The Foundational Teachings and Practice of Meditation
Meditation is the simple yet profound practice of awakening to our basic nature. When we touch the power of stillness through the practice of meditation, we are able to engage our lives with tremendous clarity and warmth. The path of meditation initially gives us back our lives and our deepest selves, and ultimately opens our hearts to the entire universe.
Join senior Dharma Ocean teacher Al Blum for a six-day introductory program at the Blazing Mountain Retreat Center in Crestone, Colorado. This program is designed for those yearning for a genuine spiritual path amidst the speed, confusion, and materialism of contemporary life. It will benefit those beginning the path of meditation as well as those more experienced practitioners who wish to reconnect to the inspirational teachings and practices that are the essential foundation of the entire path. Al will offer practical and experiential instruction on the practice of meditation through guided meditation sessions, talks and group discussions. We’ll also explore deep silence in order to support a contemplative and nourishing environment.
Video: The Human Journey & The Four Noble Truths
In this short excerpt, Al discusses the human journey on the path of meditation and remarks on the Buddha’s first and perhaps most fundamental teaching, The Four Noble Truths. This excerpt was taken from a talk was given at a recent weekend program at the Dharma Ocean Boulder Meditation Center, in Boulder, CO.
Listen to previous talks & guided meditations
Listen a talk and guided meditation given by Al Blum at a recent retreat.
About the teacher
Al Blum encountered the Dharma over twenty years ago, after a long struggle with a near fatal illness inspired a search for deeper meaning and purpose. After studying and practicing in a traditional Tibetan context, Al found a true home in this lineage upon meeting Reggie in 2000. He has been teaching in a variety of Dharma Ocean programs beginning with the first Sutrayana course in 2006. As an original member of the first Dharma Ocean board, Al also served as the board member in charge of designing and building Dharma Ocean’s Retreat Center, Blazing Mountain.
As a father and business owner, Al’s teaching focuses on integrating Dharma practice into the practical realities of family, community, and work. Despite his busy schedule, Al finds time to teach, attend programs, and engage in solitary retreats. He has an M.A. in Indo Tibetan Buddhism from Naropa University.
About his teaching philosophy, he comments:
“Meditation practice in our lineage doesn’t imply retreating from or renouncing the world. Rather, practice gradually opens us to the profound spiritual possibilities of fully inhabiting the lives we actually live moment by moment. As such, there is tremendous respect in our sangha for the uniqueness of each person’s journey.”
Registration
To register for this program follow the “Register Now” link at the top of this page. We ask that participants interested in this program register by September 17th. Registration will close October 3rd.
The total price of the retreat ranges from $717 to $1,457, depending on your choice of housing. This includes food, tuition, lodging, and tax. A more detailed breakdown of our retreat prices can be found here.
Scholarship and Work-Study
There will be scholarship and work-study available for this program. If you are interested in this option please register for the program and fill out an application by September 10th. Click here for more information, and to find the online financial aid application. You are welcome to apply at any time. Applications will be reviewed shortly after the scholarship deadline.
Transportation
For general information about traveling to our retreat center, please see the Getting Here page on the Blazing Mountain website.
Dharma Ocean will be offering shuttle service from Moffat to the retreat center for those riding the Black Hills Stage Line from Denver. There are limited seats available for this service, therefore we suggest that you choose this option at registration if you need this service and would like to guarantee a seat. If you need to add this option please contact the Dharma Ocean Registrar (registrar@dharmaocean.org). The cost of the shuttle is $30 round-trip.
Retreat Details
Please plan to arrive between 3:00 and 6:00 p.m. on Saturday October 17th. Departure will be after breakfast on Saturday, October 24th.
If you are staff or work-study for this program, please plan on arriving a day early and departing at 5:00pm on departure day. Please contact registrar@dharmaocean.org if you have questions.
Check out our Program FAQ page for other important information about being on retreat at Blazing Mountain. For any further questions please email us at stillness15@dharmaocean.org.
Program Staffing Opportunities
If you feel inspired and called to deepen your training by serving in a staff role, please visit Service and Volunteering Opportunities and fill out the staff request form. Preference will be given to people who submit their offer by June 17th. We will respond to offers made by this date within a month’s time. If this date has passed and you are interested in a staffing role at this program, please fill out the request form and we will respond to these offers in an ongoing way as space permits.