3-Day Metta (Loving-Kindness) Retreat

This 3-day Metta (Loving-Kindness) Meditation Retreat introduces practices that help us become more loving individuals. By gently re-orienting the heart and mind to focus on the positive energies of loving-kindness and well-being, the practice of metta helps to gradually open our hearts to unconditional love for all beings, including ourselves. A sustained practice in metta meditation also helps to dissolve the idea of a separate self that keeps us feeling alienated from one another. Metta helps us cultivate equanimity in the face of life's inevitable difficulties. Beginners and seasoned meditators are welcome!

This retreat takes place on July 16 and 17th, 2009, from 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm, and on July 18th, 2009, from 9:00 am - 5:00 pm. Please note that this is a NON-RESIDENTIAL retreat. Participants will be returning to their homes at the end of each day of meditation.

Pre-registration is necessary to attend this 3-day event. Application forms can be found in the "Retreats" section of www.springrainsangha.com

*************************

This retreat will be led by Philip Starkman, Jim Bedard and Randall Baker of Toronto's Spring Rain Sangha.

Philip Starkman has over 40 years of experience in many forms of meditation. Twelve of these years were spent training in Asia in various Vedic and Buddhist meditation traditions. Philip is also a psychotherapist in private practice in Toronto.

In 1980, Jim Bedard began practicing Zen meditation and soon after became a student of Roshi Philip Kapleau of the Rochester Zen Centre. He practiced with Roshi Kapleau and his dharma heirs for the next 20 years. After completing his formal training in Zen, Jim spent several years practicing with senior Vipassana teachers in the Theravada tradition. Today, he offers a balanced, direct approach to practices that point directly to the heart of the teachings.

Randall Baker began Dharma practice in 1977 and practiced Zen for 20 years, including 10 years on the staff of the Rochester Zen Centre. He took up mindfulness (Vipassana) and metta (loving-kindness) meditation in 1997.