True North Insight's 2nd Retreat for BIPOC folx is happening at a very poignant time for many in our community. With anti-Blackness being more globally known, anti-Asian sentiment at a high, and the avoidable deaths of Ahmaud Arbery, D'Andre Campbell, Jason Collins, Pierre Coriolan, George Floyd, Eishia Hudson, Bony Jean-Pierre, Nicholas Gibbs, Regis Korchinski-Paquet, Tony McDade, Chantel Moore, Nina Pop, Breonna Taylor, Caleb Tubila Njoko, Fredy Villanueva and too many others, Black, Indigenous, people of colour need a place where we can rest our hearts-bodies-minds.

The retreat will offer an introduction to Insight Meditation (Vipassana) and mindfulness through opportunities to practice in a noble silent context with radical self-care, as your circumstances allow. Through the offerings of guided stationary (seated, standing, or reclined) and movement (walking) instructions, you will become acquainted with the words and philosophy of the Dharma through talks and reflections by the teachers.

In addition, there will be an opportunity to ask questions including a special question and response period with our elder and guiding teacher, DaRa Williams, making this an accessible retreat for meditators in the beginning stages of practice, as well as for those who have some practice experience.It is our hope that you will experience the practice as an antidote, medicine to the impact of both the individual and collective stress caused by the cultural and structural manifestation of oppression, racism, genocide, and colonization that has impacted BIPOC for and through the generations.

This retreat is taught in English.

We completely understand that you may not be able to attend all the sessions, and mostly want you to take care of yourselves, and so we support you in whatever you can attend.

We are hoping to record the talks and make them available after the retreat, but we can't guarantee it.

Thanks for your understanding.

Co-teachers: Jozen Gibson with DaRa Williams

Dates: June 27 – 28, 2020; 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM.