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 Kathy Wesley will provide brief talks at intervals during the retreat. She 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 KATHY
Kathy Wesley (Lama Gyurme Chötsö) has been a student of Khenpo Karthar Rinpoche since 1977. She participated in the first three-year retreat led by Khenpo Rinpoche at Karmé Ling Retreat Center in upstate New York, and thus earned the title of ‘retreat lama.’ Lama Kathy serves at the Columbus Karma Thegsum Chöling as its Resident Teacher and travels to other Buddhist centers throughout the country to share the dharma. She lives in Newark, Ohio with her husband, Mike.
ABOUT CHUCK DRAKE
Chuck Drake is a meditation instructor for Columbus KTC though he now spends most of his time serving as KTC’s 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 in 2012. He has also served as Treasurer and Assistant Director. Chuck is married to Mylynda Drake. Except for his KTC duties, he is now retired.