Practice Emphasis on a Home Retreat

Home Retreat is a committed, prescribed period of time when we intensify our meditative focus beyond our usual home practice by:

  1. Applying old skills gleaned from residential retreats, such as:
●  Applying techniques learned on retreat in order to support continuity of sati-sampajañña.
●  Deepening intention by reflecting on previously attained wholesome states of mind that were realized on formal retreat.
●  Remembering to restrain the senses (indriya-samvara) thus catalyzing continuity of effort by embracing renunciation (nekkhamma). 
  1. Bringing in new techniques to be explored and developed, for example:
●  Using vipassanā when it is appropriate during our daily lives. Exploring the full spectrum of what vipassanā is.
●  Using sampajañña when vipassanā is not appropriate.
●  Using both during formal practice sessions.
  1. Altering our daily routines and our focus in order to bring much greater continuous attention to our daily activities, including:
● Following our schedule with integrity coupled with flexible kindness.
● Making Right Speech (sammā-sankappa), Right Action (sammā-kammanta), and Right Livelihood (sammā-ājīva) a constant field of attention and experimentation.
● Adding micro-moments of mindfulness throughout the day.

Restraint of the Senses ( indriya-samvara) : 1. Restraint of the senses is a multi-tiered meditative practice that encompasses a conscious effort to restrain our speech and actions in the outer world and to bring sati t o any sense object at the moment of its arising in consciousness. By not indulging in the habit of taking that which is pleasant in a mental process that leads to clinging or that which is unpleasant in a mental process that leads to aversion, we train the mind to stay with what is. Allan cooper 2. Sense restraint is a practice within Clear Comprehension. Circumstances define what skills we apply. Applied sense restraint is a ‘Gradual Path’ which is supported by continuous determination imbued with a caring patience. Allan cooper 3. AN 4:198. 4. AN 4:37 5. DN 2:64, 6. MN 38.

Renunciation ( nekkhamma) : 1. In the Noble Eightfold Path , nekkhamma is the first practice associated with “Right Intention.” In the Theravada list of ten perfections , nekkhamma is the third practice of “perfection ( pārami) .” It involves non-attachment (detachment) and limiting choices. Wikipedia. 2. Renunciation is an everyday practice that can simplify a person’s life by eliminating habitual reliance on habit and preference. Allan cooper 3. MN 137:10-15.

Right Speech ( sammā-sankappa) : 1 . ‘The Noble Eightfold Path: The Way to End Suffering’. Chapter Four. Bhikkhu Bodhi. 2. MN 117: 3. MN 61:4. DN 2: 5. SN 45:8, 6. AN 5:198, 7. AN 10:176, etc.

Right Action ( sammā-kammanta) : ‘The Noble Eightfold Path: The Way to End Suffering’. Chapter Three. etc.

Right Livelihood ( sammā-ājīva ): ‘The Noble Eightfold Path: The Way to End Suffering’. Chapter Three. etc.

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