A Precepts Retreat
2025-04-19 - 2025-04-26
I am pleased to announce that I will be conducting a precepts retreat in 2025. This is something I have wanted to do for several years now, and it is just now that things are coming together such that it can happen. In order to hold a precepts retreat there needs to be sufficient depth of practice in the sangha to do it, and also the financial means. We now have both the depth and the means, and so I have set up a precepts retreat for the spring of 2025!!!! Here is the essential information:
What: A Precepts Retreat
During this week-long retreat we will examine each of the Three Pure Precepts and the Ten Prohibitive Precepts in turn, looking to see what each of these precepts means for each of us right now, how to practice with these precepts, and how to use these precepts to deepen our practice and to more devotedly live from the clarity and compassion of our authentic nature in our daily lives. At the end of the retreat there will be an opportunity for those who choose to publicly attest to their commitment to practice in a precepts ceremony, during which people may ‘Take Refuge’ in the Dharma and ‘Take the Precepts’, as Buddhist practitioners have done for the past 2500 years.
When: April 19th through 26th, 2025
Where: at the Bend Ivy Lodge in Marshall North Carolina: https://www.bendofivylodge.com/
Requirements: this retreat will be open only to those who have a sincere and dedicated practice, who regularly participate in the practice I facilitate, and who wish to deepen their practice by taking the precepts with the sangha. It is not a requirement that people who participate only practice within the sangha I facilitate, or that they see me as their only or their primary teacher. I want people to feel committed to spiritual practice, and I want people to be intimately familiar with the practice I facilitate, but it’s fine by me if people follow other forms of practice and/or other teachers/facilitators.
Cost: the actual hard costs of the retreat will be $1,000 per person, plus whatever donation people feel moved to make. Scholarships will be available, as usual. See below for more information about cost.
A precepts retreat is a special thing. Taking the precepts is something that one should do only when there is a deep commitment to spiritual practice and to the path of ending suffering. For this reason, I’ve waited these past years to offer a precepts retreat until there were enough people in the sangha who have the dedication and commitment required. It feels to me that as a sangha we are now ready to take this next step together, and commit together to a deeper level of practice. If you feel you are one who has this commitment to practice and would like to take the precepts, there is now an opportunity. Just let me know if you’d like to be there.
I’ve also been required to wait to offer a precepts retreat for financial reasons. The retreat really needs to be a week-long event in order to do it correctly. Renting a retreat facility for a week involves quite a lot of money, and I was concerned that the cost would be prohibitive to a number of the folks who would like to attend. I’m very pleased and happy to say, however, that someone in a sangha has stepped forward to back the retreat financially. They have offered to pay some of the costs up front in order to reduce the amount each person needs to give down to $1000, and also to offer full or partial scholarships to those who cannot afford the $1,000 required per person. I would like for it to be that everyone who qualifies and who would like to attend is able to attend, and our generous benefactor has made this possible. And so, if you are someone who can afford the $1,000 retreat costs, that’s great, and if you are someone who cannot afford that amount you can just give what you can afford and our benefactor will cover the difference. If you are someone for whom $1,000 is not a lot of money, and if you would like to help out with scholarships for this retreat, we would all be grateful for any donation you would like to give towards that end.
I’m going to ask for a $500 deposit up front from everyone who would like to attend. You can give the second $500 when the time gets closer. If you would like to attend, and if you feel confident you meet the requirement, let me know and I’ll get you set up and registered. If you’re not sure if you meet the requirements, let me know that also and we can have a conversation about it.
That’s the scoop! Be well, good friends, take care of yourselves, and do good work!
In peace,
David

Sunday Morning Meditation and Discussion Group
2025-04-20 10:00 - 11:30, 2025-04-27 10:00 - 11:30, 2025-05-04 10:00 - 11:30 (Asia/Karachi)
Each Sunday morning from 10:00 to 11:30 eastern we gather on Zoom (a video-conferencing platform) to support each other, learn from each other, and experience the joy of spiritual community. Group begins promptly at 7:00 with a thirty-minute meditation period, followed by a facilitated conversation lasting an hour, during which people may bring up whatever issues they choose in regards to their practice, the things going on in their lives, and so on.
We are not looking for any sort of commitment, just a willingness to jump in whenever you’re able. The evening groups are offered on a donation basis. To participate, email David at djmckay429@gmail.com for the group guidelines and the zoom link you will need.
Gassho

Subpersonality Online Class
2025-04-20, 2025-04-27
Our next online class! This time we’ll focus on subpersonalities, or aspects of the conditioned self. I’ll send out two assignments each week for four weeks that will assist us in exploring the subpersonalities that make up this entity we call “me”. We’ll learn how to recognize these identities, how to disentangle ourselves, and how to live in the place where we are aware of our subpersonalities but not identified with them. Should be fun and interesting!
During these 4 weeks there will be a zoom meeting each Sunday from 11:00 am- 12:30 pm
To register, make a donation of any size, include a note that the donation is for the subpersonality class, and go here to put yourself on the list: Click Here To Register

Virtual meditation and discussion group
2025-04-20 19:00 - 20:30, 2025-04-27 19:00 - 20:30 (America/Halifax)
Each Sunday and Thursday evening from 7:00 to 8:30 eastern we gather on Zoom (a video-conferencing platform) to support each other, learn from each other, and experience the joy of spiritual community. Group begins promptly at 7:00 with a thirty-minute meditation period, followed by a facilitated conversation lasting an hour, during which people may bring up whatever issues they choose in regards to their practice, the things going on in their lives, and so on.
We are not looking for any sort of commitment, just a willingness to jump in whenever you’re able. If you express interest we will put you on an email list to receive invitations to the group sessions and announcements about the group.
The Sunday and Thursday evening groups are offered on a donation basis.
For more information, or if you would like to participate, email David at djmckay429@gmail.com. You will then receive the information you will need in order to log on.
We look forward to seeing you there!

Morning Meditation
2025-04-21 07:00 - 08:00, 2025-04-22 07:00 - 08:00, 2025-04-23 07:00 - 08:00, 2025-04-24 07:00 - 08:00, 2025-04-25 07:00 - 08:00, 2025-04-28 07:00 - 08:00, 2025-04-29 07:00 - 08:00, 2025-04-30 07:00 - 08:00 (America/Indiana/Indianapolis) and 2 more dates
You are invited to join David and others in the sangha for a sit each day over Zoom. We hope you will consider joining in! Here is how it will work:

David will meditate on Zoom each day for an hour, at a time that suits the most people. During the week, sitting will begin at 7am. On Saturday & Sunday sitting will start at 8am.
You are welcome to join for that hour or for any portion of that hour that you choose. It doesn’t matter if you just want to sit for ten minutes in the middle of that hour, or if you’re there for the whole time. The point is to receive the support of the community in whatever way is best for your schedule and your practice right now.
David will ring the bells for meditation. At the end of the hour he will read something interesting and/or inspiring to set the tone for the day. There will be no discussion.
After the reading we will all log off and head into our day—all nice and centered and ready for whatever arises!

We hope people will find this offering to be as helpful and supportive as it is simple. If you would like to participate, just let David know (djmckay429@gmail.com).
Thank you for your attention. We hope to have the pleasure of meditating with you soon!

2nd Morning Meditation
2025-04-21 10:00 - 10:30, 2025-04-22 10:00 - 10:30, 2025-04-23 10:00 - 10:30, 2025-04-24 10:00 - 10:30, 2025-04-25 10:00 - 10:30, 2025-04-28 10:00 - 10:30, 2025-04-29 10:00 - 10:30, 2025-04-30 10:00 - 10:30 (America/New_York) and 2 more dates
You are invited to join David and others in the sangha for a sit each day over Zoom. We hope you will consider joining in! Here is how it will work:

David will meditate on Zoom each day for half an hour, at a time that suits the most people. This meditation will happen during the week, sitting will be from 10am-10:30am.
You are welcome to join for that half hour or for any portion of that half hour that you choose. It doesn’t matter if you just want to sit for ten minutes in the middle of the half hour, or if you’re there for the whole time. The point is to receive the support of the community in whatever way is best for your schedule and your practice right now.
David will ring the bells for meditation. At the end of the half hour he will read something interesting and/or inspiring to set the tone for the day. There will be no discussion.
After the reading we will all log off and head into our day—all nice and centered and ready for whatever arises!

We hope people will find this offering to be as helpful and supportive as it is simple. If you would like to participate, just let David know (djmckay429@gmail.com).
Thank you for your attention. We hope to have the pleasure of meditating with you soon!

Virtual meditation and discussion group
2025-04-24 19:00 - 20:30, 2025-05-01 19:00 - 20:30 UTC
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Each Sunday evening from 7:00 to 8:30 eastern we gather on Zoom (a video-conferencing platform) to support each other, learn from each other, and experience the joy of spiritual community. Group begins promptly at 7:00 with a thirty-minute meditation period, followed by a facilitated conversation lasting an hour, during which people may bring up whatever issues they choose in regards to their practice, the things going on in their lives, and so on.
We are not looking for any sort of commitment, just a willingness to jump in whenever you’re able. The evening groups are offered on a donation basis. To participate, email David at djmckay429@gmail.com for the group guidelines and the zoom link you will need.
Gassho
