Boundless Refuge
Dispatch
July 2023
Dear Friend,
May this message find you in good health and high spirits!
Boundless Refuge’s second three month retreat came to a close as the summer solstice arrived. In total, eight yogis attended the retreat for varying lengths of time — some who sat for the full three months. It was truly inspiring to witness the deep exploration each person undertook into their own hearts. Each person developed wholesome qualities and clarified their deepest aspiration.
Pictured: Levi Chettle, Ned Grenfell, David Sudar, Oliver Hutton, North Burn, and Benjamin Haynes. Not pictured: Parker Land, Chris Allen, and Phil Elverum.
The retreat ended with our sangha blessing the land, creatively rebuilding our altar together employing natural elements, and hosting members of the local community for a meal. Following the retreat, many stayed on for a week-long work period. These were times filled with conviviality and deep connection. From this experience, we formed the intention to include some days of sangha building into both the beginning and end of next year’s retreat.
We feel deeply encouraged to have provided this retreat completely based on generosity – of the yogis, team-members, volunteers at three week-long work periods this past year, and over fifty individuals who donated.
May the goodness of this retreat flow forth and be shared amongst all beings!
Each yogi wrote such beautiful intentions on the altar:
“To bring love & wisdom into the world, to cherish, praise & serve.”
“Clearly knowing and not controlling this great earth and all living beings.”
“To embody a profound non-clinging love all the time everywhere.”
“To surrender to this, return with great compassion, and laugh my ass off.”
“May I live in harmony with nature and all beings.”
“May I live in a truthful, vibrant, and loving way and bring forth the light of the heart with all beings.”
Applications for 2024 three month retreat are now open!
We ask you to share this opportunity with anyone you think might be interested! Our primary way of getting the word out is through word of mouth and personal connections.
The 2024 retreat will be held at a new location, likely in Northern California. We will offer the retreat to fifteen yogis who will attend for the full three months. Due to the increasing size of the retreat, the 2024 retreat will include part time co-teachers as well as new service positions of responsibility (such as head cook, head of meditation hall) to be held by experienced practitioners.
We invite you to explore our new website to read more about our vision for the coming year! www.boundlessness.org
Click here to watch a short video made by a retreatant depicting the 2023 retreat.
Special thanks to:
Tasshin for our new logo— the sun is an image we chose inspired by Stephen Batchelor’s work on a “solar Buddhism”
Colleen for her original painting of flowing water and light on the invitation
Ollie for putting much creative energy into the creation of our new website and video
May Boundless Refuge serve to cultivate good spiritual friendship and thus contribute to a more peaceful and loving world for all.
Bowing,
North & Team
