Awakening in Troubled Times
A Daylong Retreat in Cambridge with Henry Shukman
Lesley University, Cambridge, MA
May 4, 2025 | 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM
Awaken to true nature, in the midst of challenging times.
In-person
Why here, why now?
A note from Henry:
“In the midst of challenging times, practice sometimes can feel furthest from our minds. But moments of stress, anxiety and hardship can be the very gateways to a deeper awareness – and to awakening to who we really are.”
In collaboration with the Institute for Meditation and Psychotherapy and the Center for Mindfulness and Compassion, this daylong retreat is a unique opportunity to reconnect – with stillness, with presence, and with fellow meditators.
What to expect on a daylong retreat?
Henry will lead you through guided meditations to help transform our understanding of the challenges of our lives – and turn them into the very fuel of practice. There will also be periods of silent practice. Henry will offer his unique teachings, combining both ancient wisdom and modern knowledge of meditation. There will be an extended Q&A with Henry to have your practice questions answered. Lastly, and perhaps most importantly, there will be plenty of chances to connect with others on a similar path, sharing personal experiences and insights with each other.
How can we awaken in the midst of upheaval?
In the turbulence of 8th-century China, the poet Du Fu wrote: “The nation is shattered. Mountains and rivers remain.” Even in crisis, he saw two worlds — one of turmoil, the other of quiet endurance. He learned to live in both. In this retreat, Henry will guide us through what it means to awaken in an uncertain world. Through meditation, we can root ourselves in stillness, even as the winds of change move around us.
What you’ll learn from Henry?
We’ll explore the four main zones of practice — Mindfulness, Connectedness, Flow, and Awakening — found in The Way app and Henry’s book, Original Love. These foundational aspects of meditation offer explorations from the heart, of themes and practices that are central to developing and following a wholesome meditation practice. By immersing ourselves in shared stillness, we open to a deeper sense of rest and ease, allowing a more profound connection with our true nature to emerge. Through practice, reflection, and community, these retreats accelerate our journey toward a more wholehearted and awakened way of being.
A collaborative retreat with IMP and CMC
This retreat is a collaboration with the Institute for Meditation and Psychotherapy (IMP), and the Center for Mindfulness and Compassion (CMC). IMP is a non-profit dedicated to the education and training of mental health professionals in the integration of mindfulness meditation and psychotherapy. CMC is part of the Cambridge Health Alliance (CHA) healthcare system, a Harvard Medical School (HMS) teaching hospital. The CMC is a pioneering research institution that works to integrate evidence-based mindfulness and compassion interventions into the healthcare system itself.
Student feedback from Henry’s recent retreats
I loved listening to Henry, the guided meditation and meditating with this Sangha. I enjoyed the atmosphere with its lightness and depths and still feel it inside.
The way Henry Shukman ‘landed’ us into deeper levels of consciousness — often using poetry as a vehicle for getting us there. And allowing us collectively to notice and sit with that shift without saying a word.
The immersive nature of the day. The sense of community. Henry’s teaching was real and helpful. The meditation was powerful.
Awakening in Troubled Times
- Guided meditations, short lectures, and poetry readings by Henry to deepen your practice.
- Live Q&A time with Henry
- Subscribe to The Way app to enjoy a 20% discount on all live events. Book through the app’s Events page to claim your discounted price. Click here from your mobile phone to go the Events page. For any questions, email [email protected].
Event Details
Cost: $150
When: Sunday May 4, 10am – 4pm
Where: Washburn Auditorium, Lesley University, Cambridge, MA
Questions?
If you have any questions about this retreat, please contact our programs manager, Jeremy. We’re happy to answer any questions and look forward to having you join us!
Student Rate & Scholarships
We have a reduced student rate available for this retreat, as well as a limited number of scholarships for non-students. Please email our retreats manager Jeremy for details about the student rate, and how to apply for a scholarship.
Subscribe to The Way app to enjoy a 20% discount on all live events. Book through the app’s Events page to claim your discounted price. Click here from your mobile phone to go the Events page. For any questions, email [email protected].
About your teacher
Henry Shukman
Henry is an authorized Zen Master in the Sanbo Zen lineage, the co-founder of The Way meditation app, and the Spiritual Director Emeritus of Mountain Cloud Zen Center in Santa Fe, New Mexico. In addition to teaching meditation, Henry is an award-winning author and poet. His struggles and traumatic experiences as a youth, combined with a spontaneous awakening experience at 19, paved the way for Henry to develop a well-rounded approach to healing and awakening through meditation.
