Speaker: Dungse Jampal Norbu. Dungse-la shares his thoughts and advise for the new year ahead. For a fresh start, he underscores the importance of cultivating a positive mental attitude to counteract negativity. Looking forward to brighter horizons, he recommends setting aspirations for the year ahead. We must remind ourselves that despite how things may appear, we have the ability to break the cycle of samsara and this starts with taking refuge in the Three Jewels.

Speaker: Sasha Dorje Meyerowitz. Sasha reflects on the idea of aspiration being connected to a deeper intelligence. Rather than being a plea we can express aspiration toward a particular outcome, giving that aspiration stronger form. By living daily through the eight worldly concerns and sitting with the suffering we experience, we can tune into our aspiration throughout the day.

Speaker: Kelly Smith. Kelly shares more of the history of Longchen Jigme Samten Ling, MSB’s long-term retreat center in Crestone, Colorado. This is an ongoing series wherein Kelly describes in great detail her personal memories of being present since the center’s beginning in 1993. Kelly shares an especially touching story of caring for a squirrel named “Norbu”.

Speaker: Martha Asselin. Martha recalls her experiences in retreat ranging from durations of one weekend to six weeks, eight months and three years. Whether they were solitary or in group settings, retreats present an opportunity to let go of everyday distractions to observe and direct one’s mind. Rinpoche guides us to view retreat as ideal for encountering our basic nature and seeing things exactly how they are. We bring all of our experiences onto the path from fear, confusion and preferences to insight and wisdom. Martha shares advice she received from Elizabeth and others regarding how to manage retreat: start slow, ease into practice, structure one’s time, let go of expectations and allow leaving retreat to be natural.