Mindfulness for Busy People: On the Cushion and Off the Cushion

with Grahame White

It is often thought that meditation needs a special time and place to be successful. On the contrary, if meditation is to help us to resolve our suffering while we function in life, then it needs to be a dynamic activity, part, and parcel of our daily experience. Mindfulness helps us observe with more clarity and awareness, the movements of the mind. With an increase of awareness, you will notice that even in our busy lives, mindfulness will act like a break on the mind. This helps us to not get caught up with the fast-moving thoughts and emotive patterns we experience in daily life. Bringing the mind more peace and equanimity.

In this residential weekend retreat, at the beautiful grounds of Kahumana Café & Retreat Center, in Waianae, Hawai'i on O'ahu, you will learn and practice Vipassana (Mindfulness) Meditation. As well as formal sitting practice, you will learn strategies that will help bring the practice firmly into daily life. Various exercises and strategies will be taught to facilitate this goal.

Kahumana Retreat Center is an organic farm bed and breakfast with on-site cafe. All meals are included, which consist of grown on the farm or locally sourced ingredients. Gluten-free and vegan options will be provided in addition to vegetarian meals. Because it is a bed and breakfast, no yogi jobs will be assigned. All rooms consist of beds, no futons, with single, double, or four beds to a room and shared bathrooms. Each of the two houses has a kitchen and lounge area. Grounds are beautiful with quiet grounds for walking meditation. Kahumana Retreat Center has one of the Bodhi Tree descendants from the tree the Buddha sat under the night of his enlightenment. Come experience the possibility of your own enlightenment!

Grahame White has been involved in Buddhist meditation practice for over 40 years. He began his study in England in 1969 before being ordained as a Buddhist monk for one year in BodhGaya, India in 1971. He took a primary role in the establishment of Vipassana meditation in the tradition of Mahasi Sayadaw in Australia and co-founded the Blue Mountains Insight Meditation Center outside Sydney. Now, Grahame leads introductory and day-long courses in Sydney and regularly teaches longer intensive retreats in the US. Grahame has been leading and co-teaching retreats with Sayadw U Lakkhana, Steven Smith, and Michele McDonald, as well as helping to guide the Hawai’i sangha in its ongoing practice. He has also helped pioneer a workshop format that enhances the transfer of mindfulness from the formal sitting practice into daily life. Grahame returns to Myanmar (Burma) each year in order to deepen his practice and study of the Buddha’s teachings and at times assist in the teaching of Vipassana retreats for foreigners. Grahame teaches a classical tradition of insight meditation with a relaxed, accessible style.

Teacher dana - In accordance with tradition, all Vipassana Hawai’i internationally respected teachers offer their guidance and teachings free of charge and are supported through the freely-offered generosity of students and supporters. Costs associated with retreats cover the expenses associated with food, lodging, and administration but not teacher time, training, effort, or energy. We believe that this commitment helps keep the purity of the teachings alive and thriving, as it has for millennia. They do not collect salaries in keeping with the time-honored tradition of sharing openly the chance for peace. This allows us to pass on our direct facility costs and keep our registration fees as low as possible. As a result, we strive to give back in monetary gratitude so that they may continue their endeavors and share their wisdom. 

Pictures from the Kahumana Cafe:

Please note our Cancellation Policy:

If you cancel more than 45 days prior to the retreat: We will refund all fees less paypal fees - usually $50.00- $60.00
If you cancel 14-44 days prior to the retreat: We will refund all fees less $100.00.
If you cancel less than 14 days prior to the event: Unfortunately we cannot afford to offer a refund. Last-minute cancelations are costly and sometimes mean that others cannot attend the retreat. If there are extreme circumstances and we have someone else to fill your spot, we may be able to support some kind of refund.