The very purpose of the Gnostic wisdom is personal experience of the truth, which cannot be retrieved through the five senses, but must be accessed through the development of other senses that are latent within us. The abilities to imagine and to dream are merely the seeds of a greater ability that can be developed when one learns the precise method. In other words, reading books and listening to lectures is but preparation for the skill you must develop in yourself: the skill of real meditation.

Now is your chance to conquer laziness and fear, and learn to meditate. From August 12 to 16, 2009, a community of serious spiritual aspirants will gather at Padmasambhava Buddhist Center in New York in order to work intensely on developing meditation skills. In group meditation, a powerful sense of inspiration and dedication arises, whose force helps us to push aside obstacles and reach the vital experience we need in order to develop spiritually. A few days of meditating with a group can advance your meditation practice in a dramatic way. Here are some comments from those who attended the previous retreats:

The main reason I attended the retreat was to learn how to meditate. The steps and progressions we practiced had a great effect with me. Meditation is now a daily practice with me, morning and night. What a gift that is to receive. Thank you God.

The strength that I received from the retreat is something that I can never forget, since it has provided me with a lot of faith to keep ahead in my own work.

It was more of a taste what gnostic practice is supposed to be instead of hard and arduous work. Now I know what I can do at home, which is a different approach then other retreats. Where in other retreats you learn some specific meditations and apply them for the rest of time, here you were given a taste of what gnostic practice is.

I'm staggered by how far we progressed. Not for 15 years has there been such a focus on the work. And with [the instructor's] direction during the effort to bring us back to a point of focus, amazing. Wish that could happen everyday. The final [meditation] exercise had me humbled and speechless for some time (and several others too who discussed it).

The retreat was very good for me as a person who must fit practice around/inside the traditional work week.  Because cumulative practice renders fruit, practice time must be devoted to critical areas that need development.  The retreat helped me place more weight on my critical areas for development.

We encourage you to do your best to attend this year's International Gnostic Retreat. Registration ends July 30.

Register now.

Learn more about the retreat.

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