March 19, 2020
With your health and well being in mind, we are closely following the British Columbia Health Ministry’s updates and recommendations regarding the novel Covid-19 virus. We have adjusted our programming and practices to support the health and well-being of our community and all those who come to share the space with us.
After thoughtful consideration, we have closed our center for Personal Meditation Retreats and Group Retreats until April 15, 2020.
Now is the time to minimize travel and group contact in order to reduce the spread of the virus. To this end we have postponed the Insight Meditation retreat which was scheduled to start April 10. This retreat will now take place starting August 7.
A supportive meditation practice is essential when navigating times of uncertainty. With that in mind, we have rearranged our schedule so you may continue to receive teachings online during the next three months.
We are monitoring the situation closely and will provide updates as necessary.
Ways you can stay in touch and receive support
Some of you may be unable to travel due to closed borders or quarantine periods. Others may be under – or expecting you may soon be under – self-isolation. Challenging times like this, and especially during a period where some of us may be spending significant time in solitude, are a great time to double-down on our spiritual practice. Meditation and spiritual practice helps us stay calm, and keep grounded and clear. Focusing on our study and meditation is a great way to benefit from our time in isolation and to help us meet with open hearts whatever situation we find ourselves in.
April 6th – 27th
The four foundations of mindfulness provide a platform for calm and insight. An essential foundation and practice for maintaining our presence of mind and resilience. Our resident teachers Doug and Catherine Sensei from Planet Dharma will offer an online course, The Four Foundations of Mindfulness: The Satipaṭṭhāna Sutta.
May 2nd – June 6th
Connect with the community and learn key tools for creating a supportive spiritual container in your own home, and for keeping a stable base for growth during times of uncertainty. We invite you to join our signature Ignite Your Spiritual Life course, led by Karen McAllister and Duncan Cryle from the Clear Sky team.
June 1st – 22nd
What’s needed in our modern globalized society and especially in challenging times are spiritual awakening practices that embrace both who you are and the culture in which you live. Doug Duncan and Catherine Pawasarat Sensei from Planet Dharma offer a special four week online course: Beyond the Cushion: Awakening our Highest Potential. Discover five “awakening in action” principles for modern spiritual explorers. Together these help you wake up to a more alive and free version of yourself.
At this time, we are continuing with the Tantric Deep Dive retreat and 15th Anniversary Celebration from June 26. We will continue to update frequently as we draw nearer to this date.
How can I support friends and family?
The best thing we can do is first to keep in a clear, compassionate and balanced state ourselves. At these times friends and family may approach you for help in handling the anxieties and fears coming up. We encourage you to invite anyone struggling to join any of the above teachings. We particularly recommend Clear Sky’s Ignite Your Spiritual Life course, or Planet Dharma’s free introductory course Wake Up
What if I’ve already signed up for an upcoming retreat?
Our team is taking thorough precautions to ensure the health and wellness of all who visit Clear Sky. We are practicing appropriate sanitization, hand-washing, self-care and supply usage measures to minimize the risk of contracting and spreading the virus.
At Clear Sky we invite calm and patience as the situation with the virus unfolds. If you are booked in our Insight Meditation Retreat and unable to come at the new date, or if you have booked a personal retreat and are now unable to visit due to illness or uncertainty around the virus, we are pleased to offer you the following refund options:
1) You can opt to offer some or all of your payment as dana and receive a Charitable Tax Receipt;
2) You can opt to have some or all of your payment held as a credit for future programming;
3) You can opt to have some or all of your payment refunded.
If you feel that cancelling is your best course of action at this time, please let us know which option you would like. You may contact Michelle Heinz [email protected] or Dean Nicholson [email protected] for more information.
As the situation with the virus is changing rapidly, we will let you know as soon as possible of any further changes to our programming.
We send our thoughts and prayers to those around the world facing suffering in these moments. May all of us use this opportunity to be there for each other, to embrace our shared vulnerability, and to nourish our compassion. May all beings be well and happy.
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES
World Health Organization Coronavirus information