Traditionally, the New Year is a time to take stock of our lives, to let go of what no longer serves, and to reconnect more fully with what inspires us. In service of this, SIM’s annual nine-day retreat will provide an opportunity to deepen an experiential understanding of insight meditation, exploring a variety of different practices taken from the Four Foundations of Mindfulness as well as the four brahma-vihara heart practices, of kindness, compassion, joy, and equanimity.
Together, we will strengthen both the wisdom and compassion wings of awakening, through a mix of guided and silent sitting meditation, walking meditation, group discussion and individual meetings with the teacher.
There will be a 1.5 hour period of relational meditation on the first two and last two days, while the middle three days will be in full silence.
Relational or interpersonal meditation involves working in dyads (pairs) to practice mindful speaking and listening, using the guidelines of Insight Dialogue. For more information about the practice of Insight Dialogue, please see https://metta.org/insight-dialogue-3/
There will also be a period of optional, gentle mindful movement each day.
Book or learn more here!
The teacher: Jill Shepherd is a graduate of the IMS / Spirit Rock teacher training program in the US under the guidance of Joseph Goldstein and Gil Fronsdal. She teaches regularly in the USA, Australia and New Zealand. For more info about Jill, see: http://jill0shepherd-insightmeditation.com or go to our teachers page.
The Venue: The Brahma Kumaris Centre for Spiritual Learning in Wilton offers comfortable shared rooms with ensuite. A limited number of single rooms are also avaiable. Camping or staying in a campervan is unfortunately not allowed.
