  We will arrange class times to be comfortable for most time zones. However we understand that some class times might occur after midnight in some regions\, if this is the case for you\, please let us know when you register.  Then we can provide a recording so you can catch up on that particular class. \nWhat Does the Course Cost?\nIn-Person Participants: 1) dāna to the Teacher plus 2) accomodation and meal costs for your stay Clear Sky Meditation Centre. \nOnline Participants: 1) dāna to the Teacher  2) online administration fee of $150 CAD. \nKeen practitioner pricing: 10% savings on all fees available until September 13th\, 2024. \nImportant: The last day to register is one week prior to the retreat start date. Please register early. \nQuestions?\nIf you have questions about the retreat\, please contact the Clear Sky Retreat Manager at 250-429-3929  (phone) or at bookings@clearskycenter.org (email). \n \n In-Person Registration\n \n \n Online Registration\n \n \n \n \nMeet the Teachers\n \n Catherine Pawasarat (Sensei) \nCatherine Pawasarat was a student of metaphysics\, Western spiritual traditions\, and the ayahuasca sacraments in the 1990s. Living in Kyoto\, Japan for 20 years\, she worked as an advocacy photojournalist specializing in environmental and human rights\, and edited sustainability-related publications for various United Nations bodies. She also studied traditional Japanese arts. \nSince 1998 she has trained daily with Buddhist teacher Achariya Doug Duncan (Qapel) in an intensive spiritual apprenticeship that’s rare in the modern West. Transmitted from the remarkable Namgyal Rinpoche\, they are both lineage holders of these teachings. \nWith Qapel\, she is co-founder and resident teacher at Clear Sky Retreat Center in the British Columbia Rockies. There Catherine Sensei has spearheaded an innovative and sustainability-oriented culture and organization\, specializing in conscious community. Together Doug and Catherine also teach through a virtual vehicle\, Planet Dharma. In 2018 they wrote the best-selling book Wasteland to Pureland. \nMore About Sensei | About the Lineage \n \nAbout Clear Sky\nLocated in the BC rocky mountains\, we offer over 300-acres to deepen your practice and reconnect with nature.  \nFounded by Qapel Doug Duncan and Catherine Pawasarat Sensei\, we are home to students from around the globe who are dedicated to co-creating a supportive and innovative space for awakening in our modern world. \nIn adherence with our quadruple bottom line\, we source our food as local and organic as possible. \nEVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW on how to get here\, what to bring and what to expect.  \n \n \nLocally-grown organic food \n \nSupportive meditation guidance \n \nStunning bedroom views \n \n In-Person Registration\n \n \n Online Registration\n \n “I feel like a whole new world of understanding has opened up for me to explore. The teachings were interesting\, vibrant\, and so very relevant to our lives. Qapel and Catherine Sensei have done a wonderful job at distilling these vast teachings without oversimplying concepts. The teachings were visual\, informative\, and interactive. It was a great and lots of fun!”\n Jenai L. \n \nFAQs\n About Dana \nYou may have come across this elsewhere in the form of “pay from the heart”. Dāna is a Sanskrit term meaning “generosity”. With dāna\, we give as a mutual exchange of generosity. It’s our joy to offer this course\, and we trust you’ll match our time\, energy\, and passion by giving an amount of money that feels good and healthy to both you and us. \nThe dharma has been built on generosity. No-one is excluded for lack of funds but it is also extremely beneficial to give as much as you are able \nTypically people give in a range of $120-$500 USD for a course.  \nAs we’re committed to ensuring everyone has access to the Dharma\, please feel comfortable to give less if you are not financially secure.  Another form of giving dāna is to offer service\, and if you are interested in providing support in a non-financial way\, we invite you to contact us.  \nConversely\, if you are financially secure\, we invite you to generate merit by providing more financial support to the Triple Gem. Contributions like these make the difference in supporting our teachers\, teachings\, and center. \nLearn more about the practice of dāna here. \n About the Admin Fee \nIn a traditional model of in-person teachings\, a retreat center or urban meditation center invites teachers to visit. In these cases the centers have infrastructure and organization costs to cover\, which might be covered by an admin fee. For the teaching itself\, dāna to the teachers is offered in a bowl. This honors both the sustainability of the teachers\, and of the supporting center. \nWe’ve tried to recreate this approach online. The teachers’ time and the teaching themselves are offered on the basis of dāna\, separate to the admin fee. With our dāna offering we are making a direct gift of generosity to the teachers to support their teachings and livelihood. \nThe admin fee* goes to support the infrastructure and organization necessary to support them to teach. As anyone with an online business will know\, it can be surprising the costs of setting up a good infrastructure to support effective teaching and connection online. The admin fee changes based on date of registration. \n*We also do not wish to exclude anyone from the Teachings\, so if you are not currently in a financial position to afford the admin fee\, please contact the course Registrar via registrar@planetdharma.com so we can support you to attend. \n— \nBelow are a few of the work and benefits that your admin fee payment is supporting: \n\nhigh speed internet (to allow interviews and classes on-line)\nonline class systems (Zoom)\nregistration / admin systems (Eventbrite\, Basecamp)\ncommunication systems to keep everyone informed\, share connection details\, teachings and other resources (Mailchimp)\nonline storage (for example\, Dropbox\, to allow us to let students watch recordings\, and to store and share selected teachings in other forms such as podcasts and video later\, and Amazon cloud)\nquality sound\, video and editing equipment (both for live teachings and to provide good enough quality for later sharing as podcasts and video). We are regularly updating our equipment to improve your user experience.\nonline calendar booking system to allow students to book interviews\nwebsite hosting and maintenance for sharing upcoming courses\, teachings\, blogs and other resources.\n\nWe welcome any questions. May all our efforts be sustainable\, abundant and for the benefit of all beings! \n Daily Schedule \nSpecific times may change – this is a rough guide (MST) \n6:30 – 7:30 AM: Walk &/or Personal Practice7:30 – 8:15 AM: Breakfast: Prepare\, eat\, clean up8:15 – 8:45 AM: Walk &/or Personal Practice9:00 – 10:00 AM: Class with Teachers10:00 – 10:30 AM: Walk10:30 – 11:30 AM: Group Practice led by Sangha11:30 – 12:30 PM: Personal Practice12:30 – 1:30 PM: Lunch: Prepare\, eat\, clean up1:30 – 3:00 PM: Personal Practice3:00 – 4:00 PM: Group Practice led by Sangha4:00 – 5:30 PM: Personal Practice5:30 – 7:00 PM: Dinner: prepare\, eat\, clean up7:00 – 7:30 PM: Walk &/or Personal Practice7:30 – 8:30 PM: Group Practice and Q & A with Teachers8:30 – Beyond: Personal Practice & bed \n Food\, Weather\, Accommodation and How to Get Here \nClick here for details on how to get here\, what to bring and what to expect.  \n PSYCHEDELICS/MICRODOSING \nWe recognize and respect plant medicine as an important part of some people’s spiritual paths.  \nPlease note\, the meditation practice on this retreat is very powerful. Consuming mind-altering substances will detract from your experience and could cause negative side-effects.  \nWe ask that you refrain from microdosing or consuming mind-altering substances during this retreat and in the days immediately following it.  \n SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATION \nWe aim to make our retreats as accessible as possible.  \nAs a centre run entirely by Karma Yoga (selfless service)\, retreat fees only cover food\, accommodation and the equipment required to offer them online. We do not have paid staff.  \nThe teachings themselves are offered on the basis of Dāna (pay-from-the-heart).  \nFor some\, this is still a barrier of entry. \nIf you are seeking financial assistance to attend a retreat\, please complete a Scholarship Application form. \n \n \n \n In-Person Registration\n \n \n Online Registration URL:https://test.clearskycenter.org/event/interdependent-origination-paticcasamuppada/ CATEGORIES:Featured Courses,Group Retreats and Courses,Online Courses ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://test.clearskycenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/2025-PD-courses-Square-IG-Post-1.jpg END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/Edmonton:20241110T093000 DTEND;TZID=America/Edmonton:20241201T110000 DTSTAMP:20260503T090836 CREATED:20240805T174051Z LAST-MODIFIED:20241024T232941Z UID:21973-1731231000-1733050800@test.clearskycenter.org SUMMARY:Understanding The Power of Sangha & Group Guru DESCRIPTION:The Power of Sangha & Group Guru\n“If you think your Sangha isn’t your Lama\, you’ve missed the whole understanding of Sangha.” -Qapel \nSangha are the people working alongside you to wake up. Group Guru is the network of the Awakened Mind showing up in teams and conscious community. We can—and must—use each other to pull ourselves out of the mires of suffering. In this modern approach to sangha and group guru\, we will look at the interplay between the collective\, the individual and liberation. \nNovember 10 – December 1st \nSundays at 9:30am MT \nOnline \n\nRegister Now\n \nfocus area\nSangha & \nConscious Community \npractice\nOnline Course & \nWeekend Home Retreat \nDuration\nFour \nWeeks \nSkill Level\nAll \nLevels \nformat\nOnline or \nIn-Person \nThe Power of Sangha & Group Guru\nThe Buddha’s beloved student Ananda asked\, it seems good friends are perhaps half of the path? And the Buddha responded\, No\, Ananda. Good friends are the whole path. \nIs conscious community a preference\, or a necessity? How do we develop powerful spiritual communities that bring us forward in a meaningful way? In this modern course we will explore just this\, looking at the power of sangha and group guru. \nThere is interplay between the collective and the individual when it comes to liberation. Let’s explore it here\, together. \nWe each get trapped in our own bias. Our lineage Teacher the Venerable Namgyal Rinpoche said it is hard for Westerners to awaken because the self\, the great individual\, is such an important part of the game. In the West\, we tend to avoid community\, avoid surrendering to collective needs\, or mistrust that we will be subsumed by ignorant ‘group think’. \nAnd yet\, sangha is something that nature knows intimately. Community is at the root of the great flourishings of humanity. Spiritual communities in the East have worked in community in the monastery setting; community is a hallmark of all time-tested spiritual tradition and practice. Today’s question is\, how do we also honor the role and uniqueness of the individual\, within a collective approach to awakening and healing? \n\nRegister Now\n\n\n\n \nPower of Sangha\nDo you want to be part of thriving\, conscious community that values people above profit? Does living and working with people who also value spiritual growth and awakening sound appealing? We think it’s wonderful\, and beyond that\, what humanity is destined for. \nAnd\, it’s not easy. We need seriously effective tools to help integrate our spiritual ideals with the real world. Everyday life—including people\, and their personalities—are always human. They require grit. \nCourse Learning Goals\nFor what reason was Sangha (Spiritual Community) highlighted as one of the Triple Gems alongside the Buddha (Teachers of Awakening) and Dharma (The Teachings and Practices of Liberation)?\nWhat are our common challenges and fears around collective and community today?\nWhat are ways we can better contribute\, grow and develop effective spiritual communities that we actually want to be a meaningful part of? \nRecommended Reading\nWe Started Our Own Conscious Community 20 Years Ago\, Here’s Our Advice. \n\nRegister Now\n\n“I have yet to encounter another setting where I grow as much as I do while at Clear Sky. The balance of support\, genuine care and challenge is rare and precious.\nWhen it comes to spiritual transformation\, Clear Sky is a place and group of people that is not only talking-the-talk but actively walking-the-walk.”\nRuth L. \nCourse Schedule\nNovember 10th – December 1st\, 2024\nWith a new format: Morning (9:30am Class) Mountain Time\n\nSunday\, November 10 – 9:30-11am Class\nSunday\, November 17 – 9:30-11am Class\nSunday\, November 24 – 9:30-11am Class\nFlash Retreat*: Saturday & Sunday Nov 30-Dec 1 – 9:30am and 2:30pm\n\nThe formal and participatory teachings for this course will occur on Sundays with a Saturday-Sunday flash retreat on the fourth weekend. Class times are estimates and may change slightly. \nWe encourage you to connect with sangha outside of class times to discuss and deepen your learning of the material. \n*Flash Retreat Weekend: Nov 30th-Dec 1st \nTo deepen and integrate your experience\, the final (fourth) weekend during the course will also be a Flash Retreat (Nov 30-Dec 1). This can be done at home\, or with us at Clear Sky Meditation Centre\, in Eastern British Columbia. We highly recommend clearing your schedule over the weekend to focus on the retreat.  Group sessions will be held at 9:30am and 2:30pm on Saturday and Sunday\, with sessions approximately 60-90 mins in duration. \nIf you’d like to join the Flash Retreat from Clear Sky\, please contact ava@clearskycenter.org. \n\n\n\n\nRegister Now\n \nMeet the Teachers\n \nDoug Qapel Duncan \n \nCatherine Pawasarat Sensei \nDoug Duncan and Catherine Pawasarat are Dharma and meditation teachers who founded Clear Sky Meditation Center\, BC\, Canada. \nAchariya Doug Duncan co-created this course with Sensei prior to his passing on October 5th\, 2024. Since his passing\, we have witnessed the invaluable role that Sangha plays in supporting each other through challenging times. In honour of Qapel\, we are choosing to move ahead with this course so that we may support each other more deeply and feel connecting to his teachings during this time. \nCatherine Pawasarat Sensei has trained daily with Acariya Doug Duncan since 1998 in an intensive spiritual apprenticeship that is rare in the modern West. She received lay ordination from Namgyal Rinpoche in 2003. In addition to Buddhist philosophy and its applications to daily life\, Catherine also draws on generative living and the arts. With Doug she is co-founder of Clear Sky Retreat Center in the BC Rockies. \nCourse Details\nTime and Location\nEach of the four weekly classes in this online course will be streamed live at 9:30-11am MST.  We ask participants to attend live whenever possible. The recording of each class will be available for one week after each class. We encourage you to connect with sangha outside of class times to discuss and deepen your learning of the material. \nThe course culminates with a Flash Retreat on Nov 30-Dec1\, 2024\, with formal workshop times held at approx. 9:30-10:30am and 2:30-3:30pm Mountain Time on Saturday and Sunday. \nWhat Does the Course Cost?\nThis course is offered based on the unique combination of 1) dāna  and 2) a $80-120 USD administrative fee. Register four + weeks prior: $80 | Register two to four weeks prior: $100 | Register less than two weeks prior: $120. \n\n\n“This retreat centre is the REAL THING. It’s a modern monastery with people grounded in the present and practicing old and new methods of living in a spiritual community. This group walks the talk. I have made the trek from Ontario all the way to this remote corner of BC every year for the last 16 years to study with these teachers\, interact with these fellow seekers\, and bask in the beauty of this gorgeous property.”\nLinda H.\n \nFAQs\nDana and Pricing \nYou may have come across this elsewhere in the form of “pay from the heart”. Dāna is a Sanskrit term meaning “generosity”. With dāna\, we give as a mutual exchange of generosity. It’s our joy to offer this course\, and we trust you’ll match our time\, energy\, and passion by giving an amount of money that feels good and healthy to both you and us. \nThe dharma has been built on generosity. No-one is excluded for lack of funds but it is also extremely beneficial to give as much as you are able \nTypically people give in a range of $120-$500 USD for a course. \nAs we’re committed to ensuring everyone has access to the Dharma\, please feel comfortable to give less if you are not financially secure.  Another form of giving dāna is to offer service\, and if you are interested in providing support in a non-financial way\, we invite you to contact us. \nConversely\, if you are financially secure\, we invite you to generate merit by providing more financial support to the Triple Gem. Contributions like these make the difference in supporting our teachers\, teachings\, and center. \nLearn more about the practice of dāna here. \nOnline Participants & Admin Fee \nIn a traditional model of in-person teachings\, a retreat center or urban meditation center invites teachers to visit. In these cases the centers have infrastructure and organization costs to cover\, which might be covered by an admin fee. For the teaching itself\, dāna to the teachers is offered in a bowl. This honors both the sustainability of the teachers\, and of the supporting center. \nWe’ve tried to recreate this approach online. The teachers’ time and the teaching themselves are offered on the basis of dāna\, separate to the admin fee. With our dāna offering we are making a direct gift of generosity to the teachers to support their teachings and livelihood. \nThe admin fee* goes to support the infrastructure and organization necessary to support them to teach. As anyone with an online business will know\, it can be surprising the costs of setting up a good infrastructure to support effective teaching and connection online. The admin fee changes based on date of registration. Register four + weeks prior: $80 | Register two to four weeks prior: $100 | Register less than two weeks prior: $120. \n*We also do not wish to exclude anyone from the Teachings\, so if you are not currently in a financial position to afford the admin fee\, please contact the course Registrar via registrar@planetdharma.com so we can support you to attend. \n— \nBelow are a few of the work and benefits that your admin fee payment is supporting: \n\nhigh speed internet (to allow interviews and classes on-line)\nonline class systems (Zoom)\nregistration / admin systems (Eventbrite\, Basecamp)\ncommunication systems to keep everyone informed\, share connection details\, teachings and other resources (Mailchimp)\nonline storage (for example\, Dropbox\, to allow us to let students watch recordings\, and to store and share selected teachings in other forms such as podcasts and video later\, and Amazon cloud)\nquality sound\, video and editing equipment (both for live teachings and to provide good enough quality for later sharing as podcasts and video). We are regularly updating our equipment to improve your user experience.\nonline calendar booking system to allow students to book interviews\nwebsite hosting and maintenance for sharing upcoming courses\, teachings\, blogs and other resources.\n\nWe welcome any questions. May all our efforts be sustainable\, abundant and for the benefit of all beings! \n\n\n\nRegister Now URL:https://test.clearskycenter.org/event/the-power-of-sangha-group-guru/ CATEGORIES:Featured Courses,Online Courses,Special Events ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://test.clearskycenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/Sangha-Group-Guru-Online-Course.jpg END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/Edmonton:20241208T090000 DTEND;TZID=America/Edmonton:20241208T100000 DTSTAMP:20260503T090836 CREATED:20240908T211533Z LAST-MODIFIED:20241122T230439Z UID:22893-1733648400-1733652000@test.clearskycenter.org SUMMARY:Body\, Speech & Mind eBook Launch Celebration (Online) DESCRIPTION:“All of your search for a special practice is in vain. You are making dead fantasy when the absolutely miraculous life is all around you. You are immersed in the undying body of manifestation\, the Nirmāņakāya. See the glory that is the reality. See the infinity of the complexity of manifestation.”  \nJoin us in celebrating the launch of Namgyal Rinpoche’s seminal work\, Body\, Speech & Mind in eBook format! \nSeasoned meditator and Namgyal Lineage Teacher\, Catherine Pawasarat Sensei\, will share about what makes this book a pivotal resource for all contemporary Buddhist practitioners\, guide a brief meditation from the book\, lead a Q&A session\, and share her thoughts on Namgyal’s legacy and the future of Dharma. \nThis online event takes place on Bodhi Day — the day that the historical Buddha\, Siddhartha Gautama\, experienced enlightenment. Join us in celebrating this pivotal work that is not only an essential foundation for 21st century awakening\, but also takes us forward towards the next turning of the wheel. \nSunday\, December 8th at 9am MT \nOnline \n \n Register Now\n \nBody\, Speech & Mind is a collection of profound discourses by Namgyal Rinpoche on several important themes for the development of enlightened body\, speech and mind. \nNamgyal Rinpoche compassionately and skilfully illuminates the precious path of awakening for all who seek liberation from suffering and the attainment of the sacred happiness and peace of transcendence. \nThese include in-depth teaching on the Foundations of Mindfulness (from the Satipatthana Sutta); the practice of purification (Vajrasattva); the transmutation of negative states (Chenresi); Mindfulness of Breathing (Anapanasati); as well as a wide variety of classic and contemporary meditations\, exercises and teachings on\, for example\, the elements\, colour\, bioenergetics\, communication\, relationships\, nutriment\, obstacles on the path\, dream yoga\, awareness in daily life\, mantra\, and much more. \n Join Catherine Sensei as we celebrate the next chapter of these universal and eclectic teachings of awakening. \n \n \n Register Now\n \nNamgyal Rinpoche was born Leslie George Dawson in 1931\, October 11\, and raised in Toronto\, Canada by parents of Irish and Scottish descent. \nLeslie George Dawson awakened through the Western Mysteries while living in London\, where he met the visiting teacher Sayadaw in 1958. Dawson moved to Burma and studied under U Thila Wunta and Mahasi Sayadaw in Bodh Gaya\, Rangoon (where he was ordained as Ananda Bodhi)\, Bangkok and Sri Lanka. \nAnanda Bodhi left the East in 1962\, teaching at the London Buddhist Vihara and founding Johnstone House in Scotland\, which he gave to Chögyam Trungpa who renamed it Samye Ling. \nAnandabodhi returned to Canada and founded the Dharma Centre of Canada outside Toronto. His teaching methods included international travel with students; in 1968 and 1971 he traveled with about a hundred students to India and Sikkim\, where they met the Tibetans. He was recognized by the 16th Karmapa\, Kalu Rinpoche\, Sakya Trizin Rinpoche and others as an embodiment of Namgyal Rinpoche\, and received transmissions of the Karma Kargyu lineage. \nOver the years he included the Western Mysteries\, science\, psychology\, art\, music\, exercise\, travel and other methods in his teaching repertoire\, becoming one of the main voices of Tibetan Buddhism in North America along with Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche. Some of Namgyal’s students started centers in Japan\, Australia\, New Zealand\, Europe and Central America as well as Canada and the US. His modern and eclectic approach is carried on throughout the world\, with Clear Sky embodying this multiversal vision as well. \nHe continued to teach until his death in Switzerland on October 22\, 2003\, having empowered a number of senior students to continue his work. \n \n Register Now\n \n \nListen: The Life of Namgyal Rinpoche\nIn this interview with Wisdom Podcast\, Qapel and Catherine Sensei discuss the life\, pioneering teachings and legacy of Namgyal Rinpoche:  \n \nMeet the Teachers\n \nCatherine Pawasarat Sensei \nCatherine Pawasarat Sensei has trained daily with Acariya Doug Duncan since 1998 in an intensive spiritual apprenticeship that is rare in the modern West. She received lay ordination from Namgyal Rinpoche in 2003. In addition to Buddhist philosophy and its applications to daily life\, Catherine also draws on generative living and the arts. With Doug she is co-founder of Clear Sky Retreat Center in the BC Rockies. \nLocated in the BC rocky mountains\, we offer over 300-acres to deepen your practice and reconnect with nature.  \nFounded by Qapel Doug Duncan and Catherine Pawasarat Sensei\, we are home to students from around the globe who are dedicated to co-creating a supportive and innovative space for awakening in our modern world. \n \n Register Now URL:https://test.clearskycenter.org/event/body-speech-mind-ebook-launch/ CATEGORIES:Featured Courses,Online Courses,Special Events ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://test.clearskycenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Book-Launch.png END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20241222 DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20250105 DTSTAMP:20260503T090836 CREATED:20241107T185825Z LAST-MODIFIED:20241209T173441Z UID:23426-1734825600-1736035199@test.clearskycenter.org SUMMARY:Sangha Christmas Retreat DESCRIPTION:“Each one of us is a unique reflection of the universe.” \n-Catherine Pawasarat Sensei \nJoin us this holiday season for two weeks of Teachings with Sensei\, time with Sangha and an eight-day Foundation Work retreat. \nTwo-Week Retreat: December 22nd – January 4th \nOptional Arrival/Departure Day (for a one-week retreat): December 28th \nRegistration Deadline: Sunday\, December 8th \nNote: This retreat is open to existing Sangha only. Prerequisite: In the past two-years\, you have attended at least one in-person retreat with Catherine Sensei. \n \n Registration Closed\n \nFoundation Work & sangha Retreat\nThe best gift that we can give our Teacher is ‘doing the work.’ \nIn light of Qapel’s passing\, Catherine Sensei had the beautiful idea of spending this holiday season working on our Foundation Practice together in community.  \nAlready finished your Foundation work? No problem! You’re welcome to use this time focusing on your current practice. \nThe retreat also includes an End of Life Celebration for Qapel\, a New Year’s Celebration and some days enjoying time in community. \n \n \n \nSchedule\nHere is our schedule (some details may be adjusested slightly). \nSunday\, Dec. 22nd: Main arrival day \nMonday\, Dec. 23rd: Community Sangha Time  \nTuesday\, Dec. 24th: Community Sangha Time \nWednesday\, Dec. 25th – Saturday\, Dec. 28th: Foundation Practice \nSaturday\, Dec 28th: Optional Arrival or Departure Day (everyone staying continues with Foundation Practice) \nSunday\, Dec. 29th- Wednesday\, Jan 1st: Foundation Practice \nThursday\, Jan. 2nd: Community Sangha Time & New Year’s Celebration \nFriday\, Jan. 3rd: Community Sangha Time \nSaturday\, Jan. 4th: Main Departure Day \n \n \n \n \n \n \nMeet our Teacher\n \nCatherine Pawasarat Sensei \nCatherine Pawasarat Sensei began her spiritual practices in earnest in her early 20s\, when she struggled to make sense of and overcome personal suffering and international environmental and social justice challenges. She became a student of metaphysics\, Western spiritual traditions\, and the ayahuasca sacraments in the 1990s. \nFor 26 years Catherine Sensei trained daily with Qapel Doug Duncan in an intensive spiritual apprenticeship that is rare in the modern West. She received lay ordination from Ven. Namgyal Rinpoche in 2003. \nWith Qapel she co-founded Clear Sky Retreat Center and Planet Dharma and is a lineage holder for these teachings. She supports the spiritual underpinnings of social entrepreneurs and social entrepreneurship for spiritual practitioners. She worked as an advocacy photojournalist and studied traditional Japanese arts (including koto\, shamisen\, kyogen) in Kyoto for 20 years\, culminating in her landmark work GionFestival.org. \nSince the early 2000s Sensei has provided dharma training and taught the path of awakening to hundreds of students\, together with Qapel and on her own. In addition to Buddhist philosophy and its applications to daily life\, Sensei also draws on generative living (a.k.a. sustainability) and the arts. \nAbout Clear Sky\nLocated in the BC rocky mountains\, we offer over 300-acres to deepen your practice and reconnect with nature.  \nFounded by Qapel Doug Duncan and Catherine Pawasarat Sensei\, we are home to students from around the globe who are dedicated to co-creating a supportive and innovative space for awakening in our modern world. \nIn adherence with our quadruple bottom line\, we source our food as local and organic as possible. \nEVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW on how to get here\, what to bring and what to expect.  \n \n \n \n \nFAQs\n About Dāna \nDana: \nRegistration fees cover food\, accommodation and the technology needed to offer the retreat online. The Teachings are freely given on the basis of dāna. \nYou may have come across this elsewhere in the form of “pay from the heart”. Dāna is a Sanskrit term meaning “generosity”. With dāna\, we give as a mutual exchange of generosity. It’s our joy to offer this course\, and we trust you’ll match our time\, energy\, and passion by giving an amount of money that feels good and healthy to both you and us. \nThe dharma has been built on generosity. No-one is excluded for lack of funds but it is also extremely beneficial to give as much as you are able \nTypically people give in a range of $120-$500 USD for a course.  \nAs we’re committed to ensuring everyone has access to the Dharma\, please feel comfortable to give less if you are not financially secure.  Another form of giving dāna is to offer service\, and if you are interested in providing support in a non-financial way\, we invite you to contact us.  \nConversely\, if you are financially secure\, we invite you to generate merit by providing more financial support to the Triple Gem. Contributions like these make the difference in supporting our teachers\, teachings\, and center. \nLearn more about the practice of dāna here. \n Scholarship Application \nWe aim to make our retreats as accessible as possible.  \nAs a centre run entirely by Karma Yoga (selfless service)\, retreat fees only cover food\, accommodation and the equipment required to offer them online. \nThe teachings themselves are offered on the basis of Dāna (pay-from-the-heart).  \nFor some\, this is still a barrier of entry. \nIf you are seeking financial assistance to attend a retreat\, please complete a Scholarship Application form. \n Detailed Daily Schedule (Long retreats) \nSpecific times may change – this is a rough guide (MST) \n6:30 – 7:30 AM: Walk &/or Personal Practice7:30 – 8:15 AM: Breakfast: Prepare\, eat\, clean up8:15 – 8:45 AM: Walk &/or Personal Practice9:00 – 10:00 AM: Class with Teachers10:00 – 10:30 AM: Walk10:30 – 11:30 AM: Group Practice led by Sangha11:30 – 12:30 PM: Personal Practice12:30 – 1:30 PM: Lunch: Prepare\, eat\, clean up1:30 – 3:00 PM: Personal Practice3:00 – 4:00 PM: Group Practice led by Sangha4:00 – 5:30 PM: Personal Practice5:30 – 7:00 PM: Dinner: prepare\, eat\, clean up7:00 – 7:30 PM: Walk &/or Personal Practice7:30 – 8:30 PM: Group Practice and Q & A with Teachers8:30 – Beyond: Personal Practice & bed \n Food\, Weather\, Accommodation and How to Get Here \nClick here for details on how to get here\, what to bring and what to expect.  \nNote: In the unlikely scenario that this retreat is cancelled\, we recommend purchasing refundable travel fares.  \n Cannabis\, Psychedelics and Microdosing \nWe recognize and respect plant medicine as an important part of some people’s spiritual paths.  \nPlease note\, the meditation practice on this retreat is very powerful. Consuming mind-altering substances will detract from your experience and could cause negative side-effects.  \nWe ask that you refrain from microdosing or consuming mind-altering substances during this retreat and in the days immediately following it.  \n Registration Deadline \nRegistration Deadline is Sunday\, December 8th.  \nQuestions? Please contact maureen@clearskycenter.org URL:https://test.clearskycenter.org/event/sangha-christmas-retreat-2024/ CATEGORIES:Featured Courses,Group Retreats and Courses ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://test.clearskycenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Sangha-Christmas-Retreat.jpg END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/Edmonton:20241224T143000 DTEND;TZID=America/Edmonton:20241224T160000 DTSTAMP:20260503T090836 CREATED:20241220T190242Z LAST-MODIFIED:20241220T214830Z UID:23593-1735050600-1735056000@test.clearskycenter.org SUMMARY:Qapel: Life and Teachings Christmas Celebration DESCRIPTION:“Each person is a replica of the entire cosmos.” \n-Catherine Sensei \nJoin us for a special online party on Christmas Eve to celebrate Qapel’s life and teachings\, including sharings of archive photos from early days in Japan and beyond from Catherine Sensei. \nTuesday\, December 24th at 2:30pm MT \nOnline \n \n Register Now\n \n \n \n \nMeet the Teachers\n \nCatherine Pawasarat Sensei \nCatherine Pawasarat Sensei has trained daily with Acariya Doug Duncan since 1998 in an intensive spiritual apprenticeship that is rare in the modern West. She received lay ordination from Namgyal Rinpoche in 2003. In addition to Buddhist philosophy and its applications to daily life\, Catherine also draws on generative living and the arts. With Doug she is co-founder of Clear Sky Retreat Center in the BC Rockies. URL:https://test.clearskycenter.org/event/qapel-celebration/ CATEGORIES:Featured Courses,Online Courses,Special Events ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://test.clearskycenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/2025-PD-courses-Square-IG-Post-7.png END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/Edmonton:20250112T093000 DTEND;TZID=America/Edmonton:20250202T110000 DTSTAMP:20260503T090836 CREATED:20240829T175029Z LAST-MODIFIED:20241219T220136Z UID:22571-1736674200-1738494000@test.clearskycenter.org SUMMARY:Waking Up & Growing Up: Integral Evolution (Online) DESCRIPTION:Waking Up\, Growing Up: Integral Evolution\n “One of the most significant contributions of Integral Spirituality and Theory is that the difference between states and stages is clarified. As meditators we get skilled with states but have remained ignorant of stages. This is not in our best interest. You can meditate forever and still be at a low stage of human development.” —Qapel Doug Duncan and Catherine Pawasarat Sensei \nAlong with the work of waking up—cultivating an enlightened state—we also need to do the work of growing up. This means learning to integrate the clear state into the world through doing our shadow work\, developing our communication\, and diving into critical developmental growth to be a fully integrated human being. In this course we explore the elements of a fit and dynamic vehicle for 21st-century awakening\, and beyond. \nNote: Integral Spirituality by Ken Wilber is a pre-requisite for the course. Please start by reading the Appendix as we have found it is clearer this way. \n  \nJanuary 12 – February 2\, 2025 \nSunday morning online classes 9:30-11:00am MT \n \n Registration\n \nfocus area\nIntegral  \nSpirituality \npractice\nCourse and optional \nweekend home retreat \nDuration\nFour \nWeeks \nDay/Time\nSundays from 9:30-11am MT \nformat\nIn-Person or \nOnline \nWaking Up and Growing Up\nAs we go deeper into the 21st-century we are seeing a new turning of the Wheel of Dharma – a radical evolution of Buddhism and spiritual teachings. The last major evolution in Buddhist Dharma was more than 1000 years ago with Vajrayana. Now with psychology\, integral spirituality and science\, something new is emerging. \nAlong with the work of waking up– cultivating an enlightened state – we also need to do the work of growing up. This means learning to integrate a clear state in the world through doing our shadow work\, developing our communication skills and working through the critical human development stages – individually and collectively. \nJoin us for this exciting four week course\, together we will explore the emerging elements of a fit and dynamic vehicle for 21st-century awakening\, and beyond. \n \n Register\n \n \n \n \n “In 10 years I have NOT missed a course with master teachers Qapel and Sensei! Every class reflects the light of oneness in prisms of direction and understanding and thus a lighter load to carry in the relative world and a lightness of being. If one aspires to be a bodhisattva and to benefit all beings\, this one recommends the next one.”\n Brendan R. \nIntegral Spirituality\nIntegral Spirituality was coined by Ken Wilber\, an internationally acknowledged leader and the preeminent scholar of the Integral stage of human development.  In his many books\, he writes that traditional Buddhist teachings themselves suggest an ongoing evolution leading toward a more unified\, holistic\, and interconnected spirituality. He describes the ways in which the tradition has been open to the continuing unfolding and expansion of its own teachings\, and he suggests possible paths toward an ever more Integral approach. \nWe agree! In this course\, we are excited to be taking this work forward and translating it practically\, based on our lineage’s working experience of modern spiritual community. \nIntegral Spirituality by Ken Wilber is a pre-requisite for the course. Please start by reading the Appendix as we have found it is clearer this way. \n \nSchedule\nSundays\, January 12 – February 2\, 2025\nClass Times (Mountain Time)\n\nSunday January 12 – 9:30-11am\nSunday January 19 – 9:30-11am\nSunday January 26 – 9:30-11am\nSaturday & Sunday February 1-2 – 9:30am and 2:30pm (approx 60-90 minutes)\n\n*Daily schedule is subject to minor changes closer to the course date. \n \nMeet the Teachers\n \nDoug Qapel Duncan \n \nCatherine Pawasarat Sensei \nDoug Duncan and Catherine Pawasarat are Dharma and meditation teachers who founded Clear Sky Meditation Center\, BC\, Canada. \nAchariya Doug Duncan co-created this course with Sensei prior to his passing on October 5th\, 2024. In his final public teaching before his passing\, Qapel shared that he believed Integral Evolution was the future of Dharma. In honour of his vision\, we are offering this course so that we may continue his legacy.  \nCatherine Pawasarat has trained daily with Acariya Doug Duncan since 1998 in an intensive spiritual apprenticeship that is rare in the modern West. She received lay ordination from Namgyal Rinpoche in 2003. In addition to Buddhist philosophy and its applications to daily life\, Catherine also draws on generative living and the arts. With Doug she is co-founder of Clear Sky Retreat Center in the BC Rockies. \n \n Register Now\n \n “The teachers have brought together ancient teachings with scientific findings that prove how and why Dharma teachings radically improve life\, reduce pain and increase global peace. It doesn’t matter what you believe\, you will embody a healthy new way of being. Because of their vast collective wisdom\, you leave their presence radically altered for the betterment of humanity.”\n Evangelos D.\n \nFAQs\n Dana and Pricing \nDana: \nYou may have come across this elsewhere in the form of “pay from the heart.” Dāna is a Sanskrit term meaning “generosity.” With dāna\, we give as a mutual exchange of generosity. It’s our joy to offer this course\, and we trust you’ll match our time\, energy\, and passion by giving an amount of money that feels good and healthy to both you and us. \nThe dharma has been built on generosity. No one is excluded for lack of funds. However\, it is also extremely beneficial to give as much as you are able. \nTypically people give in a range of $120-$500 USD for a course. \nAs we’re committed to ensuring everyone has access to the Dharma\, please feel comfortable to give less if you are not financially secure. Another form of giving dāna is to offer service\, and if you are interested in providing support in a non-financial way\, we invite you to contact us. \nIf you are financially secure\, we invite you to generate merit by providing more financial support to the Triple Gem. Contributions like these make the difference in supporting our teachers\, teachings\, and center. \nLearn more about the practice of dāna here. \n About the Online Admin Fee \nIn a traditional model of in-person teachings\, a retreat center or urban meditation center invites teachers to visit. In these cases the centers have infrastructure and organization costs to cover\, which might be covered by an admin fee. For the teaching itself\, dāna to the teachers is offered in a bowl. This honors both the sustainability of the teachers\, and of the supporting center. \nWe’ve tried to recreate this approach online. The teachers’ time and the teaching themselves are offered on the basis of dāna\, separate to the admin fee. With our dāna offering we are making a direct gift of generosity to the teachers to support their teachings and livelihood. \nThe admin fee* goes to support the infrastructure and organization necessary to support them to teach. As anyone with an online business will know\, the costs of setting up good infrastructure to support effective teaching and connection online can be surprising. \nOur admin fee changes based on the date of registration. \nRegister four + weeks prior: $80Register two to four weeks prior: $100Register less than two weeks prior: $120 \n*We also do not wish to exclude anyone from the Teachings\, so if you are not currently in a financial position to afford the admin fee\, please contact the course Registrar via registrar@planetdharma.com so we can support you to attend. \n— \nBelow are a few of the work and benefits that your admin fee payment is supporting: \n\nHigh speed internet (to allow interviews and classes on-line)\nOnline class systems (Zoom)\nRegistration / admin systems (Eventbrite\, Basecamp)\nCommunication systems to keep everyone informed\, share connection details\, teachings and other resources (Mailchimp)\nOnline storage (for example\, Dropbox\, to allow us to let students watch recordings\, and to store and share selected teachings in other forms such as podcasts and video later\, and Amazon cloud)\nQuality sound\, video and editing equipment (both for live teachings and to provide good enough quality for later sharing as podcasts and video). We are regularly updating our equipment to improve your user experience.\nOnline calendar booking system to allow students to book interviews\nWebsite hosting and maintenance for sharing upcoming courses\, teachings\, blogs and other resources.\n\nWe welcome any questions. May all our efforts be sustainable\, abundant and for the benefit of all beings! \n \n \n \n Register URL:https://test.clearskycenter.org/event/integral-buddhism/ CATEGORIES:Featured Courses,Online Courses ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://test.clearskycenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/2025-PD-courses-Square-IG-Post-3.jpg END:VEVENT END:VCALENDAR