What is Awakening?
Weekend Retreat
Hybrid - Non-Residential and Zoom
January 20 & 21, 2024
led by Guest Teacher, Tina Rasmussen
Retreat Cancelled
Due to unexpected weather conditions Tina is unable to travel to Tucson and the retreat has been canceled.
In this weekend retreat, Tina will return to the IMT sangha, to explore with us the question: “What is awakening?” Awakening is the inspiration for many on the spiritual journey, but we may be unclear about what it is, how it happens, and what we can commonly encounter. An overview of how awakening is understood across wisdom traditions is provided, misconceptions are clarified (as well as why scandals happen), and we learn more about how to integrate spiritual experience into everyday life. Participants are also guided in tuning into their own “flame for awakening.”
You will also learn the 4 meditation practices rooted in tradition and confirmed by neuroscience. This allows you to experience the meditation’s purpose, what it does to your consciousness, and how it supports awakening in unique and important ways. This helps you to make wise use of precious time spent in daily practice and retreat, and to better understand the overall trajectory of your spiritual unfoldment. This event is open to all, and is suitable for beginners as well as experienced meditators. There will be instructions and meditation, silence, and periods of teaching and questions.
You are invited to watch the What is Awakening? Overview video below.
WHEN: January 20 & 21, 2024
Sat & Sun 9:30am-4:00pm MST
REGISTRATION DONATION: $75
This donation supports IMT in being able to hold this retreat. You will have the opportunity to offer Dana to Tina at the end of the retreat.
No one is turned away for lack of funds.
WHERE:
Non-residential - 5230 E Fort Lowell Rd, Tucson, AZ 85712
Online - Zoom
CONTACT: Feel free to contact us with questions: email us at insightmeditationtucson@gmail.com or call (520) 477-1897.
RETREAT CANCELLED
Registration is required. Once you register you will receive a confirmation email within 24 hours. Please click below to register and make your donation.
ABOUT THE TEACHER
Tina Rasmussen PhD, learned to meditate in 1976, at age 13. In 2003, after many years of practice in Buddhist and modern non-dual traditions, she was drawn to undertake an intensive year-long solo retreat during which a profound awakening to a deeper reality occurred. In 2004, Tina took refuge with Tibetan Dzogchen teacher Tsoknyi Rinpoche, and was initiated into the Nyingma lineage. In 2005, Tina attended a 2-month retreat with Burmese meditation master Ven. Pa Auk Sayadaw, who ordained her as a Buddhist nun and gave her the dharma name “Ayya Pesala.” During the retreat, Tina became the first Western woman to complete the entire detailed Samatha path in this lineage.
As an offering of gratitude to the dharma, Tina (along with Stephen Snyder) wrote the book, Practicing the Jhanas, which was later published by Shambhala Publications. In 2007, Tina became the first Western woman authorized by Ven. Pa Auk Sayadaw to teach.
After these life-changing experiences, at first Tina felt a strong pull to become a “cave yogi” and turn away from householder life to abide in the peace of Truth. However, over time, the possibility functioning from realization while living in the dynamism of the modern world became a more compelling life’s path. Tina then began participating in the Diamond Approach, a contemporary wisdom path designed for householders, that integrates the psychological and the spiritual into one continuum for living “in the world but not of it.” Tina has been studied by Yale Neuroscience Lab for research on the effects of meditation on consciousness and the brain, has been featured in “Awakening Women,” Non-duality Magazine, Conscious TV, Buddha at the Gas Pump, Buddhist Geeks, GuruViking, After Awakening, the Imperfect Buddha, Rick Hanson’s Wednesday Meditation, Deconstructing Yourself, and others.
Dr. Rasmussen has a PhD in human and organizational development and now leads retreats and offers spiritual guidance and mentoring to practitioners worldwide.