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SACRED ACTIVISM for Palestine: A Retreat for Healing Within
with teachers Dina Abou Aish and Arinna Weisman
and supported by Dalit Baum
November 21-24, 2024
“Rarely if ever, are any of us healed in isolation. Healing is an act of communion.”
- bell hooks (African American feminist activist)
This is a Dharma-centered retreat for activists and their allies working for an end to the genocide and for justice in Palestine and neighboring regions. It is a dedicated time to go within, call upon and regenerate the beautiful heart qualities—such as radical compassion, inner peace, and unlimited kindness—to strengthen our capacity to hold our immense grief and sorrow, release obstructions of the heart such as fear, hatred or shame, and alchemize our anger—to allow continued and sustainable activism (or “sumud” as Palestinians say) as a form of sacred action for justice, dignity and freedom.
We do not have to do this alone! After so many months of grieving, disbelief and urgent organizing, we can come together to resource and heal, rebalance and strengthen, and allow the blessing of our collective energy to root and deepen the qualities of faith, joy and love.
This four-day residential retreat will include:
· Guided meditations (supporting present-moment mindfulness, embodied awareness, self-compassion and compassion, loving-kindness, peace)
· Dharma talks with Buddhist wisdom and personal reflection
· Extended periods of noble silence
· Opportunities for speaking and witnessing in facilitated small and large groups
· Communing with the natural flora and fauna of the beautiful open desert landscape
· Guided body movement (such as Yoga and Qigong)
· Healthy meals prepared with love
· Periods for solitary reflection (which may include journaling) as well as solidarity (which may include singing)
It is appropriate for novice as well as experienced meditators, activists at any level and their allies.
“The night, no matter how long, will continue
to give birth to star after star
and my life continues,
my life continues.”
-Face Lost in the Wilderness by Fadwa Tuqan, Palestinian feminist poet
Teachers
Teachers
Dina Abou Aish, Ed.D has been practicing meditation for over ten years and credits it with a profound change in the experience of her life. She has completed a number of training courses, conferences, and retreats in mindfulness and Vipassana meditation at InsightLA, Spirit Rock Meditation Center, and UCLA Mindful Awareness Research Center, to name a few. She has also studied Tibetan Buddhism in the tradition of Chogyam Trungpa Rinpoche and Pema Chodron. Dina is a graduate of the InisghtLA Facilitator Training Program. She has been an elementary school teacher for fifteen years and currently teaches pre-service elementary teachers at the college level, as well as leads professional development for educators within various schools and districts. She holds both Master’s and Doctorate degrees in Education. Dina also enjoys creative endeavors such as writing, painting, and dance.
Arinna Weisman has studied insight meditation since 1979 and has been teaching since 1989. Her root teacher is Ruth Denison who was empowered by the great Burmese lay teacher Sayagyi U Ba Khin. She is the founding teacher of Insight Meditation Center of the Pioneer Valley and the Guiding Teacher at Dhamma Dena. She is co-author of the book, A Beginner’s Guide to Insight Meditation and a contributor to Women Practicing Buddhism: American Experiences, edited by Peter Gregory and Susanne Mrozik. She is tentatively returning to some teaching while continuing to heal from chemo/radiation.
Retreat Info
Retreat Info
Dana
Dana
This retreat is offered freely at no cost. Dana is a word in the ancient Pali language which means Generous Giving, which the Buddha tells us is a heart quality that arises from our gratitude and deep connection to each other. All of the teachers on this retreat are offering their time and knowledge on a Dana basis and receive no compensation. The practice of Dana, is part of the Buddhist legacy that has been passed down for over 2,500 years, beginning in Asia and continuing till today. Historically, teachers at monasteries would offer teachings out of generosity, and the community would support the teachers and the centers, generously giving to the level of their ability.
The teachers and the center, in offering the teachings and retreat freely, are acting in a manner that reflects their alignment with the Buddhist teachings and their mutual interdependence with the community. In addition, the practice of Dana invites us to disrupt the transactional consumer economy where everything and everyone is commodified and to live into a world where we can support all beings, and the planet, through generosity and care. You can make donations to Dhamma Dena at any time through paypal or venmo, or by sending a check to: Dhamma Dena, PO Box 183, Joshua Tree, CA 92252. Please write "New Years Retreat" in the memo. You are invited to offer the teachers and the cook dana at the end of the retreat.
Covid Protocols
Covid Protocols
In order to attend this retreat, a negative Covid-19 rapid test upon arrival is required.
Please review our full COVID-19 Protocols for a residential retreat here.
Important Dhamma Dena Policies
Important Dhamma Dena Policies
Before attending a retreat at Dhamma Dena, please also review our important policies.
Questions? Please contact us at retreats@dhammadena.org
Retreat FAQ
Retreat FAQ
What time should I plan to arrive and depart?
The retreat begins the evening of November 21st and ends at lunch on November 24th. Please feel free to arrive anytime during the day before 5pm on Thursday, November 21st so that you can acclimate to your housing, our center, and the desert. We’ll be doing registration from 2-5pm, followed by a light dinner meal at 5:30pm, and the retreat orientation at 7:15pm after the meal. The retreat will close before lunch on Sunday, November 24th. There is also the opportunity to stay until Monday morning to continue practicing beyond the retreat and Arinna will be staying to support those who stay on. If you would like to arrive a day early or stay a day later to help with set up and clean up please email us at retreats@dhammadena.org.
What is the nearest airport to the center?
Palm Springs International Airport (PSP) is the closest airport and is a little over an hour away. Ontario (ONT) is the second closed airport (about an hour and a half away) and sometimes has cheaper flight options, however we are unable to do pick ups and drop offs there.
Will I be able to get a ride to and from the airport to the center?
We offer rides to and from the Palm Springs International Airport (PSP) for $30 each way. You can specify that you need to be picked up or dropped off in your registration and we will contact you to arrange that. You can also email us at retreats@dhammadena.org. Please be prepared to wait for consolidated pick-ups and drop-offs and please avoid late night or early morning arrivals and departures. There will also be a retreat carpool/ride share and encourage retreatants to support each other and the center by offering each other rides to and from the retreat.
Does this retreat include food and lodging? What will those be like?
Yes, this retreat includes lodging and 3 vegetarian meals daily, prepared by retreat cook extraordinaire, Parisa Ghaderi. Dhamma Dena has been lovingly (and often creatively) built by Ruth Denison’s students over the course of the last forty years. The structures and atmosphere can be described as rustic, quirky, beautiful and a work in progress. There is a main house where the kitchen and the office are located, the zendo (or meditation hall), two main houses for retreatants, as well as a range of other structures and trailers to stay in. On the grounds, there is also a walking labyrinth as well as four outhouses, two outdoor showers and a bathhouse. Residents are provided with either their own room or trailer or a shared room or trailer and access to single stall shared bathrooms as well as outhouses and outdoor showers around the land. Housing options depend on what is available at the time you arrive. Please let us know if you have accessibility needs around your housing before you come. We have a very limited number of single rooms, so please only request this if it is absolutely necessary for you. Camping on the land or staying in your van/RV are also options.
I’m on a special diet. Will I be able to cook my own meals?
Food provided for retreatants will include options for a variety of diets, and we ask that you indicate your dietary needs in the registration form so we can meet them. We do have kitchens available if your diet requires that you cook your own meal. Please indicate this is what you plan to do on your registration form (or email us at retreats@dhammadena.org) so we can arrange a kitchen for you to use.
How much dana should I give?
There is no one answer to this question. We encourage you to give dana according to your heart and your means and to cultivate and appreciate the beautiful quality of generosity within. The center, the teachers and the cooks offer their services freely and receive no payment other than what the community gives to support them and to support the teachings to continue to be given freely into the future.
Can I bring my dog or pet?
No, we cannot accommodate dogs or other pets on this retreat. If you have a service animal as described in the American Disabilities Act, please let us know as soon as possible so we can reserve you an appropriate room.
Is this retreat wheelchair accessible? Will it meet my access needs?
Yes, the facilities are wheelchair accessible, offering two ADA bedrooms and bathrooms and a fragrance free environment. Please let us know your access needs when registering. Dhamma Dena is committed to making the center accessible to all who would like to come.
What do I need to bring?
Loose and comfortable clothes, suitable for both moderate and cold weather
Slip on shoes for going in and out of buildings more easily
Shoes suitable for hiking in the desert
Sunglasses
Sun hat
Sunblock lotion
Water bottle
Flashlight or headlamp
Alarm Clock (we have additional alarm clocks to borrow from the office, as you are asked to check in or put away your mobile phone for the retreat)
Toiletries and personal hygiene products – please avoid all fragrances (see the Fragrance Free Policy)
Warm outerwear as evenings and mornings can be quite chilly in the desert
Optional but highly recommended: fragrance free lip balm, body lotion or oil (skin gets dry in the desert), gloves & scarves, umbrella & rain gear, your personal meditation cushions/benches (the Zendo is well-stocked with a wide variety of these, as well as chairs, so you don't need to bring your own unless you wish)
Sheets and towels will be provided but you’re welcome to bring your own
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