Freedom Here and Now

This seven day on-line retreat draws on the strengths of both silent and relational insight meditation to support an engaged exploration of the Buddha’s core teachings on freedom: freedom from afflictive states such as anger, fear, sadness, greed; and freedom to live with more ease, happiness, and peace.

In conjunction with the Newcastle Insight Meditation and Insight Dialogue communities*, this retreat is offered as a rare on-line opportunity to strengthen both silent and relational insight meditation practices together.

Over the course of the week, we will explore a variety of practices from the Four Establishments of Mindfulness, alongside the four brahmavihara heart practices of kindness, compassion, joy, and equanimity, to directly experience these different aspects of freedom for ourselves

Using the Zoom platform, we will meet together online three times each day:

8:30 - 10:00 am instructions and guided insight meditation

2:00 - 3:30 pm relational practice - Insight Dialogue *

7:00 - 8:30 pm dharma talk and silent sitting

All times are Australia AEST - please check here to work out other time-zones
https://www.timeanddate.com/worldclock/meeting.html

You are asked to attend these three session as a minimum each day.

In between the teacher-led sessions, the Zoom room will stay open for optional group meditations at scheduled times, led by a practice leader.
You will be emailed a resource sheet each day with links to guided meditations on Dharmaseed for further practice in your own time.
There will also be at least one 15 minute individual meeting with Jill during the week, to check in about your practice.

* For more information about the practice of Insight Dialogue, please see https://metta.org/insight-dialogue-3/

Experience level: This retreat is best suited to people who have done at least two previous insight meditation weekend workshops, but prior Insight Dialogue experience is not required.

Teachers: Jill Shepherd; Elizabeth Faria (Insight Dialogue); Donna Lavell (practice leader)

Cancellation policy: The payment is refundable up to thirty days before the retreat begins. If you cancel after this time, the retreat cost will be forfeited and used to help provide scholarship places.

Dana: In most Buddhist traditions the teachers are not paid to teach. Instead, the teachings are given on a ‘dana’ basis – dana being the Pali word for generosity or giving freely - so there will be an opportunity to offer a donation for the teaching at the end of the event.