Sounds of Silence: The Power of Mindful Music & Chanting with Satigata (Residential Only)

With Darren Becker and Satigata

Join Chris Berlin, Darren Becker, and the members of their band, Satigata, for an exploration of how sound and musical expression can emerge from contemplative practice.

Satigata is a Pali term that roughly translates to “moving into mindfulness.” We’ll explore this by inquiring:

• What does it mean to use music and chanting to foster our sense of mindful awareness? 
• What is it like to come together in community to allow melodies, harmonies and rhythms to emerge from the vast space of silence? 
• How does music enhance sacred teachings and mantras, bringing to life the wisdom that they transmit?

Please join us to: 

• Practice core mindfulness meditations
• Create sound together without any pretense of performance
• Learn basics in breath, voice, rhythm and improvisation

Satigata will use its own material as a platform for exploration, bringing together spiritual themes in their music with the practice of engaging songs and chants creatively. No musical knowledge required and no one will ever be put on the spot to perform musically! Instead, this is an invitation to explore how musical expression may arise naturally for you with the help of a few resources and a sense of communal presence.

You may bring your own (small) musical instruments but none are required.

Satigata is a unique blend of modern rock, folk and traditional Buddhist-oriented chanting dedicated to creating an atmosphere of depth, devotion, energy and mindfulness through sound, original songs, and interactive chanting. With its roots in the Harvard Divinity School Buddhist community, Satigata conveys an uplifting contemplative spirit incorporating guitars, wind instruments, various forms of hand percussion, Tibetan bowls and bells, and other eclectic instruments. They are frequent visitors to NDF and Wonderwell events, and play regularly throughout the New England area. Their first album, “Boundless,” was released in 2018 with an upcoming follow-up album, “Heart of Refuge,” to be released this year in 2025. For more information, visit: www.Satigata.com.

Typical Retreat Schedule

(All times are Eastern time zone)

First Day — Orientation at 6:45 pm. Opening session begins around 7:00 pm.

Full-Day Schedule — Morning meditation 7:00 am; Breakfast break 8:0-9:30 am; Lunch break 12:00-2:00 pm; Dinner break 5:30-7:00 pm. Evening session 7:00-8:30 pm

Last Day —The closing session end at 12:00 pm.

These times are just for reference. An expanded schedule will be provided in pre-retreat information emailed during the week prior to the event.

Important Health Information

The NDF Health Committee continues to monitor evolving public health conditions and trends, as we keep the safety of our Sangha at the forefront of our decision-making. At this time, COVID-19 testing is no longer required. Masks are optional and encouraged if you are at higher risk. We encourage you to stay at home if you are symptomatic to protect others.

Scholarships

Cancellation Policy

We understand that personal circumstances may require you to cancel your registration. In these cases, please contact us right away at register@naturaldharma.org. Cancellations affect our ability to offer rooms to others and create additional work for our staff, therefore we charge the following fees to help mitigate these costs.

For cancellations (based on program start date):

• > 45 days: 100% refund minus a $75 admin. fee.
• 31-45 days: 50% refund of the required deposit; or 75% refund if registration paid in full.
• 21-30 days: 50% refund of total registration cost
• < 21 days: nonrefundable

If you must cancel due to an emergency or extenuating circumstances, please contact us at register@naturaldharma.org.

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