The Bodhisattva Heart of
Compassion, Resilience and Strength
Dedicated Practitioner Group
Led by Peter Williams
This is a unique and powerful meditation opportunity for navigating the chaos and uncertainty of our times. In its eleventh year, the group is a time-tested vehicle for connecting deeply with meditation practice and with like-minded people.
Applications are taken first-come, first-served. Apply here.
Theme
During this turbulent time, with the stakes so high, we need to connect with each other and cultivate spiritual strength. This group will help you keep your feet on the ground and your head in the sky. The group will explore practices that:
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- Develop the ability to let go, recharge, and find resiliency through present moment awareness (mindfulness).
- Give us tools to manage all emotions that arise in relation to the upcoming election, its aftermath, and the state of the world.
- Learn to hold ourselves and others in compassion, recognizing that we are all struggling human beings just trying to make it through the day.
- Create resiliency through practices like embodiment (mindful movement), mindful listening to music and conscious dance.
- Give us the wisdom and courage to take appropriate action in one’s life and in society.
The Power of Sangha
The group will create community by exploring dharma teachings, group meditation practice and interactive exercises to share what is foremost in our hearts. The group creates a safe and stimulating container for participants to share and bond with each other.
Dates and Key Information
The group consists of weekly meetings, two daylong retreats and individual meditation instruction. The group is a big commitment that yields big results. For the weekly meetings, participants will attend two separate groups, with in person folks on Mondays and online folks on Wednesdays. To be crystal clear, you attend only one night a week. The two daylongs combine both groups in hybrid mode.
In-person group
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- Location: Kelly’s Barn, central Boulder
- Weekly Meetings: Mondays, 6:30 – 8:30 pm, October 28 – December 16, 2024. Each meeting consists of meditation, dharma teachings and group interaction.
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Online group
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- Location: Online on Zoom
- Weekly Meetings: Wednesdays, 5:30 – 7:30 pm MT, October 30 – December 18, 2024. Each meeting consists of meditation, dharma teachings and group interaction.
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Hybrid attendance for daylong retreats
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- Monthly daylong retreats help integrate deeper practice into daily life. No matter which group you are in, you can choose to attend either in-person or online in a hybrid day. These are held at Kelly’s Barn on:
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Sunday, November 3
Saturday, December 14
Up Your Practice Week – For the week after every daylong, the group hosts twice daily meditation sessions online to boost one’s daily practice. One can attend as little or as much as one prefers.
Suggested donation (dana): $550 for in person / $470 for online
The donation covers all expenses and teacher dana for the weekly meetings, daylongs, and individual practice discussion. This is just a guideline. One may need to give less or want to give more. Please give as much or as little as you are able. No one is excluded due to finances. Payment is in 2 installments.
Applications are taken first-come, first-served. Apply here.
For questions and more information:
Email Peter Williams at <ptrwllms98@gmail.com>.
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Comments from Participants
“I am a long-time meditator, but the teachings offered by Peter vastly improved my meditation practice. He offered Buddhist wisdom and meditation techniques that I had not been exposed to previously. His teaching style is very clear, thought-provoking, and fun! He created a very safe and playful environment with the weekly practice group that was extremely supportive. After several months of weekly practice and dharma talks, along with regular day long practice retreats, I definitely feel a shift in my whole being. I feel more gentleness and compassion, and there is a softening of my tendencies to hold onto specific views and outcomes.”
– Shara, Boulder, CO
“Making the commitment to meet weekly and study and practice with a small group of others making that same commitment, has been a powerful way to deepen my practice and transform my life. Peter is a wise and gifted teacher. Through his skillful stewardship, the group itself becomes a teacher in dharma and supports practice on and off the cushion. The longevity and intimacy of the DPG experience has transformed my relationship with myself, maybe with everything, by dismantling a deep sense of isolation and dislocation.”
– Cynthia, Berthoud, CO
“I really looked forward to my meetings with the DPG. There is something about meditating with the same group of people that can really expand one’s practice. This in conjunction with the Dharma talks from Peter made for some very lively discussions. The sharing of our experiences in this intimate setting made for some personal insights in my own practice which is unlike anything I have had even in multi-day silent retreats. It also provides a backdrop to share all the trials and tribulations which we encounter in practice and support from our fellow meditators in the group.”
– Stewart, Boulder, CO
“Peter’s group was rewarding in many ways. First, he is a truly amazing teacher with many years of experience both leading multi-day retreats, and attending personal retreats. In addition to sharing his wisdom and experience, he has a skillful way of bringing group members into the discussions. He creates a safe container so you feel that you can share and be heard. I especially liked the way he would weave humor into the evening. I am so grateful to have been part of Peter’s group as his teachings have been a valuable gift to me.”
– Darcy, Boulder, CO
“This group was, as is typical of Peter’s groups, a great way to learn valuable lessons about meditation and to deepen personal insight. I always get much from his groups, not only from the content but also because of his vulnerability and humanity.”
– Eric, Golden, CO
“Peter’s warmth and humor made his group feel immediately welcoming for me as a relatively new meditator. I learned so much that I could put straight to use. As someone who values community building, I also appreciated the efforts he made to connect us as a group.”
– Glenn, Boulder, CO
To join Peter’s email list, click here