5 -DAY INSIGHT DIALOGUE RETREAT
MAY 1 - MAY6, 2009
The Truths of Interpersonal Suffering
and Freedom
This Insight Dialogue retreat with Gregory Kramer is a truly unique opportunity to experience the value of a fully interpersonal, wisdom-based meditation practice.
Insight Dialogue is an interpersonal meditation practice bringing the mindfulness and tranquility of traditional silent meditation into our experience with others. It is based on the fundamental fact that we humans are relational beings, and the lucidity of meditation can illuminate suffering and freedom from suffering.
Insight Dialogue rests on the foundation of traditional Buddhist teachings, a
nd skillfully applies them to our lives with others. The Four Noble Truths directly reflect this.
The first Noble Truth states the suffering that is so much a part of our lives. Much suffering arises in relationship.
The second Noble Truth: when we investigate, we see that hunger is the source of this suffering - hunger for pleasure, hunger to exist and to not exist, to get out. These hungers are sustained by identification and ignorance.
The third Noble Truth: that cessation, freedom, is possible in every moment and in every interaction. We see this directly in relational meditation.
The fourth Noble Truth: that the Path the Buddha outlined, and
this interpersonal suffering is unbound, with Insight Dialogue, in an interpersonal practice.
Insight Dialogue is a wisdom practice that fosters true insight and brings depth and immediacy to the understanding of the human experience. In this residential retreat we will practice both silent, personal meditation, and the relational meditation of Insight Dialogue as we explore the Four Noble Truths. Previous meditation experience is helpful but not necessary.
As with traditional silent meditation practice, Insight Dialogue has meditation guidelines. They support us as we migrate from habitual ways of interacting, to ways in alignment with the path of virtue, tranquility, wisdom, and mutuality. Each meditation instruction can be recalled as a simple reminder to calm down, become aware, and notice and release old habits. As the practice deepens, the guidelines function as powerful meditation instructions, pointing the way toward profound spiritual awakening.
The Teacher: Gregory Kramer is a meditation teacher, author, director of the Metta Foundation, and a visiting faculty member of the Barre Center for Buddhist Studies in Massachusetts. He has been teaching Vipassana and loving-kindness meditation since 1980. He is the co-creator and developer of Insight Dialogue and teaches the practice worldwide.
Gregory also spearheaded the creation of the Interpersonal Mindfulness program, a professional training offer by the Center for Mindfulness that extends the wisdom of Insight Dialogue to teachers of the CFM's MBSR program. He holds a PhD in ‘Learning and Change in Human Systems. For further information about Gregory Kramer and Insight Dialogue see www.metta.org
Retreat Location: Resurrection College, Waterloo, Ontario (less than one hour west of Toronto)
Schedule: Friday, May 1 at 11:30 A.M to Wednesday, May 6 at 2:00 P.M.
Please note that an additional day/overnight for May 6 is an option for those wanting to offer Insight Dialogue to others on a non-paying basis, as a way of sharing the gifts they have been given. This will conclude on Thursday, May 7 after lunch.
Cost: The cost of the 5-day retreat is a sliding fee schedule of $575 to $700 Canadian (based on ability to pay). Room and board for retreatants staying for the extra day of facilitator training should add an additional $55. Please note that the sliding fee scale covers accommodation, meals and a contribution to flights for Gregory Kramer (teacher) and Florence Meleo-Meyers (co-teacher). If you are able to pay at the higher end of the scale, note that your generosity enables others to attend this retreat. If we receive more than we need to cover costs we will create part-scholarships for anyone who may not be able to afford the lower rate.
To secure a place, a $100 deposit is required. The balance of payment is due by March 23, 2009.
Please carefully read the payment instructions below. You may also print a flyer at this location for posting or distribution in appropriate venues by clicking here.
Cancellations: Full refund until April 9, 2009
Dana (Generosity practice):
In keeping with the Buddhist tradition that Dharma teachings are freely given, your retreat fees do not include payment to the teacher.
Dana is a Sanskrit and Pali word meaning generosity or giving. In Buddhism, it also refers to the practice of cultivating generosity. Ultimately, the practice culminates in qualities characterized by unattached and unconditional generosity; giving and letting go. Over time, benefits of such qualities become clearer as does the importance of the purity of the giver's motives.
Dana also invokes a sense of reciprocity, between you and the teachings, acknowledging the importance of the teachings for your life and allowing Gregory to keep teaching the practice while living in a conventional materialist society. In this way, you give the gift of availability of these teachings to others.
At the end of the retreat, there will be an opportunity for generosity practice through a donation to the teacher.
Additional information for retreatants...
Food: Vegetarian meals in addition to between-meal snacks.
What to bring: Please bring your own toiletries, including toothpaste, shampoo and a towel. The retreat centre provides bed linens and pillows. Please bring your own meditation cushion. These are not available at the setting.
Schedule detail: The retreat schedule actually starts with an 11:30 A.M. introduction on Friday, May 1st, and we ask you to try to get there and settle into your accommodation earlier in the morning so that we can proceed to lunch after our orientation. We will complete the meditation retreat on Wednesday afternoon with lunch. An option is available to stay on for an extra day and night for those who wish to facilitate dana-based Insight Dialogue groups. This will conclude with lunch on Thursday.
Payment Instructions: To secure a place, please attend to the following:
A $100 deposit is required with your registration (click Here for registration form). Please deposit balance of payment by March 23, 2009.
Cancellations: Full refund until April 9, 2009. Payment is based on the Canadian dollar costs. Please note whether you are intending to stay for the additional day/overnight for May 6th to 7th that is for those wanting to offer Insight Dialogue to others on a non-paying basis, as a way of sharing the gifts they have been given.
Payment options are the following:
1) Credit card payment can only be made via PayPal. You will need to add 3% to your payment with this method to cover the fee PayPal charges the Metta Foundation.To make payments via Pay Pal, please note the name is Metta Programs and the required email address, if this is your first time using PayPal, is Rebekah@metta.org. Payment instructions are clear on the PayPal site at www.paypal.com.
2) Checks may be made out to Metta Programs and must be in Canadian dollars. It is important that checks do not read "U.S. funds" anywhere to avoid a considerable fee on the part of the Metta Foundation. Payment should be mailed to:
Attn. Temi Firsten
484 Rushton Rd.
Toronto, ON M6C 2Y3
For additional information: You may wish to visit www.resurrectioncollege.ca to learn about the setting itself and instructions for driving from Toronto to Waterloo. We also invite you to visit www.airwaystransit.com for information on bus options to Waterloo from Pearson International Airport and to look at "Pearson Locations" and "Fare Calculator." You may also call Airways Transit at 1-800-691-3045 (in Canada only) or (519) 886-2121 (outside Canada) for very specific enquiries on bus options.
For any other enquiries please email: temifirsten@rogers.com or call (416) 656-5650