TEACHER Caroline Pfohl
When we are at one with our somatic experience, we can be naturally relaxed and at ease. This means connecting with meditative awareness and ultimately with the brilliance and beauty of our awakened nature. We can be truly present to ourselves and for others – openhearted, interrelated, and responsive – without turning away. In these turbulent and uncertain times, this is a great gift that every one of us can offer to the world.
The teachings of the somatic Vajrayana tradition train us, in simple and direct ways, to be naturally at ease. In this intimate program, that will be capped at 25 retreatants, we will have the opportunity to practice recognizing the self-existing wakefulness that is our natural state, connecting with it in a fluid way, and finally becoming inseparable from it in the heat of our everyday experience.
This program is best suited to practitioners familiar with the teachings of Dharma Ocean or experience in another Buddhist meditative tradition. If you have little experience with Dharma Ocean teachings, we suggest that you explore them before the retreat. This is a good place to start:
The Somatic Practice of Pure Awareness - Caroline Pfohl, Spring Meditation Intensive, Blazing Mountain Retreat Center, 2023
Further material can be found on the Meditation Yana Introductory Resources page.
The program will include:
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- Sitting, walking and lying down meditation – sitting sessions are generally 45 minutes, alternating with shorter periods of walking and lying meditation
- Meditative movement – qigong and lujong
- Dharma talks and group conversations
- Opportunities to reflect on the teachings and practices in dyads or small groups
- Deep rest
About the teacher
Caroline Pfohl is Spiritual Director of the Dharma Ocean Foundation and Co-Lineage Holder, along with Reggie Ray, of the Dharma Ocean lineage. For 17 years, Caroline has trained and partnered with Reggie to develop the somatic tantric path offered by Dharma Ocean.
Brought up in a contemplative Catholic family, Caroline deepened her early interest in spirituality by gaining an experiential understanding of Daoism and Chan Buddhism during two decades of living in Taiwan, Hong Kong, Singapore and China.
She also leads the Hemera Foundation, dedicated to the support of modern Buddhism, spiritual innovation and secular contemplative approaches to education and wellbeing.
The practice of silence
There will be significant periods of silence during this retreat. The practice of silence provides a respite from the communication demands of daily life and the habitual patterns we develop to cope with those demands. In silence, we can relax to deeper levels, providing space for interoception to deepen. We can listen to our somatic experience, building the capacity to open without reservation to everything we feel and know, and so aligning with our natural state.
The practice of silence extends beyond verbal communication, so we ask that you refrain from reading, writing and journaling unless guided to do so by the teacher.
Electronics
In order to experience the natural state without distraction, we ask that you refrain from using electronics, including phones, smartwatches, tablets, laptops etc during the retreat, unless they are necessary for health reasons. Program staff will be happy to hold and safeguard your devices for the duration of the retreat if this is helpful to you.
Price and registration
Prices range from US$901 to US$1,225 depending on your choice of accommodation. All prices include accommodation for 6 nights and vegetarian meals.
A small number of scholarship places at discounted rates are available for shared rooms (US$854) and vans (US$638). If you would like to be considered, please register and pay the deposit and write to wellspringoflove@dharmaocean.org with your circumstances.
Image credit: Julien Parrot
