Welcome / Retreat Plan and Schedule - Open Discussion
 
Students will participate in a welcome from our Teacher, David Roylance. David will lead an open discussion to provide Students with an overview of the retreat plan and schedule so that Students can get acquainted with the retreat activities and each other.
 
This is the perfect opportunity to connect with Students who will participate in the retreat and meet new friends while gaining insight into all the retreat classes, events, and activities.
 
Meditation Instruction: Breathing Mindfulness Meditation (Seated, Lying, Standing & Walking)
 
Learn Breathing Mindfulness Meditation in the seated, lying, standing, and walking positions to train the mind to cultivate mindfulness and concentration to attain Enlightenment through The Teachings of Gotama Buddha on The Path to Enlightenment.
 
David will guide you in understanding Breathing Mindfulness Meditation, how to do Breathing Mindfulness Meditation, guide you in doing Breathing Mindfulness Meditation during group meditation sessions, and will accept questions from Students to help you develop your "life practice”.
 
Meditation Instruction: Loving-kindness Meditation (Seated, Lying, & Standing)
 
Learn Loving-kindness Meditation to eliminate anger, hatred, ill will, resentment, negative self talk, and other discontent feelings associated with the unEnlightened mind.
 
David will help you understand "What is Loving-kindness Meditation", how it can help you, and how to do Loving-kindness Meditation during guided group meditation sessions of Loving-kindness Meditation.

Meditation Instruction: Meditation to Realize Non-self (Seated, Lying, & Standing)

As you progress on The Path to Enlightenment, you will eventually need to learn The Universal Truth of Non-self and that there is no permanent self, in order to realize “non-self” eradicating the fetter/taint of “personal existence view”. Non-self is a Teaching you need to understand but more importantly, it’s a realization that you need to attain as part of “The Path” to attain Enlightenment at any stage.

David will help you to understand the Meditation to Realize Non-self and how this can propel you towards eliminating the fetter/taint/pollution of mind described as "personal existence view" during guided group meditation sessions.

 
Meditation Instruction: Meditation to Eliminate Sexual Cravings (Seated, Lying, & Standing)
 
Learn this specialized meditation to eliminate sexual cravings. This meditation would not be needed by all Practitioners but only those who are working to thin or eliminate sexual contact. This meditation can help a Practitioner improve their moral conduct so that they can more closely eliminate "sensual desire" through the complete elimination of sexual contact, if they choose.
 
David will help you understand how this meditation can benefit the development of your life practice and how to do this specialized meditation while guiding Students during guided group meditation sessions of the Meditation to Eliminate Sexual Cravings.
 
Buddhist Chanting
 
Buddhist chanting has been used throughout multiple generations to orally remember The Teachings of The Buddha. Each generation of Practitioners have learned specific chants and practiced those in the Pāli language as a way of sharing The Teachings of The Buddha with the next generation through the oral tradition.
 
Today, these Teachings are in the English language in multiple formats including written format so there is no need to learn chanting as a way to remember The Teachings in the Pāli language. But, Practitioners can still learn these traditional chants as a way to develop mindfulness, concentration, memory, and to ease the mind in and out of meditation sessions gaining more benefit in each meditation.
 
David will help you develop your Buddhist chanting practice through group chanting prior to and after each meditation session.
 
Enlightenment: What is “Enlightenment”?
 
Enlightenment is attained gradually over time through learning and practicing The Buddha’s Teachings so that you can observe truth that will allow you to acquire wisdom.
 
But what is Enlightenment?
 
David will help you to understand the mental state of Enlightenment, how to progress on The Path to Enlightenment, and how to attain Enlightenment.

The Four Noble Truths: Establishing Right View
 
For anyone interested to explore and study The Path to Enlightenment, one must begin with a deep understanding of The Four Noble Truths.
 
The Four Noble Truths is the first discourse offered by The Buddha as his very first Teaching upon him attaining Enlightenment as The Fully Perfectly Enlightened Buddha.
 
The Four Noble Truths is the core understanding required to establish “Right View”. Right View gives a Practitioner’s mind the foundation in which to apply all the other Teachings and practices taught by The Buddha. A Practitioner would have no ability to attain Enlightenment unless they learned, reflected, and practiced The Four Noble Truths to establish “Right View”.
 
David will share The Four Noble Truths explaining the noble truth of discontentedness, the noble truth of the cause of discontentedness, the noble truth of the elimination of discontentedness, the noble truth of the way leading to the elimination of discontentedness to help you establish Right View.
 
Transforming The Three Poisons: Craving, Anger, and Ignorance
 
The Buddha’s Teachings to eliminate, craving, anger, and ignorance (unknowing of true reality) are known, for good reason, as The Three Poisons, The Three Unwholesome Roots, and The Three Fires. Also known as, greed, hatred, and delusion.
 
These are The Three Poisons that exist and are present in the mind as part of rebirth into the human realm. It is our goal, through these Teachings, to eliminate these Three Poisons through practice of non-craving or generosity, non-anger or loving-kindness, and non-ignorance or wisdom. To attain Enlightenment, one would need to completely eliminate The Three Poisons.
 
David will help you understand The Three Poisons, how they cause you problems in life, and how to eliminate them from the mind.

The Eight Fold Path: The Path for All Humans to Enlightenment
 
The Buddha gave us “The Path” forward to pursuing our own Enlightenment as The Eight Fold Path. In his explanation of The Eight Fold Path, we learn exactly how to attain Enlightenment through a life practice or a better way of life.
 
The Eight Fold Path is the way to completely eliminate all discontentedness from the mind. You will need a detailed and thorough understanding and practice of The Eight Fold Path to attain Enlightenment.
 
Using The Words of The Buddha, David will share The Eight Fold Path in detail helping you to deeply understand each individual step to develop your life practice and progress towards Enlightenment.
 
Understanding & Experiencing the Jhānas: The Light Bulb is Flickering
 
The Jhānas are preliminary phases the mind goes through as it is nearing closer to the first Stage of Enlightenment providing an indication that your life practice is starting to come together. Every Practitioner who progresses to Enlightenment will need to progress through the Jhānas. But, how do you attain the Jhānas and move into the first Stage of Enlightenment?
 
David will help you to understand what the Jhānas are and how to attain them and, know when you have attained them so that you can continue your journey through the Jhānas and to Enlightenment.

Understanding & Experiencing The Four Stages of Enlightenment: The Complete End of Discontentedness
 
The mind moves through The Four Stages of Enlightenment on its way to the attainment of Enlightenment. Every Practitioner who progresses to Enlightenment will need to progress through these stages and will need to use them as a personal guide. Similar to a personal road map, learning The Four Stages of Enlightenment will help guide a Practitioner towards continuous improvements towards the attainment of Enlightenment.
 
David will help you to understand what The Four Stages of Enlightenment are and how to progress through them to attain Enlightenment.

Eliminating The Pollution of Personal Existence View: Getting “The Self” Out of The Way
 
To attain the first Stage of Enlightenment, a Practitioner will need to eliminate the fetter/taint/pollution of mind described as “personal existence view”. The Buddha provided Teachings on The Universal Truth of Non-self to guide Practitioners to eliminate “personal existence view”.
 
David will teach you what is “personal existence view”, how it is complicating your interactions with others inhibiting harmony in relationships, and how by eliminating it one can reside more peaceful. He will guide you in understanding how to eliminate “personal existence view” from the mind and how to determine when it is eliminated, so that one is able to progress to the first Stage of Enlightenment and beyond.
 
Eliminating The Pollution of Doubt: Mastering Confidence and Development of Wisdom
 
A Practitioner who starts off on The Path to Enlightenment most likely has a certain amount of “doubt” about whether these Teachings lead to Enlightenment or if Enlightenment is actually even “real”. As one develops their “life practice” on The Path to Enlightenment, a Practitioner will need to eliminate the fetter/taint/pollution of mind described as “doubt”. However, this is not accomplished through belief or blind faith. Instead, there are specific Teachings of how to eliminate “doubt” from the mind through mastering confidence and developing wisdom.
 
David will teach you what is “doubt”, how it is hindering your progress on The Path to Enlightenment, and how by eliminating it one can continue their forward progress to the first Stage of Enlightenment and beyond.
 
Eliminating The Pollution of Wrong Behavior and Observances: Mastering Moral Conduct and Elimination of Superstition
 
During the life of Gotama Buddha, there were countless practices being taught and employed by various Teachers that could be considered rites, rituals, ceremonies, and worship. These practices did not lead to Enlightenment so Gotama Buddha helped guide his Students to understanding how to train the mind to progress to Enlightenment without rites, rituals, ceremonies, and worship. He also taught moral conduct that would lead to a practice of harmlessness through our intentions, speech, actions, and livelihood so that no harm would be returned to you.
 
David will teach you what is “wrong behavior and observances”, how it is an obstacle to experiencing Enlightenment, and how by eliminating it one can experience improved results in their personal and professional relationships while bringing the mind into the first Stage of Enlightenment and beyond.

Eliminating The Pollution of Sensual Desire and Ill Will: Laying Down the Burden and Transforming Anger
 
To attain the second, third, and fourth Stages of Enlightenment, a Practitioner will need to greatly thin and then eliminate the fetters/taints/pollutions of mind described as “sensual desire” and "ill will". The Buddha provided extensive Teachings on sensual desire and ill will to guide Practitioners to eliminate these pollutions of mind which are obstacles to your Enlightenment.
 
David will teach you what are “sensual desire and ill will”, how the symptoms of these pollutions of mind are causing significant difficulties in your life, and how by eliminating them one can reside more peaceful. He will guide you in understanding how to eliminate “sensual desire and ill will” from the mind and how to determine when they are eliminated, so that one is able to progress to the second, third, and fourth Stages of Enlightenment.
 
Eliminating The Pollution of Desire for Form and Formless: Eradicating The Craving for Existence and The Fear of Death
 
The fear of death plagues the mind of many people. Eliminating the fear of the "end of life" will allow an individual to more fully enjoy all aspects of life.
 
David will teach you how to eliminate the craving for existence and the fear of death, so that one is able to progress to the fourth Stage of Enlightenment where the mind is actually Enlightened.

Eliminating The Pollution of Conceit: Cultivating Humbleness to Dissolve the Ego
 
Dissolving the ego can be one of the most challenging aspects of progressing to Enlightenment. Arrogance, pride, judgment, measuring and comparing others, and placing yourself above or below others are all detrimental to residing harmoniously in your relationships. It is important to eliminate the ego but, how do you cultivate humbleness and dissolve the ego?
 
David will teach you how the fetter/taint/pollution of mind described as "conceit" is causing significant difficulties in your life and relationships. He will guide you in understanding what is the ego, how it produces unwholesome affects you in daily life, and how to eliminate it from the mind.
 
Eliminating The Pollution of Restlessness: Peacefulness and Calmness of Mind to Last a Lifetime
 
The unEnlightened mind is oftentimes overactive, anxious, or restless. An individual could have difficulty concentrating in daily life and even have rapid bodily movements. An overactive mind will make it difficult to have clarity of mind to make wise decisions leading to wholesome outcomes. Therefore, one will find themselves making unwise decisions that lead to unwholesome outcomes.
 
David will teach you how the fetter/taint/pollution of mind described as "restlessness" makes it difficult to think clearly and make wise decisions. He will guide you in eliminating restlessness from the mind so that you can have clarity of thought and eliminate unwise decisions that are leading to unwholesome outcomes creating the opportunity for wiser decision making and a more successful and fulfilling life.

Discontentedness and Rebirth: Dependent Origination as The Highest Law of Nature
 
Gotama Buddha shared The Four Noble Truths which explains the problem of the unEnlightened mind, the cause, the elimination, and the path leading to the elimination of the problem in the unEnlightened mind which focuses on craving/desire/attachment at its core. But, it is his Teaching on Dependent Origination that fully explains, in detail, exactly what the twelve (12) interconnecting links are that cause all the problems in the unEnlightened mind and what leads to rebirth in The Cycle of Rebirth.
 
A Practitioner who has attained the first Stage of Enlightenment will understand, in detail, The Teaching of Dependent Origination.
 
David will teach you Dependent Origination as “The Highest Law of Nature” so that you will fully and deeply understand the causes and conditions that lead to discontentedness in the unEnlightened mind and what leads to rebirth in The Cycle of Rebirth.
 
Eliminating The Pollution of Ignorance: Mastering The Development of Wisdom to Fully Transform The Mind and Attain Enlightenment
 
The attainment of Enlightenment requires the cultivation of wisdom. However, the progression to Enlightenment is more than just an intellectual pursuit. There needs to be intellectual learning but, there also needs to be a well developed "practice" of The Teachings of the Buddha to fully transform the mind to attain Enlightenment.
 
David will teach you how transform the mind's fetter/taint/pollution of mind described as "ignorance" or "unknowing of true reality", by cultivating deep wisdom. He will help you understand how to eliminate false beliefs and opinions by replacing it with independently verifiable wisdom to fully transform the mind to Enlightenment through discovering the truth.
 
How to Determine If You Have Attained Enlightenment?
 
This retreat is dedicated to guiding Practitioners to develop the understanding and wisdom needed to progress through The Stages of Enlightenment. By attaining Enlightenment, a Practitioner will ultimately eliminate 100% of all discontent feelings such as sadness, anger, frustration, irritation, annoyance, guilt, shame, fears, boredom, loneliness, shyness, jealousy, resentment, stress, anxiety, etc. residing peaceful, calm, serene, and content with joy - permanently. Once the mind is Enlightened, the mind will not regress and instead, will experience the remaining time of this life without any discontentedness or even the slightest bad mood. The mind will always be in a good mood.
 
But, how do you know if you have attained Enlightenment?
 
David will teach you how to determine if you have attained Enlightenment and what will be experienced by the Practitioner when the mind is residing in the Enlightened mental state.
 
Daily Activities / Free Time / Excursions
 
There are daily activities, free time, and excursions built into the retreat plan where you are welcome to enjoy an activity with other retreat participants by planning your own activities during the free time or participate in one of the suggested activities recommended at the retreat. You are also welcome to spend time at the retreat meditating, reading, eating food, or just relaxing. The free time is for you to reflect on The Teachings being shared and implement them into your daily interactions, while getting to know new friends and enjoying local activities that you choose.
 
You are also welcome to spend time in personal discussion with the Teacher through seeking support with specific challenges you are experiencing in life and how to apply these Teachings in your life.
 
Lunch & Dinners
 
Students will have a full range of restaurants to eat meals or are welcome to bring their own food. Students will need to support the cost of their own meals.
 
Closing Group Discussion with Questions & Answers
 
David will lead a closing group discussion providing the opportunity for Students to ask any remaining questions from all the talks in the retreat receiving answers to any questions that still remain.