Awakening DharmaTeachings of Stephen Snyder
Awakening Dharma
Date: September–December 2023
Online, via Zoom
Dates:
Four Sundays
September 10th ~ October 15th
November 5th ~ December 10th
Time:
12–4 pm US Eastern time
Investment:
$120 Subsidized ~ $240 Sustaining ~ $480 Supporting
Zen Precepts Exploration
The Zen Buddhist precepts are wholesome guides for Awakened living. Each precept points to ways of viewing our behavior, as well as furthering the functioning of the Absolute.
In this four-part online retreat series, we will read, review, and reflect upon the layered meanings and personal application of each Zen Buddhist precept. The focus of the program is to reveal the multi-layers of meaning each person can discover when relating to a particular precept and how we can incorporate the precept into our living more directly from truth, while leaving as little karmic wake behind us on our journey.
The format of the retreat includes:
Investment: Suggested contribution of $120, $240, or $480.
Register Now: app.ruzuku.com/courses/89252/about
Next Steps:
In early 2024, Stephen will be offering Jukai—the giving and receiving of the precepts to students. This would be a requirement for anyone wishing to take Jukai with me starting next year.
Jukai is a ceremony of receiving the precepts, joining the Zen lineage with Stephen and confirming the ongoing personal student-teacher relationship with Stephen, while receiving a dharma name from Stephen on your hand-sewn rakusu.
Those interested in Jukai should contact Stephen for a one-on-one appointment to discuss the timing and appropriateness of this ancient and sacred ceremony.
Stephen Doetsu Snyder is a retired attorney and a senior meditation teacher in the Buddhist Theravada and Zen traditions. He is the author of Demystifying Awakening, Buddha’s Heart, and co-author of Practicing the Jhanas. He works with students worldwide as well as leading online and in-person retreat in the U.S., the U.K., and Europe.
Date: September 23rd & 24th, 2023
Online, via Zoom
To join, visit www.dharmachanics.com
Date: October 10th & 11th, 2023
Online, via Zoom
9am–1pm US Pacific Time / 12–4pm US Eastern Time
Investment: $60 Subsidized, $120 Sustaining, or $240 Supporting.
Extending from the teaching and practices offered in the Accessing the Absolute retreats, this two-day retreat will move deeper into peace and stillness. We will focus on the Absence (emptiness) qualities of the Absolute paying particular attention to peace, silence and stillness. We will cultivate these qualities of the Absolute through group guided meditations, dharma talks, and time for comments and questions.
The retreat includes:
Stephen Doetsu Snyder is a retired attorney and a senior meditation teacher in the Buddhist Theravada and Zen traditions. He is the author of Demystifying Awakening, Buddha’s Heart, and co-author of Practicing the Jhanas. He works with students worldwide as well as leading online and in-person retreat in the U.S., the U.K., and Europe.
Investment: $60 Subsidized, $120 Sustaining, or $240 Supporting.
Register Now: app.ruzuku.com/courses/88795/about
Date: November 2023–April 2024
Online, via Zoom
9am–1pm US Pacific Time / 12–4pm US Eastern Time
Monthly on a Saturday
November 4 ~ December 9 ~ January 13
February 17 ~ March 16 ~ April 27
Investment:
For Six Months
$50 monthly ~ Standard, one-on-ones paid for, as needed
$125 monthly ~ Includes 30-minute one-on-one
$200 monthly ~ Includes 60-minute one-on-one
This six-month mentoring program is based on Stephen’s books Demystifying Awakening and Trust in Awakening .
The program is a wonderfully rare opportunity for dharma practitioners to deepen awareness and work with the common resistances to Awakening and realization, while opening to the profound awakenings possible in this kind of deep exploration with one-on-one support in a safe, holding container. To support this, the group will be limited in participation to maintain cohesion and intimacy.
The program will include:
Investment:
Register: app.ruzuku.com/courses/89515/about
Monthly Schedule:
We will meet one Saturday each month, from 12–4 pm US Eastern Time.
To check out your local time, please have a look here.
May 27 ~ June 24 ~July 8
August 5th ~ September 9th ~ October 14th
Date: November 21st & 22nd, 2023
Online, via Zoom
9am–1pm US Pacific Time / 12–4pm US Eastern Time
Investment: Suggested contribution of $60 Subsidized, $120 Sustaining, or $240 Supporting.
In this two-day retreat we will focus on the Absence (emptiness) qualities of the Absolute, the profound peace, the stunning stillness, and the non-conceptual contact with the Absolute on the path of Cessation. Cessation is the temporary ceasing of all mental and physical activity completely absorbing into the source of all reality.
The format of the retreat includes:
Stephen Doetsu Snyder is a retired attorney and a senior meditation teacher in the Buddhist Theravada and Zen traditions. He is the author of Demystifying Awakening, Buddha’s Heart, and co-author of Practicing the Jhanas. He works with students worldwide as well as leading online and in-person retreat in the U.S., the U.K., and Europe.
Investment: Suggested contribution of $60, $120, or $240.
Register Now: app.ruzuku.com/courses/88850/about
Date: December 6th & 7th, 2023
Online, via Zoom
9am–1pm US Pacific Time / 12–4pm US Eastern Time
Investment: Suggested contribution of $60 Subsidized, $120 Sustaining, or $240 Supporting.
In this two-day retreat we will focus on the unconditioned love quality of the Absolute through group guided meditations, dharma talks and comments and questions.
The format of the retreat includes:
Stephen Doetsu Snyder is a retired attorney and a senior meditation teacher in the Buddhist Theravada and Zen traditions. He is the author of Demystifying Awakening, Buddha’s Heart, and co-author of Practicing the Jhanas. He works with students worldwide as well as leading online and in-person retreat in the U.S., the U.K., and Europe.
Investment: Suggested contribution of $60, $120, or $240.
Register Now: app.ruzuku.com/courses/88884/about
Date: January–June 2024
Online, via Zoom.
Dates:
Six Saturdays
January 20 ~ February 10 ~ March 23
April 28 ~ May 18 ~ June 22
Time:
12–4 pm US Eastern time
Buddha’s Heart Mentoring Program
Stephen is pleased to offer this six-month mentoring program, focussed in the heart practices and based on his book Buddha’s Heart: Meditation Practice for Developing Well-being, Love, and Empathy.
This program is a precious opportunity for dharma practitioners to deepen heart awareness and work with the common resistances to deepening heart awareness, while opening to the profound awakenings possible in this kind of deep heart exploration with one-on-one support in a safe, holding container. To support this, the group will be limited in participation to maintain cohesion and intimacy.
The program will include:
Investment:
Monthly Schedule:
We will meet one Saturday each month, from 12–4 pm US Eastern Time.
January 20 ~ February 10 ~ March 23
April 28 ~ May 18 ~ June 22
Investment: $50, $120, or $240, monthly for six months.
Register Now: app.ruzuku.com/courses/89653/about
Stephen Doetsu Snyder is a retired attorney and a senior meditation teacher in the Buddhist Theravada and Zen traditions. He is the author of five books, including Demystifying Awakening, Buddha’s Heart, and Practicing the Jhanas. He works with students worldwide as well as leading online and in-person retreat in the U.S., the U.K., and Europe.
Date: January 2024–December 2025
Online, via Zoom
Monthly Schedule:
**Dates to follow, first and third Monday dates may shift from time to time to support scheduling commitments.**
– Group meeting the first Monday for 1.5 hours
– Group meeting the third Monday for 1 hour
– A 30-minute one-on-one with Stephen
– A 60-minute peer group check-in
Investment:
$2,500 annually, for a total of $5,000 USD.
A limited number of partial scholarships are available.
Buddha’s Heart Two-Year Teacher Training Program
To be a teacher is to commit to being “in service” to the Dharma, the teachings, the body of meditations and practices, and to students.
This two-year program will include an in-depth exploration of the brahmavihāra practices as conveyed in Stephen’s book Buddha’s Heart along with a thorough exploration and examination of resistances to these true nature’s heart qualities. You will learn how to present each of the practices and meditations, as well as what to expect in public question periods.
Each month of the program will include:
Those interested in this program would:
The two-year investment for this program is $2,500 annually, for a total of $5,000 USD. A limited number of partial scholarships are available.
Those who complete the two-year program will be authorized to teach evening talks and 1–2 day retreats. Those who feel drawn to can continue their teacher training one-on-one with Stephen to learn to lead longer retreats and teach other subjects.
Being a teacher is a calling. It can be richly rewarding and simultaneously quite demanding. There may be people who elect to participate in the program for their own development and, ultimately, do not feel called to teach.
If you have not worked with Stephen previously or recently a Zoom interview may be requested to determine if this program is the right fit for your practice experience. Please write to hello@awakeningdharma.org if you’d like to arrange a Zoom interview prior to application.
Date: January 17th & 16th, 2024
Online, via Zoom
9am–1pm US Pacific Time / 12–4pm US Eastern Time
Investment: Suggested contribution of $60 Subsidized, $120 Sustaining, or $240 Supporting.
The Brahmavihāras, or Divine Abodes, are ancient Buddhist heart meditations, and related practices, that reveal and awaken our deepest nature’s heart qualities. During this two-day, we will explore the meditations, practices, and common resistances to these four heart qualities: Equanimity (Uppekhā), Empathetic Joy (Muditā), Compassion (Karuṇā), and Loving-Kindness (Mettā).
The format of the retreat includes:
Stephen Doetsu Snyder is a retired attorney and a senior meditation teacher in the Buddhist Theravada and Zen traditions. He is the author of Demystifying Awakening, Buddha’s Heart, and co-author of Practicing the Jhanas. He works with students worldwide as well as leading online and in-person retreat in the U.S., the U.K., and Europe.
Investment: Suggested contribution of $60, $120, or $240.
Register Now: app.ruzuku.com/courses/89514/about