Balancing Heaven and Earth in Everyday Life:
Realizing the Extraordinary; Living in the Ordinary
Exploring harmony, balance, and presence through QigongDharma
You are warmly invited to a daylong retreat of stillness, movement, and inquiry, where ancient Qigong and Dao Yin practices harmonize with Dharma teachings.
You are warmly invited to a daylong retreat of stillness, movement, and inquiry, where ancient Qigong and Dao Yin practices harmonize with timeless Dharma teachings.
Together, we will explore the dynamic relationship between Heaven—the vast, spacious nature of being—and Earth—our grounded, embodied, everyday lives. Through these practices, we discover how balance infuses the ordinary with extraordinary presence, clarity, and meaning.
The intention of this retreat is to deepen sensitivity to the living field of Qi (life energy), while we recognize and embody the interface of form and emptiness, the sacred and the mundane, as one integrated continuum.
We will cultivate practices that harmonize body, mind, heart, and environment, and strengthen community connection and shared inquiry within a supportive contemplative field.
Retreat Details
Date & Time: Saturday, November 15, 2025, 10:00 AM – 3:00 PM
Location: SuBud Center, 100 Sacramento Ave, San Anselmo, CA 94960
SuBud is a spiritual practice center that features a spacious 3,200 sq. ft. main hall, an additional rest area, kitchen facilities, and an outside shaded picnic area. It is adjacent to Sorich Park trails, a natural setting for reflection and renewal.
Arrival: SuBud Center will open at 9:30 AM. Please arrive early, settle in, and be ready to begin promptly at 10:00 AM.
Departure: Retreat concludes at 3:00 PM. Participants and helpers will tidy close up by 3:30 PM.
Capacity: Limited to 40 participants. A waiting list will be available once full.
Flow of the Day
This is the schedule for the day, and it remains flexible; however, it is the general rhythm day.
9:30 – 10:00 AM Arrival, check-in, tea, and settling.
10:00 – 10:30 AM Opening circle: orientation, intention setting, and refuge in practice.
10:30 – 11:30 AM Morning Qigong & Dao Yin practice: cultivating balance between Heaven and Earth.
11:30 – 11:45 AM Silent break, for tea, reflection, or quiet walking.
11:45 AM – 12:15 PM Dharma teaching: embodying stillness in movement, movement in stillness.
12:15 – 1:00 PM Lunch break and community connection. (option for outdoor practice and personal silence if desired).
1:00 – 1:30 PM Guided sitting meditation: resting in the ordinary as extraordinary.
1:30 – 2:15 PM Afternoon Qigong (standing and seated): harmonizing inner and outer life — practices for everyday integration.
2:15 – 2:45 PM Dialogue, inquiry, and reflections in community — exploring lived questions.
2:45 – 3:00 PM Closing practice, dedication of merit, metta blessing!
Accessibility: This center offers easy access throughout the facility and the outdoor dining area, and is suitable for all levels of mobility.
Please bring comfortable clothing for movement, sitting, and outdoor walking. Also bring a bag lunch, snacks, water bottle, journal, and a cushion or mat if desired. Chairs are provided, but cushions are not.
Our Community Agreement is to create a shared container of respect and presence. This includes honoring periods of silence, listening deeply, and holding space for one another’s practice.
Throughout the day, revisit the metaphor of releasing into spaciousness (Heaven) while being grounded in stability and presence (Earth). Remember that balance is fluid and not fixed; it is not an abstract concept but a highly practical, embodied presence when applied to work, relationships, and personal challenges.
This is the final in-person retreat of 2025—a time to gather, reflect, and renew together. In these poignant and challenging times, we invite you to fully engage in this rare opportunity for embodied community practice.
All are warmly welcome.
Cancellation Policy
If we need to cancel for some reason, we will refund your admission in full. If you need to cancel, please consider your registration fees to be a donation to Teja Bell. Thank you.
