Schedule: Friday night 7:00 to 8:30 pm,
Saturday 9:00 am to 5:00 pm,
Sunday 9:00 am to 12:00 pm.
About this Zen Retreat - In this short intensive, we’ll turn toward the subtle ways the mind builds and defends the story of self—the quiet, constant project of becoming someone. Drawing on Dōgen’s radical teaching that “to study the self is to forget the self,” and the work of contemporary Zen teacher, Joko Beck, and her plainspoken clarity about everyday mind, we’ll explore what happens when we stop trying to fix or improve the self and instead let it unravel. Through sitting, inquiry, and simple presence, we’ll practice seeing the patterns of self-concern as they arise, not as enemies to overcome, but as teachers pointing us home. Come ready to sit, to see, and to see what shifts.
Suggest reading for this retreat is Everyday Zen by Charlotte Joko Beck.
Nate Smalley
About the teacher - Nathan Smalley has been practicing Zen for over twelve years. He has served in various leadership capacities at Appamada, a contemporary Zen center in Austin, Texas. He brings curiosity and care to those who seek release from suffering. Professionally, Nathan is an educator, scholar, and consultant with deep experience serving students in low-income communities. His present work explores intersections of spirituality, philosophy, and education. He is currently preparing his first book, Teaching in Flux: Mindfulness and Conditionality in Pedagogical Practice, for publication. He holds a PhD in Education from Texas State University. Nate lives with his wife and son in Austin, Texas.