We invite you to join us for a rejuvenating and mindfulness wellness retreat at Blue Cliff Monastery in upstate New York, designed exclusively for AABANY. With the stress and demands of the legal profession, nurturing our mental and emotional well-being is essential.
This event aims to create a space for relaxation, reflection, and connection within our vibrant legal community. Prioritize your self-care and join us for a day of mindfulness and connection. The retreat is open to all AABANY members, family and friends.
Agenda:
The tentative agenda includes a series of programming aimed at meditation and mindfulness wellness, such as guided meditation sessions, a Dharma Talk, reflection and discussion, and networking.
Children ages 6 and older are welcome to join but it is recommended that children 12 and older attend certain guided meditation and mindfulness sessions. Blue Cliff will provide a mindfulness session for children ages 6 to 11 during certain sessions (if more than five children are in attendance). For children younger than 6 years of age, please note that Blue Cliff does not offer childcare, but there are spaces where younger children can play or relax during certain sessions (with supervision by the parents).
Lunch will be provided for all. If you have any food allergies or diet restrictions, please note it when you register.
The tentative agenda is as follows:
- 10:00 AM: Arrival and settle in - 10:15 AM - 11:00 AM: Meet at small hall for orientation, brief tour of sangha, introduction to meditation & mindfulness practices - 11:30 AM - 12:30 PM: Walking Meditation (outside unless weather dictates otherwise) - 12:30 PM - 1:30 PM: Mindful Lunch - Bookstore/gift shop opened after lunch
Option A (recommended) - 2:00 PM - 3:00 PM: Deep Relaxation - consists of laying down on your back while a monk guides you through a scan of your body. Recommended because it is hard to do this on your own without first being taught. - 3:15 PM - 4:45 PM: Dharma Talk - workshop on sharing meditation practices
Option B - 2:00 PM - 3:00 PM: Working Meditation - assist monks clean the sangha consisting of cleaning windows, sweeping, raking leaves, etc. - 3:15 PM - 4:45 PM: Dharma Talk - workshop on sharing meditation practices
- 4:45 PM - 5:00 PM: Wrap-up and end of retreat
Directions to Blue Cliff Monastery
By Car to Blue Cliff
Blue Cliff is located about two hours from New York City, two hours from Hartford, three hours from Philadelphia, and four hours from Boston. If using GPS, please note that “Mindfulness Road” is often listed as “Hotel Road.”
By Train to Blue Cliff via NJ Transit
Blue Cliff can easily be reached from the Middletown, NY train station (served by New Jersey Transit: 973-275-5555). A 30-minute taxi ride brings you to the monastery. See below for taxi information. From Penn Station in New York City, locate the New Jersey Transit terminal (not Amtrak) and take the Port Jervis Line. The train will stop at Secaucus Junction (SEC) where you must transfer to the train traveling to Middletown, NY. At Secaucus Junction, transfer to the Main/Bergen/Port Jervis Line to Middletown, NY. From Middletown Train Station, it is about a 30-minute taxi ride to Blue Cliff Monastery, 3 Mindfulness Road, Pine Bush, NY. See taxis listed below. At Secaucus Junction, be prepared to use your ticket again to enter the station. This is a large station and you will travel a distance to the track for your second train.
By Train to Blue Cliff via Metro-North Rail
Take the Hudson Line (green line) from Grand Central or Harlem 125th street stations and exit at Beacon Station. Take a Taxi/Uber/Lyft from the station to Blue Cliff. The train cost is exactly the same as transit via NJ Transit. The event is free for all attendees. However, we highly encourage participants to donate and support Blue Cliff Monastery: https://www.bluecliffmonastery.org/support-the-monastery. 
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