Four-Day Online Retreat with Oren Jay Sofer, Sharon Salzberg, Anushka Fernandopulle, and Jean Esther
Metta is the Pali work for friendship or lovingkindness. It is taught as a meditation that cultivates our natural capacity for an open and loving heart. With its roots in practices said to have been taught by the Buddha himself, metta is traditionally offered along with meditations that enrich compassion, joy in the happiness of others, and equanimity. These practices lead to the development of concentration, fearlessness, happiness, and a greater ability to love.
Open to both new and experienced meditators, this retreat includes instructions for sitting and walking meditation practice, Q&A, and talks about the teachings. All are welcome!
This retreat is online and on-demand. Registration for the live event also comes with access to the retreat recordings for 30 days after the retreat ends.
Cost: Sliding-scale: $150, $220, or $400, your choice.
Scholarships are available. For more information, please email imsonline@dharma.org.
Questions: For more information, please email IMS at imsonline@dharma.org.
Retreat Schedule
**all times are Eastern Daylight Time (EDT)
Wednesday 5/13:
Opening Session: 7 - 8:15pm ET: Opening Session (Oren)
Thursday 5/14:
Session 1, 10-11a: Instructions, Guided Meditation, Q&A: Mindfulness (Jean)
Session 2, 1-1:45p: Movement Practice - Qi Gong (Oren)
Session 3, 4-5pm: Metta Practice (Sharon)
Session 4, 7-8pm: Guided practice and Talk (Anushka)
Friday 5/15:
Session 1, 10-11a: Instructions, Guided Meditation, Q&A: Metta (Jean)
Session 2, 1-1:45p: Movement Practice - Metta in Action (Anushka)
Session 3, 4-5pm: Guided Practice + Q&A (Sharon)
Session 4, 7-8pm: Guided practice and Talk (Oren)
Saturday 5/16:
Session 1, 10-11a: Instructions, Guided Meditation, Q&A (Anushka)
Session 2, 1-1:45p: Movement Practice - Qi Gong (Oren)
Session 3, 4-5pm: Metta Practice + Q&A (Sharon)
Session 4, 7-8pm: Guided practice and Talk (Jean)
Sunday 5/17:
Session 1, 10-11a: Instructions, Guided Meditation, Q&A (Oren)
Session 2, 1-1:45p: Movement Practice - Metta for the Body (Jean)
Session 3, 4-5pm: Guided Practice + Q&A (Sharon)
Session 4, 7-8pm: Closing Session (Anushka)
ABOUT THE TEACHERS
Sharon Salzberg
Sharon Salzberg is a central figure in the field of meditation, a world-renowned teacher and NY Times bestselling author. She has played a crucial role in bringing meditation and mindfulness practices to the West and into the mainstream since 1974, when she first began teaching. She is the co-founder of the Insight Meditation Society in Barre, MA and the author of ten books including NY Times bestseller, Real Happiness, her seminal work, Lovingkindness, and Real Love, her latest release by Flatiron Books. Acclaimed for her humorous, down-to-earth teaching style, Sharon offers a secular, modern approach to Buddhist teachings, making them instantly accessible.
OREN JAY SOFER
Oren Jay Sofer teaches workshops and retreats on meditation and communication nationally. A member of the Spirit Rock Teachers Council, he holds a degree in Comparative Religion from Columbia University, is a Somatic Experiencing for healing of trauma, and is a certified trainer of Nonviolent Communication. Oren is also the author of Say What You Mean: A Mindful Approach to Nonviolent Communication.
ANUSHKA FERNANDOPULLE
Anushka Fernandopulle lives in San Francisco and teaches retreats and workshops around the world. She has trained in the Theravada Buddhist tradition in the US, India and Sri Lanka for over 30 years. Anushka also works as a leadership coach and management consultant, influenced by a BA in anthropology/religion from Harvard and an MBA from Yale School of Management. She is on the Teachers Council at Spirit Rock Meditation Center in California. Her teaching is informed by arts, nature, politics, social justice and modern urban life.
JEAN ESTHER
Jean Esther, MSW LICSW, has trained in meditation since 1975 and has been a practicing psychotherapist for over 37 years. She is a guiding teacher of True North Insight Meditation Centre in Canada, teaches at Insight Meditation Center of Pioneer Valley , MA, Inward Bound Mindfulness Education (IBME) and elsewhere across North America. Her teachings integrate psychological understanding and somatic awareness with Buddhist teachings on love and wisdom.