Awakening our Natural Wisdom

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A 7 day Insight Meditation retreat with Greg Scharf and Jill Shepherd

Vipassana or insight meditation is the simple direct practice of moment-to-moment observation of the mind/body process with relaxed, open and careful attention. Awareness infused with clear seeing reveals that whatever arises in our experience, is simply the natural display of impersonal conditions. As we learn to observe our experience from a place of stillness and balance supported by wise view, reality is accurately seen and liberating insight arises as a natural result. Loving-kindness or Metta meditation develops the heart’s capacity for patience, acceptance, and forgiveness as we connect with and care for ourselves and others.

This silent retreat will draw primarily on teachings from the Theravada Buddhist tradition, emphasizing continuity of present moment awareness as the foundation for clear seeing and the arising of wisdom. The format will include instruction in both Insight and Loving-kindness meditation, an optional daily period of mindful movement, and meetings with the teachers.

Most of each day will be spent practising silent sitting and walking meditation, with some guided meditation instructions and opportunities for individual and group meetings with the teachers.  It is suitable for both beginning and experienced students of meditation.

Greg Scharf began meditating in 1992 and has been teaching residential meditation retreats since 2007, including the annual 3 month retreat at the Insight Meditation Society where he is a core teacher. In his teaching Greg emphasizes the understanding that meditation is fundamentally an exploration of nature and natural processes. He also stresses the critical importance of bringing the qualities of kindness, compassion, and a sense of humor to practice.

Greg has a long-standing relationship with the country and people of Burma (Myanmar), where he trained as a Buddhist monk and where he works with a small humanitarian aid project which particularly targets education, health-care, and support of Buddhist Nuns. Currently living in the high country of northern Arizona, Greg’s love of nature and the outdoors deeply informs both his practice and teaching.

COST:
Early-bird rate until 22 July 2017 (unless sold out prior): $650.  Sliding scale: $630 / $790 + dana*
(cost includes a contribution towards the teachers international airfares) (Special diet surcharge applies)
To register: https://www.eventbrite.co.nz/e/insight-meditation-one-week-retreat-with-greg-scharf-and-jill-shepherd-tickets-27296877696