Mindfulness Meditation is our foundation as practicing Buddhists. By practicing basic quiet sitting meditation (called Shamatha in Sanskrit), we develop more awareness of our thoughts and motivations. As a result, an innate gentleness toward ourselves and others emerges.
Extended periods of shamatha meditation help us deepen our practice by giving us a chance to work with thoughts, distractions, and resistance that may not come up in shorter meditation sessions.
Lama Tom Broadwater will provide a brief beginning orientation at this event. During the retreat, Lama Tom will also be available for interviews with participants who would like to discuss their practice.
KTC Meditation Instructor and Director Chuck Drake will act as umdze.
The program will be offered in-person only at KTC. Those attending should bring a vegetarian sack lunch. Water, coffee, and tea will be provided.
To promote a mindful atmosphere, Functional Talking (i.e., only for essential quick communication) will be strongly encouraged.
If you’d like to attend only part of this retreat, you are welcome to do so. When you arrive, quietly join the retreatants in the shrine room.
ABOUT LAMA TOM
Lama Tom Broadwater became a student of Khenpo Karthar Rinpoche in1999. He completed a 3 year retreat in 2012. He currently serves as an Associate Lama at Columbus Karma Thegsum Chöling Buddhist Meditation Center in Columbus OH. Coal miner 4 years. Social worker and social administrator 35 years. Married 45 years. Father of two daughters and 3 grandchildren.
ABOUT CHUCK DRAKE
Chuck Drake is a meditation instructor for Columbus KTC though he now spends most of his time serving as the current administrative Director. Chuck took refuge with Khenpo Karthar in 1981 and, in 1988, he attended a summer-long buddhist seminary at Rocky Mountain Dharma Center in Colorado. Chuck started attending Columbus KTC regularly again in 2012. Chuck is married to Mylynda Drake and has two sons and two step sons. Except for his KTC duties, he is now retired.