Calm Abiding Meditation – A One-day Retreat with Tenzin Gawa, Buddhist Monk

• In person only
• Saturday, October 18, 10:00 AM – 5:30 PM
• Greenway Farms Conference Center, 4960 Gann Store Road, Hixson
• $60 before September 1, $70 thereafter (a limited number of scholarships are available)

The Opportunity

Approximately 2600 years ago, the historical Buddha attained enlightenment, finding after a long search the way to end suffering and find true happiness. His great gift was to teach the path to this same happiness. During this workshop, Buddhist monk Tenzin Gawa will give teachings and lead practice in this profound path.

Why meditate?

Our lives hold challenges. We have responsibilities, and we face difficulties. We live in a fast-moving time, where change is constant and our situation is uncertain. Our usual coping mechanisms often focus on efforts to change our circumstances, and we strive outwardly for a better life. Unfortunately, these efforts often fall short, and as soon as we solve one problem, another takes its place. The inner calm and happiness we seek elude us.

Meditation will not change the world, but it can help us find calm in an uncalm world. Buddhists believe that if we want to be truly happy, we need to find a way to change internally. This is why we meditate – not just to take a break, but to change the way we approach the world. By changing ourselves, our problems don’t disappear, but we can get better at managing them.

About the teachings

The Tibetan word for meditation is pronounced “gom” (or “ghom”), and it means “to become familiar [with].”

In our culture, we have many meanings for and misconceptions about “meditation.” It’s important to understand that, in our tradition, meditation starts with training the mind to focus on a chosen object. Once focused, we train to be able to rest there for as long as we intend. This is more than “watching our thoughts go by” or observing our body. Although mindfulness is a starting point, there is also more to meditation than being mindful.

In the beginning, our minds are often unruly, and our thoughts wander off easily. We try to concentrate, but soon we are thinking about other things. It’s like the runaway elephant and the distracted monkey in the picture.

Through training, it is possible to learn to focus for longer and longer periods. Gradually, our mind begins to stay where we place it; through focused attention, we rein in the runaway elephant. We catch our thoughts wandering off earlier in the process; we begin to calm the chattering monkey through vigilance.

If this sounds like it takes effort, you’re right. Some guided “meditations” and mindfulness “exercises” are simpler, involving simply relaxing and “going with the flow.” These can feel good and can be helpful in limited ways. But learning to meditate takes a willingness to work with our minds to train them. It’s joyous work, but work nevertheless. In this effort, it’s helpful to have a qualified teacher who can help you get started, answer questions, and guide you through the steps of learning.

Why train in this way? We know from research on simple mindfulness meditation that learning to focus mentally reduces stress, lowers blood pressure, improves mood, and increases calm. But there is more. In the Tibetan Buddhist tradition, we also train the mind to focus so that we can become familiar with how our minds work and especially to learn how our minds can help us become happier, more contented, and more compassionate. Ultimately, the main goal is to become familiar with how to be a better person. We train to seek the “mental suppleness” to be able to shape our lives for the better and help others around us.

About the event

This is a very special opportunity for a 1-day teaching and urban retreat on Calm-Abiding (Shamatha) meditation in the Tibetan Buddhist tradition of His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama. Whether new to mediation or to deepen your current practice, come learn with us as we explore ways to establish mental focus and develop a calmer mind. The retreat will be led by Tenzin Gawa (Jason Simard), Tibetan Buddhist monk and senior teacher at the Paramita Centre of Toronto. Sponsored by the Paramita Center Southeast in Chattanooga.

The retreat will be held at the Greenway Farm Conference Center in Hixson, Tennessee, from 10:00 AM to 5:30 PM. There will be 4 sessions of teaching and practice, each about 90 minutes, with breaks between. A lunch break will be from 1:15-2:15. We will provide snacks, coffee/tea, and water. You may bring your lunch and/or a dish to share. There will be meditation cushions and chairs available; however, we recommend bringing a yoga mat or a blanket, as well as your own meditation cushion if you prefer.

Because spots are limited, we will not be able to provide refunds if you cancel after September 30.

About the teacher

Tenzin Gawa (Jason Simard) became interested in Buddhist philosophy in 2000. He met Lama Samten in 2002 and has been studying with him ever since.  He began giving introductory courses in meditation and Buddhist philosophy in 2006. In 2010, he founded the Paramita Centre in Montreal and started activities in Toronto a few years after opening the Toronto Centre in 2019. Jason’s efforts have helped make the Paramita teachings available to both French and English-speaking students.

He took ordination with Geshe Dawa in 2010, took monk’s vows with His Holiness the Dalaï-Lama in 2014, and received his full ordination in 2018. Over the years, he has become a wise, compassionate, and respected teacher of Buddhist philosophy and meditation in the Tibetan Buddhist tradition as brought to the West by our spiritual director, Lama Lobsang Samtem.

He continues to share his passion for the universal values of compassion and wisdom with students in Quebec, Ontario, Europe, and now the US. The Paramita Center Southeast is privileged and delighted to host his visit to the Chattanooga area.