The Art of Thinking: Awakening Your Genius Through the Science of Mindfulness

Join Shaun Nanavati and Erica Saccente at Menla Retreat and Dewa Spa in Phoenicia, New York for “The Art of Thinking: Awakening Your Genius Through the Science of Mindfulness”, an all-levels weekend retreat.

“The aim of science is not to open the door to infinite wisdom, but to set a limit to infinite error.”

– Bertolt Brecht, Life of Galileo (1939)

The Art of Thinking brings you the next wave of mindful awareness.  Based on Dr. Thurman’s translation of the original mindfulness sutra and the Dalai Lama’s own insights into the role of memory on action, this enlightening three-day retreat provides advanced Third Wave mindfulness teachings.  This experience – limited to 20 people – also offers participants the opportunity to find out how mindful they really are.  Our patent-pending MF Score* offers the first comprehensive measure of mindfulness, utilizing advanced tools of both neuroscience (parasympathetic measurement) and neuropsychology (insights into executive function and intelligence factors).

Can we reliably make good decisions? We all want to be successful in a difficult situation, and that depends upon clear thinking. In an age of kindergarten psychology dominating public discourse and even our views of ourselves and others, valid cognition has never been more important, and the means to attain that level has never been more needed and precious. Use insights to customize your approach to gain maximum results.

The retreat includes comfortable and clean sleeping arrangements, artisanal meals, enlightening conversation, and beautiful nature hikes. Participants will walk away with knowledge of the Maha-satipatthana Sutta (Great Discourse on the Foci of Mindfulness), the four foci of mindful awareness, and specific teachings on the nature of memory and mind. This retreat will emphasize dialogue and reflection, and application of the Buddhist Three-Fold Analysis will be practiced along with guided meditation. On Saturday evening, we will also be treated to a live sitar concert.

Recommended Text: “The Foundation of Buddhist Practice” by H.H. Dalai Lama and Thubten Chodron.

*Do you know how mindful you are? The Thurman Institute, a new venture co-founded by Tibet House, is launching the Mindfulness Quotient (MFQ), its mindfulness measurement technology, during this retreat. Retreat attendees will have the opportunity to measure their mindfulness using a patent-pending technology and AI that integrates four different metrics and a battery of tests to provide arguably the world’s first holistic measurement of mindfulness. Be part of the select group who will be among the very first to have this opportunity!

Schedule

Friday, September 27th

• 3 – 6 pm  Check-in
• 6 – 7 pm  Dinner
• 7:30 – 9:30pm  Introductory Talk: Science of Mindful Awareness

Saturday, September 28th

• 7 – 8 am  Yoga
• 8 – 9 am  Breakfast
• 10 am  – 12 pm  Workshop: The Maha-Satipatthana Sutta and the Four Foci of Mindful Awareness
• 12 – 1 pm  Lunch
• 1 – 3 pm  Free Time for Nature Bathing, Spa Treatments, and Creative Development
• 3 – 6 pm  Workshop: Gaining Non-deceptive Knowledge
• 6 – 7 pm  Dinner
• 7:30 – 9:30 pm  Live Classical Indian Music Concert

Sunday, September 29th

• 7 – 8 am  Yoga
• 8 – 9 am  Breakfast
• 7 – 11am  Check-out of Rooms
• 10 – 12 pm  Reflection and Discussion: Real-Life Applications
• 12 – 1pm  Lunch and Departure

Schedule is subject to change at any time.