“This world both conceals the truth and reveals the truth.”
Day Retreat, 23rd March,
| UK GMT 10 - 17.30| Europe CET 11 - 18:30 |
Nagarjuna tells us that the doctrines of the Buddha rely on our understanding of the two truths. Tsong-ka-pa says if we misunderstand this teaching we will fall into nihilism, believing that nothing really exists, therefore nothing really matters.
This couldn’t be further from the truth. Everything matters.
The more I practice and try to communicate the Dharma, the more I come to the conclusion that you have to start with the Two Truths. Without understanding the meaning of ‘conventional truth’ and ‘ultimate truth’ it’s impossible understand the other teachings.
Yet… to truly understand these truths is akin awakening itself. Perhaps too much to hope for in the course of one day retreat (though one never knows!)
I hope you will come away with a clear conceptual understanding of the two truths, and concepts can be beautiful!
We’ll see how the ultimate truth of emptiness, can't exist without the conventional truths of phenomena as it's base. That it’s this world full to the brim with numberless things, that shows us emptiness. For emptiness to 'exist', there has to be something that is empty!
The Beauty of the The Two Truths
Leaving the words aside for a while we’ll use reflections, to reflect on the two truths. Reflections in glass, in puddles, in rain running down window panes.
Empty things, such as reflections depend on a collection of causes. It is not as though this were not well-known. From those empty reflections and so forth arise consciousnesses that bear their image. Similarly, even though all things are empty, from those empty things effects are definitely produced.
- Chandrakirti
We see the sky reflected in a puddle. That sky is not a sky, yet a ‘sky’ appears in the puddle. That ‘sky’ is completely empty of sky, but nonetheless brings about an effect in us, of having seen a sky, in a puddle.
Empty things exist and effect other empty things.
Therefore, what we do matters because we exist and our actions or choices are the conditions from which the future arises.
Schedule: The morning and afternoon sessions will be a combination of dharma teaching, meditation and reflection. All times UK GMT
10am - 12am Morning Session:
Unpacking the teaching of the two truths
12am - 4pm Free Time:
I’ll offer a couple of little creative assignments for the free time if you want to take your reflections deeper.
3pm - 3.45pm Optional small group discussion:
Small groups for those that want to discuss the themes.
4pm - 5.30pm Afternoon Session
Finding the Middle Way
Online resources and recordings
When you sign up for the day retreat you’ll make an account which will allow you to sign into an online space here on the Red Ladder Studio website. You’ll find the Zoom link there and nearer the time I’ll add other resources.
The retreat will take place on Zoom and afterwards I will upload the videos of the sessions to this space. They’ll be available to revisit after the retreat, or if you are unable to make it on the day.
Who is this retreat for?
This retreat is suitable for anyone with a regular meditation practice and a basic understanding of dharmic concepts such as, conditionality, the 3 lakshanas, and emptiness. It wouldn’t be suitable for those that are new to meditation and Buddhism.
As with all meditation practices, these may not be suitable for those currently experiencing mental health difficulties.
If you are in any doubt as to whether the retreat might be suitable for you please drop me a line.
An online day retreat - Saturday 23rd March 2024
I have a number of dana places available on a pay what you can basis. Just drop me a line if you’d like one of these.
You can read my pricing policy here.