Retreat with Ginny Morgan

A Three-Day Mindfulness Meditation Retreat

"Touching the Earth"

with Ginny Morgan

at the The Franciscan Center
3010 Perry Avenue, Tampa, Florida 33603

December 9 - 11, 2005
Friday 9:00 am until Sunday 5:00 pm

Help spread the word about this retreat: Print Out and Post this flyer.

Touching the Earth

On the eve of his awakening the Buddha was approached by Mara˜a Buddhist version of Satan, or more accurately, a personification of our conditioned minds. Mara spoke to the Buddha in his seductive language of internal shame. "Who are you?" he said, "to believe that you can become enlightened?" It is said that the Buddha˜upon hearing this familiar litany of mind from the seat of equanimity˜reached down and touched the earth to acknowledge his right to a fully liberated heart.

This earth touching realization, which is grounded in both compassion and wisdom, is our birthright. It is not just for some, it is available for all of us.

In this retreat we will explore the ways that we get caught in our own stories of who we are and who we are not. We will use the teachings that Buddha identified as his core instruction˜a set of teachings that have been called the "wings to awakening" to cultivate this earth touching posture of mind and heart.

It is a simple and quiet truth that one who fully embraces these teachings can directly experience the freedom and equanimity of meeting our humanity with the repose of a Buddha. With the earth as our witness, we can directly recognize that we are both worthy and capable of realizing spiritual freedom and can begin to taste that freedom from within our ordinary human lives. It has been said that truth is very simple and cannot be practiced, but suffering is very complex and must be practiced. During our time together, we will see the many ways in which we make suffering a practice. When we allow that practice to drop, what we are left with is freedom.

The retreat is open to beginning as well as experienced meditators. It will be held in a climate of safety and compassion.

$250 per person covers seven vegetarian, mostly vegan meals, and two nights lodging. The teachings are offered freely in the tradition of Dana, with appreciation for the finiancial support of participants.

The Franciscan Center is a wonderfully quiet setting for deepening your meditation practice. With eight acres of beautiful river-front grounds, this facility offers each participant a private room with full bath (towels and linens are provided), a quiet meditation hall and ample indoor and outdoor space for walking meditation. The facility is fully staffed, which means there are no "yogi chores" such as dish washing, cleaning up to do... just a few days of deep silence to focus inward and deepen one's meditation practice. The center is wheelchair friendly. Here's a map that you may find helpful:

Ginny Morgan lives in Columbia, Missouri. She is a guiding teacher for Show Me Dharma Center and the former President of the Board of Mid America Dharma, the emerging retreat center for the Midwest area. After working as a play therapist for acutely and chronically ill children for many years, she has shifted her focus to Dharma teaching, and to working exclusively for Dharma activities. She has studied with Ram Dass, Munindra-ji, Matthew Fliskstein and teachers from Insight Meditation Society and Spirit Rock Meditation Center.

Monday November 28 is the registration deadline when the final payment is due. Refunds will be made in full when requested before this date after which only partial refunds, if any, can be made. Directions and detailed information will be sent upon receipt of the registration form. It is our hope that financial considerations will not prevent anyone from attending this retreat. Some funds are available for partial (1/2 fee) scholarships, and a deferred payment plan can be arranged. However, the minimum deposit of $125 is reguired to hold your space.

This retreat is limited to 25 participants. Please register as early as possible.

For more information, please email retreats@flowingdharma.org or phone 813-989-9910.

Please register by mail by printing out, completing and mailing the registration form below along with your payment to Flowing Dharma, Inc. at the address below.

Please reserve a place for me at the Vipassana (Insight) Meditation Retreat, December 9 - 11, 2005 with Ginny Morgan. I have enclosed $ ________ (min. $125 deposit) with the balance of $ _______ due before November 28 ($250 total per person). Please make your check to "Flowing Dharma, Inc." and mail to Flowing Dharma, Inc., 13402-D Thomasville Circle, Tampa, FL 33617. (Please print clearly)

Name:_________________________________________________________

Address:________________________________________________________

City: ___________________________ State:______________

ZIP: ________________________ Phone:___________________________

E-Mail:________________________________________________________

In case of emergency, contact _____________________ at phone _____-_____-__________

I want to help ensure that lack of money is not a barrier to anyone who wishes to attend this retreat. I’m including a donation of $ __________ to go toward partial scholarships.