2014 Midwest Summer Practice Retreat  

 A 6-day residential practice retreat led by Tergar Instructor Edwin Kelley and assisted by Stephanie Wagner.

Marathon City, Wisconsin -  August 3 - 9

Meditation helps us discover a deep sense of well-being that is not dependent on the circumstances of our lives. When we learn to tame our minds and open our hearts through the practice of meditation, we discover the compassionate wisdom and radiant joy that is our true nature. 

 This residential retreat will offer an unique opportunity to deepen our  practice of the Joy of Living or Path of Liberation meditation teachings of  Yongey Mingyur Rinpoche. The retreat will be facilitated by senior Tergar  instructor Edwin Kelley, assisted by Stephanie Wagner. 

 Over six days, we will explore two important forms of meditation - awareness  meditation and loving-kindness and compassion meditation - experiencing  firsthand how these practices can transform the mind and open the heart.  The  retreat will take place in a secluded environment and with the support  of a  community of meditators. The daily schedule will include six-to-eight  hours of  meditation per day (practiced in 20 to 30 minute sessions), periods  of silence  along with video teachings by Mingyur Rinpoche, group  discussions including a  group for Path of Liberation students, and presentations on the key points of meditation by Edwin and Stephanie.

This course is open to both beginner and experienced meditators. It  offers  beginning meditators an opportunity to explore in depth the practices taught by Mingyur Rinpoche. For experienced meditators it offers the chance to deepen their practice and understanding.

LOCATION:  The retreat will be held at St. Anthony's Retreat Center, a peaceful oasis that stands gracefully amid pines, maples, and birch, nestled on the banks of the Rib River in Wisconsin. It's an idyllic setting for quiet contemplation.

QUALIFICATIONS:  This retreat is open to anyone. It will be extremely enriching for anyone interested in meditation, whether you’re a new or experienced practitioner.

HOUSING:  Each person registered will have a single room with shared bathroom facilities. Handicap rooms are available. Please let us know in advance of your requirements.

FOOD:  Three vegetarian meals will be served each day. For people with special dietary needs there is a refrigerator and small kitchen available for your use.

DEPOSIT & CANCELLATIONS: In order for your registration to be accepted you must include a deposit of  $300.00.  The balance of your retreat fee is due, payable by cash, check or credit card when you check in on opening day. If you prefer, you may include full payment when registering.  Deposit fee minus $50 is refundable up until 7/19/14; after this date no refund is possible.

INSTRUCTOR BIOS:

 Edwin Kelley first became interested in Buddhism in 1975 when he  attendeda meditation retreat near Perth, Australia. He later pursued a  career as a public accountant and 1992 went to Burma to undertake a six  month period of intensive retreat with the renowned meditation master  Chanmyay Sayadaw. While practicing in Burma he ordained temporarily    as a  Theravada Buddhist monk.

 In 1994 he was hired as Director of Operations by one of America’s best  known meditation retreat centers, the insight Meditation Society (IMS), in  Barre, MA. Eighteen months later he was appointed Executive Director of IMS  and served in that capacity until 2003 when he resigned to pursue further    long-term intensive meditation practice.

Edwin first encountered Vajrayana Buddhism in Dharamsala, India in 1993 and became a student of Mingyur Rinpoche in 1998. He has a post graduate diploma in Buddhist Studies from the University of Sunderland in the UK. He moved to Minneapolis, Minnesota with his wife Myoshin in 2009 to help establish the global Tergar Meditation Community. He is also the executive director of Tergar International. 

Stephanie Wagner  had been meditating for several years in a different tradition prior to meeting Mingyur Rinpoche in 2009.  Immediately she felt a sense of connection to Rinpoche’s message that anything in daily life can be used an opportunity to wake up. Stephanie has been a passionate advocate of bringing meditation into the workplace and currently runs a weekly meditation program at Aveda Corporation, an environmentally-conscious beauty company based in Minneapolis, MN.   Professionally, Stephanie has been a corporate trainer for many years and is certified to teach classes like 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, 7 Habits of Highly Effective Managers and Presentation Advantage.