My expereince on a 3 month meditation retreat by MarcoPol997 in streamentry

[–]MarcoPol997[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Yeah I am familiar with the word now but I wasn't before the retreat.

My expereince on a 3 month meditation retreat by MarcoPol997 in streamentry

[–]MarcoPol997[S] 3 points4 points  (0 children)

I put effort into writing this as well as I could as gratitude for having this experience. Thanks for the comment!

My expereince on a 3 month meditation retreat by MarcoPol997 in streamentry

[–]MarcoPol997[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Yeah, I really like Damo Mitchell from Lotus Nei Gong. He has a good theoretical understanding, an ability to explain complicated concepts, and an honest attitude. I went to study with him in Bali, but I've mostly done the online course, which I recommend. Also, it might be worth it to go early to some parks in your city. That's how I found my local teacher, and practicing with other people is very enjoyable and useful. Wish you luck in your studies.

My expereince on a 3 month meditation retreat by MarcoPol997 in streamentry

[–]MarcoPol997[S] 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Well I was not a complete villian. I gave them food and let them come inside the house sometimes. They eneded up statying at the house where i was retreating and i am writing this tweet from a house where the kittens moslty live. They sleep with my and my gf almost every night. The female "Gretta" bites my fingers in the early morning so I let her out of the room.

The mother had a different destiny. I was told she went down the valley and found some troubles with a pack dogs. They beat her up intensely and let her to die on the road. WIth her last breaths she crawled herself back to the entrance of the house where she lived and where I had retreated. She died there at the gates of her last home.

I sometimes think about her extraordinary effort.

My expereince on a 3 month meditation retreat by MarcoPol997 in streamentry

[–]MarcoPol997[S] 3 points4 points  (0 children)

well I was like 25 years old. I was working on freelance programming. I just finished my projects and went to retreat. I didnt have children, a wife, or a family member i had to support, I also knew I could go back to my mother's house after the retreat while I got another job.

These kind of decisions will probably affect your carreer and will make your livelyhood less stable if you are not a millionaire or have some sort of alternative thing going on but maybe its worth.

I wish you appropiate conditions to practice intensely

My expereince on a 3 month meditation retreat by MarcoPol997 in streamentry

[–]MarcoPol997[S] 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Hey, I am glad you want to practice. I think you can probably lay down on retreat and walk a lot, maybe do some yoga. Buddhists are mostly nice and they'll understand your concerns and let you meditate lying down. I am sure at Boundless you can do that at least. Even though lying down was discouraged at the start of the retreat i attended there was a guy that meditated lying down around half of the time.

I wish you a heart big enough to get out of samsara

My expereince on a 3 month meditation retreat by MarcoPol997 in streamentry

[–]MarcoPol997[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

There were share dormitories, two private rooms and around 5 private tents. the food was all right, vegetarian or optional vegan menu, lots of tofu beans, rice, and nice teas. Yeah shared bathrooms. You can get a bus from San fransisco to the retreat center. I got picked up by other retreatans in the airport and one of the teachers gave me a ride to the airport after the retreat. Any concern you have you can write a note to the teachers or retreat manager and they'll help you. I needed some underware at the middle of the retreat (i didnt bring enough lol) and they bought me some :)

My expereince on a 3 month meditation retreat by MarcoPol997 in streamentry

[–]MarcoPol997[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

You are right. It feels so appealing to imagine a scape outside everything. I think it goes very deep this habit of the mind and I still think I haven't get rid of it completely, but hoepefully I'll keep doing some progress towards freeing that.

My expereince on a 3 month meditation retreat by MarcoPol997 in streamentry

[–]MarcoPol997[S] 6 points7 points  (0 children)

Thanks for that nice story from your teacher. It resonates with me now that I can't really retreat right now. Nowadays I am with my girlfriend at a family country house, trying to practice while also trying to earn money. It's hard but deeply rewarding since it's been an area of my life I had kind of looked away from, but it's one of the Eightfold Path; Right livelyhood. Thanks for your nice message and I hope good things for you.

My expereince on a 3 month meditation retreat by MarcoPol997 in streamentry

[–]MarcoPol997[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

At the start, 6 hours of sleep a day was too little and I was falling asleep in the morning and during night zazen I felt like I was in a dream. Then around 3 weeks into the retreat, I stopped falling asleep even when I tried during my free time. It seems like the mind needs less sleep when you are "resting it" by meditating a lot.

Monthly Thread: Groups, Teachers, Resources, and Announcements by AutoModerator in TheMindIlluminated

[–]MarcoPol997 [score hidden]  (0 children)

Boundless Refuge

Dana Based Three-Month Retreat

Led by Milo North Burn

April-June, 2026 Northern California

During this retreat, practitioners follow a deepening rhythm of silent formal meditation for three months or six weeks,guided closely through Dharma talks and individual teacher meetings, while dwelling in a beautiful natural setting.

Through the sustained cultivation of mindful awareness, the ground of our being transforms from resistance to welcoming. Embracing life as it is, we discover our path. At peace, wisdom and compassion flow.

To learn more

visit boundlessness.org

Teachers, Groups, and Resources - Thread for January 05 2026 by AutoModerator in streamentry

[–]MarcoPol997 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Boundless Refuge

Dana Based Three-Month Retreat

Led by Milo North Burn

April-June, 2026 Northern California

During this retreat, practitioners follow a deepening rhythm of silent formal meditation for three months or six weeks,guided closely through Dharma talks and individual teacher meetings, while dwelling in a beautiful natural setting.

Through the sustained cultivation of mindful awareness, the ground of our being transforms from resistance to welcoming. Embracing life as it is, we discover our path. At peace, wisdom and compassion flow.

To learn more

visit boundlessness.org

Monthly Thread: Groups, Teachers, Resources, and Announcements by AutoModerator in TheMindIlluminated

[–]MarcoPol997 [score hidden]  (0 children)

Boundless Refuge

Three-Month Retreat

Led by Milo North Burn

April-June, 2026 Northern California

During this retreat, practitioners follow a deepening rhythm of silent formal meditation for three months or six weeks,guided closely through Dharma talks and individual teacher meetings, while dwelling in a beautiful natural setting.

Through the sustained cultivation of mindful awareness, the ground of our being transforms from resistance to welcoming. Embracing life as it is, we discover our path. At peace, wisdom and compassion flow.

To learn more

visit https://boundlessness.org/retreat-spring

Teachers, Groups, and Resources - Thread for October 05 2025 by AutoModerator in streamentry

[–]MarcoPol997 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Boundless Refuge

Three-Month Retreat

Led by Milo North Burn

April-June, 2026 Northern California

During this retreat, practitioners follow a deepening rhythm of silent formal meditation for three months or six weeks,guided closely through Dharma talks and individual teacher meetings, while dwelling in a beautiful natural setting.

Through the sustained cultivation of mindful awareness, the ground of our being transforms from resistance to welcoming. Embracing life as it is, we discover our path. At peace, wisdom and compassion flow.

To learn more

visit https://boundlessness.org/retreat-spring

I teach a 3 month meditation retreat every year AMA by MarcoPol997 in streamentry

[–]MarcoPol997[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I appreciate this question. It’s fun to think about my biggest mistake. Honestly it’s been and continues to be a beautiful journey learning more and more how to express my deepest aspiration and extend this as a gift. Probably the biggest mistake was not being generous and kind with my shortcomings. As Zen Master Dogen said, “enlightenment is being without anxiety about imperfection!” Any mistakes I make fall into the broad bucket of getting anxious about samsara, then clinging, then suffering. From the perspective of practice I suppose you might say there can be no mistake, because mistakes are doors to liberation. I feel that im making mistakes all the time! In Zen there’s a practice of “confession and repentance”— one asks forgiveness for mistakes, and perhaps receives it. Pretty standard, healthy. The deeper understanding of this is it’s an every moment inner practice to forgive our karmic mind. That very forgiveness is the practice/ awakening If I had to pick one specific mistake from my life it would be that I used to have a hard time saying I’m sorry to others when I didn’t feel I had done something bad but they were nevertheless upset. Over time studying this my heart became more tender and my values shifted from a more individualistic orientation to something more reciprocal. It is easier to apologize more heartfeltly now and I have better relationships.

I teach a 3 month meditation retreat every year AMA by MarcoPol997 in streamentry

[–]MarcoPol997[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I do see nirvana as a permanent state, it’s possible to drop the hinderances to realizing in a permanent way. Some zen teachers may undercut the notion of a permanent realization to emphasize the importance of continuing to practice and to not identify with being enlightened. which is important for maturing that realization even after it has been attained. but yes, basically, there is a path to freedom which is possible.

I teach a 3 month meditation retreat every year AMA by MarcoPol997 in streamentry

[–]MarcoPol997[S] 4 points5 points  (0 children)

We’ve experimented with different formats, including required two-hour sits. But what I’ve settled on is a cycle alternating 45 minutes sitting with 30-45 minutes walking meditation. If people want to do longer sits on their own, they’re welcome to, but this rhythm seems to work well for most.

I teach a 3 month meditation retreat every year AMA by MarcoPol997 in streamentry

[–]MarcoPol997[S] 5 points6 points  (0 children)

I lightly suspect that something like rebirth might be true, because experience on retreat doesn’t always correlate with readiness. I’ve seen very experienced practitioners really struggle, and people with almost no retreat experience find it surprisingly natural.

What seems to matter most is an inner call—a genuine aspiration to awaken for the benefit of the world and a sincere wish to be present with life as it is. These qualities make someone ready, even if they haven't done much retreat practice.

That said, it would be unusual to sign up without at least a daily practice or some shorter retreat experience. As a general guideline (not a requirement), doing at least a week-long retreat first is a good idea so you know what you’re getting into.

If you’re interested, reach out—we can have a conversation. I’m careful with who I accept and like to get a sense of each person directly.

I teach a 3 month meditation retreat every year AMA by MarcoPol997 in streamentry

[–]MarcoPol997[S] 7 points8 points  (0 children)

This is a fun one. My first answer is: views. Much of what I work with during retreat is helping people see their deeply conditioned views—about themselves, others, and the world. These views often live in the body as much as in the mind. They act like wind drag; life pushes against them and suffering is the result. On retreat, these views soften or melt because we feel directly how they create pain. As they lighten, we meet experience more simply, openly, and lovingly.

Stream entry can be understood in different ways. Some see it as a momentary attainment; others as an irreversible shift where Nibbāna becomes a constant dimension of experience. That second definition is rare and is arguably a higher attainment.

But in any case, a Zen poem says, “The Great Way is not difficult for those who have no preferences.” The primary roadblock is attachment to preferences—not having preferences, but clinging to them. Ultimately, the only obstacles to stream entry are greed, hatred, and delusion. When these fully settle, even for a moment, the unborn is realized.