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ONGOING EVENTS THE DAILY SIT via Zoom at 12:00 pm - 12:45 pm (Eastern) Learn more HERE Join us daily at 12:00 PM (Eastern) Mornin' Meditations Zoom Recording Archive Check this homepage for updates and the Upcoming Events page for all events. We will add more events during 2026! UPCOMING EVENTS UPCOMING RETREATS *SAVE THE DATES* MORE INFORMATION COMING SOON Vallecitos Retreat Between Spiritual Bypass and Stress Reduction: Mindfulness and Deep Psychological Work, An Intensive Retreat for Mental Health Professionals July 1-8, 2026 Finding Balance in Chaos: A Mindfulness Retreat for Coming Back to Ourselves August 4-9, 2026 The Institute for Meditation and PsychotherapyCertificate Program September 18, 2026-May 9, 2027 BCBS Opening Cert Retreat September 18-23, 2026 BCBS Cert Closing Retreat May 28-31, 2026 Copper Beech Retreat w/ Chris Germer October 2-9, 2026 BCBS Householder Retreat TBA A Loving Community Focused On Mindfulness for Psychotherapists and Lay Practitioners Read about Founders Bill & Susan Morgan >> WELCOMING YOU HOME Bill and Susan Morgan’s journey to where they are today began well before their 4-year silent retreat at the Forest Refuge in Barre Massachusetts*. In 2009, they felt it was time in their lives to seek a longer-term practice. They decided to see what it was like to be completely free from day-to-day worries and responsibilities in order to gather experience, train in spiritual practices, and deepen their own capacity for compassion and wisdom. At the end of four years, knowing they wanted to continue on the path they had begun on retreat, they carried home their experiences and knowledge and have dedicated their everyday-lives to nurturing, teaching, developing, and supporting a community of practitioners devoted to enriching their spiritual practice. Their life is built around daily practice, teaching, writing, offering retreats, and building their own refuge in the city where practitioners can come and deepen their own spiritual lives and practices. They open their home to those who genuinely want to follow a similar path. *The Forest Refuge is affiliated with the Insight Meditation Society Learn about Bill & Susan's 4-year silent retreat DANA May what we offer be of benefit to as many as possible. The practice of giving is universally recognized as one of the most basic human virtues. In the teaching of the Buddha, the practice of giving claims a place of special eminence, one which singles it out as being in a sense the foundation and seed of spiritual development. ~Bhikkhu Bodhi PAYPAL: Donate button below YOUR DONATION IS GREATLY APPRECIATED SPECIAL OFFERING: The Institute for Meditation and Psychotherapy Certificate Program Info & Apply >> Bill & Susan are meditation teachers within this Certificate Program sponsored by the Institute for Meditation and Psychotherapy (IMP). This nine-month program will comprehensively explore the integration of mindfulness and psychotherapy. The clinical and academic material will be studied in a manner that embodies the qualities of mindfulness, suffusing the inquiry with awareness, insight and compassion for self and others, and engaging both mind and heart.

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The Living Map A Living "Map" of the Buddha's Teachings on Mindfulness There are many ways to offer the Buddha's teachings and we offer this "Living Map" that illustrates and helps navigate a path we started last year and will continue into the foreseeable future. Below is The Wheel of Buddhist Terms created by Ellis Tingstad. I - The Starting Point: SETTING UP a Meditative Posture of Mindfulness - The "Holding" Environment II -PRACTICING the Practice of Mindfulness THE BASICS: The Buddha's Foundational Teachings

Daily Reflection Sit Join us daily at 12:00 PM (Eastern) The Seven Factors of Awakening: Concentration The Daily Sit Categories THE SEVEN FACTORS OF AWAKENING: CONCENTR... Play Video Play Video 37:47 2025 February 26 : Concentration Using a Metta Body Scan When developing concentration, we engage caring attention in the act of tracking by bringing attention to different areas of the body without analyzing what sensations are present. Instead we simply notice or track the placement of attention and offering the body part metta or lovingkindness. Play Video Play Video 38:22 2025 February 24 : Good Food for the Busy Mind Mantras are phrases, words, or sounds repeated silently or chanted out loud, to collect, calm and focus the mind on one object. Metta phrases are a type of mantra that encourage goodwill. Uniting the breath and metta phrases support the heart & mind to unify and be at ease. Play Video Play Video 38:18 2025 February 19 : Reviewing the Central Importance of Concentration Deeper insight will not arise without it. Play Video Play Video 37:48 2025 February 17 : Momentary Concentration: Khanika Samadhi Continuity of mindful attention from one moment to the next on more than one object; Following the bouncing ball of the mind without distraction. Play Video Play Video 37:57 2025 February 12 : Developing the Staying Power of Calm It is helpful to focus attention on neutral objects such as the breath or sounds. These don’t disturb and agitate the heartmind, making it easier to stay in a calm zone. Play Video Play Video 38:15 2025 February 10 : Concentration & the Holding Environment The Holding Environment, the opening posture for mindfulness meditation practice, is an embodied manifestation of concentration. Every time we set up the practice or reconstitute this foundational posture, we strengthen the skill of concentration. Play Video Play Video 36:52 2025 February 05 : Important Qualities that Help in the Development of Concentration Patience and Inner Compassion, not Striving! Play Video Play Video 37:42 2025 February 03 : Significance of Concentration Explaining the high correlation between the level of concentration and depth of insight.

We'll be back soon 2020 Vallecitos Retreats Registration opens Jan 1st: July 17-24 :: Mindfulness & Depth Psychology July 24-31 :: Cultivating Compassionate Presence ~~~~~~~~~ We're busy planning all events for the coming year. Check back in here after the 2019 holidays.

Daily Reflection Sit Join us daily at 12:00 PM (Eastern) The Seven Factors of Awakening: Calm The Daily Sit Categories THE SEVEN FACTORS OF AWAKENING: CALM/TRA... Play Video Play Video 38:03 2025 January 29: Feel for the Ease amidst the Dis-ease When pain threatens to take over our meditation practice or any moment, it is good to deliberately bring attention to the places that are not in distress and rest attention on the ease amidst the dis-ease. This calms the nervous system. Ease is often found in places that generally fall under the radar of awareness or attention—earlobes, cheeks, lips, elbows, fingernails, behind the knee, etc. Play Video Play Video 37:52 2025 January 27: Review of Calm Continue to explore and discover what brings calm forward in your direct experience. Play Video Play Video 37:40 2025 January 22: Growing Arms That Can Calm & Soothe We might take our cues from newborn parents & caregivers whose smiles, coos, touch, warmth of skin, breath, and heartbeat all signal that the baby is safe enough to settle into calm. Let’s do that with all of the unsettled energy inside, and soothe ourselves into calm. Play Video Play Video 36:22 2025 January 20: Calm in the Midst of Things Watching the fish swimming in the aquarium without agitation or overly controlling. Play Video Play Video 38:44 2025 January 15: Ground, Breathe, Calm, Settle, Soothe These words are felt-experience coordinates that can NAVIGATE us back to a steadier, calmer place. Play Video Play Video 32:52 2025 January 13: Using Creative Imagery to Arouse Calm Bring to mind times when you have been most relaxed and at ease. Play Video Play Video 37:22 2025 January 08: The Art of Calming Down There are many ways of calming down. Setting up the Holding Environment and numerous breath practices including the “box breath”. Play Video Play Video 38:03 2025 January 06: Introducing the Awakening Factor of Calm How it is indispensable and why it is challenging to cultivate. Play Video Play Video 39:42 2025 January 01: Gratitude and Joy Exploring how gratitude can be an accessible doorway to experience joy.

Daily Reflection Sit Join us daily at 12:00 PM (Eastern) The Holding Environment: The Mind THE HOLDING ENVIRONMENT: MIND Play Video Play Video 44:58 2020 October 30: The Body You Inhabit is a Holding Environment Kindly and wisely, tend to your inner environment as though you were your guest Play Video Play Video 39:15 2020 October 29: Our Home as Holding Environment "Inside the chaos, build a temple of love”… Rune Lazuli Can you still build a welcoming “home” in the midst of chaos? Play Video Play Video 38:46 2020 October 27: The Architecture of Your Practice If the foundation is weak, the structure is vulnerable. Setting up the body for practice and tethering to the here and now. Play Video Play Video 39:02 2020 October 26: “Geborgenheit”: Inner Well Being and Outer Protection How useful is it to be following the threads of the various energies in our outer world? Play Video Play Video 39:14 2020 October 22: The Choice to Return to the Present Moment It’s the willingness to return to the present moment that becomes the most important moment. Play Video Play Video 39:05 2020 October 20: The Job of the Meditator We arrive to meditation in our own little universe. Noticing when we slide into our “self” view and shifting back into mindful posture Play Video Play Video 38:23 2020 October 19: Thought… Not the Only Show in Town Learning how to not get pulled into the narrative that creates dis-ease. Play Video Play Video 38:52 2020 May 04: Briefly Acknowledging Afflictive Mind States No need to add aversion to the challenging moment; simply return to the present kindly. Play Video Play Video 39:39 2020 April 20: Inviting Wonder We may not be able to be ‘a bride married to amazement’, but let’s remember the ordinary miracle of being here when returning to the breath. Play Video Play Video 39:31 2020 April 16: Interest is the Mother of the Settled Mind Practicing ‘as if’ the breath were compelling. Play Video Play Video 39:57 2020 April 12: Self Compassion Reflecting on your fundamental goodness. Play Video Play Video 40:19 2020 April 11: Sati: Remembering to bring mindfulness to mind Take an ordinary mundane task and do as you normally would, then try doing it from a posture of mindful caring attention. See the difference for yourself!

Daily Reflection Sit Join us daily at 12:00 PM (Eastern) The Holding Environment: The Heart THE HOLDING ENVIRONMENT: HEART Play Video Play Video 38:48 2020 October 15: The Holding Environment: Getting a feel for the heart How does it feel inside? How can you be responsive? Explore! Be curious. Play Video Play Video 38:37 2020 October 12: The Holding Environment: Inviting Play Inviting the child within through visualization. Play Video Play Video 38:10 2020 October 08: The Holding Environment: Chanting Consider a chant to uplift the heart. Play Video Play Video 37:40 2020 October 06: The Holding Environment: The Dharmic roots of the Heart Friendliness, Compassion, Joy, Equanimity Play Video Play Video 38:02 2020 October 05: The Holding Environment: Inviting Playfulness Bringing childlike energy; ‘noodling around’. Play Video Play Video 39:11 2020 December 02: Tenderizing the Heart Kindle the ATTITUDE of kindness and care. Invite the heart into your practice, at the beginning and while you are practicing. This is the atmosphere we want to practice out of! Play Video Play Video 38:16 2020 October 01: The Holding Environment: Holding and Being Held Feel into each of these two aspects of the holding environment. What needs holding? How can we hold what needs holding? Play Video Play Video 37:13 2020 September 29: The Heart of the Holding Environment - The ground of friendliness Ahimsa, non-harm is the ground of friendliness Play Video Play Video 38:15 2020 September 28: Inviting Wonder into the Inner Holding Environment Bringing forth images of wonder from past experience Play Video Play Video 37:53 2020 September 24: The Holding Environment: The language of the heart The heart senses and communicates symbolically. What stokes the heart’s warmth, care, and kindness? Play Video Play Video 37:42 2020 September 22: Softening the Attitude and Inviting Gratitude Using memory image to invoke gratitude in meditation. Play Video Play Video 37:55 2020 September 21: The Importance of Heart in the Practice First see where we contract and not further reinforce it. Play Video Play Video 38:40 2020 September 14: Enlivening the Breath Bringing heartfelt attention to the breath Play Video Play Video 37:46 2020 July 30: Mindfulness is a Heart Training The heart regulates our interest in our world. Mindfulness meditation trains us in holding interest. Play Video Play Video 39:07 2020 July 19: Chanting Can Uplift the Heart Another way to cultivate the internal holding environment; a personal example. Load More

Daily Reflection Sit Join us daily at 12:00 PM (Eastern) Meditation Preparation Daily Sit Categories MEDITATION PREPARATION Play Video Play Video 07:29 Shake It Loose Shake It Loose, recorded 10/30/17 Play Video Play Video 03:58 Shake It Loose - meditation preparation A great preparation for any meditation session

Daily Reflection Sit Join us daily at 12:00 PM (Eastern) The Holding Environment: The Body THE HOLDING ENVIRONMENT: BODY Play Video Play Video 39:36 2020 November 30: Warming up the Body The body is the container for practice. With caring attention, open it up, settle into a comfortable, and establish a stable (grounded) and aligned posture. Play Video Play Video 44:58 2020 October 30: The Body You Inhabit is a Holding Environment Kindly and wisely, tend to your inner environment as though you were your guest Play Video Play Video 37:51 2020 September 10: The Physical Holding Environment: Taking Our Seat Pointers for feeling into how to support “your” body Play Video Play Video 37:55 2020 September 08: The Holding Environment: Optimizing the Conditions Make physical room and space. Play Video Play Video 38:21 2020 September 03: The Holding Environment, Dharmically Take your time. Set up the posture of the practice. Keep checking in on it. Play Video Play Video 37:40 2020 September 01: The Holding Environment a la Winnicott Attending with care, as a mother with her child. Play Video Play Video 39:35 2020 May 12: Settling Back Inviting a receptive posture in practice. Play Video Play Video 38:09 2020 May 11: Befriending the Pain We Carry In Our Bodies. SEE, FEEL, & DISCERN experientially Holding and Being Held. Play Video Play Video 40:07 2020 April 09: Befriending the Body Let go of as much tension as is possible, many times during the day. Shake it off. That is a compassionate act.