Creating a greener lifestyle can feel overwhelming at times. That feeling makes many people give up before they ever start. Thoughts like, “It’ll take too much effort!” “It’ll take too much money!” “I’m too busy already!” “I just can’t take time to think about one more thing!” “It’s not really my problem!” or “The problems are just too big, and I am just one person!” can all loom larger than life in our minds. They leave us exhausted before we ever begin. They can make us feel disempowered and insignificant. A lot of what may lie behind all those thoughts is the sense of fear. Fear of the unknown, fear of inadequacy, fear of failure, the fear of what this will cost me in my life. Fear can keep us stuck on so many levels.
Today, I learned about a retreat opportunity by one of my favorite human beings, Pema Chödrön. The reason I’m sharing this information on this particular day is for a few reasons. First, the title of the retreat is “Smile at Fear: Finding a True Heart of Bravery.” The description of the retreat is the following: “The ‘Smile at Fear’ retreat is a rare opportunity to practice and study with Pema in real time, as she teaches wisdom learned from her own teacher, Chögyam Trungpa. Using his book of the same title, she shows how to approach the things that scare us in a radically different way than we’re accustomed to, and in doing so to discover how astonishingly insignificant fear really is—and how surprisingly simple it is to access the heart of fearlessness. These are Buddhist teachings and practices that can become resources for a lifetime.”
The second reason I’m sharing this on Footprint Friday is that this retreat (which is taking place in California) can be accessed online! As described by Shambhala Publications, “And enrolling in the online version gives you access to additional materials that enable you to revisit the retreat whenever you need a refresher.” By not having to travel to a far-off destination or purchase materials, and by being able to return to any portions of the retreat whenever you need that extra “shot in the arm,” you get the opportunity to participate in a very “green” experience.
If fear is what’s preventing you from taking those first baby steps into making changes in your own life to create a more harmoniously green living environment, this might just help you begin! We all have fears. The trick is to learn to not allow them to control our lives. From my previous experiences with Pema Chödrön, I expect this retreat to be another wonderful experience as we learn to access “the heart of fearlessness.” I may be well on the road to a green lifestyle but I have plenty of areas in my life where fear keeps me stuck and prevents me from moving forward or keeps me moving in ways that may not be life-affirming for me and/or my family. I intend to participate in this retreat because I believe Pema Chödrön is a wonderful human being who has much to offer. I appreciate her wisdom and life experience. I hope you’ll join me for this wonderful experience!
The details of this retreat are as follows:
The price for registration is $59.95. However, if you sign up through my blog, you can receive an additional $10 off by using coupon code PEMALIVE2. The online version includes:
* Access to the event in real time via live-stream (the dates of the actual retreat are October 15-17)
* On-demand video access
* An edited video download
* A discount coupon for 30% off the DVD edition
* An e-book of Chögyam Trungpa’s Smile at Fear
Here is the schedule of the retreat (remember though that you can access this retreat at any time):
Smile at Fear Schedule of Events
(Times in PST)
Friday, October 15
5:30 p.m. Doors open to public
7-9:00 p.m Lecture by Pema Chödrön
Saturday, October 16
9:00 Welcome and initial meditation instruction by Carolyn Gimian
10:30 Break
10:45 Sitting meditation
11:00 Lecture with Pema Chödrön
12:30 Lunch break
2:00 Guided meditation with Carolyn Gimian
3:00 Lecture with Pema Chödrön and Q&A with audience
5:00 Program ends
Sunday, October 17
9:00 Meditation led by Carolyn Gimian
10:30 Break
10:45 Sitting meditation
11:00 Lecture with Pema Chödrön
12:30 Lunch break
2:00 Guided meditation with Carolyn Gimian
3:00 Lecture with Pema Chödrön and Q&A with audience
5:00 Program ends
Have a wonderful Labor Day weekend! Namaste.
