Compassion at the Pace of Our Capacity: A Path to the Boundless Heart with Aishah Shahidah Simmons

Description

When greed, hatred, and delusion fracture the world through political divisions, multiple concurrent injustices, and the weight of a changing climate, compassion can feel out of reach, or even naive. And yet many of us are also carrying personal pain, loss, illness, grief, and the quiet struggles of daily life. This daylong retreat invites practitioners of all experience levels to turn toward what's hard, within and around us, together. Through meditation, dharma teachings, and periods of reflection, we'll explore compassion. All are welcome, exactly as they are.

This program is appropriate for both new and experienced meditators. Everyone is welcome.

This retreat is freely offered, and dana (generous donations) may be given, in support of DVI and Aishah in support of her teaching and guidance.

This is a hybrid event. Attend in person with Aishah at Summit Prebyterian church or online via Zoom.

Teacher Bio
Aishah Shahidah Simmons (she/her) is a Black feminist lesbian survivor-healer, Sufi Muslim raised Theravāda Buddhist. She has practiced vipassanā meditation since 2002. A trauma-informed, certified mindfulness meditation teacher and qualified MBSR teacher, she is currently in the 2025–2028 Spirit Rock/IMS Dharma Teacher Training Program.

Aishah practiced exclusively in the S.N. Goenka tradition for 17 years before continuing her path in the Insight tradition with primary teachers Tuere Sala and DaRa Williams, and studying Vajrayana Buddhism, for two years, with Dr. Shanté Paradigm Smalls. Her daily practice centers the brahmavihāras, Kuan Yin Dharmas, and the Five Recollections, grounded in a deep commitment to engaged, liberatory practice that turns toward suffering with awareness and compassion.

An award-winning filmmaker, author, and lecturer, Aishah’s groundbreaking work—including the ground-breaking feature film NO! The Rape Documentary and the Lambda Literary Award–winning anthology love WITH accountability—illuminates paths of healing and non-carceral accountability in response to sexual violence. Learn more about Aishah here.