Continuing the Light
A 3-week series ending with a 2-day retreat, informed by the Lotus sutra and guided by Larry’s teachings.
October 22, 29, and November 5
Retreat November 7 and 8
How we continue without our teacher…
Some teachers do not leave us; they continue, in the practices they gave us, the community they gathered, and the actions we take in their name. Our text is the Lotus Sutra, which tells us that a teacher's life span is immeasurable, and that bodhisattvas rise from the earth to carry the teaching once the teacher is gone.
During these 3 weeks, we follow the arc of Lotus' Earth Holder School: from the light we carry, to the earth we are, to the action we take. Each is online and recorded, and each closes by connecting that tradition's wisdom to Larry's continuation.
At the end of these three weeks, we come together over two days to receive the fullness of Larry's life and Dharma, and to ask, together, how we carry it forward.
Day one, Receiving, we enter Larry's words, wisdom, and love, through poetry, teaching, sound, and shared remembrance in beloved community. Day two, Continuing, we turn toward the question Larry always returned us to: how do we carry racial healing, honest inquiry, and compassion into our daily lives? We close by each naming one commitment to carry forward, the light, continuing.
Three weeks of Earth Holder training
The Infinite Light
Explore the bodhisattva Amitabha, the Buddha of Infinite Light. What is our prayer and how do we begin to embody it? How do we find and embody the light within us in a world with so much destruction and devastation?
The Earth Holder
Explore the Earth Holder bodhisattva: the embodiment of love as the felt knowledge that we are the earth. How do we begin to connect with the earth, remembering that we are the earth? And once we have this embodied knowing, how do we act in integrity with it?
Right Action
Here we explore Samantabhadra, the bodhisattva of Great Action, right action toward those who came before us. What is required of us to take right action? How do we begin to step into right action? How do we do this together?
A Retreat to Honor our Teacher
Rising from the Earth
The bodhisattvas who spring up from the earth to carry the teaching forward once the teacher is gone.
Collective Remembrance
Taking care in sharing our stories, memories, and expanding upon his teachings to keep our teacher present with us.
Continuation
The Buddha's life span is immeasurable; his passing was skillful means. He did not truly depart, and neither has Larry.
Program details
Timing
Weekly sessions are held on Thursdays: October 22nd, 29th, and November 5th, from 6:00 –7:30pm EST
Retreat will be November 7th and 8th. Each day we begin at 10am EST and end at 1:30pm EST
Scholarships
Scholarships are only available for the full program (3-week sessions and weekend retreat) and are reserved for those under 35, BIPOC, and from the Global South—fill out request form
Discounts for Lotus members—email us
Format
Option to attend each session, 3-week sessions, retreat, OR all of them
Live and on-demand with classes recorded
Discussion spaces in the series platform, Circle
A workbook of practices to sit with outside of session
A continuation circle to practice together after the retreat
Program Options
You can purchase the different options below.
Full Program
Weekly sessions are held on Thursdays: October 22nd, 29th, and November 5th, from 6:00 –7:30pm EST
Retreat will be November 7th and 8th. Each day we begin at 10am EST and end at 1:30pm EST
Donor price: $500 USD (sponsors a place for others to join)
Retreat Only
Retreat will be November 7th and 8th. Each day we begin at 10am EST and end at 1:30pm EST
Full price: $250 (payment installments available)
3-week Sessions
Weekly sessions are held on Thursdays: October 22nd, 29th, and November 5th, from 6:00 –7:30pm EST
Full 3-week package: $125
Each individual week: $50
Choose the right path for you…
Join us for a 2-day online retreat, Saturday, November 7 and Sunday, November 8 from 10am - 1:30pm EST
Day 1: We enter the fullness of who Larry was, his words, his wisdom, his love. Saturday, November 7 · 10:00 AM–1:30 PM EST
Day 2: We take what we've received and ask: how do we carry this forward? Sunday, November 8 · 10:00 AM–1:30 PM EST.
This retreat is the ending culmination of our Continuing the Light series with 3 weekly sessions prior.
This purchase is ONLY for the retreat portion of this series.
Join us for a weekly exploration of aspects of the Lotus sutra over a 3 week period. All sessions will happen from 6 - 7:30PM EST
Session 1: Thursday, October 22, The Buddha of Infinite Light from 6 - 7:30PM EST
Session 2: Thursday, October 29, The Earth Holder from 6 - 7:30PM EST
Session 3: Thursday, November 5, Right Action (Samantabhadra) from 6 - 7:30PM EST
These sessions are part of the Continuing the Light program, which includes a final weekend online retreat.
This purchase is ONLY for the weekly sessions of this program.
Session 1 of the 3-week series, which ends with our weekend retreat.
Thursday, October 22 from 6 - 7:30pm EST
The light of wisdom and the light of service to all beings is centered in infinite love. Amitabha Buddha is referred to as the Swift Path of Great Bliss. The practices include altar practice, chanting, visualization and touching the earth.
Session 2 of the 3-week series, which ends with our weekend retreat.
Thursday, October 29 from 6 - 7:30pm EST
The Earth Holder Bodhisattva: the embodiment of love as the felt knowledge that we are the earth. Practices include an elements meditation, the I Am the Earth practice, and somatic movement. As Thich Nhat Hanh taught: “to breathe in and be aware of your body, and look deeply into it and realize that you are the Earth.”
Session 3 of the 3-week series, which ends with our weekend retreat.
Thursday, November 5 from 6 - 7:30pm EST
Samantabhadra, the bodhisattva of Great Action, right action toward those who came before us. Service to others and action as a devotional practice.
Meet your teachers
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Dr. Peggy Rowe Ward
PRIMARY TEACHER
Dr. Peggy Rowe Ward (she/her) is the co-founder of The Lotus Institute, a senior teacher in Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh’s Plum Village tradition of Engaged Buddhism, and the author of Love’s Garden: A Guide To Mindful Relationships. She has her doctorate in adult education and an MA in counseling psychology. Through meditation, movement, and art, Peggy offers a path of deep insight that enables her students to discover and embody their most creative and authentic selves.
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Diana Parra
CO-TEACHER
Diana Parra Pérez (Shinjo — Bright Path of the Source) is a native of Bogotá, Colombia, with Indigenous and Sephardic Jewish roots, and has lived in the U.S. since 2006. She is a physical therapist who holds a Master of Public Health and a PhD in Social Work, an advanced yoga teacher, vibrational sound therapy practitioner, and a mindfulness facilitator trained through the Engaged Mindfulness Institute. A participatory action researcher, health-equity champion, community organizer, spiritual activist, weaver, and healer, Diana's work frames equity in public health and community wellbeing while supporting both systemic and individual transformation.
FAQs
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We have a limited number of partial and full scholarships.
Scholarships are reserved for young people (35 and under), BIPOC, and those from Latin America, Africa and Asia.
To request a scholarship, please fill out the request form.
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Live classes run weekly on Thursdays from 6:00–7:30 PM ET. In total, there are three classes and one retreat.
Class dates:
Thursday, October 22
Thursday, October 29
Thursday, November 5
The retreat will be on a Saturday and Sunday from 10:00 AM - 1:30 PM ET
Saturday, November 7
Sunday, November 8
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Open to all ages
For people who feel called to continue in experiencing Larry’s teachings while also learning ways to bring them forward.
For those who are interested in weaving/building a community centered around our current world reality.
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You are expected, although not required, to attend each teaching live. This enables a strong sense of community throughout our journey together.
All teachings will be recorded. You also will be expected to participate in the community, work with your peers, and complete the homework in advance of the live lessons.
You are expected to show up with grace and consideration for all other participants involved, regularly exploring your own patterns and biases.
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Yes, we will integrate Larry’s teachings not just through the wisdom he’s bestowed upon us all, but also through text from his books, video recordings of his teachings, and aspects of his transcribed dharma talks.
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Yes! Please share this series with your community and network.
Or, better yet, bring a buddy!
