Foundation Retreat at DDRC April 2024

Dear Rebecca, 

First, I wanted to thank you again for leading us through a wonderful retreat. Please accept my condolences regarding the loss of your father. It really made an impression on me that you opted to come to the retreat despite his recent passing. 

You asked us to share some reflections… it’s hard to know where to start, but the retreat ended up being a really meaningful experience for me. It was my first silent meditation retreat and I had no idea what to expect… but a combination of the dharma talks and the intensive meditation sessions have had some really positive effects on me. For example:

• Although my day-to-day life can be rather hectic, I find myself remembering to “practice” frequently throughout the day. When I notice my mind starting to go down an ever-more-distance path, I am finding that I am able to remember to “come back” and reconnect with what’s going on in my body – and the here and now.
• I also find that I am able to remember –at least a few times per day — to think of all of the “causes and conditions” that led to a particular moment. Being in my early 40s, I think I have been stuck in a bit of a mental rut for a while – feeling like life is a bit stale, missing the exciting adventures of my youth, worrying about my aging parents, wondering if I’m making a mistake by not procreating, etc… Going against societal norms can make a person second guess themselves ad nauseum. Anyway, this idea that each moment is in fact new and unique has really helped me snap out of this existential doubt / malaise.
• Finally, the emphasis on wisdom and compassion have helped me reset a bit and stop feeding the “weeds” that had started to run a bit rampant in my mind. I know this one is really going to take ongoing practice.
• Overall, I am finding that I am much less reactive (at least in the immediate aftermath of the retreat). I have also followed your advice and used listening to the news as a moment to “practice.” I recently connected with a long-lost cousin and, as it turns out, he is a rabid white nationalist… before the retreat, his text messages made me want to tear my hair out! Now I can receive his (upsetting) texts and respond honestly without having my blood pressure go through the roof. This is really a relief.

Thank you again for all of the time and effort you put into guiding us throughout the weekend.
Wishing you all the best – and maybe we’ll meet again!