Happenings

DB

Currently taking a break from regular teaching
to focus on bringing my memoir out into the world:
Small Boat, Vast Ocean: My Years in Solitary Buddhist Retreat

How To Do a Solo Retreat

Denmark, Weekend Retreat, May 12-15, 2023

Creating a personal retreat in many ways is simple: Carve out time, decide on a quiet place, make a practice plan, and go forth. But there may be more to it. Diane, a teacher in the Tibetan Nyingma tradition, completed a three-year solo retreat in 2015. We hope to be able to draw on her knowledge and insight, aiding us in creating personal retreats — short to medium in length. In the spirit of the topic, this retreat will include time for personal practice, so participants should prepare by bringing texts for their individual practice, if desired, or perhaps just their meditation experience.
 
Prerequisite: Minimum one year of study with a qualified Buddhist teacher and meditation experience, with understanding of Buddhist basics.
 
For more details, contact Christian Stenberg of Denmark, or Diane Berger through this website’s Contact page.

PAST EVENTS:

A Year To Live

PAST EVENT

One-year program, September 2021 – August 2022

Based on Stephen Levine’s book
Readying for one’s own death on spiritual and psyche levels,
with Levine’s book and Buddhism as the platform.
Including practical preparations.

Weekly, via Zoom
Class full 

37 Meditations of a Bodhisattva

PAST EVENT

September 10, 2020 – June 2021

This meditation group will draw inspiration from Reflections on Silver River by Ken McLeod, a set of commentaries on the classic 37 Practices of a Bodhisattva, verses of advice on expanding one’s compassionate core.

The Relaxed Mind
7 Meditations • 7 Months

PAST EVENT

Thursday Evenings
January 2 thru July 30, 2020

Via ZOOM

The Relaxed Mind:
A Four-Month Course in
Seven Buddhist Meditations

PAST EVENT
September 5 through December 19, 2019

University Friends Center Library, Seattle

Buddhism: Selected Topics

PAST EVENT
2019
October 3, 10, 17:
Tonglen, the Practice of Giving and Receiving
 
November 7, 14, 21:
 Concepts in Tibetan Buddhism
 
December 5, 12, 19:
Introduction to the Preliminary Practices

The Relaxed Mind Meditation 2018-2019

PAST EVENT

Wednesday Evenings, Last class September 28, 2019
7 – 8 PM

University Heights
5031 University Way NE, Room 207, Seattle

37 Practices of a Bodhisattva

PAST EVENT
 
Tuesdays, Starts January 8, 2019
7 – 8:30 pm
 
This class will be based on Reflections on Silver River by Ken McLeod
and will be ongoing for a period of months

Ken McLeod’s translations of and commentaries are on the classic 37 verses of advice on expanding one’s compassionate core.  His reflections on this centuries-old Tibetan text bring it to life for western hearts and minds.

The Relaxed Mind Meditation

PAST EVENT

Monday Evenings
7 – 8:30 PM

This group meditation in the Maple Leaf neighborhood is practicing with Heart-Mind Meditation, the 5th meditation in the series, begun November 2018, continuing for a several months. Please inquire if you are interested in joining us.

1. Tibetan Buddhism in the Scheme of Things 
October 23  @7 PM

PAST EVENT

~ Tibetan Buddhism, or Vajrayana, in the world and in history
~ The Four Schools of Tibetan Buddhism
~ Overview of the Three Vehicles according to Tibetan Buddhism

2. The Meaning of Taking Refuge
October 30  @7 PM

When one becomes a Buddhist one steps through a door, entering the same path as Shakyamuni, the Bodhisattvas, and the enlightened teachers of the last 2500 years. We will explore and discuss levels of understanding of Refuge, in the context of Tibetan Buddhism.

3. Deities in Non-theistic Vajrayana
November 6  @7 PM

Buddhists don’t believe in God, or a god, or gods. So what are all these deities doing hanging around? Find out the purpose of the rich and mystical iconography of Tibetan Buddhism, and how it fits into the “path of skillful means.”

Location: Central Area of Seattle
Suggested donation: $15/class or $30 for a series of three (no one turned away)

Tonglen     PAST EVENT
the Compassion Practice of Giving and Receiving

Prompted by the pervasive expressions of suffering at this time, and the wish to alleviate that pain, comes this offering of a class in Tonglen, taught by Buddhist teacher Diane Berger.

Imagine it as a tool in your back pocket–there it is when the need arises around you, or in the world, or for yourself–this powerful Tibetan form of prayer and healing is transformation & compassion at its core.

Four Tuesdays: September 18, 25 & October 2, 9  —  2018
7 – 8:30 PM

Suggested donation: $35 for the course, or $10/session

Teachings in Copenhagen

April 21, 2018   Saturday       PAST EVENT

A Day of 7 Meditations with Diane Berger

Join us for the refreshment of meditation as put forth in The Relaxed Mind by Tibetan lama Kilung Rinpoche. Diane will present this progressive series of seven meditations, including guided sessions throughout the day.

April 22, 2018  Sunday

After Long Retreat, A Talk

What is it like to withdraw from society for years? Why make this rather extreme journey? What is required? What does one find? Diane Berger will give a talk about her two solo retreats, iconic in the Tibetan Buddhist tradition. But she found that some creativity was required to make it work in the Western context. Under the guidance of her teacher, Kilung Rinpoche, Diane completed her second retreat in 2016, and is now enjoying sharing this story, and the Buddhadharma with others.

How to Create a Personal Retreat

Diane Berger will seed ideas about how to set up a personal retreat. This session is not aimed at the long, traditional Tibetan Buddhist three-year variety, but for short-term retreats with which to enhance your Buddhist practice. Perhaps it’s to carve away some quiet meditation time in a busy life; or to accomplish a specific practice; or to create a cycle of retreat as a life-changing element—we will explore a variety of ways to open the door to your own retreat.

Intro to Meditation: Tibetan Shamatha Class        PAST EVENT
February 15, 2018, Thursday
7 – 9 PM
East West Bookshop, 6407 12th Ave NE, Roosevelt Square, SEATTLE
$15

We’ll cover the first two meditations from Kilung Rinpoche’s book, The Relaxed Mind. The first is introducing the body to meditation, practicing an awareness of our physicality as a foundation for what’s to come. The second is the classic Shamatha, Calm Abiding Meditation, where we train the mind for tranquility by using the breath or an inspiring object.

An essential meditation in Tibetan Buddhism and many other traditions, this two-hour class will get you going.

Intro to Meditation, Tibetan Shamatha Class      PAST EVENT
November 25, Saturday   2017
10 AM – 12:30 PM
VASHON ISLAND, walking distance from the ferry dock
Suggested Donation: $15  (sliding scale)

We’ll cover the first two meditations from Kilung Rinpoche’s book, The Relaxed Mind. The first is introducing the body to meditation, practicing an awareness of our physicality as a foundation for what’s to come. The second is the classic Shamatha, Calm Abiding Meditation, where we train the mind for tranquility by using the breath or an inspiring object.

Space is very limited, so please send me a message via this website to pre-register. At that point I’ll send the address, a private residence on the beach. We’ll have a potluck after for those who would like to stay a bit.

Intro to Meditation, Tibetan Shamatha Class     PAST EVENT
November 6, Monday   2017
7 – 9 PM
Maple Leaf Neighborhood, SEATTLE
Suggested Donation: $15  (sliding scale)

We’ll cover the first two meditations from Kilung Rinpoche’s book, The Relaxed Mind. The first is introducing the body to meditation, practicing an awareness of our physicality as a foundation for what’s to come. The second is the classic Shamatha, Calm Abiding Meditation, where we train the mind for tranquility by using the breath or an inspiring object.

The Relaxed Mind Meditation SERIES — East West Bookshop   PAST EVENT
6 Tuesdays in Fall   2017
7 – 8:30 PM
September 5 – October 10, 2017
East West Bookshop
6407 12th Ave NE, Seattle

The Relaxed Mind Meditation SERIES  PAST EVENT
7 Summer Thursdays   2017
7 – 8:30 PM
June 29 – August 10, 2017
East West Bookshop
6407 12th Ave NE, Seattle