Dhamma Dena's 2024 Queer Retreat

A Residential & Online Retreat with Leslie Booker, Ian Challis and assisted by Calvin Burnap

Oct 21 - Oct 27, 2024  |  Self-retreat: Oct 27 - November 2, 2024

In this 8th iteration of the annual Dhamma Dena Queer Retreat, we will come together as Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, Gender Expansive, and 2 Spirit Folk and other family on the gender and sexual continuum to practice the Buddha's liberating path. Through noble silence, daily instruction, personal practice, on land affinity groups, and group interviews - we will practice ways for us to do the work of living in a world so in need of love and wise responsiveness.

This year, continuing teachers Leslie Booker and Ian Challis are happy to welcome the support of Calvin Burnap.

Disability Accommodations via Zoom

This retreat will hold 12 spaces to accommodate those unable to be on the land due to living with disabilities. Zoom participation in a hybrid retreat can be challenging and so we ask for patience with the limitations as we practice together. We ask that those attending online be committed to the full practice schedule as they would be on land, to the best of their ability. Participation in dharma talks, group inquiry and interviews will be supported. Please contact retreats@dhammadena.org with questions or to request a place.


Post retreat self-retreat
To support those who would like additional practice time, we are offering the week after the retreat (October 27- November 2nd) for self-retreat with the support of individual interviews from a teacher.

Holding 50% of space for BIPOC folks to register

To support Dhamma Dena’s commitment to equity in this practice community, we are holding 50% of available spaces for BIPOC folks. On September 1 unclaimed spaces will be made available for those on the waitlist. 

Cost

This retreat is offered on a dana/gift basis. You are invited to offer dana / donations for the retreat costs at any time through Dhamma Dena's Paypal or Venmo. Dhamma Dena is currently supported solely by dana to cover the retreat costs of groceries, utilities, supplies and everything it takes to maintain and run the center year round and continue to offer retreats freely. Community and generosity make this all possible - thank you!


“It is a beautiful quality, an opening of the heart into sharing. It provides an atmosphere of non-separateness and an expression of unity. It is the selfless manifestation of non-greed and non-attachment. It is the practice of all religions and is the basis of all spiritual growth."

― Ruth Denison, on Dana/Generosity

Booker brings her heart and wisdom to the intersection of Dharma, Embodied Wisdom, and Liberation. She shares her expertise nationally on expanding our vision around culturally responsive teaching, and changing the paradigm of self and community care. She is a co-founder of the Yoga Service Council at Omega Institute and the Meditation Working Group of Occupy Wall Street. Booker is a co-author of Best Practices for Yoga in a Criminal Justice Setting, a contributor to Georgetown Law’s Center on Poverty and Inequality’s report: Gender & Trauma—Somatic Interventions for Girls in Juvenile Justice, YOGA: The Secret of Life, and contributed to Sharon Salzberg’s book ‘Happiness at Work’. In 2020 she was invited in as Sojourner Truth Leadership Fellow through Auburn Seminary, and was voted by her peers as one of the 12 Powerful Women in the Mindfulness Movement. She is currently based in Philadelphia. Website: www.lesliebooker.com

Ian Challis is a student and teacher in the Insight Tradition of Buddhism. He is a core teacher, founding member and past guiding teacher of Insight Community of the Desert in Palm Springs, CA. Ayya Khema, Leigh Brasington, Narayan Liebenson, Larry Yang, and Arinna Weisman are the teachers who have most inspired and illuminated his practice and path. Serving and creating space for Queer dharma community is a passion and source of joy, and he is excited to support the continuation of this beautiful and powerful retreat under the skies of the high desert. Ian teaches regular drop-in classes as well as retreats. He is a qualified teacher of MBSR, a graduate of Spirit Rock's Community Dharma Leader teacher training, and was formally invited by Arinna Weisman to teach in the lineage of U Ba Khin and Ruth Denison. You can find information on Ian’s work and teaching at www.ianchallis.com

Calvin Burnap is a licensed mental health counselor based in Seattle, Washington. Since 2011 he has worked as a psychotherapist and relationship coach. He also focuses on conflict resolution work for groups and has trained in mediation and circle processes. He became a student of Arinna Weisman in 2017, and has attended the queer retreat at Dhamma Dena annually since 2018. In 2022 he attended a 3-month retreat at Insight Meditation Society in Barre, Massachusetts. Calvin serves on the steering committee of Lotus Insight Sangha, Seattle's lgbtqia+ sangha. Calvin practices with the dharma in order to face the suffering of the world and take spiritual and direct action. Calvin's work as a therapist, conflict facilitator, and dharma practitioner is guided by his connection to resistance movements working for liberation for all beings.

QUEER RETREAT VOLUNTEERS NEEDED


“Volunteering is a chance to contribute and be in a smaller community of practice. I know for me it helped me to feel part of the sangha much more quickly than I would have if I hadn't been volunteering. It meant a lot to me and supported my practices, too. “ -Reed

Zoom Hosts:

To support our zoom participants to be in connection with each other and those attending the retreat in person, we are looking for 1-2 volunteers to be Zoom Hosts.  Having more than two people allows hosts to choose a schedule to alternate zoom hosting duties in support of their practice (e.g. half or full days, on/off). Zoom hosts attend the retreat from remotely via zoom as part of the online spots reserved for those with disabilities.

Zoom hosts duties include:

We have several very extraordinary and experienced past Zoom hosts, Tess and Elaina, that will do an orientation for you and share how they kept things organized at previous Zoom retreats. 

Camera/Computer Operator:

To bring together our online and in-person sangha, we need 2-3 volunteers to operate the streaming camera in the zendo at Dhamma Dena.  Volunteers will choose a schedule to alternate camera operation in support of their practice (e.g. half or full days, on/off) and would arrive a day early for the training.

Camera Operator duties include:

We have several very extraordinary and experienced past camera operators, Reed, Lindy and Brentt, that will do an orientation for you and share how they've set up the tech.

If you would like to volunteer for these services to the sangha, please email retreats@dhammadena.org and tell us a little about your experience with these roles.

Thank you!