Awakin Call

In an era when old paradigms are dissolving and new ones have yet to take root, at our Awakin Retreat, we gather for one luminous evening to honor the "Bodhisattva Path" -- a timeless commitment to awakening not just for oneself, but for the flourishing of all life.

On Sep 6th, you are invited to join us for a streamed event  "live from Redwood Vihara monastery" -- featuring global luminaries, inspiring singers and storytellers, alongside a few surprises that aim to ignite this subtle but significant force. (If you know friends in California who'd like to join in-person, let us know.)

The Context: We stand at a moment in history when multiple systems are simultaneously revealing their limitations. Political landscapes reflect deep polarization, ecological systems signal dire distress, and our social fabric is exponentially eroding. Our collective orientation has long been fixated on external solutionstechnological fixes, policy reforms, structural adjustmentswhile often relegating the inner transformation that must accompany outer change. As old structures falter, we have the opportunity to ask: What new possibilities might emerge if we approach these challenges not from fear or ideological rigidity, but from the intelligence of the heart?

This community night is part of a larger retreat with global luminaries exploring how we might translate ancient principles into modern applications for reducing the myriad forms of suffering that now plague today's societies. With so many forces of good in one place, we couldn't keep them to the retreat alone! To that end, we're delighted to have this opportunity to cross-pollinate collective inspiration with local Bay Area community on September 6th.

The Invitation:Drawing from ancient and contemporary streams of wisdom, this special Community Night invites us into a shared field of remembrance and renewal. Through story, silence, sacred presence, and the path of a bodhisattva -- one who dedicates their life to alleviating suffering and cultivating awakening for all beings -- we'll explore what it means to live with fierce compassion, luminous clarity, and humble service during this pivotal time in history.

The Guests: We are deeply honored to welcome a constellation of remarkable guests:

• Rev. Heng Sure, one of the senior-most Western Buddhist monks in the world, known for the three-steps-one-bow pilgrimage
• Vanessa Andreotti, Indigenous wisdom keeper and visionary educator
• Evan Sharp, co-founder of Pinterest and advocate for contemplative technology
• Rabbi Ariel Burger, protege of Elie Wiesel and a voice of moral imagination
• Gary Zukav, bestselling author of The Seat of the Soul

...along with neuroscientist Richard Davidson, tech pioneer Srinija Srinivasan, Qigong healer Cynthia Li, hip hop humanitarian Nimo Patel, and many more luminous hearts across traditions and disciplines.

Together, we'll tune into a deeper rhythm beyond urgency, beyond ideology and ask:What grows when we meet the world with an awakened mind, an open heart, and engaged hands?