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Springwater Center
Mid-Summer 2014 News and Events

Upcoming Events

August 9 - 16 - Seven-day retreat with Wayne Coger
Space is still available in this retreat. Wayne will give talks and be available for group and individual meetings. Talks and articles by Wayne may be found on his website page and in this News Update.

August 17 - 29 - Quiet Weeks
During quiet weeks, the main building is in silence after work hours and there are more opportunities than usual to meet and dialogue with others. All three Springwater teachers will be in residence and available for private meetings during this period. Please contact reception to register to stay all or part of the quiet weeks.

August 23 - Saturday All-Day Sitting 8:30 - 4:00
A day of meditation with a talk by a Center teacher and an afternoon group dialogue. A donation of $15 is requested; vegetarian lunch is provided. It is helpful if participants arrive between 8 and 8:15 a.m. A brief introduction takes place at 8:30. See the day's schedule. If you plan to attend, please contact reception and also if you wish to stay the night before or after the All-Day,

August 30 - Sept. 6 - Seven-day retreat with Sandra Gonzalez
Sandra will give talks, take part in dialogue groups and be available for private meetings. Space is still available. See the website for more information about Sandra, including talks, and articles in both English and Spanish.

To register for retreat, and for more information, including daily schedules, application procedure, fees and financial assistance to attend, see Retreats.

See the Calendar for remaining retreats this year.

Featured Talks this Month

Toni Packer - November 1990, Day 6 retreat talk

Toni goes into retreatants' questions:

"In spite of all my present disbeliefs I still yearn for a God to protect me and for an afterlife in which I will be reunited with those whom I love."

"You have had a background in thorough Zen practice for many years. How do you know that someone who hasn’t had that or similar kind of training can get to the same place you are in now?" [In addressing this question Toni talks of her spiritual background--deep questioning, then Zen, then describes coming upon the writings of Kirishnamurti as the most catalytic thing in her life.]

"How does one know if one is really truly seeing or what one is seeing is the truth?"

"Can one see clearly what is truth and what is illusion?"

(Photo at right shows Toni in mid-summer 1984 at the construction project to build the Center.)

Wayne Coger - May 2014 all-day sitting talk

Can we see if it is possible to settle, to rest, with everything happening by itself? This feeling that "I have to do something or everything will fall apart," is a thought, a human invention. Maybe I can begin to wonder what it is I call "myself." In this open wondering there are no sacred cows--nothing that can't be touched. Maybe even to find out what a belief is--to listen, to wonder.

News

After many years in reception tending to the needs of retreatants and visitors, Bonnie Durland has left staff to return to Ojai, CA. Bonnie's farewell lunch is pictured below. We are grateful to Bonnie and her diligence, aesthetic sense and organizational skills. We and her many friends wish her all the best with a smooth transition to new circumstances.

Erica Edwards, pictured at left at the reception desk, is investigating if the reception position will be a good fit for her. Erica lives locally and has spent some tme volunteering for the past several months.

Cabin temporarily available - The staff cabin where Bonnie lived is temporarily available for guest and retreat stays. It is fully furnished, with plumbing and a kitchen. Please contact reception for more information.

New Shed - Warm thanks to Bob Bulger, who made a very generous donation of a new shed to the Center, including site preparation. The shed was purchased from the Amish Workshop in Springwater. See photos abpve of the arrival and installation of the shed.

Apologies to all who signed up for news updates but due to an oversight on our part have not received them until now. The sign-up system is now working as it should.

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Springwater , NY | 14560-9730 US

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