Awareness Practice
One of the goals of our Whole Thinking Retreats is to rejuvenate participants’ strength and wisdom through reflective practices. Experience has taught us that such practices can open the door for more authentic relationships, allow for deeper, more productive dialogue, and foster new ways of leading.
We use meditation at the retreats to help participants access and develop their emotional intelligence. Meditation is also essential in helping us really listen to the stories of others and become open to their claims. It helps us to develop our sympathetic minds, allowing us to hear one another and respect one another more deeply. Here are some resources that we hope will guide you in a personal practice and help you feel the benefits of mindfulness in everyday life.
Readings recommended by our Zen teachers
- By Thich Nhat Hanh
- The Heart of the Buddha’s Teaching
- Being Peace,
- Touching Peace,
- Miracle of Mindfulness,
- Teachings on Love,
- The Long Road Turns To Joy: a Guide to Walking Meditation (and others)
- Zen Mind, Beginners Mind by Shunryu Suzuki
- Subtle Sound by Maurine Stuart
Readings recommended by our Vipassana teachers
- Lovingkindness, the Revolutionary Art of Happiness by Sharon Salzberg
- Breath By Breath by Larry Rosenberg
- Insight Meditation, The Practice of Freedom by Joseph Goldstein
- Wherever You Go You Are There by Jon Kabat-Zinn
- Mindfulness with Breathing by Buddhadasa Bhikkhu (translated by Santikaro)
- Heartwood of the Bodhi Tree by Buddhadasa Bhikkhu
Readings recommended by our Tibetan teachers
- By Pema Chodron
- Start Where You Are
- When Things Fall Apart
- The Places That Scare You
- Reflections on a Mountain Lake by Ani Tenzin Palmo
- Natural Great Perfection by Nyoshul Khenpo
- Fearless Simplicity by Tsoknyi Rinpoche
Readings on Christian meditative practice
- Contemplative Prayer by Thomas Merton
- The Cloud of Unknowing by anonymous author (Edith Underhilll translation recommended)
- Moment of Christ by John Main
Other resources
- Ethics for the New Millennium by H.H. Dalai Lama
- Wake Up to Your Life by Ken McLeod
- Buddhism Without Beliefs by Stephen Batchelor
- Joanna Macy has an excellent website that explains some of her philosophy of leadership and social change, including a whole section on engaged Buddhism.