Category Archives: Programs

The Way of Meditative Warriorship

Half-Day Retreat, Insight

Join the Bozeman Insight Community on Saturday February 1 from 9:30 am to 12:30 pm for an online half-day retreat with visiting teacher James Frank titled, “The Way of Meditative Warriorship.”

The uncertainty of these times calls for a commitment to live the truth and love this world yearns for. During this half-day retreat, we will explore the foundations of living a heart-centered and wakeful life. By emphasizing stillness and relaxation, we will support the natural and fearless qualities of the heart that characterize meditative warriorship. This period will involve sitting, walking, and relational practices that deepen a felt sense of belonging and inspiration for the journey ahead.

Photo of James Frank

James Nepenthe Frank is a meditation teacher and somatic healing practitioner. He began practice as a young child in the Plum Village Tradition with Thich Nhat Hanh and began formally sitting in the Western Insight tradition at the age of 15. While dedicating years of his life to silent retreat, he serves a commitment to live this path in everyday life. He began teaching at the invitation of his teacher, Rodney Smith. He lives in Lincoln, Vermont.

Intro to Meditation

Classes, Non-denominational

  Are you interested in starting a meditation practice? Join us on Saturday January 25, 9 AM – 12:30 PM to learn several different styles of meditation and find one that works for you.

Buddha overlaid with learn practice connect text

We will cover how to start a meditation practice at home, posture, breath practice, walking meditation, body scan guided meditation, working with a question, mindfulness, Metta practice, and Tonglen.

Mindful Creativity: Practice Word of the Year

Classes, Non-denominational

Join us on Sunday January 19 from 12:30 PM – 4 PM for an art and journaling workshop (Back by popular demand–it’s the same one as the New Year’s Workshop). We will focus on naming and expressing our practice intention for the new year.  We will use collage, markers, paint, and stencils to manifest our intuition and values on a 12” x 12” substrate.

Image of a collage art piece

Supplies will be provided. You do not need to know how to draw or paint to participate! Space is limited so please pre-register.

Tergar New Year’s Online Retreat

Half-Day Retreat, Tibetan

Join the Bozeman Tergar group on Saturday January 18 from 8 AM -11 AM at the Bozeman Dharma Center. This is a streaming online event offered by Tergar.org. This event is free and open to everyone, with donations gratefully accepted. We ask that you pre-register so that we can set up the space beforehand. This is a great opportunity to get a taste of Mingyur Rinpoche’s view of meditation from the ancient teachings of the two lineages of which he is a Master: that we are already whole and complete. Through these practices, we recognize our innate love and compassion from a place of self discovery.

An image of a smiling Minguyr Rinpoche

SoundGate with Yamama!

Non-denominational, SoundGate

On Friday January 3 from 7 – 8 PM, Yamama! will offer a meditative soundscape using drums, percussion and vocals. They are a four-woman, world music and dance ensemble who share their delight in sound and movement through performances, drum and dance classes, community education programs, and participatory community drum circles. No registration necessary. Donations welcome! Any funds collected will be split evenly with the guest artists.

picture of women drumming

New Year’s Intention Workshop

Classes, Non-denominational

Join us for a New Year’s Intention Setting Workshop on Saturday January 4 from 9 AM to 12:30 PM. In this art and journaling workshop, we will focus on naming and expressing our practice intention for the new year.  We will use collage, markers, paint, and stencils to manifest our intuition and values on a 12” x 12” substrate. Supplies will be provided. You do not need to know how to draw or paint to participate! Space is limited; please pre-register.

Winter Solstice Celebration

Non-denominational, SoundGate

Join us on Friday December 20 from 6 – 7 PM for a winter solstice celebration. Meditate to bells sounded by Jessie Solon and share candlelight, intention, and sacred practice to welcome back the sun. No registration required. This event is in-person only. Freely offered, donations gratefully accepted. Any funds collected will be split evenly with Jessie Solon.

Candlelight

Mahasangha Half-Day Sit

Half-Day Retreat, Non-denominational

Join leaders and members of all sanghas who meet at the BDC on Saturday December 7 from 9 AM to noon for a mahasangha half-day sit! Group leaders will offer practices from our various lineages along with meditation, chanting, bowing, and readings.

Schedule
9:00 Welcome
9:05 Joining Rivers – Plum Village Morning Chant
9:30 Stretch/Walking Meditation
9:40 Tergar – The Three Refuges in Tibetan & English
10:05  Stretch/Walking Meditation
10:10 Insight
10:35   Stretch/Walking Meditation
10:40 Zen – On Rohatsu
11:00 Stretch/Walking Meditation
11:05 MindSpace
11:30 Stretch/Walking Meditation
11:35 Palyul – Tibetan Prayer
12:00 End

Lost Species Day

Classes, Non-denominational

108 Bell Rings and Metta Practice with Megan Hollingsworth

November 30, 2024 10:00 AM to Noon

Lost Species Day is a chance each year to explore the stories of extinct and critically endangered species, cultures, lifeways, and ecological communities and provides an opportunity for participants to make or renew commitments to all who remain. It is also a time to develop creative and practical solutions.

With special attention to genocide and anthropomorphic species extinction, our practice on Remembrance Day for Lost Species (also known as Lost Species Day) will include silent meditation, Metta practice (guided loving kindness meditation), 108 bell rings, and open sharing.

108 bell rings represent the 108 human vexations. Each strike of the bell clears one of these to bring forth joy that remains when we are fully present. Practicing 108 bell rings on November 30th, the last day of the month, aligns with the original practice as it is thought to have begun at Zen temples in China.

Megan Hollingsworth, MS, is a writer with an interdisciplinary education in community health and environmental studies. Her work is deeply influenced by her Quaker upbringing, Engaged Buddhism, and faith in essential goodness. Meg is creator of the spiritual practice Extinction Witness. She began participating in international Lost Species Day activities in 2014 and has also served on the leadership team. Meg is currently an East West Psychology and Art PhD student at California Institute of Integral Studies.   https://www.meganhollingsworth.com and Remembrance Day For Lost Species