The Yoga of Pleasure and the Path with Heart

with Dr. Marc Gafni and Sally Kempton

March 5th - March 7th

Pacific Grove, CA

We often don’t realize the connection between pleasure and enlightenment. Yet one of the secrets of true spiritual growth is to move into, not away from, our deepest sources of pleasure.

Pleasure is the natural doorway into spirit. By knowing your own pleasure, and how to explore and expand it into its divine source, you can enter directly into the truth. When we are cut off from the depth of our pleasure, we are also cut off from our own heart, and our own truth. 

The tantric traditions understand that all pleasure comes from and leads into a divine source. They unfolded a yoga of pleasure and a path to transformation based on recognizing and entering deeply into subtler and subtler levels of enjoyment. As we learn and practice the yoga of pleasure, we awaken to the heart of our own joy, we begin to find the real the pleasure that reveals itself in every moment of life—even the tough moments.

 
We all experience levels of pleasure, and at every level, there is a way to go deeper. From the physical pleasure of eating, dancing, or using your body well, to the subtler joys of love, creativity and service, to the ultimate pleasure described by the sages, we can learn how to make pleasure a path to the heart.

The weekend includes talks, meditations, contemplation practice, partner work and chant.

You will learn:

• The five levels of pleasure and their secrets

• The thirteen principles of pleasure

• How to use each dimension of pleasure as both a way to engage your life and a doorway into the divine

• Opening to pleasure in the midst of the pain

• Meditations on pleasure

• Finding your own sources of pleasure

• Keeping your heart open even through hurt

Dr. Marc Gafni is a rabbi and iconoclastic teacher of Kabbalah and Evolutionary Spirituality. He is a core founder and faculty member of iEvolve Global Practice Community as well as director of the Integral Life Spiritual Center of Integral Life. He has written seven books, including the national bestseller Soul Prints, and The Mystery of Love, a Kabbalistic exploration of the relationship between the sexual, the erotic, and the sacred. Gafni's teaching is marked by a deep transmission of open heart, love and leading edge provocative wisdom. Gafni's path of personal evolution, in both the agony and the ecstasy of  what he calls "sacred autobiography," woven together with profound reverence and reading of sacred texts have formed the context for his personal realization. It is from this place of broken-hearted humility, radical joy and sacred audacity that he teaches.

Sally Kempton, formerly known as Swami Durgananda, is recognized as a powerful meditation guide and as a spiritual teacher who integrates yogic philosophy with daily life. She is the author of The Heart of Meditation, and writes the popular Wisdom column for Yoga Journal. A teacher in the tantric tradition of Kashmir Shaivism Sally conducts conducts workshops and retreats on applied philosophy and meditation. She is also a core founder and faculty of iEvolve: Global Practice Community.

The Yoga of Pleasure and the Path with Heart

with Dr. Marc Gafni and Sally Kempton

March 5th - March 7th

Pacific Coast Church

Pacific Grove, CA

Schedule

We will begin Friday, March 5th at 6:00pm with Registration and the night will commence promptly at 7pm. We will end the night at 10pm.

Saturday will go from 9am-9pm. Sunday will go from 9am-5pm. We ask that you attend the entire event and plan your travel arrangements accordingly.

Lodging

There are a number of area hotels and inns available for lodging:

Seven Gables Inn

Gosby House Inn

Pacific Grove Inn

Sunset Inn Hotel

Lover's Point Inn

Sea Breeze Inn Monterey

Supplies

Please bring with you a journal and pen, water bottle, and anything else you may need during our time together.