UPDATE: – 2.29.24

PLEASE NOTE: We have made an important change that will affect this program.

This Weekend Intensive will no longer be held on the dates announced. It has now been moved and integrated into the 8-week Eco-Dharma, Unseen Beings and the Path of Natural Recovery online program with Erik Jampa Andersson. This program will run June 5 – July 24, 2024. We encourage you to consider joining us for this comprehensive program.

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In this weekend intensive, Erik Jampa Andersson will guide participants through the vast and fascinating web of the more-than-human world. Throughout history, our relationships with non-human beings, both seen and unseen, have profoundly impacted what it means to be human. Animals, plants, fungi, pathogens, and ‘nature spirits’ all played important roles in traditional systems of ecological knowledge. But in our modern human-centered world, our unseeing of these beings has had catastrophic consequences. 

As human beings living in the 21st Century, we are faced with an unusual set of circumstances. Our ever-expanding power as geological agents has propelled us into profoundly dire circumstances. Our present epoch, the so-called ‘Anthropocene,’ has been largely motivated by all-too-familiar ‘poisons’ of pride, greed, jealousy, aversion, and ignorance. In this retreat, we will work to deconstruct our human-centeredness, and learn how to ground our lived experience in a more dynamic appreciation of the complex, vibrant, and enchanting world in which we live. We will explore what it means to live in Right Relationship with non-human beings and environments, both as citizens of the Earth and as Buddhist practitioners. 

Along with an introduction to his book, participants of this retreat will:

• Work to deconstruct our human-centeredness and learn how to ground our lived experience in a more dynamic appreciation of the complex, vibrant, and enchanting world in which we live. 
• Explore what it means to live in Right Relationship with non-human beings and environments, both as citizens of the Earth and as Buddhist practitioners. 
• Receive an introduction to Erik Jampa’s book, Unseen Beings: How We Forgot the World is More Than Human.
• Be guided through an array of poignant environmental teachings from the Buddhist tradition, including Tibetan visionaries, as well as acclaimed masters from Indian, Japanese, and Southeast Asian traditions. 
• Look at how Buddhist thinkers applied Buddhist ethics and philosophies in their approaches to the ‘natural’ world, and how ‘nature spirit’ paradigms were used to negotiate the needs of myriad ‘others’ that they encountered in a complex living world. 
• Discuss an array of practices and rituals, both traditional and modern, that can be engaged with by practitioners at any stage of their spiritual journey.

This retreat is an immersive introduction for students wishing to further explore these themes in a 8-week online program with Erik Jampa Anderrson that will be offered from June 5-July 24, 2024. Registration for that program can be found here.

Required Reading:
Unseen Beings: How We Forgot the World is More Than Human by Erik Jampa Andersson 

Who Should Attend? 
This program is open to everyone.

Recording Access: 
All participants will have a 1-year access period to the recordings.

What is a Tara Mandala Online Program?
Tara Mandala offers online programming via live and pre-recorded curriculum that give you the opportunity to access dharma teachings, engage in guided practice, experience personal retreat and hands-on learning, while connecting with other participants through easy-to-use online platforms and an engaged community network. When needed, the program description and schedule will inform you in advance if and when a specific online session must be attended live if a direct transmission (Tib. lung) may be given. Access to recordings of all sessions will be available for additional viewing for one year. 

Tara Mandala Pricing Guidelines
As we work to become an equitable, diverse and inclusive community, our pricing guidelines are intended to be a map, inviting each of us to take inventory of resources that contribute to our access to precious dharma teachings. While we do ask you to look inward, please know there is no right or wrong answer. We encourage you to select the range/rate appropriate to your circumstances. To learn more about Tara Mandala’s pricing guidelines for Online Programs, In-Person Retreats, and Special Promotions, please visit this page. 

Offering dana to the teacher: The practice of offering dana, which means “generosity,” is the traditional offering the student makes to the teacher as a symbol of appreciation, gratitude, and reciprocity for receiving the precious teachings. Information on offering dana to the teacher will be provided during the program. To learn more about dana and suggested dana ranges, please click here. 

Payment Plans and Financial Assistance
Tara Mandala offers two types of financial assistance: Deferred Payment Plans and Scholarships. You may apply for one or both of these types of assistance. Read the terms carefully as outlined on the financial aid application. Please see this page for further information.

Sustaining Sangha:
If you are currently a member of our Sustaining Sangha, you may apply your Online Program discount to this course. To learn more about Sustaining Sangha membership, benefits, and discounts, click here. 

Click Here for Our Online Programs Cancellation and Refund Policy

PROGRAM SCHEDULE
The live sessions of the program are listed below. All times are Mountain Standard Time. Please use this link to see how this daily schedule translates into your timezone.

Friday, March 1, 2024
1:00pm-3:00pm MST-  Opening Gathering & Teaching Session

Saturday, March 2, 2024
10:00am-12:00pm MST- Teaching Session
1:00pm-3:00pm MST – Teaching Session

Sunday, March 3, 2024 
10:00am-12:00pm MST- Teaching Session
1:00pm-3:00pm MST – Closing Session