The Fire That Sustains:
A Daylong Retreat with Sharon Salzberg & nico hase
Saturday, May 9th
10 am to 4 pm pacific time
What keeps you going when the path gets difficult?
Virya parami—energy or effort—is the fire that powers spiritual practice. But this isn't the frantic, burnout-inducing effort of our achievement-obsessed culture. This is the steady, sustainable energy that comes from aligning with what matters most.
True spiritual energy is renewable because it flows from love rather than fear, from inspiration rather than obligation. It's the difference between pushing a boulder uphill and sailing with the wind at your back.
What We’ll Explore Together
In this one-day online retreat, Sharon & nico will explore virya parami in practice—discovering the renewable energy that flows from alignment.
The day will begin with an hour of conversation and an opening talk around the theme. We'll then sit and walk for four hours in lightly guided practice, before reconvening for a closing talk and further dialogue.
A Full Path of Practice—Rooted in Community
🪴Monthly Daylongs – This is the fifth in an annual series of ten online daylongs offered by Refuge of Belonging, a dharma community rooted in presence and open to all.
🪴The Paramis – The ten paramis are heart qualities that range from kindness and equanimity to resolve and letting go. They offer a time-tested path for cultivating what truly benefits both ourselves and others.
🪴Community – Refuge of Belonging is an online community offering a WhatsApp group, weekly dharma talks, monthly daylongs, quarterly classes, and an annual residential retreat—all designed to nourish and sustain your practice.
what people are saying
"Sharon is such a skilled, insightful, relatable and likable teacher – I always feel more grounded and lighter in spirit after listening to her podcasts, and walk away with tangible practice guidance."
— Leeann_in_CO, Apple Podcasts
"With his PhD in counseling psychology and his decades-long commitment to meditation and dharma practice, nico brings a unique depth and perspective to his mentoring and teaching. Working with him can help you make real changes, right now, in the midst of your busy life."
—Judson A. Brewer, MD PhD, Director of Research and Innovation, Brown University Mindfulness Center
Registration & Payment
Date: May 9th
Time: 10am to 4pm pacific time
Format: Online via Zoom
We offer these daylong retreats on a dana model. The suggested donation is $50 to $150 per session. We gratefully accept contributions of greater or lesser amounts, based on your resources.
Sharon Salzberg is a meditation pioneer, world-renowned teacher, and New York Times bestselling author. She is one of the first to bring mindfulness and lovingkindness meditation to mainstream American culture over 45 years ago, inspiring generations of meditation teachers and wellness influencers. Sharon is co-founder of the Insight Meditation Society in Barre, MA, where she sits on the guiding teachers’ Founders Council, and she is the author of twelve books, including the New York Times bestseller, Real Happiness, now in its second edition, and her seminal work, Lovingkindness. Her forthcoming release, Real Life: The Journey from Isolation to Openness and Freedom, is set for release in April of 2023 from Flatiron Books. Her podcast, The Metta Hour, has amassed six million downloads and features interviews with thought leaders from the mindfulness movement and beyond. www.sharonsalzberg.com
nico hase lived in a monastery for six years before earning a PhD in counseling psychology and becoming an Insight Meditation teacher full time. He currently mentors mindfulness teachers, teaches online and in-person retreats, and speaks with students in one-on-one sessions. He and his beloved life partner devon are the authors of How Not to Be a Hot Mess: A Buddhist Survival Guide for Modern Life.
