Workshops, Courses & Retreats

There is no mystery more profound than mindfulness/awareness.
This is the path of living dharma.
This is spirituality and practical living all rolled into one.
This is the source of joy and well-being,
the well-spring of health and happiness,
the treasure at the heart of everything and everyone.
There is no greater mystery.
Mindfulness
is the flower of healthy knowing in action.

 ~Tarchin Hearn

 THE RETREAT

Like previous mindfulness and meditation retreats offered by Sharon Tashi Davison, this retreat will be grounded in the MBSR (mindfulness-based stress reduction) program. Additional traditional and modern perspectives on mindfulness, meditation, and the Brahma Viharas/Natural States of Being will be included. Unlike previous retreats, and due to restrictions put in place to address Covid 19, this retreat will be offered online through Zoom. A weekend only option is available.

Weekend classes will explore in a variety of ways, the practices, attitudes and themes worked with in an MBSR program. As we continue on in our learning and meditation practice, the focus will expand to include what has been described as the - four natural states of being.

Loving-Kindness, Compassion, Appreciative Joy and Equanimity, traditionally known as the Brahma Viharas, are now being incorporated into modern mindfulness instruction as research shows these qualities impact our well-being in ways not previously understood when Mindfulness programs began.

In addition, and if time permits, we will begin to explore open awareness practice.

This retreat which looks to bring well-being and some benefit to practitioners, seems timely as life has changed so much and been challenging for so many people over the last year or more. To support receiving the greatest benefit, it is expected that retreat participants will commit to functional silence and be prepared to shift from the routine of daily life into a schedule that will support attending classes and reflecting, quiet, and practice outside of class time over the week or weekend.

Past participants of Sharon's retreats have found them life enriching experiences, each year different, with many returning again and again for deepening understanding and practice. As we sit together, whether in person or in cyber space, we continue to learn and practice; and we open into our natural states and our natural selves. All are welcome. (Note: depending on health mandates, there is a possibility that some spaces could be available for an in-person retreat, however neither Sharon Tashi nor the DCC can confirm at this time)

Since the Dharma Centre of Canada has been supporting meditation, teaching, and retreat for almost 55 years as the oldest meditation and retreat centre in Canada, your financial offering with your registration will assist in its continued operation. Please be as generous as you are able. Sharon is sharing her experience within the traditional understanding of dana/donation which can be offered through e-transfer if in Canada, or through paypal, with a link to be found at https://lamalenateachings.com/give-dana

When: Friday July 23 – Wednesday July 28, 2021 (weekend only option)
Location: Online
Registration/Info: retreats@dharmacentre.org, dharmacentre.org

After registration: You will receive a welcome letter, and be asked a few questions. 24 hours before the retreat starts a Zoom link will be sent out from Sharon Tashi with any additional details. Additional communication during the retreat, if needed, will not be through the dharma centre, but directly with Sharon Tashi. She can be reached at sharonedavison@gmail.com and LamaTashiNamgyal@hotmail.com depending on your preference.

Please note: a working camera and microphone is necessary to participate online.

Schedule: EDT times – approx. 2 hours per class. For PDT classes are 3 hours earlier than times listed.

• Friday: 7:30pm

• Saturday: 10:30am, 3:00pm & 7:30pm

• Sunday: 10:30am, 3:00pm-5:00pm approx. (weekend option ends) 7:30pm

• Monday and Tuesday: 11:00am, 3:00pm & 7:30 pm

• Wednesday: 11:00am -1:00 pm (retreat ends)

About Sharon Tashi Davison: Studying traditional teachings and learning modern perspectives, Sharon Tashi has been teaching and leading meditation retreats, courses and classes since 2010. Sh.e offers an 8-week Mindful Living program, urban retreats, gives talks, and teaches in the Okanagan Valley of B.C. Sharon taught programs in Ontario before moving West and looks forward to returning to lead meditation retreats at the Dharma Centre of Canada in the future. Sh.e holds a degree in Adult Education, a Career and Work Counselor diploma, and is a Certified Money Coach (CMC) ®. Sh.e completed professional training with Jon Kabat-Zinn of the Center for Mindfulness in Medicine, Health Care and Society at Massachusetts Medical and is a graduate of the Inter-Professional Certificate program in Applied Mindfulness Meditation from the University of Toronto’s Factor-Inwentash Faculty of Social Work with a specialty in the Mind at Work business stream.
sharonedavison.com
www.facebook.com/sharond.sh.e

Sharon Tashi has received instruction from traditional Meditation Masters such as Venerable Namgyal Rinpoche, Thich Nhat Hanh, 17th Karmapa, Sayadaw U Tila Wunta, Lama Sonan Gyatso, Lama Mark Webber and Dzogchen Masters Wangdor Rimpoche & Lama Lena (Yeshe Katyup) who authorized her to teach as Lama Tashi and whom sh.e continues to study with. Lama Sharon Tashi leads regular Vajrayana Buddhist practice with Little Sangha in Kelowna B.C. (https://www.facebook.com/CultivatingaHeartofCompassionandWisdom) and leads online Dzoghcen practice at the request of Lama Lena and her community/ sangha. (LamaLenaTeachings.com)

*What is Dana? Teachers teaching by dana do so freely so that anyone, no matter their financial means can attend classes. Each time one receives teachings; it is an opportunity to consciously practice generosity. Giving money and other means of support, expresses gratitude and support to the teacher and helps to ensure that these teachings continue. Each person receiving teachings determines the kind and amount of Dana/Generous donation that they will give. A suggested general amount is $20-30 per day, however one gives according to one’s heart and one's financial means. When deciding how much to offer one should think about what these teachings mean to you and try to give accordingly. It is recommended that an offering of dana is made at the beginning of a class or retreat which establishes the intention to make the most of this opportunity. One can give additionally if they choose.

Self-care and compassion are competencies needed more and more in both our personal and professional lives, if we are to meet the demands, challenges and stressors that face us in todays world.

You are invited to slow down, relax and refresh. You are invited to learn about activities that support self care and self compassion including mindfulness meditation, light stretching, and relaxation practices. Increase awareness of what you need to support your well-being with personal and professional assessments. Come for your personal self-care and learn how to extend that into a busy work life.  Some personal time will be provided. 

Date: TBD
Location: TBD
Time: TBD
Introductory Cost: TBD
Includes: binder and handouts

Mindfulness Meditation allows us to slow down and quiet the mind, developing an ability to be calm and centered. Its regular practice trains the mind to stay where we would like and develops focus and concentration. This is particularly helpful for managing stress and has a positive effect on our body and emotional/mental states, as research has shown in recent years. 

Including Loving Kindness practice softens the impact of the judging monkey mind so that we can be more compassionate and kind to ourselves and others.  With its practice, we can cultivate a sense of warmth, caring and friendliness to meet whatever life brings our way. Take time for rest, focus and kindness and be part of this 1/2 day urban retreat.

Date: TBD
Time: TBD

*The cost is priced as a sliding scale and supports you to choose payment that aligns with your household income and the financial health of your family. Please pay at the highest level of the sliding scale that you can afford. This allows others who need to pay less the opportunity to attend. It is the intension to not turn anyone away. 

More Mindfulness is a series of sessions where we will explore and practice Mindfulness Meditation. Each session will be divided into two sections. The first will include some of the following: information about Mindfulness and Mindfulness meditation, a guided relaxation or meditation practice, group reflection activities and opportunities to ask questions about practice. The second section will include 2 silent sitting meditation periods and one silent walking meditation.

You may be someone who has taken the Mindful Living course, and MBSR program, read about Mindfulness Meditation and wanted to learn, been told about the research and benefits of Mindfulness, already have a practice but wish to change it up a bit, or you may have your own reasons to attend. Whatever the reason, traditional teaching and current evidence based research tells us it is the actual practice of Mindfulness Meditation that brings about the transformation in mental and physical health and well-being, that we would like to have as part of our lives. This is an opportunity to practice with others. No experience is needed, All are Welcome. 

Registration in advance is required, unless other arrangements are made with Sharon.

Date: TBD
Time: TBD
Location: TBD
Regular Cost: $60 complete series. Register with another person and each person’s cost is $50. Per session cost is $20

Do you love chocolate? 
Or perhaps it is something else that brings you pleasure?

Do you experience unhappiness and suffer when you can't have what it is you want? When the chocolate runs out?

Everyone wishes for happiness and satisfaction: this desire and craving drives our world. We grasp at what we believe will satisfy us and we try to get rid of what it is that we don't want. We try to distance ourselves from what we do not want to think about, feel or experience.

What if the source of peace, happiness and contentment is already here? Within your own mind?

You are invited to join Sharon for an evening exploring meditation, craving, compassion, and kindnesss.  Since we can’t guarantee an endless supply of chocolate, wine, money, time or whatever it is that satisfies our craving, looking to our own mind, is an act of compassion and kindness for ourselves and those arround us.

This event is by donation. Suggested amount is $15 - 20. 
You can give more or less, however don't let money prevent you from sitting with others and calming that craving mind. All are welcome: no experience necessary.

Does your mind stay where you want? 

Does it jump, move, change and drag you around?

Is it happy with treats but doesn't want to sit quietly?

You are invited to join Sharon exploring the moving monkey mind and the focused calm mind, through Mindfulness Meditation. 

Since we can’t tie it up, lock it up or hold it down, training our mind with friendliness and kindness makes life more enjoyable. To train our mind is an act of compassion for ourselves and those around us. 

This event is by donation. Suggested amount is $15 - 20. You can give more or less, however don't let money prevent you from sitting with others and calming that monkey mind.

 All are welcome: no experience necessary.

We all would like to have a great relationship with money and yet money is one of the most difficult things to talk about. It is one of our final taboos. . There can be so many ideas that we have about it, feelings attached to how we earn, spend, save or share it, and unknowns about what it actually means to us.

Are you ready to start talking money? 

Is changing your relationship with money a priority for you?

Do you enjoy being creative, having fun and supporing others as they face challenges?

You are invited to join Sharon for an evening exploring money and how it manifests in our lives. Approaching our relationship with money in a light hearted, open minded and possibly interactive way, we will explore new ways to think, feel, and act towards… Shhh…. m-o-n-e-y :)

This event is by donation. Suggested amount is $15 - 20. 

You can give more or less, however don't let money prevent you from joining with others and getting more confortable talking about money.

NOTE: These events are in private homes, as a host books, and have limited space. Participation is based on a conversation with the host and/or with Sharon. Email sharonedavison@gmail.com for more info or to participate. 

As we live each day in changing times, it often seems like something is quietly whispering in our hearts and mind; that something that has been here all along is arising in consciousness in a different way, and that we are being asked to turn our attention to the presence of that which is emerging …

Join others for an evening of sharing, dialogue and conversation. Each has been called to this conversation through a variety of studies, practices and experiences, and it is their hope to widen and deepen this exploration of connecting heaven and earth, the spiritual and material lives we live, and how we might express our lives in the space of all that is in between, with you.

Sharon Tashi has spent her life connecting the spiritual and the material through traditional teaching, such as Buddhist practices & meditations, Christianity & the Western Mysteries directive to "Know Thyself, with more modern vehicles such as Money Coaching, Vocation and Career Development and secular meditation practices like those in the Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction Program. From the perspective and background that have informed life practices and livelihoods, a conversation will begin and you are invited you to be apart of consciously looking into what seems to have been calling to us, as a collective, for so long.

The evening will begin with a Land Blessing and Offering, and conclude with a Green Tara Meditation practice, which is invoking and generating the energy of compassion in action in the world. In between, space will be given to the mystery of collective and organic arisings and we shall see what we will manifest together and where it goes next. Come along to express and explore with us.

This event is by donation. Suggested amount is between $15- 20. You can give more or less, however don't let money prevent you from attending. All are welcome.

Date, Times and Location to be determined.

www.sharonedavison.com
sharonedavison@gmail.com
Learn | Connect | Transform

“In Asian languages, the word for ‘Mind’ and the word for ‘Heart’ are the same. So if you’re not hearing mindfulness in some deep way as ‘Heartfulness’ you’re not really understanding it. Compassion and Kindness towards oneself are intrinsically woven into it. You could think of mindfulness as Wise and Affectionate attention. “ ~Jon Kabat-Zinn

You are invited to come away to a quiet natural country setting to look more deeply into your own life, for increased self-awareness, understanding, compassion, and kindness with mindfulness and loving kindness practices. This 5-day retreat will inform and include practice in meditation, mindful reflection, and awareness of the body, through group and individual activities with time to relax in the beauty of a rural setting, which has been supporting retreats for over 50 years.

During the weekend we will work with Mindfulness Meditation, which allows us to slow down and quiet the mind, developing an ability to be calm and centered. Its regular practice trains the mind to stay where we would like and develops focus and concentration. This is particularly helpful for managing stress and has a positive effect on our body and emotional/mental states, as research has shown in recent years. 

Building on the weekends mindfulness practice we will then include Loving Kindness practice, which softens the impact of the judging monkey mind so that we can be more compassionate and kind to ourselves and others. With its regular practice, we can cultivate a sense of warmth, caring and friendliness with ourselves, and with the vast interconnected network of life that we are a part of.

Take time for rest, focus and kindness and join us for this 5-day retreat. A weekend option is available for those who are not able to attend the full retreat. 

Away from the busy-ness of noisy and hectic lives, we can come home to our own experience, to nature, and gain access to an inner landscape where we can find the treasure we have been seeking.

Retreat fee includes accommodation, meals and a course fee. Sharon receives no payment from fee and teaches by the tradition of dana. 

What is Dana? Teachers teaching by dana do so freely so that anyone, no matter their financial means can attend classes. Each time one receives teachings, it is an opportunity to consciously practice generosity. Giving money and other means of support, expresses gratitude and support to the teacher and helps to ensure that these teachings continue. Each person receiving teachings determines the kind and amount of Dāna/Generous donation that they will give. A suggested general amount is $20-30 per day, however one gives according to ones heart and one's financial means. When deciding how much to offer one should think about what these teachings mean to you and try to give accordingly. It is recommended that an offering of dāna is made at the beginning of a class or retreat which establishes the intention to make the most of this opportunity. One can give additionally if they choose.

“It is indeed a radical act of love just to sit down and be quiet for a time by yourself.”
~Jon Kabat-Zinn

This 4-week series will look at simple guidelines and practical activities to help us deepen a meditation practice. Traditional and non traditional suggestions can assist our meditation practice and connect us with our natural state of clarity, calm and aliveness. Whether you are new to meditation, have a practice that you would like to refresh and deepen, or you would like to come together and meditate with others, you are welcome to join in! 

Registration in advance is required.
Email sharonedavison@gmail.com to register

Dates: TDB
Time: TBD
Cost: TDB (includes handouts when registered for series), or $25 per session However no one will be turned away for lack of funds, so those wishing to attend by the tradition of dana can attend and give according to their means. What is required is an open mind, open heart and willingness to learn and practice. 

What is Dana? Teachers teaching by dana do so freely so that anyone, no matter their financial means can attend classes. Each time one receives teachings, it is an opportunity to consciously practice generosity. Giving money and other means of support, expresses gratitude and support to the teacher and helps to ensure that these teachings continue. Each person receiving teachings determines the kind and amount of Dāna/Generous donation that they will give. A suggested general amount is $10-25 per class, however one gives according to ones heart and one's financial means. When deciding how much to offer one should think about what these teachings mean to you and try to give accordingly. It is recommended that an offering of dāna is made at the beginning of a class or retreat which establishes the intention to make the most of this opportunity. One can give additionally if they choose.