A Residential Retreat
with Philip Jones

Conception Abbey, Conception, MO 64433

August 14-22, 2024

Registration open; closes July 26, 2024.

Special Note: because this retreat’s venue is rather remote, we will offer assistance to those wanting to arrange ride sharing.  

Retreat Description:

While many of us have practiced with mindfulness of breathing as an introductory practice, in this retreat we will cultivate tranquility, insight, and the awakening factors by practicing the 16 steps of mindfulness of breathing found in the Ānāpānasati sutta (MN 118).

Being cultivated and made much of, meditation on mindfulness of breathing is peaceful, sublime, and immaculate, it is a happy abiding that allays and quells bad and unwholesome mental states as soon as they arise. 
— The Buddha, SN 54.9 (Bhikkhu Anālayo, trans.)

In this set of practices mindfulness of breathing supports us in a natural and progressive calming of bodily and mental activities, the experiencing of joy and happiness, and the experience of the mind itself temporarily freed of distractions. Mindfulness of breathing continues to support us as we are then guided in applying this clear, stable, and enriched mind to observing the impermanence of what is encountered, the deepening letting go that follows, and a dynamically balanced abiding in the present moment based on the development of the awakening factors.

This retreat is appropriate for people who have well established daily meditation practices, who have already experienced two 5 day retreats or a 7 day or longer retreat, and who are comfortable working skillfully on their own with the hindrances. It is highly recommended that participants have several years of experience with the practices of the Four Establishments of Mindfulness (Satipatthana-sutta).

If you don’t meet these criteria but are strongly motivated to attend the retreat feel free to contact the registrar to explore whether this retreat is appropriate for you.

Fees

Actual Cost $950 | Reduced $893 | Supporter $969 | Sponsor $998 | Benefactor $1,055

Click here for our pricing policy.

If you need financial assistance, we offer scholarships and/or a deferred payment plan. Please see our scholarship policy for details, before registering.

None of the fees go to the teacher for offering the teachings. Teachers receive financial support for their work strictly by a separate, voluntary donation. You can learn more about this on our Teacher Support page. We encourage you to support the teacher and the continued sharing of the Dhamma through a financial contribution.

To assure everyone has a safe and wholesome retreat, we ask each retreatant to honor The Five Precepts throughout the retreat. Read more about The Five Precepts here.

For more information read our FAQ, email us or call Philip Jones at 573-673-6713.