General Information ~ Practice Styles and Methods

For those interested in undertaking a personal retreat at the Forest Refuge, the question of "What practice will I do?" can often arise. Three senior IMS teachers – Joseph Goldstein, Myoshin Kelley & Carol Wilson – give us an overview of the possibilities.

Myoshin: First of all, it’s helpful to remember that the purpose of progressive practice is to access deeper and deeper levels of wisdom and compassion – qualities inherent in each one of us.

Within the Theravada Buddhist tradition, there are many techniques available to assist us along the path to liberation. Forest Refuge teachers, whether monastic or lay, offer a wide range of teaching styles and teaching methods to guide our practice.

Carol: Some teachers emphasize the development of jhānas,states of focused and tranquil concentration. This can help stabilize the mind and support greater depths of investigation and wisdom.

Other teachings are in the style of the great Burmese meditation master Mahasi Sayadaw, and help us refine the skillful means of mental noting and slow movement. Here, intuitive insight unfolds step by step in a systematic manner.

And yet other teachers encourage a more relaxed and open awareness. This can be especially helpful in learning how to use any and all moments as opportunities for wisdom.

I see these various methods of awakening as a circular mandala. No single method suits everyone all of the time. Some teachers are familiar with a variety of these styles and actually tailor the teachings to the person they are working with, while others offer in-depth training in one particular method.

Joseph: Regardless of what form or method a yogi (a student) may be using, for most of us there is also the challenging question of how intensive retreat practice applies to our daily life in the world: How can it be integrated so there's not such a divide between practice on retreat and practice off retreat?

There are many facets to this exploration. Understanding that awareness does not depend on any particular posture or activity, we practice developing interest in our minds throughout the day. Each of us also needs to find the appropriate balance between being in the world and retreating from the busyness of worldly activities.

Myoshin: Some yogis, who are not able to come on retreat for long periods of time, have found that they are able to deepen their practice and integrate it with life in the world by more frequent, shorter retreats. They come every few months for a week or two at a time. They’re discovering that this regularity really helps them bring their practice back into their life at home, with all its family and work responsibilities.

For others, taking time for extended retreats of a month or more (some yogis have stayed on retreat at the Forest Refuge for up to a year) provides a unique practice opportunity. And so as we look to deepen our practice and understanding, we all find the methods and rhythms of practice that are most appropriate. The vision of the Forest Refuge is to provide a conducive and tranquil setting in which to take the next steps on our journey of awakening.

See the Forest Refuge teaching schedule and further information.

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