January Half-Day Retreat with Michael Bresnan: Exploring and Practicing with the Teaching of No Self (1/4/2025) (In Person Only)

The Buddha taught that there are three key characteristics inherent to all conditioned things — anicca (impermanence) dukkha (unsatisfactoriness) and anatta (not-self or no self). Of these, it is the teaching of no self that often gives people the most trouble because it conflicts with their lived experience. Most people strongly feel that they have a self. And if we try to take up the view that there is no self, doesn’t this just lead to nihilism?

In this retreat, we will distinguish the experience of no self that accompanies realization, from how we might incorporate the teaching of no self into our insight practice pre-realization. We will consider specifically how the Buddha often introduced this doctrine and discuss how to approach it in a way that doesn’t make us crazy, isn’t at odds with our lived experience in the world, and which serves to support and deepen our daily practice.

This short retreat is open to both beginners and experienced meditators. While it will be conducted mainly in silence, there will be brief instructions in vipassana meditation, a Dhamma talk, and a discussion period at the end.

Wenham CfMIM currently offers retreats once per month. We recommend and encourage participation in these monthly programs — the extended practice period, two-hours longer than our weekly classes, supports the mind in becoming stable and thus insight can arise more naturally.