Six-week insight meditation retreat
Insight Meditation Society, Barre, Massachusetts
October-December 2018
Talks from the whole retreat here: Dharma Seed – 2018 Three-Month Retreat – Part 2
This six-week partial of the three-month course is a special time for practice. Because of its extended length and ongoing guidance, it is an opportunity for students to deepen the powers of concentration, wisdom and compassion. Based on the meditation instructions of Mahasi Sayadaw and supplemented by a range of skillful means, this silent retreat will encourage a balanced attitude of relaxation and alertness, and the continuity of practice based on the Buddha’s Four Foundations of Mindfulness.
Jill’s talks
2018-10-28 Fear and Fearlessness 59:19
An exploration of ways to work skilfully with fear, to cultivate courage, and to incline the heart-mind in the direction of love
2018-11-04 An Overview of the Brahmaviharas 50:30
An exploration of the Metta/Kindness, Compassion, Appreciative Joy and Equanimity and the interrelationships between them
2018-11-11 Mindfulness of the Body Part 1 53:23
An exploration of the first establishment of mindfulness, mindfulness of the body
2018-11-18 Mindfulness of the Body Part 2 55:59
Continuing to explore mindfulness of the body in terms of its anatomical parts, four elemental qualities, and as a corpse in decay, as ways to develop a wiser relationship to our bodies
2018-11-22 Mudita or appreciative joy guided meditation 41:30
A brief overview of mudita, appreciative joy, followed by a guided meditation offering mudita to a good friend who is experiencing success and happiness
2018-11-25 Anatta And Nibbana 52:43
How the chain of cognition leads to proliferative thinking centred around a distorted sense of self, and how mindfulness can stop the cycle, redirecting awareness instead to transcendent dependent origination which culminates in freedom
2018-12-02 Miracle of Generosity and Gratitude 50:11
Taking time to acknowledge and celebrate what has been achieved on this retreat, plus an exploration of the spirit of generosity in terms of three levels: the gift of material things, the gift of fearlessnes, and the gift of dharma
Jill Shepherd: insight meditation 