The First Noble Truth is not a philosophical statement; it is a guidance for life and for meditation practice. Turn towards, look at, suffering. Inherent in this teaching is the Buddhas guidance that the only way out is through: denial and avoidance will not work. Meditation itself can be a path of avoidance, as can so many worldly distractions and addictions. On this Insight Dialogue retreat we are committed to turning towards Dukkha with the support of silent meditation, wisdom teachings, and each other.

The meditation instruction Relax encompasses releasing muscle tension, accepting and allowing present moment experience, tranquility, concentration, and metta. Since the tension of clinging (upadana) is the condition for the arising of becoming, this meditation instruction on relaxing and accepting is central to the process of knowing and releasing the process of self-making.