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Retreat Dharma Talks

January Metta Retreat

Metta, or loving-kindness, practice is the cultivation of the intention of benevolence as the orientation of our heart and mind. It is also a path to wisdom. We develop our capacity for metta through meditation (which is practiced steadfastly on retreat) in order for it to manifest in an ongoing way in our daily lives.

In this retreat, we will learn the formal practice of metta along with its companion practices of compassion, joy, and equanimity. All four of these practices – known as the Brahma Viharas or Divine Abodes – strengthen self-confidence, self-acceptance, and steadiness of mind and heart, revealing our fundamental disposition toward kindness.

2019-01-09 (7 days) Spirit Rock Meditation Center

  
2019-01-09 The Nature of Metta (Lovingkindness) Practice: An Overview (Retreat at Spirit Rock) 61:27
Donald Rothberg
We explore the core intention of metta practice, to bring kindness, warmth, and care to every moment and every being. We examine how metta practice develops further steadiness (samadhi), how it helps us to lead with the heart and work with what stands in the way of the open, kind heart. As we practice further, we open increasingly to the radiance of our hearts and our being. We keep training, and we bring our metta practice into the world, where it is deeply needed. We close with two stories of metta practice in the world in challenging situations.
2019-01-10 Compassion: The Difficulties are the Gifts (Retreat at Spirit Rock) 69:49
Heather Sundberg
Dissolving the concrete bunkers of the heart. Obstacles transforming into opportunities.
2019-01-13 Day 6 Morning Instructions: Metta Mandala -All Beings (Retreat at Spirit Rock) 42:29
Heather Sundberg
2019-01-14 Bringing Metta Practice Home and into the World (Retreat at Spirit Rock) 60:47
Donald Rothberg
We explore a number of ways to continue to deepen our metta practice, in terms of individual practice, bringing metta into relationships, and being guided by metta in our participation in the healing and transformation of the world.
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