Online Meditation Retreat with Vance Pryor & Tara Mulay Jan 9-10 [jan9shol]

IMPORTANT UPDATE from BCIMS (Dec 31):
Tara Mulay will be co-teaching with Vance Pryor in place of Kamala. Sharing here a note from our dear teacher Kamala Masters:

“I share with you some sad news that my beloved husband, Steve Armstrong, passed away peacefully a few days ago. During this time of mourning it would do me good to take time for some solitude and rest. I have asked a wonderful colleague and dear friend, Tara Mulay, to present these beautiful teachings along with Vance Pryor. I deeply trust the Dharma in them both.”

If you are registered for the retreat and have not received an email about this, please check your spam or reach out to registrar@bcims.org if you have any questions.

Online Retreat Dates

All times are pacific time, Vancouver, Canada.

Friday January 9: 7pm-8:30pm

Saturday January 10: 10am-4pm

Retreat Description - Living in Greater Ease with the Truth of Impermanence

Change is constant - in our lives, in the world, and in every moment.

In a time of global uncertainty and personal challenge, our Dharma practice invites us to stay present, soften resistance, and respond to life with more wisdom and compassion.

This precious time of retreat offers an opportunity to slow down and explore the Buddha's teachings on impermanence (anicca), one of the most essential and liberating aspects of the Dharma.

Through periods of guided meditation, Dharma talks, and question and response periods, we will practice together, supporting one another in opening to the truth of impermanence.

How to Join the Retreat after Registering

To join the retreat, click on the button in the confirmation email received from Eventbrite after you registered. You will be asked to sign in to Eventbrite with the same email address you registered with to get access to the Zoom links to join the retreat. The link will go live a day before the event.

You will also be receiving the Zoom links via Eventbrite emails ahead of the retreat. Please ensure you type in your correct email address in the order form.

Retreat Details

Fees: A sliding scale of fees is offered. Please choose the highest rate you can comfortably offer:

Supported Ticket $50 CAD: The supported rate covers about 50% of what is needed for retreat costs and to run our organization. To balance our budget and wisely manage our resources, donations must supplement registration income.

Sustaining Ticket $100 CAD: The sustaining rate represents the actual cost to BCIMS to operate our programs.

Generosity Ticket $175 CAD: The generosity rate covers the cost of the program and also provides funds to subsidize the reduced fees paid by others who have more challenging financial circumstances. Tax Receipts: Please note that we are unable to offer tax receipts for folks who purchase the Generosity Ticket. If you are interested in receiving a tax receipt, we recommend you purchase a Sustaining Ticket and offer a donation of any amount to BCIMS via our Canada Helps page.

Financial Assistance: No one is turned away for lack of funds. If you require additional financial assistance to attend this retreat please contact jess@bcims.org.

Please note that your registration fee goes toward retreat costs and BC Insight Meditation Society organizational expenses which allow us to continue offering retreats such as this one. Financial support for the teacher is offered separately.

Teacher Dana: In the Buddhist tradition, teachings are given freely because they are considered priceless; in the Buddhist tradition we also practice dana, or generosity, by making monetary offerings to the teachers. Dana is not payment for goods or services rendered; it is given from the heart. Your generosity is a gift that supports not just the teachers, but also the Sangha, the larger Dharma community, and your own practice. More information on how to offer dana to teachers will be shared with registrants.

Contact: If you are unable to register online or have any questions about this retreat, please contact jess@bcims.org.

Attendance: With the online format you can choose when and how long you attend.

Cancellation Policy: Refunds are provided up to 24 hours before the start of the retreat.

Recordings: The retreat will be recorded and the recordings will be shared with registrants about 24 hours after the recorded session has taken place.

About the Teachers:

Vance Pryor, PsyD, began practicing insight meditation in 1998. He has been deeply influenced by the teachings of Sayadaw U Pandita and Sayadaw U Tejaniya. His training to become a teacher has been supported by the mentorship of Steve Armstrong and Kamala Masters. He is a graduate of IMS’s 2017-2021 Teacher Training Program.

Tara Mulay has been practicing Insight Meditation since 2003. She was trained and authorized to teach by the Insight Meditation Society in Barre, Massachusetts, and serves on the Board of Spirit Rock Meditation Center in Woodacre, California. Tara's journey into dharma practice began during her 20-year career as a criminal defense attorney. Her teachings are rooted in the Mahasi Sayadaw lineage, enriched by influences from other Theravadan traditions.

Of South Asian heritage, Tara was initially drawn to dharma practice by the Buddha’s teachings rejecting caste as a measure of worth and capacity for awakening. She believes that classical Buddhist practices—fostering compassion, non-greed, non-hatred, and non-delusion—are powerful tools for empowering people in marginalized communities.

Detailed Schedule

Schedule may be subject to minor changes. The teachers will communicate with attendees on this.

Friday:

7:00pm - 7:15pm Welcome

7:15pm - 7:45pm Guided Sit, Refuges and Precepts

7:45pm - 8:15pm Dharmette

8:15pm - 8:30pm Closing

Saturday:

10:00am-10:45am Welcome and Guided Sitting Meditation

10:45am - 11:00am Questions and Response

11:00am - 11:20am Walking Meditation or Standing Meditation

11:20am - 12:05pm Dharma Talk

12:05pm – 12:15pm Understanding the Dharma of Dana + How to Offer Dana

12:15pm - 1:00pm Lunch

1:00pm - 1:45pm Guided Sitting Meditation

1:45pm - 2:05pm Walking Meditation or Standing Meditation

2:05pm - 2:45pm Dharma Talk

2:45pm - 3:15pm Question and Response

3:15pm - 3:20pm Stretching

3:20pm - 3:40pm Group Sharing (Bearing Witness to Intentions, New Dharma Insights, New Beginnings)

3:40pm - 4:00pm Final Reflections, Sharing the Merit, BCIMS Announcements, Closing

With heartfelt gratitude, BCIMS acknowledges we are based in what is now known as Vancouver, BC, the beautiful, traditional, and unceded lands of the Skwxwú7mesh (Squamish), xʷməθkwəy̓əm (Musqueam), and Səl̓ílwətaʔ/Selilwitulh (Tsleil-Waututh) peoples, who live on and have stewarded this land for thousands of years.